The presidential aircraft had three cabins; Wen Nian and Qu Yu entered the business cabin as they still had work to do, while Tang Xiaohua was placed in the rear cabin with the staff, which was no different from the economy section of a regular airplane.
Tang Xiaohua casually picked a window seat.
When she had traveled on the presidential plane previously, no matter where Wen Nian sat, she always got to be in the front rest cabin, complete with a bed, television, drinks, and food, all handed right to her by the staff...
The treatment of the President’s wife was indeed different from that of a personal guard.
"Guard Tang, would you like some breakfast?"
Tang Xiaohua shook her head; she had eaten before leaving the house.
After asking routinely, the staff member walked away, but Tang Xiaohua called her back,
"Excuse me, do you have... headphones?"
Tang Xiaohua inquired while pointing at the headphone jack on her seat.
"Please wait a moment, I will get you some."
While the President and Secretary Qu were busy, Tang Xiaohua was not aware of the 8.6 magnitude earthquake that had hit Dongheng, a news that had already spread nationwide. She borrowed the headphones and tuned into the only available radio channel on the plane.
She guessed right—the radio host was also broadcasting the latest news on the Dongheng earthquake.
The earthquake, with Dongheng’s Dayuan Town at its center, was astonishingly deep and widespread, with ongoing aftershocks.
Compounded by the occurrence at night when people were resting, the casualties were immense.
Tang Xiaohua felt a chill in her heart...
There are always disasters in this world that shatter the existing peace and beauty.
The plane landed at a private airport in the center of Dongheng City.
The city center, located in the plains, unlike first-tier cities, had fewer high-rise buildings, thus, suffered minimal impact.
The Dongheng City Mayor and the Commander of the East Eternal Military District were already at the airport waiting for the President’s arrival.
As Wen Nian disembarked, seeing Dongheng’s most important officials and military commander at the airport to receive him, his face immediately turned stern,
"One is not dispatching earthquake relief efforts at the city hall, the other is not commanding the front-line soldiers at the military district headquarters..."
The Dongheng City Mayor was stunned and quickly became panicked, hurriedly explaining,
"Mr. President, I had already dispatched the earthquake relief work early in the morning, I only came here when I heard you were personally visiting Dongheng to understand the situation..."
"The common people afflicted by the disaster need you more than I do,"
Wen Nian took a deep breath, seeing the mayor’s face turn pale, and eased his tone,
"I hope that especially at times , you, Mr. Mayor, can demonstrate the role model of ’putting people first, prioritizing the citizens.’"
"Yes, sir! He Jun will remember this for life!"
After the mayor was scolded, the commander at his side didn’t utter a sound, only listening to the mayor’s arrangements, leading them onto a helicopter that was already prepared.
The commander accompanied them to the disaster area near Dayuan.
From the helicopter, the extent of the Dongheng earthquake was vividly visible—a land of devastation, hard to imagine as the beautiful and peaceful place it once was.
Cries of the afflicted seemed to rise from the ground, each one piercing like a drill into one’s heart, not even the noise of the helicopter could cover it...
This was a place more terrifying and heartbreaking than a battlefield...
Tang Xiaohua looked solemn... Unbeknownst to her, Wen Nian’s gaze had shifted towards her,
"In a moment, you stay on the helicopter, there’s no need for you to come down with me."