Chapter 2157

Because the rain was too heavy, fearing a possible electric shock accident, the transformer at the village entrance had already been shut down.

And in this era, there was no entertainment to begin with, let alone in a rural area on the outskirts of the city.

Especially with heavy rain outside and light rain inside the house, with basins, jars, and bowls scattered all over the floor and the kang, there was nowhere to go.

Fortunately, it stopped thundering outside, and there was still television to watch, but if the power suddenly went out while watching, then one could only go to sleep.

Dense raindrops beat violently against the ground and the roof, making a pitter-patter sound, like a lullaby.

Soon, most of the villagers fell asleep, and the entire village seemed to be shrouded in a thick black curtain, plunged into deep darkness.

At this time, some people discovered that water had entered the house, but they didn't pay much attention to it; they just cursed and swore, took flashlights or lit candles, and moved all the quilts and clothes from the floor cabinets onto the kang.

But most of the villagers who were already asleep didn't know that water had quietly entered the house and was slowly rising.

If the city hadn't issued a flood warning in advance and Beiliang Village hadn't been a key defense area, something major would definitely have happened tonight.

With the shouting of loudspeakers everywhere, the sleeping villagers were awakened. Those who had flashlights at home could clearly see the light swaying irregularly inside the house.

It was only then that they realized in horror that rainwater had entered the house silently, and the water level was still rising, about to reach the edge of the kang.

For a time, calls for children and mothers echoed from house to house, breaking the original tranquility of the night.

For those families with flashlights, the situation was slightly better.

They could use the faint light to get dressed, pack items, and take care of their families.

However, those families who didn't have flashlights, or even candles prepared, suffered.

They could only grope with difficulty in the pitch-black darkness to put on clothes, and then they got off the kang without any preparation, and then fell into the water with a splash, screaming in terror.

As the doors of each house opened, the villagers helped the old and carried the young out of the house, braving the torrential rain, walking with deep and shallow steps, wading through the floodwater that had reached their waists, and walking carefully toward the gate.

"Brother Zhang, how is it at your place? Do you need help?"

"Fifth Aunt, Fifth Uncle's legs aren't good, don't worry, I'll be there right away, I'll carry Fifth Uncle to the village entrance to gather."

"Child's father, the child and I are fine, you go quickly to the backyard and check on Auntie Liu. She's an old lady nearly eighty years old, her children aren't by her side, the water is so deep, don't let anything happen."

"Brother Chen, Brother Chen, send Sister-in-law and the child to the village entrance, come back and give me a hand, I can't carry my mother on my back alone."

"..."

As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor, especially in the face of disaster, which fully embodied the fine tradition of the Chinese nation: mutual help and assistance.

At the same time, at the entrance of Beiliang Village, District Committee Secretary Cui An and District Mayor Bi Haiyan stood in waist-deep water, holding flashlights and directing the scene.

Fortunately, it was flooding due to low terrain, not mountain torrents or river water, otherwise, in such deep water, one wouldn't be able to stand at all, and a single wave would knock one down.

"Secretary, District Mayor!" Two young men in raincoats walked over with difficulty: "An emergency has occurred in Songming Village, and the Pinggou River water has already overflowed the embankment."

The Pinggou River belongs to a tributary of the Jiangzhou River and hasn't had water for many years. This heavy rain caused the Jiangzhou River to rise sharply, filling the Pinggou River, which had been dry for who knows how many years.

Cui An's head buzzed. The relocation site could barely accommodate the villagers of Beiliang Village, but he didn't know how to solve the problems of eating, drinking, and sanitation. Now an emergency had occurred in Songming Village again. Why did God have to pick on his Beishan District?

Cui An said urgently: "District Mayor Bi, I'll stay here, you take people to Songming Village immediately. Be sure to safely transfer the villagers before the flood arrives."

Bi Haiyan was a woman, and it was the days of her period, so she was already pale from the cold, but she had been gritting her teeth and insisting on staying on the front line.

In fact, Cui An had already discovered that something was wrong with her and had advised her to go back to the district to command, but she didn't agree. Just take this opportunity to let her go to Songming Village. Although an emergency had occurred there, the situation was definitely much better than here.

Bi Haiyan's head also grew big: "Songming Village has a population of nearly three thousand people, where should we arrange them?"

Cui An said without thinking: "Based on the principle of relying on relatives and friends, prioritizing the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled, and then the general personnel, ensure that everyone who should be transferred is transferred, transferred quickly, strictly prevent returning, and fully guarantee the safety of the masses' lives and property.

If there are no relatives or friends, send them all to the relocation site for the time being, muddle through tonight, and think of a way tomorrow. With such a big Jiangzhou city, can't we accommodate these few thousand people?"

"Okay!" Bi Haiyan nodded heavily, then left with more than a dozen people and the two young men, supporting each other.

Seeing Bi Haiyan leave and the villagers gathering around becoming more and more numerous, Cui An said to the village director beside him.

"The village committee and party members immediately conduct door-to-door inspections of residents to check the evacuation situation, must ensure that not one person is left behind, and guarantee the safety of the lives and property of the masses."

"Yes!" The village director promised, then shouted: "All village cadres and party members follow me into the village to inspect house by house."

At this time, Bi Haiyan and the others were holding hands, walking forward along the village road. Because the terrain was getting higher and higher and the water level was getting shallower, their walking speed was getting faster and faster.

"Where did you park your car?"

"Just ahead." A young man pointed to the front, and then let out an 'eh': "It seems like a convoy is coming."

Bi Haiyan stopped, took a breath, and looked up. Sure enough, in the thick rain curtain, lights were vaguely visible.

"It wouldn't be the city's rescue team, would it?"

A middle-aged man wiped the water from his face and said with some uncertainty.

The convoy got closer and closer, and only then did they see clearly that they were all trucks.

Bi Haiyan and the others moved to the side of the road. As the convoy approached, waves rose in the floodwater on the ground, and then the convoy slowly stopped.

The door of the first truck opened, and Yao Jun jumped down from the truck: "Are you from Beiliang Village?"

"Chairman Yao?"

Bi Haiyan took a step forward, raised her flashlight to shine, and after seeing clearly that it was Yao Jun, a smile appeared on her face.

"It really is Chairman Yao, are you going to Beiliang Village?"

"District Mayor Bi!" At this time, Yao Jun also recognized Bi Haiyan: "More than an hour ago, our chairman received a call from Deng Jianxin, the director of the Beishan Police Station, telling us that an emergency had occurred in Beiliang Village.

The district was preparing to organize the villagers to evacuate, but although the district had made preparations in advance, the rain came too fast and too suddenly, and the preparations for relocation were not sufficient, mainly the problem of food and drink, which could not be solved for the time being.

So our chairman promised that the food and drink for the disaster-stricken villagers would be provided by the Yugong Group. Then he asked me to take people to the Beishan Police Station to connect with Director Deng Jianxin, and then go to Beiliang Village together to assist the district in carrying out the villagers' evacuation work."

At this time, Deng Jianxin also got off the truck and saluted Bi Haiyan first.

"District Mayor, I am Deng Jianxin, director of the Beishan Police Station. After I received the information about the emergency in Beiliang Village, I immediately contacted Chairman Zhou of the Yugong Group.

He told me that the Yugong Group is responsible for all the food and drink for the evacuated villagers, and the food has already started to be loaded. As long as the disaster-stricken villagers reach the relocation site, food and water will be delivered immediately."

"That's great!"

Bi Haiyan slapped her thigh excitedly, then shook Yao Jun's hand to express her gratitude.

"Thank you, thank you!"

Then, Bi Haiyan looked at Deng Jianxin again, with a very satisfied smile on her face.

"I didn't expect Comrade Deng Jianxin to have this relationship with Chairman Zhou. Not bad, I'll record a great achievement for you this time."

"This is all what I should do."

At this time, Deng Jianxin didn't want to take credit, as long as the leader could remember his name, the benefits in the future would definitely be indispensable.

Bi Haiyan was even more satisfied. Not taking credit, this is a talent worth cultivating.

"Okay, the situation is urgent now, you guys hurry up and go."

Yao Jun asked: "District Mayor Bi, where are you going?"

"An emergency has occurred in Songming Village." Bi Haiyan's tone became a bit heavy: "I'll go over and take a look, and organize the evacuation of the villagers."

"An emergency has also occurred in Songming Village?" Yao Jun frowned, then said to the two people behind him: "You take two trucks and go to Songming Village with District Mayor Bi. After our mission here is finished, we will go over immediately."

"Yes!" The two stood at attention and turned to get into the truck.

"District Mayor Bi!" Yao Jun said: "You'd better take the truck, there are some road sections in the city where jeeps can't pass."

"Thank you, thank you so much." Bi Haiyan was truly moved, thanked Yao Jun again, and then got into the truck.

Watching them leave, Yao Jun waved his hand: "Get on the truck!"

Cui An watched the villagers gathering more and more, especially the young children, who had to be held or carried, because the water was too deep, and if they were put down, they would disappear.

Cui An shouted at the top of his lungs: "Hurry up, Director Liu, you take people and organize the villagers to evacuate to higher ground. Especially the elderly and children, be sure to watch them well."

Although the distance to higher ground was not far, about two kilometers, it was pitch black now, the surrounding situation was unknown, and there was a possibility of encountering danger at any time. Especially the elderly and children, who had no ability to resist risks, and once something happened, it would be a major event.

Suddenly, someone shouted: "Secretary, look quickly, it seems like a convoy is coming."

Not just Cui An, everyone who heard it looked up.

Soon, the convoy drove over, and before the vehicles stopped, Cui An waded through the water with difficulty to meet them.

Yao Jun saw someone coming and hurriedly asked the driver to stop, and the vehicles behind also stopped.

Yao Jun opened the truck door, not caring how deep the water was, jumped down, and it immediately went over his waist.

"Secretary Cui, how is the situation?"

There were many people here, many flashlights, and plus the headlights, the surrounding situation could still be seen clearly.

"Chairman Yao!" Cui An shook hands with Yao Jun: "You guys are..."

"Our chairman asked me to take people to assist the district in carrying out the villagers' evacuation work." Yao Jun pulled Deng Jianxin: "Let Director Deng Jianxin of the Beishan Police Station tell you the detailed situation."

Deng Jianxin saluted and repeated what he had said to Bi Haiyan.

Cui An was not surprised that the Yugong Group was responsible for the food and drink of the disaster-stricken villagers. Given Zhou Andong's character, this was within reason.

Moreover, when other places were hit by disasters, the Yugong Group donated money and materials, and if his own home was hit by a disaster, he would ignore it; Zhou Andong would absolutely never do such a thing.

And what surprised him was that with such heavy rain, all government departments were preventing floods, and enterprises were naturally the same. He never expected that Zhou Andong would send people to assist them in their work, and it was Yao Jun who came in person.

"Chairman Yao, thank you so much. With such heavy rain and such deep water, I was just worrying about what to do with the elderly and children, and you guys descended from the sky."

"Don't say thank you yet."

Yao Jun glanced at the villagers who were pale from the cold, especially the elderly and children, who looked very bad.

"Hurry up and arrange for the elderly and children to get on the trucks, and send them to the relocation site as soon as possible."

"Right, right, right!" Cui An shouted: "Hurry up and let the elderly and children get on the trucks."

When the villagers heard that these trucks were here to pick them up, especially those with old people above and children below, their tense mood suddenly relaxed, and they were so excited that they almost shouted 'Long live Zhou Andong'.

At this time, if something really happened, it might be life-threatening.

The villagers orderly put the children into the truck bed, and then helped the elderly get on the truck.

After being busy for more than half an hour, the elderly and children were all on the trucks.

Watching the convoy leave, breaking through the waves, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Cui An smiled and said: "As long as the elderly and children are safe, more than half of our mission is completed."

"Pah!" Yao Jun wiped the water from his face and spat: "Did you check the village? Have all the people been evacuated?"

"I've already arranged for people to check." Cui An said with a relaxed mood: "There should be no problem now."

"Secretary!" A village cadre said: "The water has risen again, we'd better move to higher ground as soon as possible."

"Let's go!" Cui An waved his hand: "Go to higher ground!"

Yao Jun said to the few people beside him: "You guys stay behind to meet the comrades who are checking in the village."

"Yes!" Several people saluted.

Cui An hurriedly said: "No need to leave people."

Yao Jun waved his hand: "They are all retired soldiers, their swimming skills are very good, don't worry."

"Okay!"

Since Yao Jun said so, Cui An naturally couldn't say anything more, not to mention that he was also worried about those who were still left in the village.

Nearly an hour later, Cui An and Yao Jun led thousands of villagers and finally arrived at higher ground. At this time, the whole world was no longer so pitch black, but had become gray.

"It's almost dawn."

Yao Jun glanced in the direction of Beiliang Village. Even though he couldn't see anything, he knew in his heart that if the rain continued like this, by the time it was fully bright, Beiliang Village would probably have completely disappeared.

As time passed bit by bit, the gray sky brightened a lot, and at this moment, someone suddenly said.

"The rain seems to have lessened."

Yao Jun reached out to sense it: "Indeed, it has lessened quite a bit."

The sound of car engines came, the convoy returned, and Cui An arranged for the women to get on the trucks.

When the convoy returned again, it was already dawn, and the surrounding scenery could be seen clearly.

When the last wave of women was taken away, the rain had lessened even more. Not only Cui An and Yao Jun, but the villagers also breathed a long sigh of relief.

Soon, it was fully bright. Standing on high ground and looking at Beiliang Village in the distance, it was already a vast expanse of water, and the houses in the lowest areas only had their roofs left.

In higher places, the houses were also half-submerged. For example, the village office was on higher terrain, but it was also flooded.

The villagers looked at their submerged homes, each with a very heavy expression, and some even couldn't help but cry.

For them, the house was everything. Now that their home was gone, the hope for life was also gone.

At this time, the village cadres and party members responsible for checking house by house, including the people Yao Jun left there, walked slowly from a distance.

After arriving nearby, the village cadres and party members sat on the ground exhaustedly.

A village cadre reported to Cui An: "Secretary, the villagers have all been evacuated, not one person was left behind."

"It's good that no one was left behind, it's good that no one was left behind."

Cui An breathed a long sigh of relief. His pressure was the greatest. Once something happened, he would be the first to be held accountable by his superiors.

"I don't know how things are over in Songming Village."

The rain was getting lighter and lighter, becoming a drizzle. Yao Jun unbuttoned his raincoat, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and distributed a round to Cui An and the village cadres and party members who had just returned.

"There shouldn't be anything wrong over there, otherwise news would have come long ago."

"That's true!"

Cui An cupped his hands around Yao Jun's lighter, lowered his head to light the cigarette, and then took a deep puff.

"I hope this rain doesn't fall anymore."

Yao Jun also lit his cigarette: "Our chairman said that according to the data from the Meteorological Bureau, this rain won't end completely until the night of the 13th."

How could Cui An not know? He said this just to comfort himself.

"Let's not wait any longer, we're all grown men, let's just walk back, and if we meet the convoy, we'll get on the trucks."

"Let's go, let's go!" The village director greeted people: "We'll walk back ourselves, hurry to the relocation site, change clothes, eat a hot meal, and then have a good sleep."

After tossing and turning all night and soaking in the water all night, they were tired and hungry, and their stomachs were already sticking to their backs.

But their homes were flooded, and they seemed to have lost their souls, following along listlessly.

After walking for more than ten minutes, the convoy arrived. After all, it was dawn, the rain had gradually stopped, and the vehicles naturally moved faster.

Moreover, they suddenly discovered that there were more than a dozen more trucks, all with the words 'Yugong Group' printed on the doors.

The convoy stopped, and Zhou Andong jumped down from the first truck.

When Cui An saw it was Zhou Andong, he hurriedly greeted him: "Chairman Zhou, why did you come in person?"

"I'm worried about the villagers of Beiliang Village!" Zhou Andong shook hands with Cui An: "If it weren't for the serious flooding in the factory last night and the fact that the situation in each branch factory was not optimistic, I had to stay in the group, I would have come over last night."

"The villagers of Beiliang Village have all been evacuated." Cui An said with a smile: "I want to thank you, Chairman Zhou, on behalf of the vast masses of Beiliang Village. If it weren't for you sending people and vehicles, the elderly and children wouldn't have been transferred out so quickly."

"I am a Jiangzhou person, born in Jiangzhou, raised in Jiangzhou, drinking Jiangzhou water." Zhou Andong scanned the villagers: "They are all my brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts.

If I didn't have the ability, I wouldn't say anything, but since I have the ability and can do something within my power for them, how could I watch my brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts encounter difficulties and remain indifferent?"

Zhou Andong's words made the hearts of the village secretary and villagers around him very warm, and even the coldness from soaking in the water all night was dispelled.

Cui An was also very moved. If someone else said this, they wouldn't believe it, but they believed what Zhou Andong said, and they believed it 100% without any discount.

"Chairman Zhou, thank you!"

"Chairman Zhou, thank you!"

"Chairman Zhou, thank you!"

"..."

For a time, the sounds of 'Thank you, Chairman Zhou' echoed one after another. Those in the back didn't know what had happened, but when they saw Zhou Andong had come, they also followed along and shouted.

Listening to the sounds of 'thank you' and looking at the simple faces of the villagers, Zhou Andong felt that his efforts were worth it.

"Alright!" Zhou Andong waved his hand and shouted loudly: "Everyone must be starving, hurry up and get on the trucks. Food and drink have already been delivered to the relocation site, and you'll just make it in time for breakfast when you arrive."

"Get on the trucks, get on the trucks—"

The village director greeted the villagers to get on the trucks. For some reason, ever since they saw Zhou Andong, the villagers swept away the fatigue on their bodies, and their spirits were much better.

Even the sadness of losing their homes was dispelled quite a bit. One by one, they started climbing onto the trucks, and the volume of their chatting and talking increased unconsciously.

The relocation site was the district grain depot. Three empty grain warehouses accommodated the people. Although it was a bit crowded, there was no problem living there for a few days for the time being.

When Zhou Andong arrived, eight large pots had already been set up in the grain depot courtyard, and the water inside was already boiling.

Yugong Group employees wearing red volunteer vests and government personnel were throwing basins of opened instant noodles and seasonings, as well as sliced ham sausages, into the pots, and the fragrance drifted far away instantly.

In this era, instant noodles were good things, not to mention ham sausages. Therefore, the eight large pots were already surrounded by children, watching the pots eagerly, unable to help but take deep breaths.