Chapter 288: All in a Tangle

The Capital City slept soundly that night.

First came a frantic, dog‑mad howl, then a rolling boom from underground, as if a huge beast were about to burst out of the earth.

The beams of Da Za Yuan rattled and creaked, and tiles clattered down.

"The ground is moving!"

Someone shouted, and Zhao Daye, a light sleeper, was the first to dash out of his house after feeling the tremor.

He hadn't even managed to button his undershirt, so he hurried to knock on his two sons' doors, then on Teacher Wu's house, then on Pang Ya's.

"Beitang, Beitang, get up quickly, Ying Ying, stop sleeping… everyone, get out of your houses…"

In the darkness, Zhao Daye's voice was sharp and urgent as he kept knocking on each household's door.

Some families lit their lamps, others kept them off; they had no time to change clothes, flinging doors open and rushing out.

Within moments, dozens of households in Da Za Yuan gathered in the courtyard.

"What's happening, what's this? What just occurred?"

"I don't know, a sudden shake—my Thermos Flask shattered."

"It can't be a nuclear bomb, can it?"

"Doesn't seem like it, it's something moving underground."

"Is that an earth‑dragon turning over?"

"Earth‑dragon turning over? You mean an earthquake!"

"Ah, an earthquake? What magnitude is it, why such a huge commotion?"

Everyone crowded in the courtyard, chattering from all sides, their faces full of shock and panic.

At this moment, the courtyard's de facto leader could play a key role in calming emotions.

But when everyone looked at Wu Guiwen, he shouted, "My television!" and immediately tried to run back inside to fetch it.

The earlier commotion was so huge that everyone was still terrified; if it were an earthquake, re‑entering the houses would be surely dangerous.

Lu Beitang shouted urgently, "Yue Min, grab Teacher Wu quickly; don't let him go back inside."

Yue Min rushed forward and waist‑held him, while Wu Guiwen struggled, "Ah, Yue Min, let me go, I have to get the TV out or it'll get smashed."

"You can't go back in, Teacher Wu, it's too dangerous."

The others, seeing this, recalled that in their haste they hadn't taken out any valuables; even if the items were too big to carry, they still needed to retrieve the money.

Some tried to go back for the money, but Zhao Daye rebuked them.

"What money could you still take? It's too dangerous—if the house collapses, the cash can be dug up, but a person buried inside would die."

Wu Guiwen was on the verge of tears, "But my TV is broken; even if we dig it out, it's useless."

Lu Beitang added from the side, "Teacher Wu, don't act rashly—life is more important than the TV."

Wu Guiwen, still held by Yue Min, said, "I… I still want the TV…"

At that moment, the ground shuddered again, causing everyone to cling to each other; amid the screams, many children burst into tears.

"It's an aftershock; everyone, stay out of the houses and watch over the women and children," Lu Beitang called out.

This time no one needed to persuade him; terrified by the aftershock, Wu Guiwen no longer mentioned retrieving the TV.

Wu Guiwen's mind was already in chaos, and everyone was panicked; at such a moment, the courtyard needed someone to take charge.

In the end, the former leader Zhao Daye took responsibility again.

After this aftershock passes, Zhao Daye shouted, "Everyone, listen to me, don't panic. Each household, first tally your people and see if anyone is still missing. Call them out quickly, and then we can't stay in this courtyard; head straight to the open space in Hu Tong."

Beitang, and you youngsters, keep order; don't panic. If the formation breaks, first get the elders and children outside, and act quickly…

Zhao Daye's words gave everyone a backbone.

Following his instructions, they immediately began counting their own members, and calls for people echoed intermittently in the courtyard.

Chen Xianglan shouted, "Ah, Beitang, where's San'er? He hasn't come out yet? That brat made such a racket and is still sleeping—go call him. Qing Yan, is she out yet?"

Lin Qingyan, holding Pang Ya's child, heard the shout and rushed over, "Mom, I'm out, Lu Cheng has returned to the squad."

"Returned to the squad? At a time like this, why run around the squad?"

"He was urgently recalled to attend a meeting."

Lu Beitang took over, "Qing Yan, Ying Ying, you two find a safe spot quickly; Xianglan, don't worry about Lu Cheng for now—he's back at his post, surely for an emergency."

Chen Xianglan reluctantly nodded; as long as Lu Cheng was out, that was fine.

"Ah, I'm not dressed…"

Yue Min Xifu shouted suddenly, and it was clear she had rushed out wearing only a pair of shorts.

Chen Xianglan, seeing this, quickly stripped off her short jacket and wrapped it around her.

"Oh dear, why the rush? Wrap it up quickly."

"Thank you, thank you, Aunt Xianglan."

"No need to thank me, just get out to a safe place; when it's safe, go back for clothes."

No matter what petty quarrels they usually had, at this moment those minor disputes vanished; everyone showed only solidarity and a spirit of mutual aid.

Hu Tong Li was already packed with people—adults, children, elders, women—some debating, some crying from fright.

Those who fled without clothes and those with extra garments would lend them so the others could cover themselves.

Thus, amid the chaotic clamor, dawn arrived unnoticed.

Those with connections had already inquired and confirmed one thing: it was indeed an earthquake, with the epicenter in nearby He Province.

Everyone, upon hearing this, fell into deep sorrow while worrying for compatriots affected by the disaster.

At dawn, officials from the Street Office arrived to direct the scene, first using a loudspeaker to calm emotions.

Naturally, everyone had many questions; the Street Office staff explained repeatedly, and when that failed, they summoned the courtyard leaders to the office.

Zhao Daye was about to leave, but a recovering Wu Guiwen hurriedly stopped him.

Now Wu Guiwen has officially retired from the school, and his days are basically spent circling Da Za Yuan; at this point, he must shoulder the responsibility.

His performance last night was very poor, which left many people inevitably disappointed in him, and the decision‑maker's status was also questioned.

"Zhao Daye, you rest; leave the rest to me."

Zhao Daye looked at him with a hint of helplessness and said, "Wu Laoshi, you must hold on; we can't have everyone with nothing to do, and you've already fallen."

"Don't worry, don't worry, I will definitely serve everyone well."

Wu Guiwen glanced around and arranged, "You young people have more strength, put in more effort to look after the people in our Da Za Yuan, don't just turn your head and run to other courtyards; take better care of the people in our own courtyard."

By the way, Lu San'er, why hasn't he returned from his post? It's precisely the time to use manpower, how can he run off to work!"