Chapter 1395: County Magistrate Tang

Yu Jing was among the first batch to evacuate Chenxin Town.

He did not expect that Chenxin Town would ultimately fail to hold!

Lightning like spiderwebs streaked across the sky, terrifying to behold.

The lightning flashed, the thunder was deafening,

making one's blood run cold!

Suddenly!

A loud boom rang out, the sound rolling in from afar and drawing near.

"Was that thunder just now? Why does it feel like the earth is shaking and the mountains are swaying!"

"That is not thunder!"

"The embankment has been completely breached!"

"The levee has broken!"

The surging floodwaters smashed through the embankment, and the muddy river water instantly swallowed the field of vision.

Rice paddies, houses, and roads were all submerged in an instant!

Cries of alarm rose one after another from the crowd!

"Secretary Gao has not evacuated yet!"

"Neither Secretary Gao nor County Magistrate Tang have evacuated!"

"Why didn't they leave?"

"They had already boarded the evacuation vehicles, but just received news that there were still several critically ill patients trapped at the town hospital who could not be transferred in time. So, they voluntarily gave up their evacuation spots to those critically ill patients!"

"That is truly selfless!"

"I hope they are safe and sound!"

Yu Jing's mobile phone rang.

"Comrade Yu Jing, this is Gong Weimin!"

"Director Gong, hello!"

"There is a situation I need to verify with you. Is Comrade Tang Ye safe right now?"

"Gong, I cannot be certain! The dam has just collapsed, and Tang Ye, Gao Guangquan, and several other comrades failed to evacuate in time and are now trapped in Chenxin Town!"

Gong Weimin's fingers trembled violently as he held the landline receiver; after a long silence, he said in a deep voice: "I will immediately coordinate rescue forces and spare no cost to save these cadres!"

After hanging up on Yu Jing, Gong Weimin dialed Jiang Jing's number.

"The embankment at Chenxin Town has been completely destroyed! I just received bad news! Although the common people of Chenxin Town were safely evacuated within the allotted time, Tang Ye, Gao Guangquan, and five other staff members of the Chenxin Town Government did not make it onto the last transport vehicle and are now trapped in Chenxin Town!"

Jiang Jing stood up abruptly from her seat, her face full of astonishment: "How could this happen! Why didn't they evacuate?"

"There were still several critically ill patients and personnel left behind at the town hospital who could not be transferred, and Tang Ye and the others voluntarily gave up the last chance to evacuate." Gong Weimin's tone was complex. "Their magnanimity is truly admirable. I have already notified the Armed Police Force to immediately form a rescue team and rush to Chenxin Town to launch a rescue operation."

Jiang Jing took a deep breath and said in a grave tone: "You must instruct the rescue team to give their all and ensure they bring the people back safely!"

She hung up on Gong Weimin.

Jiang Jing sighed to herself.

Tang Ye giving up his chance to retreat was within reason.

In her heart, she prayed that nothing would happen to Tang Ye!

For her, this was an unacceptable outcome!

Jiang Jing suddenly felt some regret; she should have stopped Tang Ye from going to the front lines of the flood control.

However, based on her understanding of Tang Ye,

even if she had stopped him, Tang Ye would not have followed her arrangements!

……

Ding Zhen lay on the hospital bed, the howling wind and rain outside the window making him feel incredibly restless.

All the cadres of Yechuan County were fighting the flood and providing disaster relief, yet he was lying in bed!

Seeing Ding Zhen sighing incessantly, his wife comforted him, "Don't worry about it. Just focus on recovering from your injuries; the flood will recede soon."

Ding Zhen turned on the television and tuned it to Xiyang Television Station.

The station was broadcasting a special report on flood control and disaster relief!

Suddenly, an image caught his eye, causing his gaze to freeze instantly!

A tall figure stood among the crowd, his expression solemn and grave, yet his eyes revealed incomparable determination!

He was all too familiar with this face!

The narrator said, "Our station's reporter rushed to the front line of flood control in Chenxin Town and captured a special figure. He is Yechuan County Magistrate Tang Ye, who is currently standing side-by-side with the local villagers on the very front line of the flood rescue..."

His wife followed Ding Zhen's gaze, "Isn't this County Magistrate Tang? Isn't he attending training at the Central Party School? When did he come back?"

Ding Zhen had been cut off from outside news for the past few days and did not know the news of Tang Ye's return, let alone that Tang Ye would actually go deep into the front lines, running in the water with the common people to build embankment works!

"Tang Ye actually came back! He really knows how to put on a show!" Ding Zhen's tone was full of sarcasm.

In his view, Tang Ye was trying to use the flood control and disaster relief to seize political achievements!

The torrential rain lashed against Tang Ye's face, adding a touch of the spirit of a staunch tough guy to his originally scholarly and steady countenance.

Ding Zhen secretly slandered, how could a snapshot have such an effect; it was highly likely staged.

Steadying his mind, Ding Zhen dialed Cheng Xin's number.

"I just saw the news; did Tang Ye rush back from Yanjing to participate in flood control?"

Cheng Xin said, "Yes, I just found out too. However, he is currently trapped in Chenxin Town, and his life hangs in the balance!!"

"Trapped in Chenxin Town?"

"The embankment at Chenxin Town has been destroyed by the flood. He originally had a chance to evacuate, but he gave his spot to the critically ill patients. Now the city is urgently mobilizing rescue teams to attempt a rescue!"

Ding Zhen was silent for a few seconds, "Alright, if there are any changes, tell me immediately!"

Cheng Xin thought to himself, for the sake of flood control, everyone was so busy they couldn't even touch the ground!

Sometimes he really couldn't remember to report to Ding Zhen...

"Alright, Secretary Ding, please rest assured!"

He paused for a moment and said in a low voice, "By the way, Secretary Ding, there is a matter I need to tell you. This time during the flood, it wasn't just Yechuan County that discovered serious quality problems in flood control projects; other counties and districts have discovered similar issues. Director Yu's son, Yu Jian'an, is a Deputy Director at the Water Resources Bureau, and rumors outside say he colluded with unscrupulous enterprises and is suspected of corruption!"

Ding Zhen was stunned for a moment, "Yu Jing usually acts sanctimonious and is always talking about clean governance; I didn't expect him to have raised a parasite himself!"

Cheng Xin said, "I still have urgent matters to handle, I will report to you again later."

"Alright, go ahead and get busy!" Ding Zhen said softly.

Hanging up the phone with Ding Zhen, Cheng Xin sighed helplessly.

Ding Zhen dropped the ball at a critical moment this time, and many people felt he lacked responsibility.

Speaking of which, Ding Zhen was in a car accident while on the job, so it was a work-related injury.

But everyone knew clearly that Ding Zhen hadn't put in any effort from start to finish.

It was Tang Ye instead.

Upon hearing the news, he took leave from Yanjing and rushed back, throwing himself into the front lines of flood control without hesitation.

Comparing the two, the difference in the character of the County Magistrate and the County Party Secretary was immediately apparent!

There were even rumors outside that Ding Zhen had deliberately exaggerated his injuries to avoid responsibility.

The driver died on the spot because of the improper handling of the car accident mission that Ding Zhen had demanded.

Regardless of anything else!

Tang Ye's performance in flood control and disaster relief this time had completely overshadowed Ding Zhen.

Of course, it remained to be seen whether Tang Ye could escape safely and return smoothly!

Upon learning the news that Tang Ye was trapped in Chenxin Town, a vicious thought even arose in the depths of his heart.

He was even cursing viciously in his heart!

Tang Ye, aren't you the one who loves to show off and play the hero the most?

If you were to be buried in the floodwaters just like this!

I would certainly report you to the superiors for a First-Class Merit!