Ximen Qing, styled Siquan, and that neighbor named Xi Siquan—could there really be such a coincidence in this world?

After breakfast.

Under the leadership of Yan Laoguai.

A group of people went up the mountain again.

When they arrived at the sunny slope of Baiwang Mountain, the scene before them left Chen Fang, Wang Yiyi, and the others completely stunned.

Before them was a huge mountainside facing Houtang Village. The green vegetation that had once covered it was now all askew. Yan Laoguai explained that this was due to the loose soil.

Even more deadly, large boulders kept tumbling down from the mountainside.

The retaining wall near the mountain had also cracked severely, with a significant portion already covered by rubble.

The situation was already very serious.

A landslide could happen at any moment.

The experts said that landslides in the winter were not very likely.

What crappy experts.

Chen Fang turned and asked, "Old Yan, based on your experience, when will this landslide occur, and what kind of impact will it have?"

Yan Laoguai furrowed his brows and said, "Soon, I originally estimated there would be another week, but last night when I got home, my spouse told me the livestock were all restless, full of fear all night, and even though rats are rarely active in winter, there were many scurrying about last night. This means the landslide is likely to occur within these one or two days."

One or two days!?

Chen Fang and Wang Yiyi exchanged glances.

They asked, "Where is the village's landline phone located?"

"Right in the village committee's office," said Yan Laoguai.

"Let's go!"

Without another word, Chen Fang led a large group of people down the mountain.

Inside the village committee's office, Chen Fang dialed the county mayor's office number, but no one answered. He figured it was not yet nine o'clock; they were probably not at work yet.

So he called Ding Mengxiang's cellphone.

From the other end of the phone came a languid and impatient voice, asking, "Who is it?"

"County Chief Ding, this is Chen Fang."

As soon as Chen Fang's voice was heard, Ding Mengxiang became impatient and asked, "Comrade Chen Fang, do you know what time it is? Do you know what work hours are?"

Chen Fang, patiently, said, "County Chief Ding, we have already surveyed Houtang Village's situation, and it's very serious. A collapse could happen at any moment. I request the formation of an emergency rescue team to quickly evacuate the villagers."

"Comrade Chen Fang, you're calling me this early just for this? Haven't I told you that the experts have evaluated and ruled out a landslide? Why won't you listen? There are over a thousand people in Houtang Village, do you think evacuation is child's play?" Ding Mengxiang said.

Chen Fang wanted to argue further.

Wang Yiyi took the phone and said, "County Chief Ding, I'm Wang Yiyi."

"Oh, it's Vice County Chief Wang."

Upon hearing Wang Yiyi's voice, Ding Mengxiang seemed more spirited.

"County Chief Ding, everything Vice County Chief Chen said is true. The situation in Houtang Village is indeed very critical, and it would be best if the county could organize rescue operations immediately," Wang Yiyi said.

Ding Mengxiang paused, then said, "Vice County Chief Wang, I told you before you went that we're just going through the motions, not for you to join Chen Fang in creating a fuss. Had I known this, I wouldn't have sent you."

"County Chief Ding, I'm not creating a fuss, the truth is..."

Before she could finish, Ding Mengxiang cut her off.

"All right, all right. I'll call you back during work hours, let's not talk about this now. Why does everyone have to be so troublesome? Always cooking up some drama. That's it."

After saying that, the call was disconnected.

Wang Yiyi, not wanting to give up, dialed again, but the phone was already switched off.

The two exchanged looks.

Chen Fang said, "Call Ding's executive office."

Just as he was about to dial the number.

At that moment, Wu Da came running in, gasping for air, and said, "Leaders, it's not good, it's not good. There are more and more rocks rolling down from the mountain."

Yan Laoguai gave a jolt and said, "This is bad, the landslide is about to happen."

Chen Fang tensed, glanced at his watch—it was only just after seven o'clock, many people still hadn't woken up. He decided not to bother with the phone, and said, "Vice County Chief Wang, Old Yan, let's go. Immediately wake everyone up and move them towards the village committee."

The village committee's location was relatively far from the slope, so even if a landslide occurred, the damage wouldn't be too severe.

A command was given.

All seven people present sprang into action.

When they reached the foot of the mountain again, indeed, nature had begun to show its power; large rocks mixed with mud were rolling down the slope, and the cracks in the retaining wall were growing more and more severe, on the verge of collapse at any moment.

No time to think.

The group started knocking on doors one by one, near the slope, to alert the villagers to evacuate.

Some people were already awake, which was good, but others were still asleep. After being woken up and seeing the situation on the slope, everyone cooperated well, escorting their elderly and children toward the village committee for relocation.

For a moment.

The peaceful village exploded like a lake surface hit by a hand grenade.

There was panic and screaming everywhere, noises of chickens flying and dogs jumping.

Two hours.

From 7:30 in the morning until 9:30, most of the 303 households, totaling 1058 people, had moved to the courtyard of the village committee.

The courtyard was small, and it was quite crowded with so many people gathered.

Plus, with everyone emotionally unstable, many were shouting and causing a chaotic scene.

At this moment, the landslide had begun.

Waves of rocks and soil surged down, slamming into the houses near the mountain. The brick-and-tile houses, which seemed indestructible, were swallowed up in an instant.

This caused a series of gasps from the crowd.

"Lao Yan, quickly count the number of people. Deputy County Chief Wang, go and call the county office again."

Although the situation was indeed chaotic.

Chen Fang was still directing methodically.

Soon after.

Wang Yiyi ran out of the office, looking anxious and said, "It's bad, Deputy County Chief Chen, the phone line is disrupted."

The phone line is disrupted?

It seemed that the first round of the landslide had broken the phone line.

This was trouble.

That was the only way to communicate with the bottom of the mountain. If it was disrupted, it meant they had lost contact.

Suddenly.

Another wave of gasps erupted from the crowd.

Looking up.

On the distant hillside, another round of collapse was ready to release its stored energy. If it came down, it would cause even greater destruction.

"Deputy County Chief Chen, Deputy County Chief Chen..."

In the midst of the chaos.

Lao Yan shouted loudly.

Chen Fang quickly waved at him, and as Lao Yan ran over, he said anxiously, "Deputy County Chief Chen, it's not good, out of 1058 people, two are missing. Zhu Tiegen's family, an elderly and a child, haven't come out."

Lao Yan explained that Zhu Tiegen and his wife were often away working, leaving only an elderly father and a young son at home. It was likely that because of mobility issues and the father's hearing loss, they hadn't heard the call to evacuate.

"Where is Zhu Tiegen's house?" asked Chen Fang, suddenly alert.

Lao Yan pointed towards a red brick-and-tile house in the distance, saying, "Right there."

Chen Fang looked and knew it wasn't good.

Zhu Tiegen's house was near the end of the slope, and the houses there had already been destroyed. The next wave of collapse would undoubtedly bury the old man and the child within.

Clenching his teeth, he said, "Lao Yan, take care of everyone. Make sure no one runs off; I'll go save them."

"I'll go with you!"

Just as Lao Yan was about to move, Chen Fang turned and firmly pushed his body back, saying, "Lao Yan, these are your villagers. You staying here is more useful than me. I'm young and move quickly."

After thinking it over, Lao Yan found the point reasonable.

He nodded, his eyes slightly moist, and said, "Deputy County Chief Chen, be careful."

"Don't worry, I will," Chen Fang replied.

Just as Chen Fang was about to turn around.

Qin Yi and Xiao Zhang also ran out, shouting, "Leader, we'll go with you!"

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