CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85: LOVE STRONGER THAN GOLD

Staying at the town health clinic to help is definitely better than going to the village. At least it’s indoor work, with a roof over your head.

We laid bedding on the classroom floor last night; it was cold and hard. Many people didn’t sleep well, and now they’re told to go to the village. Honestly, no one is willing to go.

But some work has to be done by someone.

Tian Xiang didn’t know why she raised her hand. By the time she regretted it, her name had already been noted.

Li Huai gave her an approving glance to ease her anxiety, quietly explaining, "We’re just going to distribute some stuff and can come back once we’re done."

Tian Xiang nodded.

Next to her, a few other young women looked on in surprise, quietly admiring her.

In the rescue team, Meng Cheng’an gripped the shovel tightly, staring intently at Tian Xiang.

A couple of steps away, Lu Feng watched with a smile, feeling indescribable emotions inside.

Having such a sense of duty, he couldn’t tell if it was admirable or foolish.

Lu Feng felt slightly moved, looking at Tian Xiang not far away, his fondness for her growing.

He liked her for her bravery and audacity, the way she stood out.

With great interest, Lu Feng’s expression was noted by Tian Chuying, who gritted her teeth and also raised her hand.

"Captain, I also want to help in the village."

The team leader from the textile factory looked at her in surprise, "You? No need, one person is enough."

It’s rare for someone from the Mechanical Factory to have such high awareness. Rather than being grateful, you want to join in voluntarily, treating this as child’s play.

Tian Chuying said, "She’s going alone without company, I can go help a bit."

Insisting on going, the few people exchanged a glance, and so she went.

Previously, fearing everyone wouldn’t want to go to the countryside, they said just one person; actually, having two people together was also good.

Thus, Tian Chuying’s name was also noted down.

Even if there’s no pay for doing a bit more work, praise is definitely guaranteed.

...

The affected village is nestled in a hollow, inaccessible to trucks, so they can only take ox carts or walk.

Due to the urgent rescue situation, the rescue team assembled and left first.

Tian Xiang and a few other women stayed behind to load supplies onto the ox cart arranged by the town before following along.

While moving items, Tian Xiang glanced at Tian Chuying several times, unable to understand what was on her mind to want to go to the village too.

Of course, she was the same, rashly raising her hand out of concern for Meng Cheng’an.

Maybe Tian Chuying was the same.

On this journey, Tian Xiang realized that Tian Chuying was going for Lu Feng.

She admired her strong feelings for a scoundrel, enduring hardship just to stay a while longer, treating the rescue like a joke.

Tian Chuying noticed Tian Xiang staring and glared back.

Actually, she insisted on joining the rescue partly to have more contact with Lu Feng and also guessing that Tian Xiang would be there, fearing something might develop between them, so she came specifically to watch.

Considering the past events, Tian Xiang was her number one rival in her heart, and with Tian Xiang going to the village alone this time, she couldn’t rest easy.

Once the items were loaded, the two of them followed the cart.

Altogether, there were three ox carts; they each could sit alone and didn’t chat or talk, so it was as if they didn’t exist.

Near the town, the road was paved with stone slabs. At first, the cart could move, but later on, it became difficult. The snow on the road was compacted by people and carts coming and going, making it too slippery for the ox cart to haul things, let alone people.

The cart driver got down and called the two of them to walk.

The village was a bit far, and walking would take over an hour, the driver said.

Villagers were used to it, but the two from the city couldn’t handle it. Tian Chuying fell twice before they were halfway.

Fortunately, the snow hadn’t melted, so she didn’t get all wet with mud, but the hard ground was indeed painful.

Tian Chuying’s arm hurt so much she could hardly lift it.

She glanced at Tian Xiang ahead, leaning on the cart as an example, and leaned half her body on it too.

But it wasn’t long before the ox herder spoke up.

"You’re supposed to push, not lean on it. Like this, the ox can’t move, and we won’t reach the village before dark."

The driver was also helpless; these city girls clearly hadn’t done any labor before, lacking the strength to help others.

With most townspeople off participating in the rescue in the village, no one else was available.

Tian Chuying had no choice but to push from behind.

With something to brace against, at least she didn’t fall again, but by the time they arrived, both were panting heavily, but they had warmed up after walking for over an hour.

People from the village came out to greet them, and the three ox carts were brought to the usual grain drying ground.

Clothing and quilts were distributed first to those whose houses had collapsed, and the food was made into large pots of rice, mainly to fill the stomachs of the rescue volunteers.

Over dozens of people were organized to participate in this rescue operation, and by now, the work was nearing completion. Most of those buried had been rescued, but the roads outside the mountain still needed clearing and cleaning up.

The village head came to handle the distribution of supplies, signed off the items on Tian Xiang’s notebook after unloading, and left an ox cart behind for them to return to the town.

Tian Xiang hadn’t expected things to be so quick and smooth; she had been worried about Meng Cheng’an, yet they were leaving the village without even seeing him.

Tian Chuying didn’t mind since she was just there to keep an eye on Tian Xiang.

But not long after leaving the village, snowflakes began to fall from the gloomy sky.

The old driver got down from the cart and told the two on board, "We can’t go on; we should head back."

Tian Xiang frowned but said nothing.

A third of the way was mountainous, and now with the snow, it was truly unsafe.

But Tian Chuying exclaimed, "Why go back? This snow isn’t that heavy; it might stop soon."

She had already seen the village environment and couldn’t stand it, with chicken and cow dung everywhere, and due to the landslide, some unfortunate villagers died. Hearing the sounds of gongs and drums from the funerals made her shiver.

However, the driver didn’t listen to her and directly headed back with the ox cart.

Tian Chuying was extremely annoyed and was made to help with firing up the stove for the rescue team’s dinner.

Someone saw her sour face and comforted, "Don’t worry, you’ll have the warmest spot to stay in the village."

The rescue team consisted mostly of men who could casually find a place to sleep, but for the two delicate young women, a proper bed was prepared.

However, Tian Chuying wasn’t appreciative, her face remained sour, and eventually, nobody talked to her.

After dinner, as night fell, the snow that had been falling also stopped.

Fortunately, as long as the snow didn’t continue, the roads and rescue efforts could be quickly completed.

The teams returned from the rescue, and Tian Xiang stood by the big pot, scooping sweet potato porridge for them.

Before long, Meng Cheng’an came over with his lunch box, taking advantage of the serving to quietly ask, "Why didn’t you return to the town?"