Take Arada back to the past

Chapter 804, The End of an Era

Chapter 804, The End of an Era
"Hey kids, stand in the middle of the yard, don't run around."

Yang Xiaole gave a shout.

He approached Grandpa Wang and said, "Grandpa Wang, we're all ready!"

Grandpa Wang asked in confusion, "What preparations are we making?"

"Uncle Wang, I said yesterday that there would be a major earthquake today, and it will be not far to the east of Beijing. Such a large earthquake will have many aftershocks, and the houses will definitely not be safe."

We need to build earthquake shelters. And the weather is very unpredictable after an earthquake; it might rain. That doesn't matter to us, but it's definitely not good for the children!

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Wang exclaimed in surprise, "Really? Is it that serious?"

"It's serious, much more serious than we imagine."

After Yang Xiaole finished speaking, he was still worried.

I wonder how things are going over there.

Old Wang didn't know if he had made any moves.

Besides this, a month later, there will be another day of national mourning.

Quite a few big things happened today!

Grandpa Wang was about to speak.

The ground shook violently again, and I almost lost my footing.

This left everyone feeling lingering fear.

Once things calmed down, they quickly asked, "So what do you suggest? We'll do whatever you say."

Yang Xiaole is, after all, a high-ranking leader.

I have more experience than they do.

Yang Xiaole looked around the courtyard and saw Aunt Zhao crying there.

Then he said, "Don't go into the house now. Don't worry about its value. First, build an earthquake shelter and find the materials yourself. You also need to dig a water channel..."

I've said everything I could.

Upon hearing this, everyone began searching for their belongings.

After Yang Xiaole finished making the arrangements, he said to Xizi, "Xizi, you and Dad set up the earthquake shelter. Here are the keys to Qu Ying's place. Borrow a cart from Uncle Li. I have some materials and tarpaulin. I'll go check on my older brother."

I've notified all my relatives, but I still can't help but feel a little worried.

Xizi nodded seriously: "Okay! Then you go! We'll take care of things here."

Seeing this, Yang Xiaole rode his bicycle away from the compound.

The streets were bustling with people who were terrified when they came out.

The earthquake was so massive that it took ten years just to recover and rebuild.

Keep in mind that this is one of the heavy industrial areas.

Moreover, there were so many casualties.

There are people everywhere.

At this time, the neighborhood committees under the street office began to mobilize.

Even her mother was urgently summoned back.

Qu Ying was holding an emergency meeting at the subdistrict office when she went down to inspect the situation herself.

……

"Sister-in-law!"

Yang Xiaole arrived at his elder brother's building and went straight to his sister-in-law.

"Second uncle~"

The three children saw him and greeted him.

Yang Xiaole nodded: "Okay, you guys go play, but don't wander off."

Then he looked at his sister-in-law: "Is everyone alright? Where's my brother?"

The woman looked shaken: "Yeah, thank goodness! That was really scary. He went to the police station; something this serious definitely needed to be checked out."

Yang Xiaole nodded upon hearing this: "That's good, as long as everyone is alright. If you can't take care of things here, come to my house with me so we can look after each other."

"Okay! We'll see when the time comes! If it doesn't work out, we'll go over there."

"Okay, I'll go check on my older sister and the others!"

Once he was sure everything was alright, he felt relieved, said goodbye, and left.

Then he rode his bike towards his older sister's house.

I found a secluded spot and entered the space.

Ok!

There are no problems with my younger sister, Xiaomai, older sister, and uncle.

After wandering around for a while, it was already dawn before he returned home.

When he returned home, an earthquake shelter had already been set up.

The children have already hidden inside.

As for those without children at home, they have already left.

"how is everything?"

When Xizi saw him coming, she asked him anxiously.

Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "Don't worry, everything's fine! Where did they go?"

"Oh, they went to the main road. They're all staying there! They were called there by the neighborhood committee."

Yang Xiaole nodded slightly upon hearing this.

The main road Xizi mentioned refers to the road near the city hospital, Fuchengmen Inner Street.

It is about twenty meters wide.

Very good at entertaining people.

He looked at the sky and said, "It's raining. Call the children back. Have your father distribute the extra materials to them."

The weather is not going to be very good for the foreseeable future.

Getting caught in the rain is a miserable experience.

As for how to divide it, that's none of his business; after all, there are close and distant relatives within the compound.

Xizi hummed in agreement.

Tell Zhao Xiu'e to go find someone.

Earthquakes are terrifying for adults, but for children, they are a rare spectacle!

After all, the children are out playing.

Yang Xiaole looked at the sky and said, "Keep building. We also need a kitchen. There probably aren't any restaurants open outside right now, but we still need to eat."

Xizi agreed upon hearing this.

Start looking for a suitable location to build the kitchen.

You still have to eat.

Fortunately, the gas stove at home uses liquefied petroleum gas.

Dig holes.

As time went on, the rain grew heavier.

Several children were also called back and settled on beds in the earthquake shelter. They were changed and told not to run around.

Two hours later.

Yang Xiaole set up the kitchen.

Wiping the sweat from his face, he said to his father, "Dad, it's time for me to go to work. I'm leaving the house to you and Xizi. Remember, take out anything that can't be left in the house quickly, and don't linger."

Even though I wore a raincoat beforehand, water still seeped into my face.

Upon hearing this, the father wiped the water from his hair and agreed, "Alright, go ahead and do your thing!"

Seeing this, Yang Xiaole put on his raincoat and rode away.

Upon arriving at work, I quietly changed into a dry set of clothes and then put on a new raincoat before heading to work.

The workplace was bustling with activity at that moment.

Because the houses in the city are very densely packed.

So many local residents have come here.

"Deputy Director Yang!"

Seeing him approach, Jiang Yan called out.

Yang Xiaole stopped and hummed in agreement: "Yeah, is everything alright at home?"

"Hmm, not bad. But what about our unit? Director Li still hasn't arrived!"

Jiang Yan said somewhat anxiously.

Yang Xiaole looked at the site and said, "Okay, you guys go and get the materials first, and have the people in the department set up the earthquake shelter. We'll talk about the rest after I finish this meeting."

A considerable amount of supplies have been prepared.

"it is good!"

Jiang Yan agreed and hurried to make the arrangements.

Yang Xiaole then headed towards the main building.

In the open space, a group of people wearing raincoats were standing in a makeshift tent.

"Deputy Director Yang!"

When they saw him coming, everyone greeted him.

Yang Xiaole nodded slightly and walked in.

Taking off his hat, Yu Yongsheng handed him a towel: "Here, wipe yourself off!"

Yang Xiaole took it and wiped her face.

Then he asked, "Where's Director Li? Not yet?"

Upon seeing this, Yu Yongsheng said, "Director Li's house collapsed, and he was injured and went to the hospital. He probably won't be able to come back for a while. He told us to take care of things at work first."

Yang Xiaole frowned.

Then he asked, "So what do we do now? Do you have any ideas?"

We can't let him take the lead in everything.

Upon seeing this, Yu Yongsheng said, "The unit's vehicles have been dispatched. Take the elderly, women, and children and get in the vehicles first. We'll see how things go with the others later."

Wang Hai, the deputy director standing next to him, also said, "The main thing is to make sure the people are taken care of now!"

Yang Xiaole nodded and said, "I bought a lot of materials and tarpaulins before, and asked them to build earthquake shelters for the people. Each department took the materials and built the earthquake shelters themselves."

Seeing this, Wang Hai agreed: "Okay! I'll go and talk to the neighborhood committee nearby." Yang Xiaole nodded: "Okay! The important thing now is the canteen. There are so many people here, including our own people. They don't dare to go to their homes, so they definitely need to eat. Let's set up the kitchen first and solve the food problem. We can't make do with what we have today. Just steamed buns, porridge, and pickled vegetables. I'll adjust that."

Let's eat first and then talk about it.

Seeing this, Yu Yongsheng said, "Then I'll go and communicate with the department about the matter."

After they agreed on their terms, they went to relay the orders.

The whole compound was in a mess.

Then people began to divide the area into two parts: one part for the general public and another part for their offices.

Looking at the cement house, Yang Xiaole couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't collapse.

The earthquake shelters are for at least one or two months, and many people have even lived there for a year.

Moreover, many earthquake shelters were built but not demolished, and people with limited housing resources continued to live in them.

The whole city was bustling with activity there.

In the afternoon, the People's Daily reported on the earthquake.

As for the extent of the disaster, it is still unknown.

Yang Xiaole was also anxious.

However, he also noted that communication there was almost completely cut off after the earthquake.

The newspapers only reported that relevant departments had urgently established an earthquake relief command center and an earthquake relief office, and at the same time urgently sent telegrams to the whole country for rapid rescue.

Judging from the current situation, even Old Man Wang will not know the result for another half a month.

Now that this has happened, everything except for extremely urgent matters has been suspended.

It's not just them.

People across the country, including those in the military and medical systems, have been notified to urgently mobilize for disaster relief.

Many troops even set off as early as 8:30 in the morning.

……

At that moment, in an office, a group of people were engaged in a heated debate.

Because there are two ships carrying iron ore in Caofeidian carrying a lot of supplies.

Three hundred thousand tents, various waterproof compressed biscuits, and various medicines.

One of the 5-ton cargo ships was entirely filled with bottled mineral water in plastic bottles, all of which were provided free of charge.

The one leading them was Old Man Wang.

These supplies were prepared by Yang Xiaole and arrived at Caofeidian Port on the 27th, only a few dozen kilometers from the earthquake epicenter.

The point of contention.

The question then becomes whether or not aid from the West should be accepted.

Old Wang, of course, argued that Hong Kong Island was originally our own territory, and since it was donated by Chinese people, it couldn't be considered Western aid.

……

After a brief period of agitation, people's emotions began to calm down.

People are queuing up to register for food.

There was no other way; we dared not cook at home, but we needed to exchange food coupons for these meals.

The company doesn't benefit.

Free cooking.

It's not just their company; many companies are like this.

The heavy rain outside started, then stopped, then stopped again.

And it was all torrential rain.

……

By evening, things had calmed down at the office, and Yang Xiaole left after the meeting.

As for the local residents, they are managed by the local neighborhood committee.

When I rode my bike home, my mother, Wang Qiuju, was sitting there looking exhausted.

"Mom, you must be exhausted!!"

Yang Xiaole came over and asked with a smile.

At this moment, another tent was set up in the courtyard, where the young women and wives of the residents were kneading dough.

Each family contributed grain, and they ate together.

Hearing this, the mother sighed, "What do you think! It's exhausting."

Then, as if remembering something, she said, "Oh, right, Xiaoli just came back and said that Wu Gang has been conscripted to go on a rescue mission."

Yang Xiaole was not surprised at all upon hearing this.

After all, the area still needs reconstruction, and the support comes not only from the military but also from many government agencies.

They are mainly capable of doing physical labor.

"Would Xiaoli like to come over?"

"If she doesn't come, Wu Gang's mother will stay home to take care of the children, otherwise how will they go to work!"

"Oh!"

Yang Xiaole nodded slightly.

Then he asked, "Where's Qu Ying? Hasn't she come back yet?"

The mother shook her head: "She's not back yet! I saw her earlier, settling people in. I don't know when she'll be back tonight. Xiu'e just brought her some food."

Yang Xiaole didn't say anything when he saw this.

Since Qu Ying has taken that position, she has to make sacrifices.

Tonight is going to be a tough night!

After all, many people don't have the materials to build earthquake shelters and are searching everywhere for them!
It can be said that they each displayed their unique abilities like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.

……

Two weeks later, any available open space in the city was used as an earthquake shelter.

After all, the population of Four Seasons City is considerable.

Normally you can only tell when people are going to and from get off work; when they leave work, there's a huge crowd.

This is only a portion of the staff who are currently at work.

Now they're all out.

It really is like ants moving house.

Xizi's school was also summoned by a telegram because it needed to participate in disaster relief.

That morning, things were bustling about in the courtyard.

The Zhao family's house collapsed, and everyone in the compound came to help.

The large blue bricks that were previously discarded during the urban cleanup were now in high demand. They had been used when air-raid shelters were being dug.

With the addition of the smaller blue bricks from before, everyone is building a house for the Zhao family!

Yang Xiaole naturally helped out as well, since they were all from the same compound.

"Yang Xiaole! Is Yang Xiaole there?!"

As I was lost in thought, someone entered the courtyard and started shouting.

Yang Xiaole was sitting on the roof beam when he heard this and looked over.

Old Wang's bodyguard.

He quickly agreed, "Hey, I'm here! Wait a minute!"

He shouted and jumped down from the roof beam.

He quickly washed his hands in the sink next to him before coming over.

"what happened?"

Seeing this, the other party handed him a letter: "This is from the commander. He's too busy to come here right now, so he asked me to give this letter to you!"

Yang Xiaole wiped the water off his hands before taking it.

"Okay! Thank you!"

The other party left after hearing this.

After everyone left, Yang Xiaole opened the letter and read it.

There isn't much content.

It mainly consists of preliminary statistics on earthquakes.

After reading it, Yang Xiaole felt relieved, but still felt a little sad.

The death toll is only a fraction of what it was before.

But there are still several thousand people.

The supplies that Yang Xiaole had prepared in advance were delivered to the disaster area on the third day after the incident.

"what happened?"

The old man walked over curiously.