frightfiction Chapter 106 Natural Disasters—Earthquakes
Chapter 106 Natural Disasters—Earthquakes
After dinner, Shu Yun lingered at home for half an hour to digest her food before Gu Jun dragged her out for a run.
The ground temperature dropped considerably after nightfall, making it much more comfortable than during the day. Shu Yun didn't like going out at night, but when she did, she found that there were quite a few people, though most of them were fathers with their children exercising. She rarely saw anyone running with their partner, which made her feel a little ashamed.
However, after running for less than half an hour, Shu Yun had no time to think about anything else. She was panting heavily, and when she looked at Gu Jun, who was following her at a steady pace with even breathing and a normal expression on his face, it was hard to imagine that this person could maintain such good physical strength at night after training during the day.
Indeed, Gu Jun's stamina was truly remarkable; she was always the one who had to beg for mercy... The more she thought about it, the more her mind wandered, and Shu Yun's face turned red, but fortunately, it was hidden in the darkness of the night and could not be clearly seen.
Suddenly, Shu Yun felt a pat on the back, and Gu Jun's voice came, "Concentrate."
Shu Yun choked a little from the slap and couldn't help but reach out and scratch Gu Jun.
"Oh my, the young couple is so sweet."
A teasing voice came from beside her, and Shu Yun immediately withdrew her hand and sped up.
------
That night, Shu Yun was half asleep when he suddenly felt dizzy. Gu Jun woke him up, saying, "Wake up, there's an earthquake."
Shu Yun immediately perked up: Earthquake!
The ground shook again. This time, Shu Yun saw the light bulb hanging on the ceiling of the bedroom sway several times. She immediately got up from the bed with Gu Jun. The shockwave wasn't too strong. Gu Jun held her in his arms and carried her head to the yard, where it was more open and relatively safe.
It was bustling outside, and the barking of dogs, meowing of cats, and crowing of chickens inside and outside the house never stopped. It seems that the animals also felt the earthquake.
Gu Jun looked at the high mountain behind their house. It was still early morning, and the mountain was pitch black. But Shu Yun felt a sense of fear and oppression for no reason. She gripped Gu Jun's sleeve tightly. Gu Jun took her hand and comforted her, "We shouldn't be in the earthquake zone. We were just affected and there were some aftershocks."
He said, "Xiaoyun, I have to go to the army base. I'll take you to Aunt Tian's house next door."
Shu Yun, not wanting Gu Jun to worry, nodded and said, "You, be careful."
Gu Jun nodded, put on a coat, and went out. Shu Yun stood at the gate of the courtyard, watching his departing figure, a faint worry rising in her heart.
Tian Xiufen, holding her child, sat in the yard and comforted him, saying, "It's alright. My husband, Lao Gao, went too. Let's rest in the yard for a while. We don't know if there will be another earthquake later."
Shu Yun nodded, but she still didn't dare to go back into the room to sleep. She and Tian Xiufen worked together to move the bed to the yard. Sleeping outdoors would be more reassuring, but apart from the child who was already fast asleep, neither of the two women could fall asleep.
The next day, Shu Yun got up early. Just as the sun was beginning to rise, she saw Gu Jun return. She breathed a sigh of relief. "You're back. Have you had breakfast? I made some millet porridge."
Neither of them had slept all night, and they were both in poor spirits. Gu Jun wiped his face with the cold well water before saying, "You eat, I've already eaten."
Then, Shu Yun heard Gu Jun continue, "The epicenter of the earthquake was in Yuanhua City in the neighboring province. The magnitude was not low, and it was the middle of the night, so many people did not have time to evacuate, resulting in serious casualties."
"The troops are going to provide support; there are still many wounded people under the rubble who urgently need to be rescued."
Shu Yun let out a soft "Ah," her reaction somewhat sluggish, perhaps from not sleeping all night. Gu Jun looked at Shu Yun and said, "I'll be leaving in a bit."
Shu Yun asked with a hint of panic, "How many days will you be gone?"
Gu Jun pursed his lips. "I don't know. Wait for me to come back."
Shu Yun responded listlessly. She was feeling a little down, but she didn't want to show it, so she changed the subject: "Do you want to pack your luggage? I'll help you."
Gu Jun nodded. "Just tidy up a bit."
Gu Jun had prior experience with missions, and he skillfully stuffed several pieces of clothing into his suitcase, while Shu Yun stood to the side, seemingly having nothing to do.
Gu Jun picked up his suitcase, looked at Shu Yun who was following closely behind him, and scratched his head. "Get some rest, don't worry too much, I'll be back soon."
Shu Yun hugged Gu Jun and looked up to ask, "Then, is the earthquake over in Yuanhua City?"
Gu Jun nodded. "So it's very safe."
There would actually be aftershocks, especially during the search of the ruins, where aftershocks would be particularly dangerous. However, Gu Jun didn't want Shu Yun to worry, so he didn't say anything. Shu Yun pressed her face against Gu Jun's chest. She knew there would be aftershocks. Thinking this, Shu Yun tightened her grip on Gu Jun's waist and abdomen.
Time was running out, and Gu Jun couldn't bear to pry Shu Yun's hands open, so he just whispered, "Xiao Yun."
Shu Yun rubbed against him reluctantly, saying, "You must stay safe. I'll be waiting for you to come back."
Gu Jun: "Yes, I promise you."
Shu Yun released Gu Jun, who lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead. "I'm leaving."
Shu Yun watched the person stride away until they were out of sight, then sat back down in the house, feeling lost and dejected.
The millet porridge that had been cooked long ago was served and cooled down. Shu Yun took a bite and couldn't eat anymore, but she still forced herself to drink the whole bowl of porridge.
---
The earthquake was extremely destructive, and roads were severely damaged. Military trucks could only drive halfway before they were unable to proceed. Soldiers, in neat and orderly formation, carried supplies and marched on foot into the heart of the earthquake zone.
The marching troops marched without sleep for two days and two nights before finally reaching the heart of the earthquake zone. Along the way, there were ruins everywhere, and the air was filled with dust and the smell of blood. Everyone's expression was heavy and solemn. They were silent, but the powerful thud of their footsteps was uniform.
Dark clouds drifted across the sky, making it terribly gloomy. Before long, a light rain began to fall, followed by a clap of thunder. Gu Jun stood at the front of the group, his face wet with rain, his expression even more resolute. He looked up at the sky and said, his voice hoarse, "Keep going, speed up."
---
Shu Yun looked at the dark sky, her heart filled with worry. She didn't know if they had arrived yet. A happy was circling around her, but she just couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
"Sister-in-law, was your home badly affected by the aftershocks of the earthquake? We came to find out what happened."
Shu Yun perked up a bit. "It wasn't a big deal. Just a light bulb in the living room was knocked down, and a few pieces of tile on the roof were knocked off."
The young comrade in military uniform wrote down the details, saluted, and said, "Commander Gu went to support the disaster area. If your wife needs anything at home, just come find me. I'm here..."