Chapter 1579
After returning, Levi immediately used his own connections to have some supplies prepared. Of course, the biggest help was Julien, who had access to Rovio.
Although Rovio had already made significant donations during the rescue operation, they were nothing to an enterprise like Rovio which often did charity. Upon hearing that Levi was going to visit the victims' families, Julien contributed his donation and also paid for a large sum of goods with just a simple wave of his hand.
Seeing a car full of goods, Levi rang Julien up, "Julien, thank you for helping me!"
Julien deadpanned, "I'm helping the family members of the deceased, not you. Do I need you to say thank you?"
Levi replied, "I won't be thanking you then. I'm hanging up."
He was often mad at Julien for bullying him since childhood. Although they had grown up together, he was still unable to be rid of the trauma of Julien's bullying completely.
Before hanging up the phone, Julien added, "We're family. Your affairs are my affairs, so you don't need to thank me. And you, go home after your busy schedule. You mother was worried about you since you were involved in the rescue this time, so you should go see her if you have time."
Levi was silent.
Usually, he and Julien were always at loggerheads. Whenever they met, they could barely get a few words out before they wanted to fight each other. Despite this, whenever something big really happened, they would always think of each other and try their best to help each other.
Julien added, "Speak to you later then."
It was not until Julien hung up and left did Levi come back to his senses. Beside him, Cecil said, "Young Master Brown, you are really amazing. You got so much supplies in just one night. Guess we won't be visiting the families of the deceased empty-handed."
"This wasn't my doing, it was my cousin's," Levi said.
Levi never had nice things to say about Julien in front of him, but whenever he mentioned Julien to others, he would not be able to hide the pride he had for his cousin. He was very glad that he had grown up with such a cousin.
The first family they visited was the family of the deceased young couple.
The parents of the deceased had not yet come to terms with losing their children. They were sitting in front of the photos of the deceased, holding the baby in their arms. As the soldiers entered the house, they did not seem to have noticed.
Although the baby did not understand what was going on, the atmosphere of the family had its effects on her. She cried loudly in an attempt to get the elderly couple's attention, and the elderly woman holding her must be her grandmother. "Baby, you can cry," she said, "Perhaps your tears could bring your parents back."
As soon as she finished speaking, the woman's tears started streaming out of her eyes along with the child's. "You guys are so cruel! How could you bear to leave us behind? How could you bear to leave us four elderly people and your infant child behind?"
When the child's grandmother cried, the other three seniors also wiped away their tears.
Monique and Cecil started to brush away their tears as they watched the scene before them. They could not bring themselves to utter any word of comfort.
Tears were the only way for these families who had just lost their loved ones to express their grief. They had the right to weep as much as they wanted to. Perhaps, after that, they would be able to temporarily forget the pain of losing their loved ones.
Levi, Monique and Cecil could not bear to disturb them, so they just stood at the door and looked upon them sadly.
After a long time, the families of the victims finally calmed down. When they saw Levi and his team, they immediately recognized them and asked, "Are you the soldiers who participated in the rescue?" Levi nodded and said, "Yes, please accept our condolences."
The child's grandfather said, "Thank you! For all your effort!"
Many of the family members had already met the rescuers, and they were sincerely thankful for them. However, they did not have the time to thank the rescuers before settling their personal affairs.
Levi said, "That's our duty. Please feel better. If your children are in heaven, they certainly won't want to see you sad. Since they're gone, you must now work hard to raise the baby."
The child's grandfather nodded. "We understand, but..."
Having thought of their two lost children, the old man began to wipe at his tears again. The most painful thing in the world was for a man to lose his child, and alas, this grievous incident brought the four elders together. Their children were supposed to be their providers for the rest of their lives...
Now that they were gone, how would they go on in the future?
Levi said again, "Mister, Madam, we have also brought you some things. They certainly aren't as important as your children, but they're a small token of our kindness. Please accept them, and if you need anything else in the future, feel free to reach out to us."
The old man felt very moved by this simple action. "We're very happy to hear that, thank you! Thank you, our hard-working soldiers! Thank you, our leader and our country, for never giving up on your people who are in need."
Levi said, "Sir, you don't have to be so courteous. This is what we should do."
Hearing the voice of a stranger, the baby, who was still crying, suddenly stopped. She blinked her big watery eyes and looked at the stranger who appeared at her home. After staring at them for a long time, the baby suddenly opened her arms and mumbled, "Daddy, hug!"
Levi was caught by surprise, having been mistakenly recognized as a father by the child. After the shock wore off, he felt a deep ache in his heart. The child was so young that she would not be able to remember what her parents looked like. However, her parents were already gone from her life and it was impossible for her to grow up with them.
Levi took two steps forward and asked carefully, "Madam, may I carry the child?"
The child's grandmother put the baby in Levi's arms with tears in her eyes. "Baby, this is the hero who did his best to save your parents. You must remember them. When you grow up, you will be like them and become a hero for our country and our people."
The baby girl did not understand a single word. She just blinked her eyes and looked at the stranger in front of her. When her gaze fell on Monique, she stopped and stared at her. After a while, she shouted out loudly, "Mommy!"
Monique's heart skipped a beat. "Baby..."
She was still young and had only been in the army for less than a year. She had been in service for as long as she could remember, and had no time to consider her personal issues. Now that she was being addressed 'Mommy' by a young child, her heart was an explosion of mixed emotions.
Levi asked quickly, "Baby, do you want Mommy to hug you?"
The child actually nodded and said, "Yes."