Section Chief Deng said, "Inform everyone to stay where they are and try not to move around as much as possible."
"Also, it's better to clear out some of the things they're carrying. Large items must be removed."
Just a casual glance earlier made him notice that many people had even carried their household tables and stools with them.
It was also common to see people carrying eight or ten bags.
"Alright, that's it. Hurry up," Section Chief Deng said briefly. After giving his instructions, he led his subordinates to reinforce the doors and windows.
Battalion Commander Sun knew the seriousness of the situation and immediately shouted outside the door, "The platoon leader of the First Platoon, step forward!"
"Reporting to the battalion commander, Platoon Leader Wang Donghai of the First Platoon has stepped forward!"
Battalion Commander Sun nodded in response. "I'll give your platoon ten minutes to organize the evacuation of the family members. Note that they should try to avoid positions near the windows."
"Understood!"
Battalion Commander Sun nodded again and said to a young soldier beside him, "Inform the Second and Third Platoons to come and support quickly.
"Also, tell them to carry 500 bags of sandbags from the first floor. Be quick!"
"Yes, Battalion Commander." The young soldier responded and went outside.
At the order, the well - trained soldiers quickly carried the pre - prepared sandbags into the auditorium.
Outside, the wind was strong and the rain was heavy. Although sandbags had been laid on the first - floor hall to prevent water and oilcloth had been placed underneath, the sandbags were still soaked by rainwater to varying degrees.
Coupled with the slippery stairs, every step the soldiers took was difficult.
Seeing that all the windows were starting to rattle, Uncle Zhong clenched his fists and stood up.
"Miss Sisi, I'll go and help them."
Most of the people in the auditorium were the elderly, the weak, women, and children.
Unlike them, he was in his prime.
He had plenty of strength and it was no problem for him to carry a few bags of sandbags.
As he finished speaking, Uncle Zhong had already stood up.
"Wait a minute. I'll go with you," Third Uncle also stood up.
"Third Uncle—"
Before Jiang Si could finish her words, Third Uncle waved his hand and said, "Sisi, don't underestimate me. I'm in good health."
Third Uncle wasn't just boasting when he said this.
When he was young, he worked as a porter at the dock in Hu City for some time.
At that time, he could carry two large bags of grain on his back.
He could carry these sandbags!
Jiang Si knew he could carry them and also knew that Third Uncle's body, nourished by the spiritual spring water, was far better than that of his peers.
But after all, he was of a certain age.
It was impossible for Jiang Si not to worry.
But she knew clearly that once Third Uncle had made up his mind, no one could persuade him.
"Don't worry. I'm just going to carry some sandbags. I'll be fine," Third Uncle said. Then he turned back and smiled at her. "You know I always keep my word!"
Jiang Si frowned tightly. "Then be careful and don't fall."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," Third Uncle waved his hand and urged her to go to the storage room quickly.
Originally, Battalion Commander Sun didn't agree, but he couldn't stop Third Uncle and Uncle Zhong from insisting.
Just then, several other uncles rolled up their sleeves and came over.
Like Third Uncle and Uncle Zhong, they were all here to visit their relatives in the army.
They couldn't do much else, but they could help carry some things.
Seeing this, a sister - in - law stuffed her child into her mother - in - law's arms.
"Mom, take good care of the child. I'll go and help too."
Her mother - in - law was straightforward. While holding the child tightly, she also reminded her, "Then be careful."
"Don't worry, Mom. When I was a girl at home, I used to get full work - points every day!
"I could carry a load of over a hundred catties for two miles without even gasping."
"Wait for me. I'll go too. I was also good at doing farm work at home. I could take on two people in a fight," said another.
"Then I'll go too!"
"Count me in!"
Seeing more and more people standing up to help, Battalion Commander Sun suddenly felt his eyes well up with tears.
"Okay, on behalf of the army, I thank you all," Battalion Commander Sun said. While thanking the military family members, he also proposed a compromise.
He asked the military family members to wait in place. When the soldiers carried the sandbags up, they would be responsible for moving them to the designated positions.
"No problem."
Everyone was very efficient and, most importantly, they were willing to listen to advice.
On this side, everyone was actively cooperating with the soldiers' actions.
On the other side, the young soldiers who were responsible for persuading the family members to clear out their things were now as if facing a great enemy, with their brows all knitted tightly.
But no matter how much they persuaded, several old ladies remained unmoved.
Especially Old Lady Xiang.
Not long ago, she had just had a fight with Li Mei, and she was still fuming.
Unexpectedly, the young soldiers came up and asked her to hand over her luggage.
Old Lady Xiang was so angry that she immediately showed her annoyance. "I won't hand it over! Why should I? There are so many people here. Why do you keep picking on me?"
The young soldier had no choice but to explain again.
He also promised that these things would only be placed downstairs and at most would be soaked by the flood. They could still be washed and used after going back.
But Old Lady Xiang just wouldn't listen.
"Then let them hand it in. That'll be fine."
Old Lady Xiang said, "Anyway, I'm not handing it in. Besides, there are only clothes in my bag. How heavy can a bag of stuff be?"
It was easy for them to say. It was almost impossible to wash the clothes that had been soaked in dirty water.
Moreover, there were so many things.
All piled up together, who would be responsible if something got lost?
Director Pan, who came along, couldn't stand it anymore. "Auntie, you'd better cooperate with the military comrades' work. They're doing this for our safety."
"Yes, auntie," another sister-in-law chimed in to persuade. "Look, every household is handing in their things. It's not targeting you alone."
"Look, we've handed in all our luggage."
"We can't compare with your family. Your husband is a battalion commander, and you have a job!
You two earn money just for one child. Naturally, you won't feel bad if things get lost or dirty. Unlike me..."
Speaking of this, Old Lady Xiang got really angry.
The next second, she glared at Li Mei. "It's all your fault, you bad luck star. Not only did you give birth to so many useless daughters, but now you've also given birth to a deaf child! You're deliberately ruining our family!"
Yes, just now.
Old Lady Xiang found out that her precious little grandson of three days was actually deaf.
In these days, everyone knew that nine out of ten deaf people were also mute!
So, needless to say, this child would surely be both deaf and mute.
In their area, a person like him didn't have any future, let alone being able to marry a wife.
If it were a girl, they could just drown her.
But he was a boy.
Now, Old Lady Xiang didn't want to raise him, but she also couldn't bear to abandon him.
As for Li Mei, no one knew if she was too stimulated.
Since she found out that the child had a problem, she had become a bit crazy.
Anyway, she laughed one moment and cried the next.
The more she was like this, the angrier Old Lady Xiang got. After scolding, she still wasn't satisfied.
She raised her hand and slapped Li Mei. "You annoying thing, say something!"
The next second, a clear slapping sound rang out.
The other sisters-in-law were stunned. They were just about to tell Old Lady Xiang to talk nicely and not hit people at every turn.
However...
When they opened their mouths, they found that the situation seemed different from what they had imagined.
At this moment, Li Mei was tightly holding Old Lady Xiang's wrist with her left hand.
Old Lady Xiang looked shocked and took a long time to react.
"You... you dared to hit me..."
Li Mei's eyes were cold. She had wanted to hit this slap for a long time.
Hitting one was the same as hitting two.
So, in Old Lady Xiang's shocked gaze, Li Mei didn't say a word and raised her hand to slap her again.
This slap was given with all her strength, and Old Lady Xiang's face was slapped to the side.
Old Lady Xiang was extremely vain and couldn't bear such humiliation.
She let out a scream and started wrestling with Li Mei.
The commotion between the two of them was so loud that it attracted a lot of attention.
Soon, a crowd gathered around.
Jiang Si wasn't interested in the matter between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Since Uncle Third and Uncle Zhong went to help,
her eyes had been fixed on them.
But now, blocked by these people, she couldn't see anything.
Helplessly, Jiang Si had to move to the side.
Who would have thought that as soon as she lifted her foot, a scream suddenly came from the crowd.
"Bad! The window here can't hold up anymore!"
Before the voice fell, there was a loud "crash!"
This sound was much louder than before.
Jiang Si looked up and found that a window on the south side of the auditorium had crashed to the ground.
Before everyone could react, the strong wind mixed with hail started pouring in crazily through the broken window.
"Uncle Third! Uncle Zhong!"
Jiang Si's heart tightened instantly. Just as she shouted "Be careful",
a tall and familiar figure suddenly appeared in her sight.
