With Qin Huai and the others joining in, the rescue work became somewhat easier for the soldiers who had been working non-stop. The difficulty of rescuing from the cooling station was indeed much less than from the residential areas. To accommodate more people seeking relief, all the counters and partitions had been removed, leaving the cooling station as a circular building. The roof was made entirely of lightweight steel materials, and after the earthquake, this roof actually provided a bit of breathing space for those inside, holding up the debris from above.
There were quite a few survivors inside, though there were also many who had perished. The reason why these soldiers could not stop, even when exhausted, was precisely because of the presence of survivors. If there were more hands available, they might be able to rescue the trapped people quickly. However, there was a shortage of manpower everywhere. Organizing civilian self-rescue required volunteers, but given the choice between saving their own family members or digging through the rubble of their own homes, it was unlikely that many people would come to help strangers. Consequently, the soldiers on site were working the hardest, as apart from them, the survivors trapped below had no other help.
Before Qin Huai and the others arrived, these soldiers had already been digging for several hours. They had started rescuing as soon as the heat became less unbearable, knowing that saving even one more person could make a difference. The soldier who was in charge of registration was just relieved, as the extreme heat and physically demanding work had already caused several of them to collapse. Despite their superior physical conditioning due to long-term training, the past two days had taken a toll. Nonetheless, they could not stop their insignias reminded them that they had to shoulder all the responsibility, even at the cost of their own well-being.
Without a crane, they had to dig a gap through the collapsed area themselves. This gap had been opened yesterday, allowing them to confirm that there were still people alive inside. The number was likely still significant, but there was always a risk of further collapse, so the rescue operation had to proceed cautiously. They had sent down a batch of food and water yesterday to help the survivors last another day, but if they couldn't open up more space by tonight, enduring another day of extreme heat might mean that the remaining survivors wouldn't last.
Mu Nan and the others helped move some of the debris for a while, but soon they could no longer clear the rubble. The rescue team leader was troubled, "We anticipated this situation yesterday. The steel roof protected the people below but also blocked the way for rescue."
In the past, a crane could have easily lifted the steel roof away, but now, with only human power available, it was almost impossible.
Some soldiers tried to move the steel roof with combined effort, but with the shortage of personnel, there was no way to mobilize additional help. Thus, the rescue progress stalled.
Qin Huai glanced at a piece of steel roof nearby that was about two-thirds the size of the one they were dealing with. "We can use leverage. If it works, we might be able to save the people. If it doesn't, it could cause a secondary collapse."
The rescue team leader followed Qin Huai's gaze. "Leverage? How do we do that?"
Qin Huai explained, "We can't move the large one, but if we put in effort on the smaller piece, we might be able to get it out. Tie it with ropes. The height from the top of the rubble to the ground below is at least six or seven meters."
The team leader understood the idea immediately. Using the downward force of the smaller steel roof to pull out the larger one could potentially save the people inside. However, if the forces were too uneven, the impact of the smaller steel roof's fall could cause another collapse, making the outcome uncertain.
The rescue team leader convened an emergency meeting with everyone. They decided to take the risk, as they had no other options. If they couldn't move the steel roof, there was no way to get the trapped people out. Rather than waiting passively, they chose to gamble on this attempt.
With a plan in place, everyone's spirits lifted. They put all their strength into trying to move the smaller steel roof. Hearing the coordinated efforts and encouragement from the team, Mu Nan, who was resting on the side, couldn't help but ask Qin Huai, "Brother, how likely do you think it is that we'll succeed?"
In his previous life, Mu Nan had only been able to help around the neighborhood and didn't know if the people trapped at the cooling station had been rescued or not.
Qin Huai shook his head. "It's a matter of chance. Conserve your strength and don't overexert yourself."
Mu Nan replied, "I understand. You shouldn't overwork yourself either. Your shoulders were already sore yesterday."
After a brief rest, they put their gloves back on and resumed helping. The smaller steel roof was also quite heavy. They couldn't understand why it felt so heavy despite being made of lightweight steel. But compared to the immovable large roof, the smaller one had shifted slightly. Even a small movement was encouraging. With a bit more effort and persistence, they might just succeed.
Originally, they had planned to conserve their energy for helping others, with the understanding that taking care of themselves was essential to being effective. However, the overwhelming atmosphere and the sight of others working so hard had an infectious effect, motivating them to push their limits. When they were completely exhausted, they were replaced to drink some water and catch their breath before returning to help.
Just as dawn was about to break, the small steel roof was finally pushed to the edge of the rubble by everyone. They used every binding material they had, fearing that if the binding was insecure and broke in the middle, the situation would become even more desperate.
After everyone had done their best, at the signal from the rescue team leader, everyone pushed together and then moved back. The small steel roof swayed at the edge, making everyone's hearts race with anticipation. Fortunately, as planned, the small steel roof slid heavily off the edge.
Qin Huai pulled Mu Nan away to a safe distance, fearing a secondary collapse that might pull them down.
Dust and smoke billowed, and a deafening crash echoed in their ears. The ground they stood on even trembled. Before the smoke had cleared, Mu Nan heard someone shouting in joy that they had made it.
Everyone quickly climbed over the rubble. It was impossible to lift the entire large steel roof, which was the main beam of a shopping mall, with only about twenty to thirty people. However, by using the leverage from the small steel roof, a gap was created in the previously immovable large steel roof, large enough to allow two or three people to pass through.
To avoid a collapse due to the scramble for entry, they sent two soldiers down instead of letting everyone rush in. The steel roof had been secured well enough, as it had taken considerable effort to create the gap, so it was unlikely to collapse easily. They worked until all the people who could still move were hoisted up by ropes, and everyone was safe.
In total, they rescued 108 people, while there were more than 30 corpses. Some had limbs crushed by falling debris and died from bleeding, as the high daytime temperatures made it impossible to stop the bleeding in time. Others had been injured while fleeing and had died from internal injuries after collapsing. Some bodies were incomplete, and the soldiers had to put in a lot of effort to retrieve them. Fortunately, everyone was safely rescued, and there were no repeat incidents of rescuers not returning.
The results of the night's efforts were significant—over a hundred people saved, making all the hard work worthwhile. They were extremely tired after working nonstop throughout the night.
As dawn approached and the sun's heat had not yet intensified, they knew they would have to hurry home to avoid exposure to the sun. They had no time to visit the canteen and only picked up meal vouchers before heading home.
The team leader asked them to return that night: "You've been a huge help with this rescue. Come back tonight. We can't offer a large reward at the moment, but we can give you some durable food. It might be useful, as the situation might not improve. Having supplies on hand will help."
Mu Nan noticed Jian Chu's hesitation and spoke up, "May I ask where we can find solar panels if we need them? Or is there something we can trade for them?"
The team leader asked, "You're looking for solar panels?"
Mu Nan nodded.
The team leader pondered for a moment and then said, "Come back tonight and we'll discuss it."
This hint of possibility was encouraging. Mu Nan thanked him, and Jian Chu also expressed gratitude. Despite their exhaustion, their spirits were lifted by the fact that they had helped save so many lives and that there might be a chance to get solar panels. Seeing the relief and joy on the faces of those rescued, it was clear that the effort had been worth it.
On their way back, Mu Nan asked Jian Chu, "Why didn't you ask earlier? The team leader said there would be a reward. It was a great opportunity."
Jian Chu looked a bit embarrassed, "You all worked hard too. It wouldn't be right to ask for solar panels when food is so precious right now."
Mu Nan replied, "Let's see what happens tonight. According to the team leader, they should have solar panels. We might be able to get some. Asking for ten panels shouldn't be unreasonable, right?"
Ten panels could power two air conditioners, which would be quite useful given the intense heat. It's important to avoid too much disparity between those who have and those who don't. If their neighbors suffer in the heat while they enjoy the comfort of air conditioning, it would create a noticeable gap. Helping others while maintaining this balance might be better than making such a large request.
Jian Chu and Yu Zibai are grateful for the assistance, and this temporary cooperation could build lasting goodwill. If they were to take advantage of the situation, Mu Nan and Qin Huai could leave with their supplies. Mu Nan, despite his seemingly harmless demeanor, was quite strategic in ensuring their needs were met.
Jian Chu felt sincere gratitude towards Mu Nan. He wasn't afraid of others being unkind to him, as he was used to malice from his past. But when people were kind to him, he felt at a loss for words. Despite being deeply grateful, he didn't know how to express his thanks. His sales experience had made him eloquent, but at times like these, he felt tongue-tied. He could only manage to say, "Mu Nan, Qin Huai, thank you!"
Mu Nan smiled and said, "It's nothing. In such a disaster, it's fate that we can come together and help each other out."
Only Qin Huai could see the tail of the fox flicking back and forth in front of him. Mu Nan had always been clever and mischievous while he wasn't malicious, he had a knack for charming people and getting what he wanted. He could easily empty his classmates' pockets of candy, and they would still thank him. However, it seemed that Mu Nan had become quieter and more reserved since his departure, confining himself to a small circle and avoiding contact with the outside world.
Seeing Mu Nan's return to a bit of his old lively self, Qin Huai couldn't help but feel a pang of bittersweetness. How wonderful it would be if there were no disasters.
Climbing the stairs was a huge challenge for them. Qin Huai and Yu Zibai had adapted although it was tiring, they managed to make it up by gritting their teeth. However, for Mu Nan and Jian Chu, after spending a whole night expending their energy, climbing seventeen floors felt like a life-threatening ordeal.
As Qin Huai dragged him up the stairs, Mu Nan gasped, "If it weren't for the... air conditioning at home... calling to me, I'd rather sleep in a... big tent!"
Qin Huai encouraged him with a smile, "Come on, we're on the fifteenth floor. Hang in there and we'll be home soon."
Mu Nan was so exhausted he felt dizzy and his lungs were about to burst, "I can't... I really can't..."
Jian Chu, pushing him from behind, said, "Man up! You can't say you can't!"
In the end, Mu Nan was dragged back to his front door by the combined efforts of the three. The air conditioning was, of course, still on. Once home, Jian Chu and Mu Nan lay side by side, and Qin Huai used a damp towel to cool Mu Nan's forehead, saying, "Don't lie down, sit up."
Mu Nan grumbled and didn't want to move. Qin Huai had to help him sit up and massaged his shoulders and arms. Mu Nan pushed Qin Huai's hands away, "I'll be fine once I cool down." Qin Huai was also tired and wanted to rest now that they were home, so he didn't waste his energy on a massage.
Qin Huai turned to Jian Chu and Yu Zibai, "You should sleep here tonight it's too hot."
Jian Chu waved his hand, "We'll cool down a bit and then head home. It's kind of you to offer, but we can't be too casual. Although it's very cool here and we don't want to leave."
Mu Nan felt a bit disappointed, "We didn't find much today." Many items had already been found earlier, and with more people searching later, fewer items were available. They had spent the day rescuing people instead.
Qin Huai said, "The cooling station didn't have much. It was mostly construction materials, though there were a lot of steel bars."
Yu Zibai said, "We need to return early tomorrow and check on Xu Ming's condition at the medical team. He might stay with them. If he hasn't come up, we'll send his self-heating pot down when we go back."
Jian Chu and Yu Zibai rested at Mu Nan's home for a while. After the intense heat had subsided, they headed back to their place. Since they had already connected their power supply, they had a freezer and an air conditioning fan. They planned to take a quick shower and use the ice crystals from the freezer to cool the air with the fan. Although it wasn't as cool as air conditioning, it was a great relief given the current lack of water and electricity. Being at home was still the most comfortable.
Once alone at home, Qin Huai helped Mu Nan up, "Now that you're cool, go take a shower. After that, I'll apply some plasters for you."
Mu Nan was reluctant to move, "Brother, we're still not fully prepared."
Qin Huai asked, "What else are we missing?"
Mu Nan replied, "We need a massage chair. It would be so nice to have one right now."
In the midst of thinking about future shortages, who would have imagined the value of a massage chair? Seeing Mu Nan's exhausted state, Qin Huai smiled, "Don't want to move? Then I'll help you shower, apply the plasters, and give you a massage afterward."
Mu Nan grumbled and slowly got up from the floor. Despite a short rest, he still felt heavy and tired, but he needed to shower. Without it, he wouldn't be able to sleep. After his shower, he ran a bath for Qin Huai. While Qin Huai was showering, Mu Nan drank a bottle of glucose, feeling his throat burn from the sweetness. He quickly drank some iced water. The day's exertion had been too intense, and even after a long rest, he still felt dizzy.
When Qin Huai finished his shower, Mu Nan, feeling better thanks to the glucose, finally recovered. He offered Qin Huai some glucose, "Do you want some?"
Qin Huai asked, "You drank it?"
Mu Nan nodded, "To replenish my energy."
Qin Huai said, "I don't need it. Keep it for yourself. Do you want to sleep first or eat something?"
Mu Nan was very tired but knew that if he slept now, he wouldn't wake up to eat later. So he said, "Let's eat first. What should we have? Noodles, or rice and vegetables?"
He wasn't interested in meat. Although they hadn't moved any bodies today, he had seen enough dismembered corpses, and the images in his mind were still fresh. He didn't want to eat anything that reminded him of those scenes.
Qin Huai suggested, "Let's have rib noodles. You can have a little bit of spice." He was concerned that Mu Nan's exhaustion might make him lose his appetite, so he allowed for a bit of spice to make the meal more flavorful.
Mu Nan struggled to get up and sat at the small table. He took out two bowls of rib noodles from the space and asked Qin Huai if he wanted a can of beer. Since Qin Huai was drinking beer, Mu Nan took a cup of green bean paste with ice shavings for himself. He also took out a box of grilled bread slices sprinkled with cumin, which were crispy and golden. He added two eggs, which were freshly laid and boiled from their home chickens. He kept a daily intake of one egg for basic nutrition.
Looking at Qin Huai, who was holding chopsticks steadily, and then at his own trembling hands, Mu Nan thought, "..."
Qin Huai chuckled, "I'll get a fork. I'll feed you."
Mu Nan said, "It's not necessary. I'll eat slowly myself."
With his strong willpower, Mu Nan finished a bowl of rib noodles, but he only ate the noodles and set aside the extra ribs that the owner had generously given, saving them for later when he had more of an appetite for meat.
He only ate two slices of the grilled bread, Qin Huai ate the rest. Concerned that Qin Huai might not have enough, Mu Nan asked if he wanted anything else. Qin Huai's appetite was moderate and he would finish the box of bread slices, mostly because Mu Nan had taken them out.
After they had eaten, Mu Nan took out a massager for shoulders and neck. He used to paint and would sit at the computer for long periods, leading to sore shoulders and neck. He had bought several massagers before, including ones for the neck, head, and legs. Since he had thought of the massage chair yesterday but hadn't mentioned it, he remembered all these massage aids today. As they had just eaten and couldn't lie down to sleep immediately, he used the massager on Qin Huai's shoulders and neck while rolling a manual leg massager on his own legs.
"I should have prepared a few of these earlier," Mu Nan said. "Look, just rolling it a bit can help with the legs, and later I'll use it on the arms. It's so useful."
Qin Huai replied, "We could check out the nearby shopping mall. It was closed off for renovation into a cooling station, but since the solar panels hadn't arrived, the work hadn't started. We don't know if the stuff inside has been cleared out. If not, it might be worth searching through."
Before the earthquake, life had already been tough, with almost no stores open. Even the small privately-run shops might have been closed simply out of precaution or fear of theft. After the earthquake, apart from residential buildings, the commercial streets and shops hadn't been thoroughly searched, as it seemed pointless to search if nothing could be found.
After relaxing their muscles a bit, they applied medicated plasters all over their bodies. Luckily, they had bought a lot of these plasters; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to withstand such exhaustion. Once their bodies adjusted to this level of strain, they should feel much better.
After finishing the necessary tasks, Mu Nan and Qin Huai turned off the lights and lay down. The room was quiet for a while before Mu Nan suddenly spoke, "Brother."
Qin Huai responded with a soft, "Hmm," slightly turning his head toward him. Although it was dark and nothing was visible, he could make out Mu Nan's general outline.
Mu Nan said, "We saved so many people today."
Qin Huai chuckled softly, "Yes, Nan Nan, you did very well today."
Mu Nan asked, "If we saved so many people, will good things happen to us?"
Qin Huai's smile faded slightly, but he reached out and pulled Mu Nan into his arms, then whispered, "Yes, good people will surely be rewarded."
Mu Nan snuggled closer to Qin Huai and said, "Yeah, I believe good people will be rewarded." He didn't ask for a perfect future he only hoped that this life would be free of regrets.