Chapter 152: Chapter 150: True Feelings in the Storm

Hearing Su Tang’s question, Mr. Lu wiped the rain from his face, his voice urgent as he spoke.

“We have to evacuate to the high ground to the east. It’s higher and safer there. The commune has sent people to organize the evacuation, telling everyone to pack their essentials and hurry.”

Su Tang’s heart sank. ’If everyone has to evacuate, the situation must be really bad.’

Her hand on her waist tightened unconsciously.

She instinctively glanced out the window. The sheet of rain was as thick as undiluted ink.

Raindrops hammered against the window with a sharp RAT-A-TAT.

Su Tang grew genuinely worried, wondering how long the downpour would last.

She worried about Lu Xiao. ’I wonder how things are for them on the front line.’

Mrs. Lu collected herself and quickly pulled Su Tang back inside. “Hurry, Tangtang, let’s grab the essentials. We don’t need many clothes; your medicine is the most important thing.”

Wang Xinxin snapped back to reality as well. She turned and grabbed a cloth bag from the corner. “I’ll bring the food I bought. We might need it on the way.”

As she spoke, she stuffed a flashlight and matches into the bag.

While she was at it, she grabbed a good amount of food and other supplies.

They had no idea when they’d be able to return, so it was best to pack as much as possible.

Su Tang entered the room, her gaze sweeping over Lu Xiao’s photo on the bedside table.

She took a deep breath, quickly opened a drawer, and placed Lu Xiao’s belongings into the small pouch she kept on her person. Then she grabbed a few changes of clothes and stuffed them into a larger bundle.

Finally, Su Tang grabbed the suitcase her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Su, had left behind.

It contained money and all sorts of ration coupons. It would be devastating to lose them.

“I’m ready, Mom. Let’s go.”

Carrying her bundle, Su Tang walked out of the room. She saw that Wang Xinxin had already helped Mr. Lu put the family’s kerosene lamp and a small canister of kerosene into a basket.

Mr. Lu was bending over to check the raincoats. Seeing them come out, he straightened up and said, “Let’s go. Stick close to the group ahead, don’t fall behind.”

As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard gate, they saw a crowd of people already gathered outside.

Everyone was carrying bundles and helping each other along as they headed east. It was clearly the first time most of them had experienced something like this, and a sense of panic hung in the air.

Wang Xinxin stuck close to Su Tang, supporting her by the arm with one hand while using the other to shield them from the driving rain. “Su Tang, take it slow. The ground is slippery.”

Su Tang nodded. The wind whipped strands of rain against her face, stinging with cold.

Her thoughts suddenly turned to Lu Xiao. ’Where is he right now? Is he in danger?’

Just then, a commotion broke out up ahead.

Someone shouted, “Make way! Let the pregnant women and elderly through first!”

Wang Xinxin quickly pulled Su Tang forward, trying to squeeze through the crowd, when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

The man was in a military uniform, directing the crowd to move forward in an orderly fashion. In the dim light, his profile looked exceptionally sharp and resolute.

Rainwater trickled down his cheeks, and he was soaked to the bone.

“Chen Zhengnian?”

Wang Xinxin gasped his name under her breath. Chen Zhengnian seemed to hear her and turned around.

The moment their eyes met, Chen Zhengnian froze for a second before striding over. “What took you so long? Come with me, quickly. There’s a truck up ahead for pregnant women and the elderly.”

Wang Xinxin opened her mouth to say something, but Su Tang spoke first. “We can walk. The ride should go to someone who needs it more.”

Chen Zhengnian’s brow furrowed, and his eyes fell on Su Tang’s swollen belly. “Absolutely not. The rain’s too heavy and the road is treacherous. You’re pregnant; you can’t be soaked like this.”

At Chen Zhengnian’s insistence, Su Tang didn’t object further and let him lead her to the truck.

Wang Xinxin didn’t get in, insisting she could walk.

After the truck drove off into the distance, Wang Xinxin was about to turn and leave when Chen Zhengnian pressed a flashlight into her hand.

“Take it. It’ll light the path.”

Chen Zhengnian’s voice was almost lost in the downpour.

Wang Xinxin clutched the flashlight, her eyes fixed on Chen Zhengnian’s back as he turned and plunged back into the crowd. He moved against the current of people, and in moments, the throng of moving figures swallowed him from sight.

“Xinxin, what are you spacing out for?”

Mrs. Lu’s voice came from behind her. She was carrying a leather suitcase.

“Hurry up and stay with us. Don’t fall behind.”

“Right!” Wang Xinxin exclaimed, quickly twisting the flashlight on.

The beam of light trembled for a moment, landing right on Chen Zhengnian as he bent down to help someone up.

Wang Xinxin quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on the path ahead.

The line of people snaked through the rainy night like a long serpent. After what felt like an eternity of walking, specks of light finally appeared up ahead.

Someone shouted that they were almost there, and a low cheer rippled through the crowd.

Wang Xinxin looked up. The silhouette of the high ground was barely visible through the rain and mist, and she could just make out the shapes of temporary shelters.

Thankfully, this was a reserve area, and with so many people, they had strength in numbers.

Otherwise, there was no telling how long they would have had to walk.

By the time Wang Xinxin followed Mr. and Mrs. Lu into the shelter, Su Tang had already found a spot and was waving them over.

Just then, Chen Zhengnian arrived with the main group of evacuees.

“C-Chen Lü… please, come rest over here.”

A crisp female voice rang out. A girl in a red shirt squeezed her way to Chen Zhengnian’s side.

Chen Zhengnian sidestepped her, his tone flat. “That’s not necessary, thank you.”

The girl in red’s face fell, and she looked displeased.

Wang Xinxin’s pace faltered. For some reason, a heavy feeling settled in her chest.

“Xinxin, come over and rest for a bit.”

Mr. Lu called to her from up ahead. Wang Xinxin acknowledged and moved forward. Just as she was about to sit, Chen Zhengnian strode over and handed her a plastic sheet. “Put this down first.”

The girl in red was right behind him, her eyes filled with animosity.

As Wang Xinxin took the plastic sheet, her hand paused for a fraction of a second. “Thank you,” she said in a low voice.

Once everyone was settled, people sat down in their respective spots to rest.

Mrs. Lu quickly took out the items they had brought and wrapped Su Tang in a thick layer of clothing.

“Tangtang, are you cold?”

Su Tang shook her head. Seeing how soaked Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, and Wang Xinxin were, she couldn’t help but say,

“Mom, Dad, Xinxin, you all should take some cold medicine, quickly.”

She glanced at the rain outside, her brow furrowed in thought.

’I wonder if the sandy soil of the Northwest could absorb a rain like tonight’s.’

’If this really turns into a flood, a plague is sure to follow.’

Su Tang thought the chances were slim, but she didn’t dare let her guard down.

All she could do was remind everyone to take some preventative medicine.

The rain grew heavier, drumming a frantic RAT-A-TAT on the roof of the shelter, making everyone feel inexplicably anxious.

No one felt like sleeping. They gathered in small groups of two and three, talking quietly.

Su Tang leaned against Wang Xinxin and dozed for a while, but her sleep was restless.

Later that night, a chorus of coughs began to echo through the shelter, jolting Su Tang awake.

“Mom? Dad?”

She called out. Wang Xinxin quickly replied, “Su Tang, I think Auntie and Uncle are sick.”

Hearing this, Su Tang immediately covered her mouth and nose, urging Wang Xinxin to do the same.

“Cover your mouth and nose. There are face masks in the suitcase, get some out.”

Her eyes fell on Mr. and Mrs. Lu nearby as she quickly assessed the situation.

’This probably isn’t a simple cold,’ she thought. ’But I’ll have to examine them to know for sure.’

Wang Xinxin did as she was told at once, pulling a stack of face masks from the leather suitcase.

After putting on her mask, Su Tang stood up and walked toward Mr. and Mrs. Lu.

Just at that moment, a frantic shout came from farther away.

“Is there a doctor?! Is anyone here a doctor?! My husband’s collapsed!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep