Chapter 289: The Hearth

Chen Xianglan heard his words and instantly became displeased.

"Hey, I'm talking to Teacher Wu, what you said is wrong. Which is more important, the little family or everyone? My Lu Cheng serves everyone, he's not out having fun."

We still don't know the exact situation in He Province; we only hear rumors from the neighbors, everything is being said, and we have no idea which to believe.

But based on the intense shaking felt throughout Capital City last night, the situation on the ground is likely even worse.

Zhao Daye stepped forward and said, "Xianglan is right; Lu San'er is different from us. He's a Railway police officer, the nation needs him more. We can't help, nor can we hold him back. We just need to take good care of our own courtyard."

Wu Guiwen opened his mouth and said, "I was just speaking offhand. Anyway, I'm going to the Street Office for a meeting now; wait for my news."

After Wu Guiwen left, Chen Xianglan was still sulking; although she said it that way, she was actually very worried about her son.

Lin Qingyan came over, comforting Chen Xianglan: "Mom, don't worry. I'll first go to Xu Erye's place, then head to Beijing Station to check on Lu Cheng."

"To Xu Erye's place?"

"Yes, with something this big happening, I want to go on Lu Cheng's behalf and see if Xu Erye needs anything."

Chen Xianglan slapped her forehead: "Oh dear, I'm all flustered. Qingyan, you're thoughtful. Fine, you go. It would be best to have Xu Erye stay here; his little shed can't hold up."

Lin Qingyan responded with a nod and went to the shantytown.

It was chaotic there as well; after meeting Xu Erye successfully, he had no real needs, and the old man stubbornly refused to leave the shantytown.

Lin Qingyan had to go find Lu Cheng and ask him to speak, but when she inquired at the station, Lu Cheng wasn't in Capital City at all; he had boarded a train to He Province to transport supplies.

Returning to Hu Tong, she told Chen Xianglan about it, which made Chen Xianglan even more worried.

Lu Beitang said beside them, "It's fine; Qingyan already said he's going to transport supplies. That's not only a mission but also an honor."

Chen Xianglan gave a blank stare: "He's not your son? How come you didn't say a single word of concern?"

Lu Beitang sighed, "You just said he does it for everyone, yet in a moment his awareness vanished."

"You think you're capable, huh!" Chen Xianglan said, sitting on a cooling mat, turning her back.

As a mother, in this situation she only wants the family to stay together.

But Lu Cheng's duties are destined to keep him from being with his family.

Lu Ying stepped forward and said, "Mom, don't get angry. Once things are arranged here, Qingyan and I will go see Lu Cheng."

Chen Xianglan finally nodded, and Wu Guiwen returned from the meeting at that moment; everyone stood up and looked at him.

"Teacher Wu, how's it? What did the Street Office say?"

Wu Guiwen signaled everyone not to rush, took a sip of water, and then gave a brief account of the situation in He Province.

After hearing, everyone felt heavy‑hearted; they hadn't expected the on‑site situation to be so severe.

"The state has already begun rescue operations. What we must do now is stay calm, not believe or spread rumors, not add trouble for the nation. Also, during this period we must prevent aftershocks, stay vigilant at all times, and for everyone's safety we cannot return to our rooms to sleep…"

"Can't go back to our rooms to sleep? What about tonight then?"

Wu Guiwen waved his hand and replied, "I haven't finished yet. As for where to sleep tonight, we can only sleep outside for now. Everyone should bring out any usable cooling mats; the Street Office will also distribute rain‑proof felt, set up Earthquake Shelters, and thereafter we'll live in the shelters."

"How long will we have to stay?"

Wu Guiwen shook his head: "It's hard to say now; we'll wait for the Street Office's notice."

For now that's all we can do; the women of the courtyard spread the cooling mats into a sheet, while the youths took down door panels to use as walls.

Other courtyard residents did the same, and the whole Hu Tong Li was busy in orderly chaos.

Only the children didn't grasp the seriousness; they just felt it was as lively as New Year, running back and forth in Hu Tong, playing.

Wu Guiwen, Zhao Daye, Lu Beitang, and a few others discussed the earthquake, inevitably sighing.

"By the way, given this disaster, I suggest we all do what we can, such as donating money and goods."

Pang Ya, placing a child on a cooling mat, said, "Teacher Wu, is this your idea or the Street Office's suggestion?"

Wu Guiwen stood up: "Of course it's my own idea. Though we're affected here, there have been no casualties."

Everyone instantly cast surprised looks; they didn't expect that stingy one to actually take the initiative.

"Ha, Teacher Wu, this time you finally did a good deed."

Wu Guiwen pursed his lips: "Human hearts are flesh, we really should do something. Though donations are voluntary, I hope everyone participates actively."

"No problem, Teacher Wu, we'll follow your lead this time."

Once the temporary shelter was set up, Wu Guiwen immediately began arranging the donations.

Everyone was enthusiastic; the old Lu family donated ten yuan outright, the most from any courtyard.

Other families gave five yuan, two yuan, one yuan, and even a few mao.

Regardless of amount, it represented everyone's goodwill.

Later the Street Office came again, also to promote donations, but they didn't expect Wu Guiwen's Big Miscellaneous Courtyard had already acted in advance.

The Street Office was pleased, decided that the felt had arrived and first distributed it to their courtyard.

It was Wu Guiwen's first time feeling the respect of the crowd; it wasn't the same as when he just shows TV and people flatter him.

This time being respected felt wholly refreshing.

Wu Guiwen also saw that, at this moment, Hu Tong in Capital City had lost its former order, but had gained a human warmth of mutual support in the face of disaster.

Two days later, the felt for the Earthquake Shelters arrived piece by piece, yet it was still far insufficient; every household brought out sheets and plastic sheeting to build enclosures.

Two days had passed, and people, from the initial panic, seemed to gradually get used to this state.

Everyone helped each other; the cooked meals were shared, and when the Earthquake Shelters were too crowded, they spread out to other homes evenly.

This is the cohesion of the people; in disaster, when one side is in trouble, all eight directions lend support.

That day, Lu Ying took the dishes Chen Xianglan had prepared, ready to visit Lu Cheng.

It had been arranged to go with Lin Qingyan, but Lin Qingyan was urgently recalled to her unit to coordinate international relief supplies.

Lu Ying told her to focus on work; coordinating relief supplies was most important now.

A team leader at Beijing Station knew Lu Cheng's sister, and so Lu Ying boarded the supply‑transport train.

At this moment, Lu Cheng had been awake for two days and two nights.