Cheng Su ended the baffling call and Qi Taiguo came over with a bottle of water and a piece of bread for her, asking, "What’s up?"
"Nothing, just made a call back home to check in, didn’t want them to worry. Ning Ge has come back, blowing up at me for no reason. Who knows what’s gotten into him." Cheng Su shrugged.
Qi Taiguo let out an "Oh," pushed the water and bread into her hands, and said, "It’s only bread, but eat up. I’ve got to go out and help now."
Cheng Su took them, cautioning, "Be careful out there."
"Okay!" Qi Taiguo kissed her quickly and strode off.
Cheng Su sat down, devoured the bread and water, saw how chaotic everything around her was, and stood up to help too. She might not have been able to assist with digging people out, but comforting and distracting children were things she could do.
The earthquake news spread far and wide since two or three counties were in the quake zone, and some other counties also suffered damage to different degrees. Thus, help from all quarters arrived, whether in the form of donations, supplies, or makeshift shelters.
Once the roads were cleared, trucks loaded with supplies quickly arrived, army tents were set up as temporary shelters, and many disaster victims were moved there.
Cheng Su also headed over, helping to distribute supplies, guide the way, and take care of the injured and displaced.
In the face of the disaster, there are always casualties. Wives lost husbands, children lost parents, and the elderly lost their children. Cries of grief rose up intermittently.
Qi Taiguo, with his helmet on, followed the firefighters and others, time and again, digging out injured people or bodies of the deceased. With each moment of silence, his hands swelled, his eyes stung, and his heart grew numb.
Being alive was what mattered!
Cheng Su felt the same. In the face of such a disaster, everything else seemed so trivial. Watching those despairing, wailing for lost loved ones, she felt a warmth in her eyes.
Compared to them, were her prior thoughts too insignificant, too naive?
How important it is to be alive!
As dusk faded, Cheng Su cradled a three-year-old boy, humming lullabies to soothe him. His parents had died in the rubble, and he, protected, was the only survivor. Overnight, the child had become an orphan, cried all day, and was finally asleep.
When Qi Taiguo entered the tent, Cheng Su gestured to him with an index finger to her lips. She laid the child down, covered another with a blanket, and pointed outside the tent.
This tent served as a shelter for orphans. If they had relatives, they would be picked up. If not, their future might very well lead to an orphanage.
Seeing Qi Taiguo’s face covered in dust, Cheng Su brought him a basin of water and wrung out a towel for him to wash his face.
Qi Taiguo washed his face and then pressed his hand on her forehead, saying, "You still have a bit of a fever. Don’t overwork yourself!"
"It’s okay, I can handle it. But these children are so pitiful, and those who have lost their loved ones are suffering so much." Cheng Su’s expression darkened.
Qi Taiguo, reminded of the day’s sorrows, felt a shared distress and sighed, "Yes, indeed!"
Cheng Su rested her head on his shoulder, her arm wrapped around his, and said, "Taiguo, let’s make up and stop fighting. Whether or not we’re together in the future, promise me you’ll stay alive. That’s what’s most important, okay?"
"Okay!"
The two gazed as the setting sun slowly descended on the horizon, leaning on each other for support.
Only in the presence of death, having witnessed it, does one truly awaken to its reality. And since they were both by each other’s side, they should cherish that all the more.
Loved ones, don’t speak lightly of giving up!