The Thirty-Ninth Chapter: Landslide

  Taking into account the wind and snow factors, although the commercial buildings in the county town were only built to a height of five floors, they are already the tallest buildings in the county. Anyone entering the county can see them, and everyone is concerned about their fate. The project has now been largely completed, with only the final topping-out work remaining.

  When Wang Sang and Lao Ma arrived in front of the commercial building located in a corner of the county town, looking at the two large buildings that had not yet undergone any exterior decoration, they looked quite rustic. Wang Sang also felt a little touched in his heart. I don't know if these two buildings can drive the economic development of the county town, it is impossible for people living in the county town to live in them, and only those who come to invest and work in the county town may have the qualifications to live in them.

  To guard against the invasion of blizzards, the scaffolding used for construction has been dismantled to near the second floor. Even if it can't withstand the blizzard, it shouldn't affect the personal safety of nearby residents.

  The surrounding area is open space, which is reserved for the construction of an open-style landscape garden in the later stage. The county town has invested too much enthusiasm and jīng force into these two commercial houses, hoping they can achieve good results.

  "Are there no workers left behind?"

  "They left a few people behind, and they are all in that building at the back now. A few of them occupied a room on the second floor, sealed up the windows and lived inside."

  Not a single soul can be seen on the construction site, and it turns out that the shed for workers has been demolished long ago. When receiving the warning of blizzard, most workers have already evacuated from the county town, probably staying in warm hotels in the provincial city by now.

  The ones who stayed behind were also some plateau people, to be exact, they were some young men working on construction sites in county towns. Lhamo had come over many times before and only briefly told Wangsang about it.

  "Let's go take a look together."

  When Wang Sang and Lao Ma got off the bus, Lu Li also followed closely behind them. The snow on the ground was already five centimeters thick, and when stepped on, it made a "sizzling" sound, indicating that the surface had started to freeze. Although the blizzard had only just arrived in the county town, the fact that it had started to snow so quickly suggested that this storm was not going to be simple.

  Although Luli was a communications officer who had been transferred from the battalion to the company for training, he didn't mind serving as a communications officer under Wang Sang. From the helicopter incident earlier, he knew that he still didn't understand the situation at the grassroots level well enough.

  Going around to the back of that building, Wang Sang saw at a glance the room on the second floor that was boarded up with wooden boards. The windproof boards looked simple and also made people feel a bit difficult to hang around.

  The two buildings have no difference in appearance, and to prevent the cold, they are all arranged in an east-west direction. Even on the north-facing wall, there are no windows installed, just to guard against the invasion of cold wind and blizzards.

  The iron door of the miscellaneous room on the first floor has been closed, and Ram told Wang Sang that it was installed urgently before the blizzard arrived and most workers evacuated. It's just to prevent the blizzard from pouring into the room, and it takes time to clean up, not to mention whether it will affect the safety of the unfinished building.

  Nodding, Wang Sang also didn't say much and followed Rama up to the second floor.

  Because of its location on the Gobi Plateau, the two buildings have adopted a streamlined route, and it was Ram who asked the architects from the provincial capital's design institute to design a special shape. Each has only two units, and the house type is not large, in order to minimize wind resistance, and it doesn't look like there are no defenses at all.

  "Karthik, open the door! It's me, Rama."

  Unlike other rooms that were empty and doorless, the room where the workers stayed now had a door installed. As soon as Rama loudly knocked on the door, Wangsan was startled.

  "Lama? Is it Lama? I'll open the door for you right away."

  When the loud response came from inside the house, the footsteps had already reached the door. When the gate opened, a sturdy highland man stood out from the gate, wearing thick winter clothes and a small cape on his chest. His face was covered with black stubble, looking clean but unexpectedly majestic.

  Behind the highland man were several other young men from the highlands, all dressed in the same attire and with excited expressions on their faces. They seemed to be extremely pleased with Lhamo's visit.

  "Continue."

  At the same time he saw Lhama, Gert also saw Wangsan. With a stern face, his waist immediately straightened up. His legs together, he gave a military salute and said: "Company Commander is well."

  With a look of surprise on his face, he returned a military salute and Wang Sang stepped forward to grasp Ge Tie's shoulder, excitedly saying: "Ge Tie, how did you end up here? Didn't you go to the provincial city?"

  Wang Sang's face was filled with joy, and he had already been suspicious when he heard Ge Er's name and voice earlier. Although Ge Er is not a native of the county seat, he is also a plateau man who has been in the transportation team for over a decade, always as Wang Sang's squad leader, until he retired honorably at the age of 35 two years ago.

  "Haha, I went to the provincial city, but I also entered an architectural company in the provincial city. I knew that the county was going to build a commercial building, so I specifically asked for leave and rushed over to help. But you still don't even come to take a look, are you that busy? Or are you still opposed to building a commercial building?"

  "I'm not opposed, just worried, but if it's a commercial building built by Gert, then I can be completely at ease."

  Everyone laughed at Gert and Wangsan's conversation, but Rama was the happiest.

  She had always wanted to tell Wang San that the two commercial buildings were also involved in the construction. However, knowing Wang San's temper, she didn't dare say it, and was waiting for the building to be completed before telling him about it. Now that things have been revealed, Wang San will probably have higher expectations for these two commercial buildings.

  Because the people who stayed behind were highlanders, although some were simple, they didn't need Wang Sang to protect them. Not only did they seal the windows with wooden boards, but there was also a large windbreak canvas behind the wooden boards. Seeing that the construction company had left them small generators and electric heaters, Wang Sang also knew that his worries were unnecessary.

  Although time was limited, under Gert's invitation, Wangsan and Rama also sat down to listen to Gert boast about his work in the construction company.

  "Wang Sanglian is in trouble. The deputy company commander said that there was a landslide at Liudao Gou, and Zhao Zhong and the others may not be able to come down."

  When Wang Zang sat down and chatted with Ge Tie, Lu Li had already returned to the car. Although various arrangements in the county town were already in order, thinking of his previous mistakes, he was still very concerned about Zhao Zhong and Song Ba's situation.

  However, when he told Wang Sang the news brought by the deputy commander of the garrison troops, he was also a little uneasy in his heart.

  Although the transportation team couldn't help Zhao Zhong and Song Ba with more errands, after they set off, a car and a snow guide were also sent to rush towards Liudao Gou, preparing to pick them up if possible. However, it was unexpected that the comrades who rushed over brought back news that Liudao Gou had collapsed, which immediately froze the expression on Wang Sang's face.