Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Lend a hand or stay out of trouble
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Fortunately, the boy did not drown for too long. Although he temporarily lost consciousness and fell into a coma, his chest was rising and falling and he was still breathing steadily.
Liang Zhao and Gu Mengran cooperated, one holding the body and the other holding the legs, and lifted the person from the wet cab to the deck at the door.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation cannot be performed casually. The boy had no response but was breathing, so Gu Mengran and Liang Zhao cooperated, one holding his legs and the other holding his body, and transferred him from the wet cab to the deck at the door, keeping him lying on his side.
Conditions did not allow it and Gu Mengran had no time to wash his hands. After Liang Zhao stabilized the man, he quickly walked around the boy's head and reached directly into the boy's mouth and nose to clean the foreign object for him.
It only took two or three minutes for a light cough to break the heavy and oppressive atmosphere on the deck. The unconscious boy woke up and started coughing violently.
Liang Zhao patted his back gently, and dirty water flowed out of his mouth and nose as he coughed.
The girl, who had recovered, heard the noise and suddenly stood up and came close to the boy. She could no longer hold back her tears that had been brewing for a long time and they fell down. "Xinghe, Xinghe, are you okay? Are you feeling better?"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
She was responded by another violent coughing.
After soaking in the water for too long, Xu Xinghe was obviously hypothermic and his body was shaking. The three of them couldn't find a dry piece of clothing, so Gu Mengran thought for a moment and simply let the girl lie on the deck and hug him.
The body temperature is also warm, and the effect is very significant.
The girl lay down and hugged him tightly. After about half a minute, the coughing slowed down a little and Xu Xinghe slowly opened his eyes.
After a near-death experience, Xu Xinghe's chest rose and fell violently, and he took big gulps of fresh air. When he opened his eyes and saw Xu Xingran's tear-stained face, he moved his lips and wanted to speak, but no sound came out.
Sensing his intention, Xu Xingran gently stroked his head with her palm and whispered to comfort him: "It's okay, Xinghe, I'm fine, don't talk for now, take it easy."
The scene of survivors embracing their loved ones is always moving, even though Gu Mengran had seen it countless times in his previous life.
Having stayed in Hengrongsheng for too long, Gu Mengran was still concerned about other ships in distress around him. He decisively gave Liang Zhao a look, and without even saying hello, he quietly left.
"Thank you, thank you!"
Just as he took a step forward, a clear female voice suddenly came from behind him. The voice was a little hoarse, with a sobbing tone, but the tone was particularly sincere, and contained an apology for not thanking him in time.
Gu Mengran turned around and smiled at her, "You're welcome."
After that, the two turned around and left. Xu Xingran hurriedly asked, "My name is Xu Xingran, and my brother is Xu Xinghe. You are also sailors, right? Is your boat nearby? Wait a little longer until my brother is calm, and I'll bring him to thank you!"
"No need, take good care of him." Gu Mengran waved his hand without turning his head.
After coming down from Hengrongsheng, Gu Mengran and Liang Zhao drove the diesel-powered boat at full speed, directly transforming into maritime patrols and conducting a carpet search of the waters of Anchang Port.
Fortunately, they arrived not too late. Under the remote command of Meng Gaoyang, the diesel boat sailed towards the designated direction for less than five minutes. Desperate and helpless cries for help came from the anchorage shrouded in thick fog.
“Help! Help!”
"Save us, we are here!"
"Someone fell into the water, the Heshanda is about to sink, is there anyone who can help?"
…
Manpower was very limited and there was no time to take care of the ships in distress. Gu Mengran and Liang Zhao drove a diesel boat back and forth on the river, searching for the people who fell into the water without stopping for a moment.
It took nearly three hours to rescue 22 people, including two family members of the crew members who were only five years old. There were about eight ships that capsized and sank, and only four ships survived in the anchorage, including the Fengyi.
What is even more regrettable is that according to the preliminary statistics of radar signals by the old man, there are about 16 ships anchored in Anchang Port. According to the minimum manning standard for each ship, the actual number of people should be around 48.
This means that there are about 4 missing ships and 20 missing people.
As the sky darkened, the boiling river gradually calmed down. Small boats loaded with diesel were weaving tirelessly through the thick fog, with wailing and heart-wrenching sobs audible.
Having seen so much sadness and despair, and also received a lot of gratitude, Gu Mengran's heart, which should have been numb long ago, felt very uncomfortable, and a deep sense of powerlessness arose.
But even so, he did not show out of compassion to bring the rescued people on board the Fengyi. Instead, he and Liang Zhao went trip after trip to send the "homeless" crew members and their families to the dock one after another.
Gu Mengran has a clear understanding of himself: he can do things within his ability.
This is just the beginning. Life and death are determined by fate. He can only try his best to protect himself and his family. He cannot be a savior, nor can he save everyone.
After being busy for most of the afternoon, Gu Mengran and Liang Zhao drove the diesel boat back, trying to get back to the Fengyi before it got completely dark.
His clothes got wet and then dried, and then got wet again. Gu Mengran was exhausted. He went back to his room, took a cold shower, changed his clothes, and lay down on the bed. He was so tired that he didn't even bother to move his fingers.
I have something on my mind and I can't lie down in peace.
The deck of the Wind Wing was wading in the water, and it was unknown whether the engine room was affected. After lying down for only five minutes, Gu Mengran dragged his tired body to get up with difficulty, and prepared to go to the cabin to ask his grandfather about the situation.
However, just as he reached the door and before he touched the doorknob, there was a knock on the door.
"Liang Zhao?"
The old man didn't have the habit of knocking on the door, so Gu Mengran naturally thought it was Liang Zhao. But when the door opened, Liang Zhao and grandpa appeared at the door at the same time. Gu Mengran frowned and his expression became serious.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"No, nothing happened." The old man stepped past Liang Zhao and squeezed into the door, then walked to the bed and sat down. "Some water did enter the cabin, but I dealt with it in time. Don't worry."
Gu Mengran's brows relaxed, his eyes wandering between Liang Zhao and his grandfather, "So what are you doing...?"
"Are you okay?" Liang Zhao didn't rush into the house. He stood at the door and stared at Gu Mengran intently, with a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
"Thing? What happened?" Gu Mengran was confused and blinked blankly.
"When I came back——"
"Come in first and talk."
Gu Mengran stepped aside to make room for him. Liang Zhao quickly walked into the bedroom and sat down next to the old man. He continued what he had just said, "When I came back, I saw that you were in a bad mood. Were you in a bad mood?"
The old man didn't say anything, but his wandering eyes seemed to agree with Liang Zhao's intention.
Two pairs of eyes stared at him without blinking, but Gu Mengran breathed a sigh of relief. His tense nerves gradually relaxed, and the color returned to his slightly pale face.
The volcano erupted as expected, and the major earthquake came as expected. Although we were mentally prepared and the Wind Wing survived, the harm caused by this massive disaster was like a huge rock pressing on our chest, heavy and suffocating.
Naturally, he was in a very bad mood. Seeing the concerned looks in their eyes, Gu Mengran forced a dry smile and said in a nonchalant manner, "Am I a fragile child? I will be fine after a while. You even came to see me specially."
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything. As soon as he said this, Meng Gaoyang's shoulders sank, as if a thousand-pound burden had suddenly fallen from his shoulders, and his whole body became visibly depressed.
"What's wrong?" Gu Mengran's heart tightened and he quickly walked to his grandfather.
"Grandpa was wrong." The old man shook his head and sighed, his hands hanging by his side unconsciously rubbing, his brows and eyes that had experienced years were shrouded in deep guilt, "I regretted it as soon as you got off the boat. The waves on the river were so big, what if... Oh!"
"Times are different now, and we shouldn't talk about chivalry anymore. Your dream has begun to come true, and the days ahead will only get harder and harder. I'm an old man, and I don't mind it. I've lived enough, but you two are half-grown kids, and your life has just begun. It doesn't matter if you don't act like a good person."
The optimistic and happy old man became listless and his mentality changed drastically.
Gu Mengran finally realized the seriousness of the problem and hurriedly explained: "Grandpa, don't think too much. We are back safely. I am in a bad mood because I am tired. I just need to take a rest--"
"I was so selfish to let you take risks and endure all this out of kindness." The old man hung his head, feeling more depressed than ever before. "Grandpa was wrong. It won't happen again."
This won’t work. Gu Mengran squatted in front of his grandfather without saying anything, resting his head on his knees and whispered, “Grandpa, we rescued more than 20 people today, including two children.
Grandpa, you know, it's a wonderful feeling, giving them a helping hand when they are desperate, giving them hope, and in the end, just a simple thank you, it seems that everything is worth it. "
One person seemed to be less persuasive. Gu Mengran winked at Liang Zhao calmly: "Right, Liang Zhao?"
Liang Zhao understood what he meant and said "hmm" softly.
Meng Gaoyang didn't buy it. He sighed and shook his head, "It's dangerous, silly boy! There will be disasters one after another in the future. Can you save them? If you want to exchange your safety for others', I would rather be hard-hearted and watch you die!"
"We are not fools. Being a good person also depends on the situation." Gu Mengran patted his grandfather's knee and said seriously, "It's okay to help someone who falls at your feet, but I'm not as kind as you think, grandpa, for me to risk my life to save a stranger."
These words were not entirely meant to comfort grandpa. Having personally experienced the end of the world and seen too much evil in human nature, Gu Mengran's kindness and empathy had long been worn away by repeated isolation and helplessness.
But my grandfather was different. He was a good man, a truly good man. When he was young and working on a ship, he was fined a huge amount for saving someone, but it did not stop him from being helpful.
He cared about the safety of his grandson and said that he would not help. But if someone really died in front of him when he could do so, he would probably not be able to sleep or eat well and would never get over the pain in his heart.
When people are born in a disaster year, they always have to give up something in order to survive.
Conscience, kindness, humanity or something else.
There is a big difference between being alive and living in disgrace. Within his ability, Gu Mengran is willing to protect his grandfather's kindness.
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