Chapter 1388: Simply Treating Human Life Like Grass!

"Mayor Gao, I have never thought of being a deserter!"

"Then you must continue to persevere. Flood control and disaster relief—Chenxin Town is your battlefield. You must shoulder this responsibility."

"Alright, I will grit my teeth and hold on. However..."

Gao Qidong interrupted Gao Guangquan, "Do not make excuses. You are a Party member; at this critical juncture, you must charge ahead of the people. I believe you can do it. County Party Secretary Ding Zhen encountered a car accident while on the way to flood control and is currently in the emergency room for rescue. I still have to coordinate work in other places. If there are any problems, provide feedback in a timely manner, and I will provide you with logistical support."

Gao Qidong did not have a good impression of Gao Guangquan.

Because of falsifying economic data, Gao Guangquan had been put on a blacklist.

Next, it was highly probable that Gao Guangquan would be transferred to the People's Congress or the CPPCC.

Gao Guangquan sighed helplessly, "Understood!"

He hung up Gao Qidong's phone call.

Gao Guangquan sighed helplessly.

Town Mayor Xu Yang said in a deep voice, "What did the county say?"

Gao Guangquan gave a helpless, bitter smile, "County Party Secretary Ding Zhen had a car accident and is currently being rescued at the hospital. Mayor Gao is sitting in the command center coordinating; he said he would send us reinforcements."

Xu Yang cursed angrily, "Reinforcements? When will they arrive?"

"I don't know either!"

"This is just stalling us!"

Gao Guangquan waved his hand, "Don't complain. It is better to rely on oneself than to beg others! Let's focus our attention on the emergency rescue work!"

Gao Guangquan instructed the Liaison Officer, "Prepare to go to the embankment."

Xu Yang stopped Gao Guangquan, "Secretary Gao, you haven't closed your eyes for several days. Why don't you get some good rest and go tomorrow morning?"

Gao Guangquan shook his head and sighed, "In this situation, I can't sleep at all. You have also been working around the clock for several days without rest. You go and rest!"

Xu Yang knew he couldn't stop Gao Guangquan, "I will go with you."

The two were just about to walk out of the Government Compound.

Yu Jing walked in from the opposite direction.

Yu Jing said in a deep voice, "Where are you going?"

Gao Guangquan said, "We are going to the embankment to take a look. The rain today is particularly heavy, and I am afraid something might happen."

Yu Jing nodded, "The weather forecast said the rain had stopped, why hasn't it stopped yet! The restoration projects you did before were not solid enough; I estimate they won't last long. I suggest you mobilize personnel to continue consolidating flood control measures. You must spare no cost to protect the lives and property of the common people!"

Seeing Yu Jing put on a condescending attitude and pointing fingers, Xu Yang felt very angry.

If it weren't for the fact that he was Gao Guangquan's old leader, Xu Yang would not have wanted to pay him any mind at all.

However, at this moment, he still had to speak his mind and could not help but retort,

"Director Yu, you might have some misunderstandings! It is not that our work on restoring flood control projects was not done well, but that the flood control materials had quality issues. Those sandbags were made by cutting corners and simply cannot withstand the impact of the flood! We are already gathering the villagers to dig soil themselves to make sandbags. Homemade sandbags are even sturdier than the flood control sandbags."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jing's face was full of shock, "Is what you said true? At a time like this, you must not shirk responsibility or pass the buck."

Xu Yang sneered, "Director Yu, if you don't believe it, you can come with us to the scene and take a look!"

Yu Jing's expression turned cold, "Fine, I will go with you to take a look!"

The group arrived at the embankment.

Even though it was night, there were figures moving about on the embankment, and it was a scene of busyness!

Xu Yang walked into the shed where flood control materials were stacked, bent down, and gently poked his finger into a green sandbag.

With only a "pop" sound, a large hole was poked into the sandbag.

"Director Yu, with flood control sandbags of this quality, can they withstand the surging flood? This is simply treating human life like grass!"

Yu Jing's face turned red, and he gritted his teeth, "I will definitely report this matter to the superiors. If it involves corruption, we must bring them to justice."

Xu Yang sneered, "Director Yu, I heard your son works at the Water Resources Bureau, and he is the one in charge of the bidding for flood control materials. I suggest you go home and ask Director Yu about this. What exactly is going on here."

Usually, Xu Yang harbored dissatisfaction toward Yu Jing.

Now, under the flood, everyone was facing a life-and-death crisis, so things that wouldn't usually be said were now spoken without reservation.

Yu Jing was furious, "Comrade Xu Yang, what is the meaning of this? Why are you being so pointed and insinuating?"

Xu Yang said coldly, "You should be able to understand what I mean! You are a former County Party Secretary with a prestigious status; the embankment is too dangerous. I suggest you leave quickly. Secretary Gao and I still have to inspect flood control matters and don't have time to waste talking nonsense with you here."

Having said that, Xu Yang walked out of the shed.

Yu Jing was trembling with anger.

His gaze fell once again on those inferior sandbags, and many questions arose in his heart.

If even the most basic flood control supplies like sandbags had quality issues,

then did the flood control engineering projects also have problems?

Xu Yang and Gao Guangquan arrived at the embankment.

They focused on checking the place where the breach occurred during the day.

The villagers were throwing sandbags and other filling materials into the water, using this clumsy method to delay the time it would take for the flood to break through the defense line.

"Secretary Gao, the situation is not optimistic. At this rate of rainfall, we won't last long!"

Gao Guangquan sighed helplessly, "Town Mayor Xu, I have already reported the situation to the county. We can only wait for support. Before support arrives, we must mobilize the strength of all the masses. You and I will split into two groups; I will stay here to supervise the project progress, and you go to each village to mobilize the villagers to come and help build fortifications."

Xu Yang nodded forcefully, "Alright, I will go mobilize them immediately! Secretary Gao, you must pay attention to your own personal safety."

Gao Guangquan patted Xu Yang on the shoulder twice, "Understood!"

In their daily work, because of their different stances, they would occasionally have some unpleasantness.

But at this moment, in the face of a natural disaster, all conflicts vanished like smoke, and the two reconciled.

In the face of a natural disaster, what did personal friction count for?

Gao Guangquan joined the crowd of people engaged in emergency rescue.

Just like everyone else, help fill and plug the gaps!

"Secretary Gao, why have you come?"

"Everyone, keep it up! When everyone adds wood, the flames rise high!"

"Secretary Gao has joined us. Everyone, don't try to slack off!"

An hour later, Xu Yang returned,

and at the same time, he brought a large group of fellow villagers with him.

"Secretary Gao, the fellow villagers received the notice and all came over voluntarily to provide support!"

"That's wonderful! Town Mayor Xu, you have worked hard. The fellow villagers have worked hard."

"Secretary Gao, what you said is not right. Protecting our home is everyone's responsibility. We came for ourselves, so there is no talk of hard work!"

The river embankment was bustling with voices, with everyone united in purpose.

Yu Jing stood in the tent, seeing this scene, and his heart was greatly shaken.

He discovered that he did not seem to understand Gao Guangquan, nor did he understand his own son.