Free Web NovelChapter 379: Chapter 307: Wading, Arrival (5K5)_3
"If you stay at home without getting a job, our family will have an extra pair of chopsticks to feed. If the floods really came, the potatoes we scramble for wouldn’t even be enough to keep you alive."
Pointing out sore spots was Fang Huai’s strong suit.
Zhang Yang clenched his fists tightly.
Some people respond to a challenge.
"How can you say I didn’t send money? Ask Squad Leader Zhao, he even helped me send it!" Zhang Yang shouted loudly.
After provoking him, it’s necessary to comfort him to let him feel the warmth of the troops as a family.
Zhao Jinchen had been waiting for an opportunity to speak up for Zhang Yang:
"That’s right! In the past two months, Zhang Yang has been sending home 700 a month! He even gave up his high-risk allowance and sent it back. I helped him with it! He said once he becomes a non-commissioned officer, he plans to send 1,500! Isn’t that right?
Zhang Yang has really grown up recently!
Fang Huai, his family circumstances are not the same as yours. If you were in his shoes, you couldn’t save as much money as he does!"
With that said, he wrapped an arm around Zhang Yang.
In the truck, the front row trio—Old Fang, Old Hao, Old Cao—all tacitly began to voice their "support" for Zhang Yang.
"Little Fang, you’re rich and don’t understand how hard it is for conscripts to save money. Zhang Yang is doing much better than we did in the past; all we did then was smoke, gamble, and drink."
"Well, Zhang Yang has really changed a lot since I joined," said Old Cao, shamelessly.
Cao Yi was even more unabashed: "Tsk, Fang Huai, you ’Landlord’s son’, who can compete with you?"
The only one who didn’t speak was Han Yong.
At this point, he didn’t even understand what was going on, but hearing everyone complain about the "second generation heir" made him a little anxious.
After thinking for a while, he stammered:
"I... I haven’t been wasting money! Just last time, when you all left, I bought some peace buckles!"
This time Zhang Yang was really warmed up. Since Fang Huai joined the squad, he’s won numerous commendations, but today, because of him, he ended up being picked on by everyone.
Fang Huai sat there, eyes closed, not saying a word.
F*ck.
Other people
If I had a hook in my hand, I’d pull your stomachs out!
You’ve eaten my food, now vomit it all out!
...
The rain outside grew heavier and heavier.
The occasional pattering of large raindrops was now drowned out by a steady downpour.
Thankfully, they were on a downhill highway with a large drainage ditch alongside that was removing the water, preventing the road from becoming overly flooded.
But halfway through, they encountered a section of collapsed cement road, half destroyed, whether eroded or smashed, exposing the deep gully underneath. The gravel that should have supported the road was visibly lacking the cement and asphalt mixture, having been completely washed away, leaving the roadside retaining wall exposed.
Clearly, this was one of the infamous ’tofu-dreg projects’.
Natural Disasters act as a quality inspection system. After the fact, there would probably be some owner dragged out to take responsibility.
Passing by this pit made everyone go by the other half with extreme caution.
During the half-hour ride, Fang Huai sat in the back, glaring at the three ’betrayed loyalty’ old men in front of him.
The trio felt their backs prickle and couldn’t stop coughing dryly, but nobody spoke a word.
Except for Old Fang, who, upon encountering a high spot by the roadside with a house lit by candlelight, rolled down the window to call out to the people inside, asking for directions.
Just the few words exchanged with the window open let in rain that soaked half of Fang Hongliang’s body. When he closed the window, he was able to wring water out of his sleeves.
"This rain is really heavy!"
Not only was the rain heavy, but the wind was strong, too. Opening the window for just a moment had caused the temperature inside the truck to drop several degrees.
On the journey, they realized why no one had gone to Bianwang Village—it had its reasons.
The place seemed very secluded with many twists and turns; every crossroad led further away, and the roads grew increasingly narrow, changing from two lanes to a single lane.
Having traveled for quite a while, when the water on the road had built up to twenty or thirty centimeters, they once again encountered a middle-aged man in rain gear and water boots, wading out through the water.
The truck slowly came to a stop, and everyone knew the window had to be opened again.
Everyone instinctively shrank back inside.
Zhang Yang, who was already feverish, shivered even more.
As soon as Fang Hongliang opened the window, the wind and rain poured in together.
"Locals, how do I get to Bianwang Village?"
The person stopped beside the car window and pointed backward, loudly saying:
"Are you here for the flood rescue? Take the road past the front towards the field, and after a few hundred meters, you’ll be there! This vehicle of yours..."
The local eyed the fire truck and hesitated:
"This vehicle... it should be able to make it! Drive slow! There’s a section of the road washed out, with pits this deep!" He exclaimed, having almost twisted his ankle earlier.
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, indicating a height of about ten centimeters.
At that moment, Fang Huai sized up the man and said, "Where are you heading, local? Get in, we’ll take you! We have to head out again too!" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
The man pulled down his raincoat hood, squinted his eyes, and said, "My house is too low to keep the water out, I’m going to a relative’s house for shelter! It’s just outside, I’ll get there quickly, you don’t need to worry about me!
Many people inside have suffered disasters! Some are trapped in their homes, unable to get out because the water’s too fierce; we couldn’t rescue them, but now that you’re here, it’s good! Just go quickly!"
"Thank you, local!" Fang Hongliang said, then slowly rolled up the window.
The man waved his hand and sloshed away toward the distance.
After closing the window again, everyone inside felt a bit heavy-hearted.
On their way here, they’d seen houses built on higher ground with the rainwater flowing down, none yet submerged, so despite rueing the heavy rain, their mood wasn’t too somber.
But now, hearing the words of this villager, everyone grew tense.
So many homes?
Cao Yi picked up the two-way radio and said, "We’re about to reach Bianwang Village, the situation might be quite serious, there’s a large pit ahead, vehicles should proceed slowly."
"Received, received."
As they neared their destination, no one inquired about the situation over the two-way radio anymore.
The situation, they were about to see for themselves soon.
They hadn’t gone much farther when the vehicle abruptly jolted downward.
The waterline on the fire truck suddenly rose.
Below the truck, yellow water surged wave after wave, the condition of the road ahead was completely unpredictable.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Fang Huai yelled.
The truck jolted to a halt again, and Fang Huai immediately rose, squeezed past Han Yong beside him, opened the car door and, while getting out, said, "Wait for me to grab a couple of insulated sticks to probe the way ahead! Follow me with the truck!"
"Hey, don’t..." Cao Yi began, but Fang Huai had already left the vehicle, his leg halfway submerged in water. Looking ahead at the turbulent waves, he could only say:
"Be careful!"
Hao Chengbin also popped his head out: "Take care!"
Squinting his eyes, Fang Huai opened the equipment compartment, searching for the right tools.
Cold.
The moment he stepped out of the vehicle, the most immediate sensation was the cold.
With the wind and rain combined, the temperature naturally plummeted.
The surrounding air was barely more than ten degrees, the water even colder.
Despite Fang Huai’s robust constitution, the sudden chill made him shiver.
But soon enough, his body’s ability to adjust made him feel warm again.
Armed with two extendable insulated sticks, he waded through the water, probing the way ahead while signaling for the truck to follow.
Over a distance of a little more than a hundred meters, the water seemed to rise even higher.
More precisely, the road dropped lower.
Turning back, Fang Huai saw the water was already at door level, and the truck, dozens of meters behind, with Squad Leader Fang at the wheel, proceeded carefully, cautiously braking, not daring to advance too hastily.
A fire truck, unlike a private car, has much better water drainage and fording capabilities. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to drive into such conditions.
But after all, it was still a vehicle, and if the water got deeper, a single moment of carelessness, pressing down on the accelerator or stopping to change gears could mean disaster all the same.
Fang Huai had no choice but to raise his hand, motioning for the truck to slow down even more while he quickly probed the way ahead.
Luckily, there was a somewhat higher area ahead; wading through the water there was only twenty or thirty centimeters deep, a relatively safe depth for a fire truck.
Only then did Fang Huai wave them over.
But, the truck could only stop here.
Because what lay ahead in the village was already in plain sight.
(I was delayed going out today, so here’s a long Chapter for now, I’ll think of adding another in the middle of the night)
