Chapter 53: The Gratitude of the Inner-Earth Civilization

When I saw Buweiro again, I felt an inexplicable ache in my heart, for it was a meeting of parting, though I tried my best to control my emotions.

Buweiro told me that several civilization representatives from the Interstellar Alliance would personally see me off, and I was deeply grateful. Together, we walked outside. Along the way, my sixth sense could still clearly detected Buweiro's sadness, though he hid it well, and it moved me greatly.

Buweiro was a person of high moral character, kind-hearted, and a member of the advanced Sanziyao species. He was highly educated, and I felt we were not on the same level at all. This time, he was not just fulfilling a mission on behalf of the Alliance; he genuinely cared for me, offering sincere guidance and hospitality. He never looked down on me for being an ordinary person from a less advanced civilization—such kindness is rare even in the human world.

Walking behind Buweiro, he led me into a cylindrical guest hall. The space was even larger than before. I couldn't be sure if it was my first time in this hall, as the equipment in here changed daily, but I noticed that this time, there were more alien beings accompanying us than before. Upon closer inspection, I saw they were representatives from ancient civilizations of Earth, Mars, and Venus.

Facing more aliens, I felt calm. Gone was the nervousness and excitement from my first visit—this place was no longer unfamiliar. Over these past three days, my perspective and thoughts had changed profoundly. We were all part of the same Solar system, and now, looking at them, I felt a sense of connection, like distant relatives or close neighbors.

"Brother Ji Wufan, are you satisfied with our hospitality these past three days?" After entering the bright hall, the hosts gestured for me to sit. Everyone took their seats, and a wise-looking Martian politely addressed me.

"Your hospitality is very thoughtful. I really enjoyed this experience. It is also the most precious time in my life. Thank you for your warm reception!" Honestly, the Alliance's hospitality left nothing to be desired, and I spoke from the heart, expressing my gratitude.

"Well, Ji Wufan, young brother, we're glad you're satisfied with our hospitality. Buweiro has already told you the purpose of this invitation. After you leave, please share your experience in your own way. That's all you need to worry about. As for the rest, don't concern yourself," said a noble Venusian woman gently.

"I will do so. Please rest assured! I also represent all of humanity in thanking the Alliance for your care and advice." I looked at the Venusian woman and expressed my thanks to all the aliens. Though I had no status in the human world, I was the only human present at the scene and could only represent humanity in this moment.

"There's no need for thanks, young brother. We are all intelligent species on the Earth. There are things we can learn from your civilization as well. As fellow inhabitants of the same home, we have the responsibility and obligation to protect you and remind you that in your future development, unity and peace are key to advancing technology and civilization," said a member of the Aryan species.

Seeing me nod, he smiled and continued, "Now that you're here, it proves that you are destined to be with us. Although it's easy for us to communicate with humanity, since we chose you, we can't let you leave empty-handed. Young brother, feel free to make a request—if it's not too burdensome, the Alliance will satisfy it as a thank you gift."

"I have received the Alliance's gratitude, and I am very satisfied with the Xiaomeng nano-chip inside my body. With it, I can read and study for a lifetime, so there's no need for you to spend any more on me. The rewards I've gained this time are more than enough to satisfy me. Thank you all." I had already gained enough valuable experiences to savor for a lifetime, and I didn't want to be greedy.

In an instant, I felt a mental response from all the aliens around me. Before I could fully comprehend, the wise Martian who had spoken earlier said gently: "Young brother, there's no need to be so polite. What you discussed with Buweiro earlier was just a favor, not a gift of thanks. If you take it as such, the word will spread, and other alien races might say the Interstellar Alliance hosts are small-minded."

"Uh!" This time, I sensed the firm emotions from all the aliens. I wasn't sure if it was because they cared about face or if they wanted to accommodate me, but it seemed I couldn't refuse. Without thinking, I blurted out, "Can you take care of all the evil and cruel people on the Earth and make the world a pure place again?"

"Do you mean that you want the Alliance to maintain peace in the human world?" A man from Atlantis asked, with a half-smile on his face. Sensing the special emotions from the other aliens, I realized I had made a joke.

"You can consider any needs you may have, and the Alliance will fulfill them." This time, it was the Siazhedowa civilization, the reptilian species from the Earth's dinosaur age, who spoke: "The human world values money. I suggest you consider that. If you're willing, the Alliance can transfer 50,000,000 RMB to your bank account. As for other issues, the Alliance will take care of them, and no one will question the amount. Fifty million, if you manage it well, will be enough to support your family for a lifetime without worries."

"Thud." When I heard that astronomical number, I almost lost control, but thankfully, my years of experience kept me from showing too much emotion. Inside, I couldn't help but gasp, "50,000,000 RMB? With my firefighter's salary, I'd have to work for 500 years without eating or drinking to earn that."

At that moment, to say I wasn't excited would have been a lie. After all, with that amount of money, I could fulfill many of my ambitions, and I wouldn't have to endure the hardships of daily danger and sacrifice.

My feelings were a mix of excitement and inner turmoil. Should I accept this unearned fortune? It conflicted with my principles. But if I didn't accept it, I felt like a fool, and might regret it later. I was stuck in a dilemma.

I sat still, clenched my fists, and gritted my teeth as I thought deeply, while the aliens around me didn't disturb me...

After careful consideration, I finally made up my mind. I took a deep breath, calmed myself, and said to all the aliens:

"I am willing to accept this large sum of money, but could you divide it and give it to other people? Let the Alliance secretly help these people and deal with the subsequent issues."

"Oh, who would you give it to? Let's hear it." The noble Venusian woman didn't immediately agree, wanting to know who I intended to help with the money. The other aliens wore similar expressions.

"I'm not clear about the situation abroad, but I do know something about the situation in my own country. There have been many heartbreaking events in our hospitals. Let me briefly tell you about it, and you might already know some of it."

Seeing that all the aliens were willing to listen, I slowly began:

"The first story is about a mother who knelt before her son. There was a mother who, due to a lack of money to treat her 3-year-old son, had no choice but to sadly give up on the treatment. After taking her son out of the hospital, she knelt and bowed to him, knowing that time was short for her child. The mother's bow carried the guilt, sorrow, and despair of being unable to raise her child to adulthood in good health. If this mother had the money, she could get her child treatment and rehabilitation.

The second story is about a father whose daughter was suffering from a terminal illness. Again, because of lack of money, he watched his daughter, unable to undergo surgery, endure excruciating pain as if life itself was a torment. Eventually, the father, unable to watch his daughter suffer any longer, endured unimaginable pain and personally removed the oxygen tube from her body, allowing her to pass away quietly, free from pain. I believe this father would carry that unbearable pain and guilt with him for the rest of his life.

The third story is about a mother who, in order to save money for her son's treatment, only ate one bowl of plain rice each meal, with a little salt mixed in. Her son, lying in the hospital bed, wanted to give her some of the meat from his own bowl, but this mother stubbornly refused, even though it pained her deeply.

The fourth story is about a mother who passed away because she couldn't afford treatment. Her young daughter, holding a photo of her mother, would gaze at it absentmindedly and kiss the photo. The little girl missed her mother terribly, but she would never see her again in this lifetime. She could no longer feel her mother's embrace, which was a heavy blow to her fragile heart.

The fifth story is about a little boy whose mother died of illness. His grandmother, not wanting him to be sad, lied and told him that his mother was asleep in the field and would come back once she woke up. The boy believed it. Every day, he would sit by his mother's grave, calling for her, singing songs, and promising to be good so she would wake up and come to hug him. One day, when the boy grew up, he would have to face the truth, wouldn't he?

The sixth story is about a mother with a terminal illness who was told she had only about 1.5 years to live. She had a lovely four-year-old daughter. To ensure that her daughter would be self-sufficient in the future, and to make it easier for her future stepmother to accept the girl, this gentle mother spent that year and a half teaching her daughter to wash her face, cook, clean, and take care of herself. At that time, the mother didn't tell her daughter about her condition, and the daughter felt resentment. But I can imagine the mother's pain—if she had been healthy, she would have had plenty of time to lovingly care for her daughter. Years later, the daughter, now grown, understood her mother's strictness. She realized that her mother's harshness had been for her own good, but it caused her a lot of pain, and she would carry that shadow in her heart for the rest of her life."

......

Originally, I wanted to share more stories, but I couldn't control my tears, and my voice became choked, my words unclear. I never expected that I, a firefighter who dared to charge through mountains of knives and seas of fire, who had never shed a tear and always placed life and death aside, would end up crying like a child.