Ye Xingchang only learned of Zhao Honghui's accident after receiving a call from Hui Zi.
"Wait a moment, let me ask what happened." Ye Xingchang pressed the hang-up button and quickly dialed a number. What followed was a flurry of calls, mobilizing all available resources to track down Zhao Honghui's disappearance and to gather information on the search and rescue efforts.
In the transportation department of Hongqi Commune, Hui Zi paced back and forth by the phone. He turned around and called his colleague outside the door in: "You watch the phone here, I'm going to find the director."
Without waiting for his colleague's reply, he quickly left.
Soon, after hearing from Hui Zi that Zhao Honghui was missing, the transport team director was so shocked he almost jumped out of his chair. "Are you telling the truth?"
“Yes, the military has already informed the family.” Hui Zi frowned and said anxiously, “I want to take a long leave of absence to go and look for them myself.”
"Where did he have the accident? Can you pinpoint the exact location?" asked Director Ning of the transport team.
"They say it's in a harsh, cold place; we'll wait for a call from Beijing for details."
Director Ning's heart skipped a beat: "The environment over there must be extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to go?"
"Yes, I thought of organizing a local civilian search and rescue team to conduct a joint search and rescue operation with the military."
Director Ning nodded, thinking that this would give them more strength. He then cautioned, "Remember, you have a family and a home; you must not take risks alone."
"clear!"
When Ye Xingchang called back, Hui Zi learned what had happened. Upon hearing that it was at the Miya Glacier, his breath caught in his throat.
Zhao Honghui was seriously injured and became disabled on the glacier before, and now he has disappeared on the glacier again. Could it be that there is a force in the dark that wants him to die on the glacier?
Ye Xingchang on the other end of the phone said, "The military's rescue operation has lasted for more than 100 days. I want to organize civilian forces to search in a different direction."
Hui Zi immediately agreed: "That's what I was thinking too. I've already asked my boss for leave and will leave as soon as possible."
“I can’t leave here, but I will contact the locals to organize manpower and gather supplies. Let me know once you have confirmed your itinerary, and I will have them come to pick you up. You can arrange the search and rescue afterwards. Let’s keep in touch.”
"Okay, I'll go buy the tickets now." At the end of the call, Hui Zi remembered that Xie Yuyao from Qingshantun was still waiting for a call. "Also, Xie Zhiqing wants to go with us."
Ye Xingchang refused without hesitation: "No! The Miya Glacier is a dangerous place, and accidents can happen at any time. Let her wait for news in Qingshan Village."
“But I think she’s determined to go,” Hui Zi added.
Ye Xingchang said seriously, "If something happens to her during the search and rescue, how will we explain it to Zhao Honghui!"
Hui Zi was speechless.
Both he and Ye Xingchang firmly believed that Zhao Honghui was still alive, and that if anything happened to Xie Yuyao, Zhao Honghui would regret it for the rest of his life.
At the Qingshantun brigade headquarters, Zhao Hongqin stayed by Yang Chunhua's side, constantly comforting her mother and herself: "Big brother must still be alive. He's so strong, no one can take him away. He must still be alive..."
Old Zhao glanced at Xie Yuyao, who was leaning against the wall with her head down and gritting her teeth, and walked over. "Yaoyao, are you really going to go find Honghui?"
"Mm," Xie Yuyao replied briefly.
“But the person just now said the environment is dangerous, so I’ll go instead. You all just wait for news in Qingshantun.”
"I'm going too!" Yang Chunhua struggled to stand up from her chair.
Old Zhao advised, "You have a family to take care of, so you can't leave. I can go by myself."
"There are so many people in the family, why does it have to be me? I'm going!"
"Mom and Dad, you're getting old, let me go," Zhao Hongqin cried out anxiously, unable to get a word in edgewise.
"Don't make things worse!" Yang Chunhua shook off Zhao Hongqin's hand.
Old Zhao also said, "You're still young, stay put."
Just as the group was arguing, the phone rang.
Everyone's eyes were instantly focused on the phone. Xie Yuyao picked it up first, and Yang Chunhua immediately pressed the speakerphone button.
Xie Yuyao hung up the phone, "Hello?"
Hui Zi's voice came through the landline: "Xie Zhiqing, I'll set off to find the team leader as soon as possible. You stay here and wait for news."
"I must go."
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
No sooner had Xie Yuyao finished speaking than Zhao Honghui's parents chimed in.
Hui Zi, who was on the other end of the phone, recognized their voices and advised, "Uncle, Aunt, and Xie Zhiqing, you should all wait in Qingshan Village. I will definitely bring the team leader back. That's all."
The call abruptly ended, and Xie Yuyao immediately called back, but a different person answered, saying only that Hui Zi had already left.
"What should we do? Where are we going to find our eldest son?" Yang Chunhua was extremely anxious.
Xie Yuyao immediately turned and left, with Yang Shumei following closely behind: "Yaoyao, where are you going?"
"Transportation team".
"I'll go with you."
However, when the two hurried to the transport team, they found it empty. They asked others for directions to Hui Zi's house, but no one was willing to tell them.
It was obvious that Hui Zi had given her colleagues a "gag order" before leaving, deliberately avoiding them.
"Yaoyao, why don't you pay for it and let Huizi organize the search and rescue? They have more experience," Yang Shumei cautiously advised.
Xie Yuyao smiled bitterly: "I don't even know how to give the money to Huizi."
"Give it to the leaders of the transport team and ask them to pass it on." Seeing that Xie Yuyao was unmoved, Yang Shumei added, "Or you can transfer the money to Ye Xingchang. Since Huizi was able to act so quickly, Ye Xingchang must have been involved as well."
“Ye Xingchang… right, there’s also Ye Xingchang.” Xie Yuyao murmured, grabbing Yang Shumei’s hand. “Do you know Ye Xingchang’s phone number? I need to talk to him.”
I'll have to ask my cousin.
"Let's go to the post office!" Xie Yuyao quickly hopped on her bicycle and sped off towards the post office.
A dozen minutes later, Xie Yuyao stood to the side, listening to Yang Shumei say into the phone, "Cousin, this is Shumei... I'm fine... What's Xingchang's phone number? I need to talk to him urgently... Don't ask, I'll tell you later..."
Yang Shumei held the phone to her left ear and wrote down a number with a pen and paper. "Is this his home number?... His office number?... Thank you, brother, I've written it all down. I'll hang up now. Take care."
After hanging up the phone, Yang Shumei handed the paper to Xie Yuyao.
Xie Yuyao dialed the office number, and soon Ye Xingchang's voice came through: "Hello?"
"I'm Xie Yuyao. I want to know about your and Hui Zi's search and rescue plan. Can you tell me?" Xie Yuyao gripped the microphone tightly, forcing herself to remain calm.
"Thank you, educated youth. I have already contacted the local comrades to help assemble manpower and prepare supplies. Hui Zi will go over there to lead the team. Don't worry."
"I'm not at ease!" Xie Yuyao broke down. "Please tell me the details, I want to find someone myself."
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