Colorful years

Zhang Cong finally made this decision: even if it meant leaving with nothing, he resolutely decided to leave the person he had shared a bed with for ten years.

The reason for all this can be traced back to that unforgettable autumn of 2006.

That autumn, he suddenly contracted acute pancreatitis. The illness progressed rapidly and his condition was extremely critical. He was rushed to the hospital. That experience was truly terrifying, and even now, the memory still sends shivers down his spine.

Back in September 2006, during the golden autumn season, the CCTV Heart-to-Heart Art Troupe enthusiastically visited the beautiful Zhangjiajie, presenting the local people with an unprecedented grand cultural performance.

This performance was unprecedented in scale and spectacular in its spectacle, boasting a truly luxurious and powerful cast. The number of performers and staff brought by CCTV alone exceeded two hundred.

Numerous renowned actors graced the stage, including but not limited to the beloved Li Guyi, the sweet-voiced Song Zuying, and tenor Yang Hongji. These celebrated singers captivated every audience member with their moving voices and brilliant performances.

Moreover, the elite hosts also came out in full force, using their professional and charming hosting styles to connect the entire performance smoothly and naturally, making the whole gala wonderful and full of climaxes.

During this period, Zhang Cong was fortunate enough to be appointed as the director of the Comprehensive Coordination Group Office (the group leader was concurrently held by the Standing Committee Member and Minister of Publicity of the Municipal Party Committee), and was temporarily seconded to the Publicity Department. He shouldered a series of important work responsibilities, the most crucial of which are as follows:

First, he needs to be fully responsible for receiving and cooperating with the CCTV staff in the early stages, and ensure that the performance can be carried out smoothly according to the plan.

Secondly, he also needs to carefully prepare a detailed "Comprehensive Coordination Plan for Performance Activities". This plan must cover reception, publicity, security, communication, power supply and on-site organization and management, so as to ensure that all aspects can cooperate with each other, connect closely and do everything perfectly.

Finally, he also needs to compile an "Operational Procedure Arrangement for the Day of the Performance," with time and tasks accurate to the minute, to ensure that the on-site order is well-maintained and no accidents occur on the day of the event.

Upon receiving the assignment, Zhang Cong felt a great sense of responsibility and dared not slack off in the slightest. During the day, he drafted plans, and at night, he not only personally accompanied the initial team to meals but also promptly understood their various needs in order to allocate resources and carry out coordinated work.

After working day and night for several consecutive days, neglecting sleep and meals, Zhang Cong's body finally gave out, and a sudden illness forced him to be rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Around nine o'clock that evening, Zhang Cong, who had been busy all day, was finally able to take a short break. He had dinner with Zhang Huashan, who was in charge of the pre-production work at CCTV.

During the meal, the two not only enjoyed the delicious food but also engaged in in-depth discussions about their work, exchanging valuable opinions and suggestions. Ultimately, Zhang Cong's viewpoints and proposals received high praise and full affirmation from Comrade Zhang Huashan.

Filled with joy, Zhang Cong finished his pleasant dinner and returned home in high spirits. He was exhausted, but the thought of washing up and getting a good night's sleep made all the hard work worthwhile.

But who could have predicted that an accident would happen at this very moment! Not long after Zhang Cong stepped into his home, a sharp abdominal pain suddenly struck. It felt as if a raging fire was burning mercilessly inside his abdomen, causing him unbearable pain.

Whether standing, sitting, or lying down, there was no posture that could alleviate the pain. No matter how I adjusted my body position, the unbearable pain remained constant, showing no signs of lessening.

Soon, large beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead, forming streams of sweat.

What's chilling is that, faced with Zhang Cong's agonizing condition, his wife, Wang Li, acted as if she were a complete stranger, utterly ignoring and deaf to his suffering. She remained seated on the sofa, her eyes glued to the television screen, engrossed in a popular drama, showing no reaction whatsoever to the immense pain her husband was enduring beside her.

A sudden, intense sense of unease washed over Zhang Cong. He keenly sensed that something was amiss. Without a second thought, he hurriedly dialed his brother-in-law Zhengjun's number, his voice slightly anxious as he said, "Zhengjun, I'm not feeling well. Come over right away and take me to the Municipal People's Hospital!"

Upon receiving the call, Zhengjun didn't dare to delay and immediately drove to Zhang Cong's home. Fortunately, Zhang Cong's home was less than two kilometers from the Municipal People's Hospital, and in just a few minutes, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the hospital.

Zhang Cong was quickly rushed to the emergency room, where the attending physician inquired about his symptoms in detail and conducted a comprehensive and thorough examination. The experienced physician, with a slightly furrowed brow and focused expression, paid attention to every single detail.

After careful consideration, based on his years of rich clinical experience, he made a decisive judgment—Zhang Cong's illness was indeed the dangerous acute pancreatitis.

Time is of the essence, and the medical staff immediately launched a tense but orderly rescue operation. The IV drip slowly fell, and the data on the monitor kept fluctuating… Every minute and every second felt incredibly long.

Fortunately, thanks to timely medical attention, Zhang Cong was eventually out of danger. However, whenever he recalls that harrowing scene, he still feels lingering fear, as if a heavy stone is pressing on his heart.

What's even more chilling is that during Zhang Cong's hospitalization, his wife Wang Li never showed up, neither visiting nor staying by his side.

This undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to Zhang Cong, who was lying in his hospital bed, as if a sharp blade had mercilessly pierced his heart. The saying "nothing is more sorrowful than a broken heart" probably refers to this.

Finally, the day he had been waiting for arrived. Zhang Cong returned home, and without lingering, silently packed his few changes of clothes and left that cold house without looking back. Dragging his slightly weak body, he went to his younger brother Zhang Liang's place, hoping to find a little comfort and peace there.