Chapter 257: A Lifeline of Rescue

In the early morning, the disaster area's temporary command center had waterproof tarps spread across the muddy ground; government workers and soldiers hurried back and forth, the ringing of phones and the squawks of walkie-talkies rising one after another.

Xiang Fei, wearing a dark windbreaker and rain boots, strode toward the leader who was directing operations. Behind him, executives of Feimin Entertainment carried several heavy briefcases stuffed full of checks and cash.

"Leader!" Xiang Fei's voice rang out as he reached out and clasped the other's mud-spattered hand. "I'm Xiang Fei of Feimin Entertainment. This is a small token from us."

He stepped aside and gestured; Finance Director Li Mei immediately stepped forward and handed over a list—

"Feimin Entertainment is donating 50 million, employees pooled 30 million, my wife and I are personally donating 10 million, plus Director Chen Kaige 5 million and Teacher Li Xuejian 1 million, totaling 96 million."

The leader took the list, his fingers trembling slightly, his eyes instantly reddening: "President Xiang, this… this is too much, thank you!"

Xiang Fei shook his head and pointed at a row of trucks parked in the distance: "Over there are twenty trucks of relief supplies—tents, medicine, food, drinking water—all urgently allocated."

The leader drew a deep breath, his voice a little choked: "On behalf of the people of the disaster area, thank you…"

Xiang Fei clapped him on the shoulder, his tone firm: "Leader, we're all Chinese—when one side is in trouble, help comes from all sides. Just assign the tasks directly. Everyone at Feimin will follow your command!"

The leader wiped his face, quickly regaining composure, picked up a megaphone and shouted—

"All male comrades, go to Warehouse 3 to help move supplies! Female comrades, go to the temporary kitchen to cook and tend to the wounded!"

The Feimin crowd answered in unison: "Understood!"

The crowd immediately dispersed—male employees rolled up their sleeves and rushed toward the warehouse, while female employees followed the logistics staff to the makeshift disaster-relief kitchen.

Xiang Fei had just taken a step when the leader grabbed his arm: "President Xiang, an entrepreneur like you really doesn't need to personally go to the front line…"

Xiang Fei smiled and pointed at his mud-spattered trouser leg: "Leader, I'm very strong."

With that, he strode toward the warehouse, his back straight as a pine.

In Warehouse 3, mountains of relief supplies needed to be sorted and transported as quickly as possible.

Without a word of hesitation, Xiang Fei hoisted a case of mineral water onto his shoulder and walked steadily toward the transport truck. Seeing this, the male employees of Feimin followed suit one after another—no one complained of being tired, no one grumbled.

Finance Director Li Mei had originally been assigned to logistics, but she squeezed her way into the carrying team anyway: "I'm plenty strong, I can help!"

Li Xin from the Publicity Department recorded the scene on one side while finding time to carry a case of instant noodles on the other: "One more person, one more share of strength!"

Inside the temporary kitchen, Zhou Huimin, wearing an apron, was stir-frying greens over a large wok.

The female artists and female employees of Feimin had clearly divided tasks—some cutting vegetables, some cooking rice, some packing meal boxes.

A white-haired old lady tottered over and grabbed Zhou Huimin's hand: "Dear, you girls are celebrities, aren't you? How can we let you do this kind of rough work…"

Zhou Huimin smiled and shook her head: "Grandma, celebrities are ordinary people too. You go rest first; I'll call you when the food is ready."

The old lady wiped her tears as she walked away, muttering: "Good people… all good people…"

During the midday break, Xiang Fei squatted by the roadside gnawing on a steamed bun when he suddenly heard a commotion.

"Quick! A child is trapped under the rubble over there!"

Xiang Fei sprang to his feet, tossed aside the bun, and dashed over.

In front of the rubble, several soldiers were straining to move aside the broken stones; the child's cries were faint but clear.

Without a word, Xiang Fei dropped to the ground and began clawing away the bricks with his hands: "Kid, don't be afraid, Uncle is here to save you!"

Feimin's employees also joined in one after another; working together, they finally pulled a little boy of six or seven out from the gap.

The boy's face was covered in dust, but he clung tightly to Xiang Fei's neck: "Thank you, Uncle…"

Xiang Fei patted his head, his voice gentle: "Where are your mom and dad?"

The boy lowered his head: "Daddy went to rescue people… he hasn't come back yet…"

Xiang Fei's eyes grew hot; he held the boy tight: "Don't be afraid, Uncle will take you to find them."

Night fell, but the rescue work continued.

Under the searchlights, the figures of Xiang Fei and the Feimin employees kept moving busily.

The leader walked over and handed Xiang Fei a bottle of water: "President Xiang, we really can't thank you enough for today."

Xiang Fei tilted his head back and gulped down some water, shaking his head: "Compared to the PLA and the firefighters, what we've done is trivial."

The leader sighed: "Right now what's most lacking isn't money or supplies, but manpower… especially those who know medicine."

Late at night, inside the temporary medical tent.

Li Miaomiao, an artist under Feimin, was bandaging the wounded, her movements practiced and professional.

Xiang Fei stood outside the tent, gazing at the star-filled sky, and said softly to Zhou Huimin beside him:

"A Min, do you think… what we've done is really enough?"

Zhou Huimin held his hand and said gently: "A single spark can start a prairie fire."

Xiang Fei drew a deep breath and nodded.