Chapter 778 - 509: You’re Here Again?

Fang Huai didn’t just "take a break" when he fell asleep—it was a full 20 hours.

He Zhijun couldn’t wake him regardless of how much he shouted, so in desperation, he used the two-way radio to report that Fang Huai had not slept for four days and was now unconscious.

At this, the people outside went into a frenzy.

Everyone started discussing whether Commander Fang had gotten any sleep.

It turned out that since the 5th, when Fang Huai arrived on the scene, there were constant calls for him on the two-way radio, and there was never a moment when he couldn’t be reached.

In the hustle and bustle of the rescue site, where people were tirelessly at work, no one realized that Fang Huai had been working non-stop for a full four days!

This challenging location, thanks to Fang Huai’s race against time, managed to save a dozen people in a timely manner, and also, the 19 people trapped beneath the mine were given a chance to live on!

The Leadership at Command hurried to the scene after learning about the situation. The mayor immediately reported the achievements of the rescue operation and Fang Huai’s current condition to the leadership in Beijing, who were supposed to be handling urgent affairs but were still in charge of the rescue operations.

Thinking of the young man who always seemed full of energy, leadership was deeply moved and immediately gave a serious directive:

"All-out Rescue! Save the miners, but especially the hero! Act quickly! Don’t waste the precious time the hero bought with his life!"

With that, the rescue team at the front lines ramped up their efforts, restarting the digging of the ten meters covering them with safer, more secured methods.

However, the mine continued to leak water, adding significant difficulty to the excavation.

It wasn’t until Fang Huai was woken by the sound of He Zhijun talking into the two-way radio that he realized he was still in the mine, hearing the roar of the excavators above.

The moment he woke up and stirred, the miner who had been using his thigh as a pillow shouted in surprise, "He’s awake, he’s awake!"

When he heard that Fang Huai had awoken, He Zhijun immediately turned on the headlamp he had been conserving, and the feeble lights in the miners’ hands were switched on too, shining towards Fang Huai.

Once Fang Huai adjusted to the light, the first thing he saw was a miner’s jacket on his body and the miners staring at him intently.

In their eyes, there was no panic, but their intense gaze made him somewhat uncomfortable.

He Zhijun quickly pulled him aside and whispered the current situation on the surface and shared the day’s events.

In order to soothe the miners’ nerves, He Zhijun was forced to tell them that the unconscious man was the front-line commander, and that Command would definitely come to save him, to save everyone.

Latter, he also chatted with the miners, meticulously explaining the situation outside, how Commander Fang and the soldiers were doing everything they could to save them, and thousands of people were fighting for their survival, encouraging them to keep the faith.

So during the 20 hours Fang Huai slept, the miners, who had eaten and regained their strength, took turns holding Fang Huai, covering him with their clothes, and using their thighs as his pillow.

During those 20 hours, there was almost no light in the tunnel, but the quietly sleeping Fang Huai was their beacon of hope.

Fang Huai, upon learning all this and that at least half a day was needed for the digging above to be completed, felt much more at ease, and started chatting with the miners.

Those most uncomfortable had been sent up first, and the rest, after having something to eat, were in not too bad shape. As soon as Fang Huai started talking, everyone eagerly joined in, conversation jumping from one topic to the next.

"It was just past 3 o’clock that day, we were all on the track, and we felt a shake from outside. Someone yelled that the mine had collapsed, and we rushed to escape. In the end, the mine hadn’t collapsed, but the exit was sealed off, and then we lost power..."

"Of the three bosses, one probably died above..."

"When we come down here, it’s always following the rats carefully; they’re good things in the mine. Wherever they can go, so can we, and rats are more sensitive than humans. They know when there’s danger."

"How do we usually go down into the mine, huh? By car! There’s an elevator for going up and down. Once down, there are monorail carts, sitting on them feels like sliding!"

"Yes, there are refuge chambers, where sitting inside won’t get you crushed! But without food or water, you’d still die. So we had to come out and look for water..."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Fang Huai asked many questions about the mine below, continuously understanding the structure below and the miners’ lives. Once back, he planned to provide the Squadron soldiers with a thorough lesson, teaching them the experiences both above and below the mine while their interest was high.

A major rescue operation like this one, combined with theoretical teaching, could turn many in the Squadron into experts in related rescue fields.

Such valuable experience.

He Zhijun, sitting beside him, was quietly learning as well. What he was learning was Fang Huai’s habit of studying at all times and places.

Only such a person is worthy of becoming a reformer of the era, he thought.

...

The moment they saw daylight again came in the evening of that same day.

"It is now June 10th, 8:03 pm, and we are witnessing all of the miners who have been trapped underground for nearly 125 hours being safely rescued! This is heartening news for the entire nation!"

"We can see that the rescue operations continue at the foot of the mountain! Truly embodying the spirit, ’Never Give Up!’"

When Fang Huai was the last to come out of the mine, he heard the voices of reporters broadcasting from the slope top.

Just as he was about to jog up, Commander Chang rushed down with two people, shouting anxiously to greet him.

"Has Fang Huai come out? Did Fang Huai make it out?"

They met right at the entrance.

As their eyes met, Commander Chang’s expression was somewhat embarrassed.

"How did you walk out?"

Fang Huai paused for a moment, "I walked out of the entrance, of course!"

With a click of his tongue, Commander Chang said, "No... I meant how come you are walking out? Weren’t you unconscious? Lie down quickly!"