Chapter 180: with translation of chapter title

On the way back to Xirong Province, Liang Jingzhong had no mind to admire the vast sea of clouds outside the aircraft window, nor was he in the mood to sigh over why the afterglow of the setting sun was so magnificent.

His mind was full of Lin Dongfan's earthquake prophecy.

As a solid regional high official, Liang Jingzhong had always stood in the commander's position; this time, however, he reversed roles and followed Lin Dongfan's orders, taking the 'prophecy' seriously.

Victory makes a king, defeat makes a bandit; honor and disgrace hinge on this battle.

He simply hoped that Lin Dongfan kid wasn't spouting nonsense; at thirty, about to become a father, he shouldn't be so childish as to treat politics as a game.

The special plane arrived at Qingshu Airport in Xirong Province at 6:25 p. m.

At 7 o'clock, a special meeting was convened.

Considering the credibility issue of the 'earthquake prophecy,' Liang Jingzhong could not directly tell people at the meeting that Qingshu would suffer a major earthquake, or he would be questioned.

In order to advance disaster prevention and mitigation work in a reasonable and justified manner.

To avoid giving others a handle to attack him.

Liang Jingzhong racked his brains and came up with an 'earthquake drill' plan, ordering at the meeting that all officials of Qingshu City implement the drill plan.

The plan was to start at 00:00 on April 14, launching a city-wide earthquake drill.

That way, even if Lin Dongfan's prophecy was unreliable and no major earthquake occurred, there would be no need to worry about negative repercussions later.

However, others could treat the 'drill' as just a drill.

Liang Jingzhong could not!

Liang Jingzhong had to treat the 'earthquake drill' as a real earthquake disaster; after all, it was a matter of life and death, allowing no room for carelessness.

With so many citizens in the city, not everyone was willing to cooperate with the drill.

Moreover, the drill was to take place in the middle of the night.

Considering that some people might linger in bed, refusing to get up and flee, Liang Jingzhong ordered all units: 'The safety of the people's lives and property comes above all. This drill must involve every citizen. For those elderly, weak, sick, or disabled with limited mobility, the armed police need to carry them to safety…'

Thus, a grand earthquake drill kicked off under Liang Jingzhong's command.

00:00 on April 14.

Air-raid sirens sounded over Qingshu City, and every citizen received a uniform text message ordering evacuation to the designated safe zone.

At the outset, indeed many people couldn't be bothered to respond.

Grassroots staff drove patrol cars, mounting loudspeakers to broadcast along the streets: 'We are guarding against earthquakes, protecting lives; please, citizens, actively cooperate with the earthquake drill…'

Someone opened a window and complained: 'What's this soul-calling? When will it end? Holding a drill in the middle of the night—what time is it now? Are we even allowed to sleep?'

This was not an isolated case.

Far away in Wuzhou, Lin Dongfan also stayed awake all night, continuously watching the earthquake drill livestream online.

Conducting an online livestream was Lin Dongfan's suggestion to Liang Jingzhong; for something awesome, the whole world ought to see it.

"Honey, will Qingshu really have an earthquake tonight?"

Without her husband to warm the bed, Chu Lingxi also couldn't sleep; she threw on her pajamas and brought Lin Dongfan a cup of hot tea to help him stay alert.

Lin Dongfan firmly emphasized the magnitude: 'It's a 7.1‑magnitude major earthquake.'

"Judging from the current situation, it looks like many people are lying in bed asleep, not cooperating at all." Chu Lingxi, her belly prominent, also gave Lin Dongfan a shoulder rub.

Lin Dongfan patted the bare hand on his shoulder: "Don't worry, they won't stay calm for long."

In Lin Dongfan's view: tonight, Qingshu! All those who grumble and complain will ultimately have to submit to nature's might.

Time ticked by, second by second.

When the hands pointed to 5:39:57, the first quake struck, magnitude only 4.7, with noticeable shaking in the epicentral zone.

This tremor woke countless people from their dreams.

"Earthquake! Run!"

The person who had lingered in bed, unwilling to get up, now had no time to put on clothes or pants; wrapped in a blanket, he bolted downstairs.

The online livestream platform also exploded:

"Damn! Weren't we told it was a drill? How did it become real!"

"Nature is cooperating with the newly appointed Secretary Liang to stage an earthquake drill—haha, it's awesome to an excessive degree, giving this leadership a big score."

"They've all come out, yet she goes back inside to grab stuff? What's wrong with that aunt?"

"She went home to put on pants."

"Just cover your face; why bother with pants?"

"When did our national earthquake bureau become so awesome? It's unbelievable that they could predict a quake a day in advance."

"No, wasn't it supposed to be at 7:49? It's only 5:39 now—130 minutes off. And the magnitude is wrong too; that little shaking just now couldn't be 7.1."

"This is just the first quake; the main event will come in 130 minutes."

That brief popular-science comment below was posted by Lin Dongfan.

In Lin Dongfan's previous life's memory, many people, even after feeling the first tremor and running outside to look around, would see nothing amiss and then calmly go back indoors to sleep.

They never imagined that the real major quake would strike two hours later.

This time, with the 'earthquake drill' backing, the situation was totally different; after the first quake, many became convinced it was not a drill.

That 130‑minute interval was, in effect, the awakening time granted by Heaven to everyone!

Not long after.

Those who had lingered at home were all moved to safe zones, but to avoid missing anyone, patrol cars kept looping the loudspeaker announcements, and the armed police continued their house‑to‑house searches.

All the way until dawn.

When the hands reached 7:49:40, the 7.1‑magnitude major quake arrived as scheduled; in an instant, 90% of buildings collapsed into rubble.

This terrifying destructive force left countless people holding their breath in shock.

If Secretary Liang had not organized this earthquake drill, how many would have died today? No one dares to imagine that number—not even Liang Jingzhong himself.

It happened!

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake really happened!

The timing was exact, down to the minute and second!

I guessed right!

Liang Jingzhong got through to Lin Dongfan's phone, so excited he was somewhat incoherent: "You little brat, are you happy? You changed my fate, and also the fate of countless people……"

"If you dare go get a marriage license with my aunt and tie the knot, I'll be even happier." Lin Dongfan seized the chance to turn the tables on Liang Jingzhong, laughing like a villain.

Liang Jingzhong stood at the entrance of the earthquake drill command headquarters, avoiding passersby, and replied in a low voice: "You bring up the sore spot. I'm just asking you: now a 7.1-magnitude earthquake really occurred; later, if people ask me how I predicted this earthquake, what should I say then?"

"You can come up with a plan for the earthquake drill, but you can't come up with a single explanation?" Lin Dongfan replied.

Liang Jingzhong, smiling, criticized: "You little brat, don't take advantage and then act innocent; I'm giving you a chance to further prove yourself now, so don't fail to appreciate it."

"I trust you as much as a hammer, figure it out yourself."

Lin Dongfan hung up after saying that; whoever wants to use their brain can use it—this young master won't harm his own brain cells.

He also didn't have the time to think about it.

His phone was about to blow up from the flood of messages.

Uncle Lin Zhenhua: "Dongfan, how did you predict the earthquake? Your accuracy is a bit outrageous."

Old Sir said: "I'll log a merit for you; hurry back to Jing. You like the courtyard house in Jing Erhuan, don't you? Grandpa still has some private savings—I'll get you another one."

Aunt Lin Yuzhi said: "Come clean, what else can you predict? I don't want to know anything else right now; I just want to know whether getting my corn removed can be done in one cut."