Extra 9: Father and Daughter

He Yong kept a composition written by his daughter.

This composition was one He Ye wrote in the third grade and received full marks for.

The title was: “My Dream.”

Nine-year-old He Ye’s neat and childish handwriting said:

“My dream is to become a mechanical engineer when I grow up.” 

“My father is very tall. When I was seven, he had a car accident and has been walking with a limp ever since.” 

“My father runs a supermarket. When people deliver goods to him, he has to carry them box by box. It’s very inconvenient.” 

“There are many photos of me as a child at home. In some, my father is holding me; in others, he is lifting me high.” 

“After that, my father never hugged me again.” 

“When I become a mechanical engineer, I will make a mechanical leg for my dad so he can walk normally.” 

“If my father still runs the supermarket, I will help him make a robot to carry things.” 

“If my dad doesn’t run the supermarket anymore, I will take him traveling. The robotic legs can help him walk long distances and climb mountains.” 

“I know it’s not easy to realize this dream.” 

“I will study hard and keep working to make this dream come true.” 

The development of science and technology makes the world change rapidly.

On He Yong’s 55th birthday, he received a special gift from his daughter.

An exoskeleton leg ^[1]is a wearable device that can assist or enhance the movement of a person’s legs..

His grown-up daughter, refusing her husband’s help, squatted in front of him with a smile and helped him put on the high-tech mechanical leg he had never dreamed of.

“Okay, it can be activated by voice. I’ve set it up for you. Dad, try it.”

Standing beside him, his daughter’s bright black eyes made her look like the elementary school student who brought home good grades.

He Yong looked at her, then glanced at his wife and son-in-law, and finally at the mechanical leg, which had a subtle shine.

“Start up.”

The mechanical legs responded and activated their functions.

He Yong used the sofa for support and tried to stand up.

The mechanical legs provided power, making it clear that the strength was his. In the next second, He Yong stood up steadily.

The long-lost feeling of balance was strange to him.

Wu Li covered her mouth, her eyes filled with tears.

He Yong tried to walk, taking one step, then another, becoming more comfortable with it.

He opened his arms and hugged his wife, who was crying with joy.

Wu Li hid her face in her husband’s arms, shy to let their daughter and son-in-law see her like this.

He Ye smiled and took Lu Jin out.

After getting used to the robotic legs, He Yong happily took Wu Li on a trip.

He rode horses and ran on the grassland, taking photos with his wife on a mountain.

One day, while walking in a scenic area with his wife, he unexpectedly met his daughter’s third-grade Chinese teacher.

He Yong didn’t recognize the other person, but his Chinese teacher was impressed by him.

“What’s that on your leg?”

“The mechanical legs, developed by Xiao Ye, will soon be officially launched!”

“Ah, I remember now. He Ye also wrote an essay, right? She figured this out about that kid!”

“Yeah, I never thought this day would come.”

Facing the bright sunshine, He Yong smiled proudly.

He faced some challenges in his life, including a lame leg and a divorce.

But he also had a lot of good fortune, the best of which was meeting the greatest daughter in the world.

-End Extra-