CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 84: TRAPPED

Tian Xiang got the items and asked Cheng Sisi to carry some firewood back to the classroom.

Others saw that the two were about to start a fire alone and were quite tempted, asking where the racks came from.

There was no need to hide such things, Tian Xiang told everyone to go find the town leaders or wander around the street and borrow these items from the villagers.

Once everyone heard this, they quickly took action.

Tian Chuying followed the team members and planned to get similar items to start a fire, but she felt uncomfortable knowing Tian Xiang initiated it and murmured quietly that Tian Xiang liked to show off when outside.

Nearby, a girl named Zhuang Yao from Tian Chuying’s team asked her, "What are you saying?"

Tian Chuying shook her head, "Nothing."

Elsewhere, Li Huai returned after busying himself outside with a few men.

It was freezing cold and they weren’t a professional rescue team, so they just helped clean up the town grain station, leaving the storage and distribution to the town to handle tomorrow.

When the few returned, Tian Xiang and Cheng Sisi had just lit the fire and set up the iron rack.

Seeing Tian Xiang holding a large iron pot, ready to place it on the rack, Meng Cheng’an quickly stepped up to take it from her and placed it on the rack.

He didn’t say anything, just focused on the task at hand.

But it did surprise the group; his movements were so fast that they hadn’t reacted before he jumped in.

Tian Xiang was a bit annoyed seeing everyone staring at them.

Weren’t they unimpressed by her? So what was happening now?

Meng Cheng’an only realized the group’s odd expressions after the task was done; he glanced at Tian Xiang and saw her face pulled tight, making his heart skip.

In fact, he didn’t intend to be ostentatious or odd; his mind couldn’t keep up with his actions, and before he could react, the task was already done.

Seeing there was fire and a pot, Li Huai directed Lu Feng and Chen Yong to fetch two cabbages from the supply vehicle, planning to eat noodles tonight while dry food would be consumed when time didn’t allow for cooking.

Though it was a rescue mission, they couldn’t neglect themselves; various supplies in the car could be used freely along the way.

Lu Feng gave a silent glance inside the classroom and headed over with Lu Yong.

With everyone starting fires, there were quite a few people coming to get vegetables.

Lu Feng saw Tian Chuying while lining up.

Knowing she had arrived midway, Lu Feng just smiled faintly, but Tian Chuying was quite excited upon seeing him, even waved her hand.

This time, it was evident Tian Chuying joined the rescue team with Lu Feng in mind.

Activities at several major factories were usually handled by union members, and the textile factory was no different.

Lu Feng was a union member and a young man, so it was only natural for him to be assigned here.

Such laborious tasks were often unwanted, but Tian Chuying, wanting to represent the factory department, was immediately approved.

Though they were in different teams throughout, the thought of going on a mission together made her feel sweet inside.

Zhuang Yao saw her joy and asked, "You know Lu Feng well?"

Lu Feng was quite famous on Red Fifth Street, having had several incidents in recent months; no one didn’t know him.

Of course, Tian Chuying wouldn’t mention her substitute blind date with Lu Feng, she just nodded, "Pretty well."

Zhuang Yao saw her shy expression and understood the situation, kindly advised, "Lu Feng is a good guy, very affectionate and righteous, but after what happened with Widow Jiang, it seems his family has arranged another match for him, heard he’s dating someone from the sub-district office."

Lu Feng’s age, coupled with the incident with Widow Jiang, made Wu Jinzhu wary. Now that Lu Feng’s reputation was restored, Wu Jinzhu contacted several matchmakers, eager to settle her son’s marriage quickly, preventing any further chaos.

Upon hearing Lu Feng was dating someone, Tian Chuying immediately retorted, "Who said that? He’s not dating anyone! Those are just family introductions, casually looking, nothing serious! Don’t spread rumors, ruining his reputation."

Lu Feng had explained to her specifically that he only went to appease his family, nothing serious with those matches.

Lu Feng wasn’t dating those random people; he was dating her.

But the substitute blind date had made Tian Chuying lose face in the Lu Family, fearing they wouldn’t agree. Currently, the two were not public, only secretly dating.

To appease his family, Lu Feng had to attend the matches Wu Jinzhu arranged.

Tian Chuying’s face turned sour, feeling quite puffed up.

Zhuang Yao looked at her oddly, "If he’s not dating, then he’s not. I was just making a casual comment, why so angry?"

Acting as if you’re the real girlfriend or something.

Tian Chuying realized she overreacted, gave a smile, "I just worry these rumors could tarnish someone’s reputation, Lu Feng’s been through so much lately, can’t afford more troubles."

Zhuang Yao smiled and remained silent.

At night, they gathered around the fire to eat noodles with only salt.

Finally, the captains of the five big factories discussed briefly and allocated dormitories.

Called dormitories, they basically laid mats in the classroom.

Men and women separated, each sleeping in different areas.

The town arranged some straw mats, squeezed together, everyone managed to get through the night.

The next day, the convoy continued onwards.

At the fork in the road, some vehicles had to change direction.

Each team in this disaster relief had tasks, handling different places, with fewer companions as they proceeded.

The five big factories were responsible for several northern towns, having eaten dry buns in the morning, they departed the main team and took the adjacent small road.

The subsequent two towns were manageable, not severe, villagers helped clear the way, dropping off items which meant they could leave, empty vehicles could directly return to the city; about time the rescue work wrapped up.

The first to leave were the button factory and cotton spinning mill folks, the two factories jointly donated a vehicle, with not much stuff, so they decided to head back early.

In the afternoon, upon reaching the third town, the situation was grim, with a landslide burying half the village, not only collapsing houses but also many people were buried.

With roads sealed by heavy snow and cables crushed, this situation hadn’t reached the city. The group only knew its severity upon arrival.

Getting off the vehicles and seeing the health clinic full of injured people left everyone stunned, truly feeling the gravity of disaster relief.

The three captains were promptly summoned; once the predetermined supplies were unloaded, they returned with the town leaders.

The landslide sealed off the road ahead, impossible to proceed quickly, the itinerary temporarily halted. Participants were to aid the relief first, further steps to be determined.

Soon, men were centralized, expected to head to the village soon, while female comrades were left in the town to assist at the health clinic. However, for supply distribution down the village, supervision and liaison were needed, thus the three captains suggested assigning a female comrade for the trip.

Arriving here, only three of the four supply trucks from Red Fifth Street remained, with around twenty personnel, mostly men, only five being women.

When Li Huai asked who would volunteer to go to the village, Tian Xiang glanced at Meng Cheng’an in the crowd, hesitated but raised her hand.