In the ruins.
Several more days passed.
The radio crackled.
"Farewell, Director Dong."
"We mourn Comrade Dong Xuebin with profound sorrow."
"The Party and the people will never forget you."
"Earthquake Relief Hero Dong Xuebin has been officially recognized as a martyr." Dong Xuebin had kept the radio on these past few days, listening to the broadcasts without pause. Nearly twenty days had passed since the earthquake. Most of the rescue work was basically drawing to a close, and reports had gradually become more frequent. The broadcasts mostly told moving stories from the earthquake relief efforts. Of course, Dong Xuebin was mentioned most often—memorials, farewells, martyrdom. After hearing it for so many days, he was almost starting to believe he was dead. Listening to others mourn him felt pretty damn strange.
Still, Dong Xuebin had weathered plenty of storms. He had even attended his own memorial service before, so he was used to it.
Martyr, fine. Could you hurry up and save me?
If they did not come rescue him soon, he really would become a martyr!
Suddenly, a broken voice came over the radio. "The excavation work for Comrade Dong Xuebin's remains... is continuing... the city... has organized personnel... continuously... because clearing the ruins is too... the rescue search team is... we will bring you the latest news as soon as possible... everyone's..."
What?
The excavation work had been continuing?
Dong Xuebin froze. He had not heard any digging for days.
He immediately pressed his ear to the stone and listened. He could only faintly hear a slight rumbling, with no major movement. After thinking it over, his spirits instantly lifted. He had assumed it was the sound of passing cars, but now that he thought about it, it was probably excavators or other machinery. They were likely afraid