'Dad, I understand': Daughter's patience for policeman father warms netizens' hearts

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How would you feel if you had to wait for hours for someone to turn up to a prearranged dinner? Angry? Disappointed? One junior middle school girl, however, showed great understanding towards her policeman father for turning up late, touching the hearts of tens of thousands of netizens.

The girl waits for her dad inside the lobby of the traffic police station where her father serves. (Photo from Yangtse Evening Post)

Holding her schoolbag and sitting alone inside the lobby of a local traffic police station in Xuzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, the girl was seen in the photo patiently awaiting her father, who failed to fulfill his promise to dine with her due to an unexpected traffic assignment.

Teng Buzhou, who was suddenly called upon on January 5 to ease a traffic jam amid the evening rush hour, despite having already come off duty, said he felt extremely sorry for his daughter having to wait hours for their arranged dinner. He added that he had promised to treat his daughter to “a big meal” as a reward for her hard work preparing for her upcoming exams.

“The road was heaving with traffic due to thick fog and heavy rain,” said Teng, adding that he was too occupied at the time to notice his waiting daughter’s phone calls.

Anxiously expecting Teng’s return for over four hours and turning down multiple invitations from her father’s colleagues for dinner, the girl, however, did not complain in the slightest about having to sit around waiting for her father.

Teng Buzhou on duty on the streets of Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo from Yangtse Evening Post)

At first slightly downhearted when realizing her father had not turned up, upon asking whether her father was off duty, the girl could not help but smile. “I understand you dad,” the girl said, beaming with pride.

Since the photos showing the girl waiting patiently for her traffic police officer dad were posted and extensively shared online, numerous netizens have extended their support for her generosity and thoughtfulness.

“I can’t help but give a thumbs up to the girl for her love and support towards her father,” commented @Juzijiang on China’s Sina Weibo.

“All of us should pay tribute to these dedicated police officers who even sacrifice their personal lives to safeguard our security,” @Zhongguwei said, calling for greater understanding of hardworking police officers.