CHAPTER 179: 173 RESCUE

"Yanyan. Yanyan, wake up." Tian Sangsang gently patted Meng Shuyan’s pale little face, worried he might fall asleep like this.

Meng Shuyan slowly opened his eyes and called out softly, "Mom."

"Good, you’re awake." Tian Sangsang lovingly kissed his cheek, then fed him a bit of glucose water, and asked gently, "Are you hungry? Shall we eat something?"

As she spoke, she took out a small piece of pastry. The pastry was topped with whipped cream, adorned with fruits and chocolate, looking colorful and enticing.

Meng Shuyan couldn’t resist the delicate treat and ate a tiny bite from Tian Sangsang’s hand. "Mom, you should eat too."

Seeing his expectant gaze, Tian Sangsang took a bite as he wished. Truth be told, she wasn’t hungry—her anxiety had already filled her up. She was just about to call Little Milk Tea over to eat something when she glanced around. Where was Little Milk Tea?

That little creature, even though there had been an earthquake, being so small, wasn’t affected much. It still liked to wander through the crevices as if pondering something, like a serious little rascal.

"Mom, I can hear Little Milk Tea’s voice, and cars." Meng Shuyan tried hard to blink his big eyes.

Tian Sangsang’s entire body shook, and a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. "You said cars?"

"Yes, so many cars, so many people." He sniffled his little nose. Among those people, would his father be there?

"We’re going to be saved!" Tian Sangsang’s joy spilled over, her heart about to leap out of her throat. Selfishly, she hoped the rescuers had come for them already. It’s been so long—they should be here by now. She couldn’t wait any longer. Every moment spent waiting in this cramped space felt like an eternity of torment!

She glanced discreetly at the large stone crushing Meng Shuyan’s foot, and her heart ached terribly for him. Her son’s foot...

She gently stroked Meng Shuyan’s fluffy curls, resting her chin on his head to keep him from seeing her tearful face.

"Yanyan, are you scared?"

"As long as mom is here, I’m not scared." Meng Shuyan shook his head lightly in her arms, his small hands clutching her waist.

Tian Sangsang held back her tears.

Later, Tian Sangsang found Chen Ying. Chen Ying, after drinking the glucose water Tian Sangsang had provided earlier, didn’t look as frail. "Someone’s coming to save us soon. We’ll be out of here in no time. Yingzi, hang in there. I’ve heard the sound of cars."

Chen Ying’s tears rolled down like a stream. "We’ve finally waited long enough."

"Yes, we’ve waited." It must be hope, it has to be, it absolutely must be. She believed in her son’s superpower.

Among the shattered ruins, a gray, messy little dog darted about, its tiny paws moving like the wind as it hopped and leapt around. Suddenly, the dog came to a frantic stop, its bright almond-shaped eyes staring wide at the people ahead. These people emerged from their vehicles, wearing green uniforms, white uniforms, and orange uniforms—all uniformly dressed.

Their tasks had already been assigned prior to their arrival—who was responsible for what area, who was in charge of where. Though they had envisioned the situation countless times, actually arriving in the disaster zone and seeing the devastation felt like a knife stabbing through their hearts. No words were exchanged. They shared a knowing glance and got to work! These were their fellow countrymen from the same roots and origin!

"Tongzhou, the village is in your hands." Jiang Jinghuai solemnly and swiftly patted Fang Tongzhou’s shoulder and murmured.

Fang Tongzhou immediately agreed. Though he didn’t understand why the commander had personally assigned him this task, he would approach it with utmost seriousness.

The Tian Family Village—that woman...

Jiang Jinghuai gazed into the distance. The once-winding village had now turned into ruins, unbearable to look at. He instinctively wanted to take out a cigarette and inhale deeply, but he didn’t have one.

Years ago, when he was extremely angry, he had thought of wishing her dead. But when people act out of rage, they often act impulsively, easily making decisions they’ll regret. So, he had held back.

At this moment, he hoped she was alive. Life was so fragile.

He wasn’t an ungrateful person. Years ago, he had found renewal in that village. Most of the time, he was full of gratitude for it.

Sorrow was fleeting, lasting only for moments. There was no time to dwell in sadness. Quickly, Jiang Jinghuai’s expression returned to something more steely and stoic. He ordered, "Focus on saving people. Speed up and take action. We can’t overlook any ounce of hope!"

As he was about to begin moving, something bit the fabric of his pants. Jiang Jinghuai looked down.

A small dog’s paw was gripping his leg, trembling. Its tiny body seemed about to collapse.

Little Milk Tea stuck out its tongue, barking at him earnestly, its voice desperate and piercing.

Jiang Jinghuai’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he reached down while walking, picking up the brazen little dog.

Little Milk Tea dangled in mid-air, its four small paws flailing, its almond-shaped, shiny eyes staring at him with a pitiable expression.

"Stop barking," he ordered in a stern voice. What a lucky dog, still alive. That meant others might be alive too.

Little Milk Tea obediently stopped barking, raising one paw to point ahead, then again, and again in succession...

A flicker of doubt crossed Jiang Jinghuai’s deep eyes. For reasons unknown, he found this dog to be somewhat intriguing; its eyes seemed human-like rather than canine. He shook his head quickly—how could that be? A dog might have spirit, but its connection would be to its owner. He didn’t recognize this dog.

He looked toward where the dog was pointing—a pile of debris. The collapsed house was unrecognizable. He raised an intrigued brow. "Are there survivors there?"

Little Milk Tea nodded furiously.

"Quite a righteous little thing." Jiang Jinghuai put it back down on the ground and thoughtfully stepped forward. The dog darted into a crack and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Commander?" The other soldiers looked at him, awaiting instructions. Could they really trust a dog?

Jiang Jinghuai nodded. "The building isn’t very tall. We’ll split up and start from the outside, moving inward and downward. If you sense an aftershock, retreat immediately."

"Understood!"

"Woof woof, woof woof."

Through faint flickers of awareness, Tian Sangsang was roused by familiar barking. She couldn’t help but smile. "Milk Tea, you’re back."

She greedily stroked Little Milk Tea’s head while it extended a paw toward the outside.

"Did someone come to rescue us?" She glanced at Meng Shuyan in her arms, tears streaming down suddenly. Her son had grown so weak. She counted the time—they’d been trapped for two days.

"Mom..." Meng Shuyan suddenly clung to her clothes, seeming unable to bear it anymore, breathing laboriously: "I can’t... breathe... it’s so hard."

"Yanyan, hold on a bit longer. They’re almost here."

"Oh, Yanyan..."

Tian Sangsang looked at his cracked lips, clutching his small, cold hands that had long since lost their usual warmth.

Meng Shuyan didn’t speak anymore, his red-rimmed peach-blossom eyes silently pleading.

Tian Sangsang picked up a stone and tried to make noise. Soon, the sound of debris clattering reached her ears, drawing closer and closer... She quickly shielded Meng Shuyan with her body. It was deathly quiet, so quiet she could hear the faint sound of sand grains shifting, mixed with whispery human voices. Her entire sensory being focused on her hearing.

Minute by minute, closer and closer...