Chapter 394 Setting Out to Find People
After a flurry of activity, Zhang Chunli was given medicine and some porridge, and was taken care of.
The village chief was listening to Gong Aidang talk about the village's situation. It was only a matter of time before the grain ran out.
"It's right to distribute the collective's stored grain. As for what comes next, what are your plans?"
Gong Aidang was also worried. They had found some food on the mountain, but they didn't know how long the rain would last, or how long they could hold on.
"There's no other way, we can only find food in the mountains."
"Alas, Asen and the others have gone out to check the situation. If things are better elsewhere, you should temporarily relocate there. At least you can use money and coupons to exchange for some grain."
Zi Yisheng showed no reaction. It wasn't the most difficult time yet, so he couldn't easily offer help. In the past, his help to the brigade was through government support. If he were to personally provide grain now, the villagers would always think he had great abilities.
"You can stay here tonight and talk after the person wakes up."
The people from Bai Rong Brigade who went out to search for food were very excited. Although the harvest was not much, they could at least find something, which gave everyone hope.
"There are taro and cassava. Great, we don't have to starve to death."
"These are filling things. We'll go look for them again tomorrow."
Ji Songlin was also happy. As long as people had food, they wouldn't cause trouble. As long as they could get through the heavy rain, they could be like before.
Gao Jiaojiao had also gone out today, digging up five or six taro and three cassava roots. Although she had brought a lot of snacks to the mountain, she still lacked enough food to fill her stomach.
Despite the hardship, it was the first time she felt the joy of a harvest. Seeing the three missing people, her eyes rolled.
"Zhang Chunli was rescued, what about Wang Qing and Wen Mei? Are we just going to ignore them?"
Liu Dandan glared at Gao Jiaojiao irritably.
"Now you're being kind? Go out and look for them yourself!"
"I'm just reminding everyone, in case you forget about them, after all, we're all educated youths."
"Heh, forget? We wouldn't forget two living people. It's just that no one is willing to risk their lives for them. Besides, the mountain is so big, where would we even find them?"
None of the other educated youths spoke. What Liu Dandan said was the truth. Heavy rain and mountains, who would want to risk their lives to save people?
At this moment, Ji Songlin was also discussing the matter of the two missing educated youths with some respected elders in the brigade. It was impossible to do nothing; if there was a fatality, their brigade would be held responsible.
But where should they look? There wasn't even a basic direction.
"Songlin, do you think it's normal for people to get injured or go missing during a disaster?"
Ji Songlin was stunned for a moment, understanding what the elder meant.
In the face of disaster, they couldn't even guarantee the safety of their own brigade members, let alone the educated youths.
"Are we not going to look for them?"
"We will, we must look. But whether we find them depends on their fate. Disobeying orders and leaving the team without permission – these are not our responsibilities."
Ji Songlin nodded. If they couldn't find them, they would have an excuse, and the entire brigade would bear witness that they had searched but not found them.
"Alright, then we'll look for them tomorrow when we go out to find food. It depends on their fate."
Meanwhile, Zhang Chunli woke up two hours later. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw a bright cave and a warm quilt covering her. She had been saved.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
Zhang Chunli turned her head and saw the old village chief, then burst into tears.
"Village chief, there were wild animals. Wen Mei was bitten, I heard screams."
The village chief's heart sank upon hearing this. Something big had happened.
"Aidang, come here quickly, something's happened!"
Gong Aidang had already gone to bed. He was very tired after a long day, and he was still groggy when he heard the sound.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Hurry, Zhang Chunli is awake, and she knows Wang Qing and the others' situation."
Gong Aidang quickly put on his shoes and ran over. Seeing Zhang Chunli, he began to question her.
"Where are Wang Qing and Wen Mei? Weren't you three together?"
Zhang Chunli was truly terrified. As her memories returned, the horror of that night surged back. She felt like she had been running all night, desperately trying to escape, fearing that the wild animals would catch up and eat her.
"Shut up, stop wailing."
Zhang Chunli was immediately startled into silence by Gong Aidang's angry roar, and she kept hiccuping.
"Tell me what happened. What exactly did Wang Qing and Wen Mei encounter?"
"Hiccup, that night, hiccup..."
After listening, Gong Aidang sat down on the ground with a thud.
"It's over, it's really over. Uncle, what should we do?"
The village chief was also furious. With two lives lost, they all bore some responsibility.
"Why didn't you stop them then? You knew it was dangerous on the mountain during the heavy rain. Now something's happened."
"I didn't know they were leaving at all. There were more than a dozen caves, and I couldn't possibly look after all of them."
Moreover, the caves where the educated youths stayed were managed by Ji Songlin. Gong Aidang also felt wronged; he really couldn't take care of so many people and matters.
"Alright, blaming anyone now is useless. Besides, their legs are their own. Can we tie them up with ropes?"
Gong Wentao didn't want his father to get angry about these things, for fear of him falling ill.
"How about this, we'll look for them now. If another night passes, the possibility of an accident will be even greater."
Most of their men had gone out to scout, leaving only the elderly, women, and young girls. Gong Wentao had to go to Zi Yisheng. They couldn't just stand by and watch.
Zi Yisheng nodded in agreement after hearing this. He looked around and saw that only Uncle Ye and a few of his uncles were available.
Father Ye would definitely not refuse. After a lifetime of being a soldier, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
"Let's go too. If we find them, we might have to carry them back."
The eldest uncles also came. Living in the same village, they felt they should help if they could.
Zi Yisheng looked at Ye Mu'en. Someone had to stay in the cave as a strong laborer, just in case.
"Big brother can stay. We'll be fine."
Ye Mu'en didn't refuse. He still had to carry his sister to the toilet.
Thus, about a dozen people, armed with machetes, went to search in the direction Zhang Chunli described.
Ye Shengge sighed silently. What was this all about? Risking their lives for a thoughtless suggestion, truly not valuing human life.
Chen Tangtang, seeing Ouyang also heading out in the rain, became even more angry. She put on a rain cloak and went to the next door.
Seeing Zhang Chunli still sobbing, she became furious and grabbed her by the collar.
"You still have the nerve to cry? You came here and are still crying? For your sake, our people have to brave the rain to find people. It's almost dark, and if something happens to them, I'll kill you."
Xia Hong quickly pulled her hot-tempered daughter-in-law away. The person had been saved, and there was no point in saying anything now.
"Tangtang, let's not argue with her. Everything was their own choice, no one can be blamed."
Ye Shengge also arrived. She didn't speak, nor did she try to persuade Chen Tangtang. It was best to vent one's anger rather than suppress it.