Free Web NovelChapter 497: Chapter 398: International Status under the Olympics
This morning, KS just experienced a KB attack against the border People’s Armed Police, with 16 comrades making the ultimate sacrifice.
The firefighters, who often lose comrades, understand that kind of pain all too well.
However, with firefighting sacrifices, there’s no one to hate, but with this kind of sacrifice, everyone has an enemy.
To be honest, when we heard about it today, we all felt an itch in our teeth with anger. If someone pointed out the location of the terrorist organization to us, even without guns, we could charge at them immediately and crush those with malicious intent.
Those who commit such acts to achieve vile goals will certainly be remembered by the tens of millions of active-duty and discharged Chinese military personnel.
At this moment, such a task came our way again.
On the way out, Fang Huai noticed Lin Chong’s eyes suddenly sharpening, as he began to look around everywhere, occasionally clenching his teeth tightly.
Fang Huai knew he was probably not nervous, but somewhat looking forward to something.
He also wanted to remind him that there probably wasn’t the kind of hypothetical enemy he imagined here.
But after thinking it over, let it be; he’s a front-line soldier facing those thugs. It’s right for him to stay angry.
This is different from a rescue, where often you face an even more intense and sudden situation, with no time to calmly think things through; you have to turn everything into instinct.
In later years, Staff Officer Qin even proposed a guiding principle against the enemy: "He who fires first, reigns supreme."
When Fang Huai and Lin Chong arrived outside the security line, the Lieutenant Colonel gave them a brief: "Keep an eye out for a group, one man and two women. When you see the friends from the police station following them, walk in front, lead them. Once you’ve accompanied them around the Bird’s Nest and sent them out, the task is considered complete."
With that, he ran off.
There might be reporters coming soon, and wearing his military uniform, it wasn’t appropriate for him to be there.
Fang Huai understood as well—it meant playing the role of Timo. He would scout ahead.
The pair of them stood outside the security line, waiting.
Today, there were already many visitors outside the Bird’s Nest.
Moreover, there were foreigners everywhere, being led around in groups by tour guides and translators.
Someone stopped in front of them to translate for the foreigners.
"The building is our national stadium, Bird’s Nest!"
"Oh! Bird Chao!"
"Nonono, Bird’s Nest, Bird’s Nest!"
"Bird, Nest!"
"Good! National Stadium!"
"Guo Jia Ti Yu Chang... Bird, Nest!"
"Good!"
Under the guidance of the translator, several big-nosed foreigners had learned the Chinese phrase, to which the translator immediately gave them a thumbs up.
The foreigners also put their thumbs up, extremely pleased:
"Good! Chinese, good! Chinese building, good! Chinese food, good! Chinese people, good!"
Surrounding translators, tour guides, and volunteers were all working hard to help these foreign visitors remember this beautiful country.
The whole world is learning Chinese.
This scene eased some of the tension Fang Huai and Lin Chong were feeling.
Even their deep emotions were almost solidifying into tears.
Only those who have seen it, listened to their elders talk about growing up in those impoverished times, can truly understand how hard-won today’s ease is.
Soon, a group of people escorting several foreigners approached from a distance, led by volunteers with earpieces explaining things. Not far behind this group were two police officers.
There should also be a plainclothes officer among them.
Fang Huai and Lin Chong kept a vigilant eye on every person around them.
The translator leading them was obviously much more professional. Kissinger was a key figure in America’s China strategy; Old Bush, who was the most pro-China in American history, had been a subordinate of Kissinger’s, and for decades, he hasn’t left the center of American power.
With such figures, caution is naturally required when meeting family members. Although there were only three visible police officers, there were undoubtedly many more secretly paying attention to the surroundings.
The translator introduced the venue to them softly.
As the visitors approached the nearby security line, the two turned around and walked in.
...
Although it was a semi-closed venue, the half-hour inside still left both of them feeling quite drained.
The three guests were truly treating it like a tourist trip, wandering eastward and looking westward, very casual. Often they had to split up to keep an eye on them.
Someone came over with a press badge to take pictures; they had to first check their cameras, taking a few shots in the open area.
The police officers were also feeling defeated.
Today, hundreds of dignitaries’ family members had arrived early in Beijing. Unlike the dignitaries themselves, they traveled for pleasure, and their arrival times were very unpredictable. The liaison units, in order to keep things confidential, didn’t notify the police stations ahead of time. It was usually after the people had already arrived that they would call and say:
Hey, a relative of some head of state has arrived, now at such and such location, they might go here or there, we can’t predict their intentions, so please take care of them.
Take care of them? How so?
When there’s a big crowd, the information is very unclear.
Security is their responsibility, though, and often when they run out of hands, they have to borrow from everywhere, using security personnel from all over.
Deploying military personnel for protection isn’t quite right, as these are just family members of officials; it would be overstepping the mark, and we’d lose face if we disrupted the etiquette of diplomatic receptions for a bunch of leaders’ relatives.
But no matter what, the relatives of these VIPs are significant figures, and if anything happened here, it would be a major incident.
The People’s Armed Police could only protect from lookout points, sniper positions, and fixed duty posts, but the pressure on us, the personal escorts, was immense.
While we busied ourselves in the venue, there were also dozens of groups running all over Beijing, worrying about the safety of these "naughty" guests. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Today’s Beijing had no incidents, but everyone was thoroughly exhausted.
After safely escorting the three guests out of the venue, Fang Huai and Lin Chong received several more tasks.
As dusk fell, accompanying the gradually converging police forces, we saw off the last wave of jubilant Italian guests from the venue and onto a shuttle bus that came to pick them up.
Observing the brightly lit Beijing, Lin Chong, usually composed and calm, let out a long sigh.
"It’s finally over."
Fang Huai couldn’t help but laugh, "This is just the beginning. On the 6th, 7th, and 8th, the arrival of foreign dignitaries is the main event. Our venue will likely host many top leaders. Although their security isn’t our responsibility, we still have to check the venue’s various facilities five times a day. Go back and rest well; our tasks are still daunting."
Lin Chong also smiled, a rare occasion for him: "It’s great. Our country’s status has truly risen a lot. Many people who have visited our country before were received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with much pomp. Now, they’ve learned to be humble, and their entourage has shrunk."
"Yes... As a great nation gradually rises from its crouch, more and more people will look up to our height."
...
August, 7th.
These past few days, staff from various venues were frequently borrowed to welcome people nearby.
Fang Huai’s anxiety and excitement turned into a slight numbness over time.
He saw some of the luminaries he’d watched on television since childhood.
Some princes and princesses, in fact, are just ordinary people under heavy makeup and the enhancement of camera lights. Up close, one could see the dark circles and poor skin condition that their delicately crafted facades mask. Their high-bridged noses, and eyes of various colors, revealed a curiosity about this great country, even resembling newborn babies filled with "amazing."
As the Olympics drew closer, he got a real taste of the underlying turbulence of the Olympic Games.
Special police held temporary meetings in the venue to discuss how to shoot in the event of an emergency – at what angle to shoot to kill criminals as quickly as possible, and how to minimize unintended casualties from stray bullets.
Sometimes, as he patrolled some out-of-the-way spots, he overheard a group of well-dressed individuals from some department discussing the behaviors and secrets of key international figures regularly featured on CCTV Channel 1 and Channel 4. They did this to better receive and protect these important guests.
Immersed in this environment, people spoke much less than usual, fearful that any slip might divulge critical information.
Hu Peizhou also refrained from inquiring into their daily tasks. He, too, was stationed at the Firefighting Command Center on Kehui Road, sometimes issuing orders through the communication headsets provided to everyone, directing someone to check safety facilities at a certain venue.
Every night at 10 o’clock, when we returned to the dormitory for rest, everyone remained silent, each having been reminded by the overall venue manager not to share any stories.
This afternoon at 4 o’clock at the Bird’s Nest, there was no rehearsal, yet the noise was exceptional.
"You’re looking for death!"
"Damn it! Try touching me again!"
A shirtless man was fighting with another man in the stands, a flurry of local expletives exchanged.
A few police officers stepped forward, separated the men, and swiftly escorted them out of the venue.
A leader in a white shirt frowned deeply and gestured for a "stop" with his hand, shouting loudly:
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Then he loudly admonished:
"No, that’s not right! I told you, no chaos! The movements need to be more precise, especially inside the venue!
How many times have I said that? How did such a problem arise after some time without rehearsal?
The one shirtless just now, two police went up to him and pressed him straight down onto the ground!
Isn’t that rough?
In cases like this, in fact, once you wrap your arms around their waist, they won’t be able to move. Just wrap them up in a sheet and out they go!
By tackling someone to the ground, pressing them down, we can easily become the second point of media sensation. If the event itself doesn’t cause a stir, but the handling is seen as overly rough, it might well become the focus of attention!
Comrades, the Olympics are about to start! Basketball and soccer, especially soccer fans, can easily act rashly. It’s highly likely you’ll have to deal with such situations. At that time, with cameras from the international media on you, if you handle it like today, it’s going to spread instantly, and they’ll say we’re violent! Think carefully before acting!"
A group of police officers immediately began discussing at the edge of the stands.
Fang Huai, standing by and observing, couldn’t help but smile.
It’s tough for everyone.
For the last few days, both rehearsals and security drills were held at the Bird’s Nest. It was very busy. As soon as it was the police’s turn, a crowd swarmed in and spent the entire afternoon rehearsing all the potentially challenging scenarios on-site.
At that moment, a policewoman answered a phone call and hurried to the edge of the stands, exclaiming:
"Bureau Chief Yu! The leadership is coming soon! We have to clear the venue!"
The leader in the white shirt immediately waved his hand, "Alright, pack up everything, clean up the venue, and let’s go!"
Soon enough, Fang Huai’s earpiece also transmitted a message: freewebnovёl.ƈom
"Bird’s Nest, Bird’s Nest, top leaders and important foreign guests are arriving soon. In 20 minutes, recheck the key firefighting facilities and report to your assigned Number 1 duty post."
Number 1 position referred to the duty post for welcoming foreign guests.
Number 2 position was for duty during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.
Fang Huai pressed the talk button.
"Received."
"Received."
