There was despair in every word Lao Pang said. After so many years of ups and downs, he had completely given up on his future life and was just trying to survive every day.
Although they knew that everything was difficult, You Tianfu and Lin Lidong did not want to give up. Since the second day they arrived at the mine, they had already started planning how to get out and how to escape.
You Tianfu learned a lot of information about the mine from Lao Pang. Lin Lidong was not idle either. From the time he left the wooden house in the morning to the time he returned at night, he kept his eyes looking around, memorizing all the scenes he could see around him.
A week passed like this, and they finally found a plank. They had originally planned to sleep on it with Lao Pang. But Lao Pang, looking at their burly figures, smiled wryly and waved his hand, "Forget it, it's both just as cold and hard. There's no difference. The ground is more spacious. You two can sleep on it."
We squeezed together, and although the uneven edges of the wooden board made our whole bodies ache, it was at least a place to stand.
Lin Lidong rubbed his arms, which were sore and numb from a day's work, and asked quietly, "Brother Tian, this isn't a solution. Even good people will be tortured to death. We have to find a way to escape quickly. We can't stay here forever like Lao Pang!"
You Tianfu responded, "I certainly want to leave here, but you've seen the situation around me. It's not that easy to escape. The mine is huge, with a wide view from top to bottom, and those warlords are heavily armed. It's easy to escape, but getting out is incredibly difficult!"
"We can't get out by running, but who says we have to use our feet?"
Lin Lidong raised the corner of his mouth and said, "I've observed this place for a few days. Below is a mining site, on the left is the canteen platform, and on the right, near the mountainside, there is a gap. That's the road leading out of the mountain!
Every night, workers sort and collect the mined ore, and then trucks will come to take it away. There are a total of six trucks. When they are full, they will be sent away. If they are not full, they will be parked in the open space next to the exit.
The mine was vast, but electricity was limited, and lighting was minimal. These wooden houses, in particular, had no light source inside except for a circle of spotlights around the outside.
For example, right now, there is a moon outside, can you see my face clearly?"
You Tianfu turned his head, but could only vaguely see a silhouette: "So your plan is to steal a car and escape?"
Lin Lidong nodded and said, "I've thought it through. We just need to wait for an opportunity, a cloudy day! As long as the moon is gone, the earth will be pitch black, and those guards won't be able to see anything clearly.
Follow the ridge behind the cabin all the way around to the right side of the mountain, and take out the two guards on the way. Once you get on the train, even if they have guns, what can they do? Once you step on the accelerator, no one can stop you!"
You Tianfu had also observed the situation around the mine. After hearing this plan, he didn't think there was anything wrong with it, so the two of them hit it off and waited for God to help. A cloudy day would be best, and if there was a heavy rain, it would make their escape plan smoother!
The heavens seemed to sense their urgency. Just two days later, the sky was overcast early in the morning, and the air was filled with a damp smell. After a day of daily labor, although it didn't rain, the clouds grew thicker, and before evening, it was completely dark.
At nightfall, You Tianfu found Lao Pang, dragged him to a corner, and told him his plan. He then whispered, "Lao Pang, you only have one chance. You must seize it. Come with us. As long as we can leave the mine safely, I can send you back to China to reunite with your family!"
Lao Pang, however, had a bitter face. Not only did he not agree, he even advised the two: "You can't run away... You can't run away... If you are caught, your toes will be chopped off... My dear brothers, listen to my advice. Don't do anything stupid..."
Lin Lidong frowned. "Lao Pang, you know what's going on, and you've heard the plan. If there's anything wrong, just tell me and we can figure it out together. You keep saying 'I can't run away, I can't run away,' so why can't I run away?"
Lao Pang sighed and said, "There's nothing wrong with the plan, and it sounds feasible. But no matter how much you observe your surroundings, you can only see the inside of the mine. Once you leave the mine, there will definitely be many obstacles outside.
These warlords are not fools. Since they dare to manage the miners so casually, they must have their own defense measures.
I have participated in two escape attempts, but each time I was caught before I could even escape from the mine.
We can’t beat them, and we can’t outrun the bullets, so don’t be stupid…”
Although Lao Pang tried to stop them again and again, You Tianfu and Lin Lidong were determined. They were going to die anyway, so they had to bite the bullet and give it a try even if they were caught and had their toes chopped off!
So they immediately decided to act at midnight, and according to the previously planned route and plan, they stole a car and escaped!
That night they gave their bed to Lao Pang and slept side by side at the door to make it easier for them to leave.
It was soon midnight, and the dark clouds were still hanging outside, making it almost pitch black. You Tianfu and Lin Lidong quietly stood up, opened the door a crack, and were about to leave when they were grabbed by someone.
The person who pulled them out was Lao Pang. Although he repeatedly advised them, he actually hoped in his heart that they could escape successfully.
He tightly grasped You Tianfu, stuffed a piece of cloth into his palm, and said word by word, "Brother, if you can really leave this damn place, and have the opportunity to return home in the future, please help me tell my parents at home that I am an unfilial son and will repay my filial piety in my next life!
This piece of cloth has the address of my hometown on it!"
Although they had only been together for a short time, the two brothers sympathized with Lao Pang's tragic fate and were deeply moved by his heartfelt words. You Tianfu put the cloth away and replied solemnly:
"Once a brother, always a brother! Brother Pang, don't worry, as long as I can escape, I will definitely pass on my words after returning home! If you really can't go back, I will help you take care of these two old people until the end of their lives!"
After saying that, the two of them slipped out from the crack of the door, climbed up the ridge behind the cabin along the side, and began to move slowly towards the mountainside in the dark night.
Lao Pang watched them disappear into the darkness, tears already blurring his eyes. He stood at the door in a daze for a long time before wiping his tears and looking up at the sky, muttering to himself, "God, there are already enough people suffering. Please open your eyes and bless them to jump out of this hell, and never come back..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
