Third Middle School.
School field.
Dong Xuebing’s actions made everyone speechless. His body was covered in blood, and dried blood stains were on the corner of his lips. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked scary. Instead of checking himself after letting go of the wall, he was concerned about the rest. How can you be so strong? Are you the strongest man in the Guinness book of records?
Zhuzhu replied in a daze. “We are fine….”
“Director, how are you?” Fei Fan asked.
Dong Xuebing shrugged his shoulders and moved his hands. “I am fine. I think.”
Ning Shaoyang said worriedly. “You should get a checkup at the hospital.”
“Yes….” Liu Hanqing immediately agreed. “Director, you must go to the hospital. You might look fine. What if….”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and nodded. “Let’s go together. You all should get checked too.”
The Inspection First Office’s staff were relieved. They were worried Dong Xuebing might collapse anytime. The wall was too thick and heavy. Even the hydraulic jack and car were crushed under its weight.
The hospital staff reached Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing was stretchered off to the ambulance. The moment he got onto the stretcher, he felt he got no more strength. He could not even move his fingers. He could act as if nothing had happened because of his adrenaline. After he relaxed, he felt exhausted and giddy. If he used STOP, he could save others and himself, but his powers would be exposed as many people watched him. His only solution was to use REVERSE. Luckily, he managed to save them, and he was fine. People in Fen Zhou City had seen his combat abilities. He could fight a few dozen people by himself and caught many people jumping off the District Government Building’s fifth floor with his hands. No one would feel strange by his arm strength. Err…. This was what he thought.
Suddenly, a group of reporters rushed over.
A few TV station vehicles and newspaper reporters rushed into the school and took photographs of the collapsed school building. The Central Government was concerned with the disaster rebuilding effects, and a rebuilt school building collapsed after a minor aftershock. Everyone knew something was wrong, and the reporters rushed over to cover this story.
Some reporters approached Feng Jie, Deputy District Mayor, and the other Xi Ping District staff.
“Deputy District Mayor, what is your comment on this incident?” A reporter asked.
Deputy District Mayor was in a bad mood and waved the camera off. “No comments!”
The reporter continued asking. “I heard you are in charge of Third Middle School’s rebuilding tender, and the District Government is supervising this project. How did this collapse happen?”
Deputy District Mayor was looking terrible and did not feel like saying anything. He walked away to answer his phone. The District’s leaders had been calling him since the incident happened.
Feng Jie was stressed.
“City Mayor Feng.” Another reporter raised a voice recorder. “You are in charge of Fen Zhou City disaster rebuilding projects. What do you think is the reason for this incident?”
Feng Jie replied. “It was due to the aftershock earlier.”
“From what we understand, it was a minor aftershock ranging between 2 to 3 on the Richter scale. The buildings in other areas were not affected. Why is it only the Third Middle School building collapsed?” The reporter asked.
Feng Jie got impatient. “We are still investigating this incident, and I don’t know the reason.”
Reporters surrounded Feng Jie and Deputy District Mayor. Feng Jie gave a cold stare at Deputy District Mayor. His attitude towards Deputy District Mayor had changed entirely. Deputy District Mayor knew he was at fault and dared not look at him.
Some distance away.
Dong Xuebing, who was about to be carried up the ambulance, was approached by the reporters too. However, the reporters’ attitudes toward him were different.
“Oh, you are Director Xiao Dong!” A female reporter exclaimed.
The other reporters recognized Dong Xuebing. “Director Dong!”
Dong Xuebing was always under the spotlight in Fen Zhou City. His feats were reported almost every few months. Civilians might not recognize him, but these reporters never fail to recognize him.
Ning Shaoyang blocked the reporters. “Our Leader needs to go to the hospital for treatment. Please move aside.”
“We only have a few questions.” A female reporter quickly said. “I heard from the crowd that you had risked your life by supporting a falling wall weighing more than a ton and saved two people. That’s why there were no casualties in this incident. Is that true?” She pointed in a direction. “Is that the wall?”
Zhuzhu replied. “Yes. Please move aside.”
The reporters did not move and stood there taking pictures of that wall before continuing to ask questions. “How did you support that wall? From that thickness, even twenty people could not lift one corner.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s not that heavy, and I don’t think it weighs a ton.” He joked. “You all should know I am strong.”
The reporters were amused. They knew Dong Xuebing was strong, and one of them saw Dong Xuebing catching people jumping off from the fifth floor. It was still fresh in his mind. On his way to the Third Middle School, he did not believe the caller. How can a human support a wall weighing more than one ton? It is impossible even if it was a few hundred kilograms. However, he changed his mind when he saw Dong Xuebing. It might be impossible for others, but not for Director Dong.
Dong Xuebing is famous in the City, and no one was surprised when he did something extraordinary things. They were used to it.
“Can you all let us pass now?” Liu Hanqing shouted impatiently.
The Inspection First Office’s staff wanted Dong Xuebing to receive treatment as soon as possible, as they did not know how serious the latter’s condition was.
The female reporter asked. “I still have one more question. Director Dong, even if the wall is less than one ton, not anyone can hold it up. Did you know you have the strength to hold it up before you rush there?”
Dong Xuebing smiled wearily. “How can I know?”
The female reporter pushed the microphone closer. “Then why did you put yourself at risk to save others?”
Dong Xuebing looked at the reporter and smiled. “I lost count of the number of people I saved since I started working. Other people also saved me countless times. It’s only saving lives, and I think this is the correct thing to do for Civil servants like us. There’s no why.”
The female reporter was touched. “Thank you. I have no more questions. I wish you a speedy recovery, Director Dong.”
“Thank you.” Dong Xuebing replied and coughed weakly.
Zhuzhu, Fei Fan, and the rest quickly blocked the other reporters. Liu Hanqing and Ning Shaoyang followed along in the ambulance.
The ambulance sounded the siren and drove off.
Liu Hanqing asked in the ambulance. “Doctor, how is his condition?”
The doctor instructed the nurse to put Dong Xuebing on a drip and replied. “He doesn’t look like his life is in danger, but we need to examine him further at the hospital.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. We will do our best.”
Liu Hanqing sat beside Dong Xuebing and looked at him. Dong Xuebing was also looking back at him, and he avoided his gaze. He had tried to make things difficult for Dong Xuebing and caused them to fall out. He did not expect Dong Xuebing to save him and Ning Shaoyang. Dong Xuebing was willing to forget their grudges to save them, and he almost died.
Ning Shaoyang and Liu Hanqing did not know what to say.
They would be dead if Dong Xuebing did not risk his life to save them.
Everyone was quiet in the ambulance.
Dong Xuebing looked at them and started laughing. “What’s with that expression, Old Liu?”
Liu Hanqing mustered his courage and asked. “Why did you save me, Director?”
“Didn’t I say it earlier? There’s no why.” Dong Xuebing replied. “Furthermore, you two come here with me for work, and I am in charge of the Inspection First Office. I am responsible for everyone’s safety and lives.”
Liu Hanqing felt guilty. “I am sorry for what I did in the past.”
Dong Xuebing knew what he was apologizing for and waved his hand. “We might have differences in the past, but it was all due to work. This is normal, and you don’t need to apologize. Moreover, do you think I am a narrow-minded person? I will let you die before my eyes because of minor disagreements?” He was revengeful but was never narrow-minded.
