Chapter 24: Smash this era!
The speech was over. In the video, the top decision-maker bent down and bowed deeply to the camera.
Zhou Cheng was silent for a long time before he stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the dark world outside.
He seemed to feel once again the omnipresent atmosphere of dusk and death that filled the entire earth.
The speech of the top decision-maker did not seem to stir any waves in this dead world.
Baya Mountain, Baya Iron Mine.
Luo Jianguo drove the mine cart and poured the last cart of ore into the crusher.
The crusher was rumbling. He got out of the cab and Lao Qi shouted to him, "Let's go."
Luo Jianguo took a last look at the mine car he had driven for more than ten years, his eyes full of complicated thoughts.
He slammed the driver's door shut and walked away without looking back.
At this moment, in the Baya mining area, which covers dozens of square kilometers, only Pit No. 1 has workers left, and all other places have been abandoned.
Including myself, there are only a few dozen people left.
After crushing the last truck of ore, we will also evacuate.
In the dormitory, the mine manager Lao Wang brought white wine, and the chefs in the kitchen brought hot snacks. Several large tables were put together, and the few dozen remaining workers sat around the tables.
Lao Wang picked up his wine glass and said proudly, "We have all been working together for more than ten years and have persisted until now.
Starting tomorrow, our iron ore will be gone, and everyone will go their separate ways. Here, I wish you all a bright future and happiness. Come, cheers!
A group of people raised their glasses of wine and drank them all in one gulp.
Luo Jianguo also drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
The atmosphere in the room was lively, but Luo Jianguo always felt like there was a huge stone pressing on his chest, and even breathing was a little difficult.
Everyone was chatting and laughing as they ate and drank. Gradually, the laughter died down. Finally, everyone fell silent.
"Our Baya Iron Mine has such rich ore reserves, such high quality, and such excellent mining conditions... and it's closed just like that?"
"Yeah... For the past twenty years, one-third of the world's steel consumption has come from our iron mine, and now it's closed..."
Several workers murmured.
Luo Jianguo said: "There's nothing we can do. We humans don't need that much steel, and we never will."
Lao Qi sighed: "I feel really bad at this moment."
The workers burst into laughter: "Old Qi, you are so sentimental at your age."
Lao Qi said nothing, but his eyes were slightly red. The laughter of his fellow workers gradually died down, and their eyes began to moisten.
Mine manager Lao Wang slapped the table and said, "From now on, everyone will have some free time. They can live in their cradles and enjoy themselves. This is a good thing, a good thing. Why are you so sad? Come on, come on, cheers."
"Cheers, cheers!"
Luo Jianguo lost his appetite at the farewell dinner. After the hasty banquet, he did not return to the dormitory to rest, but went out alone and climbed a small hill nearby.
Under the setting sun, the mountains rise and fall. Between the peaks, there are mines and roads, as well as abandoned machinery and vehicles parked everywhere.
Except for here, the rest of the place was empty.
Facing the setting sun, Luo Jianguo felt a surge of resentment filling his chest, causing him to uncontrollably roar towards the distance.
But the only responses he got were the chirping of insects and the humming of the mountain wind.
"Why……"
Luo Jianguo sat on a rock, smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly: "It's time to go to the cradle and enjoy happiness, it's time to go and enjoy happiness..."
It was as if all his energy had been drained away, and he seemed to have aged ten years in that instant.
He sat quietly and refused to leave until the sun set.
"Lao Luo! Lao Luo!"
A voice rang out. Luo Jianguo turned and saw Lao Qi climbing up from below with some difficulty, panting. "Hurry up! The decision-makers have made a speech, calling on us to participate in the Yangjiagou project."
"What do these speeches and projects have to do with us?"
He shook his head: "We should go to rest."
Lao Qi pulled him up without saying a word and dragged him down the mountain.
The workers have gathered in the meeting room.
"Everyone here? Okay, I'll replay it."
Lao Wang made some adjustments, and the figure of the highest decision-maker appeared on the screen again.
"My fellow countrymen..."
As the top decision-maker spoke, Luo Jianguo's hunched back gradually straightened. The aura of aging that had enveloped him gradually dissipated.
His eyes brightened and sharpened again.
"Hope, hope..."
He murmured.
Lao Wang looked at him and said, "Lao Luo, the brothers have all decided to participate in the Yangjiagou project. You are the only one missing. Are you going?"
"Let's go, of course! Let's all go together! Let's all go!"
"Okay, let's go!"
A warm response echoed in the conference room. The lingering atmosphere of decadence completely disappeared at this moment.
…
A street park in Dayang City.
Taking advantage of the bright sunshine today, an old man sat on a bench, basking in the sun without moving, as if he had fallen asleep.
The setting sun shone through the branches of the trees onto his face, making his face look like dry bark.
Next to him was a radio, from which came a humming voice: "Su San... left Hongdong County..."
The opera music suddenly stopped.
The old man opened his eyes with some confusion, looked at the radio, and heard a deep and powerful voice coming from the radio.
"My fellow countrymen..."
Listening to the words on the radio, the old man's half-open eyes gradually opened completely.
He picked up the radio and returned home.
"Old lady, I have to go."
"Where are you going?"
"Participate in the Yangjiagou project."
"You're not in good health, and you're always anxious and short of breath. What else can you do besides causing trouble?"
"Those problems are caused by idleness! If you have something to do outside, all the problems will be cured!"
"You don't know anything, what can you do there?"
"I don't know anything, but I still have the strength! You rest at home, I'll go sign up."
"Old man, wait, wait, I, I'll go with you!"
"What can you do? You're just causing more trouble!"
"I...I can cook! I'll cook for everyone when we get there!"
…
An area where young people gather, and a bar.
Amidst the dazzling lights and deafening music, a group of young people were shaking their bodies wildly on the dance floor, full of the extravagant atmosphere of drunkenness and dreams.
"Look, I did it!"
Wang Mingyu raised a full bottle of beer, shouted heroically, tilted his head back and drank it in one gulp. Thunderous applause and cheers immediately rang out from the surroundings.
It was unknown how long it took or how much alcohol he drank before Wang Mingyu and a group of young people staggered out of the bar.
"While we are young, we should enjoy life like this..."
"When is the best time? Now is the best time!"
…
After returning home, Wang Mingyu lay on the bed and took out his mobile phone out of habit.
There are many unread messages on it.
After opening it and taking a look, Wang Mingyu was slightly startled. "A speech by the highest decision-maker? The Yangjiagou project?"
After reading it slowly, Wang Mingyu slowly stood up and stood by the window.
As the cool night breeze blew, Wang Mingyu suddenly roared, "Fuck the best era! I'm going to Yangjiagou and destroy this era!"
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