"You really believe what that 'mysterious man' says? Have you ever heard of any country in the world that can give early warnings of earthquakes? Let alone be accurate to a specific time period. I certainly don't believe it." The person who first raised objections crossed his legs and said casually, "In my opinion, this is simply a conspiracy carefully designed by foreign spies. If we actually believe his nonsense and cause trouble for the people, then we will be falling into a trap."
His words made sense, and this was precisely the point that had been causing everyone's hesitation.
This is truly unbelievable.
Humanity's current technological level is far from being able to provide early warnings of earthquake disasters. Regardless of who sent that note or who has the supernatural ability to command a group of rats to do things for them, the key question is how the person behind it accurately predicts future events.
That sounds ridiculous.
They didn't even dare report it to the highest leadership, fearing a barrage of reprimands.
It was just such an obvious prank, and they actually believed it? Where's their brain? Can someone with that level of intelligence really be a good local official?
“Ning County is poor. The entire Xinjiang province is poor.” The middle-aged man, sitting behind his desk, said in a deep voice, rubbing his temples wearily.
"You don't need to tell me that," the man with his legs crossed muttered under his breath, clearly dissatisfied.
"Why would spies choose such a small, run-down place like ours to cause trouble? How much turmoil could they possibly cause to the country? If you were in their shoes, would you choose such an inconspicuous location to make a big fuss?"
No one responded to this question, nor did anyone refute it.
Indeed, there seemed to be no need for them to make any trouble in their remote and impoverished area.
Think about it: if they were spies, they would definitely choose a bustling metropolis. The bigger the commotion, the better.
"Under the pretext of an earthquake drill, gather all residents of Ning County in the central square early tomorrow morning. Village and town leaders should organize villagers to assemble in open areas. Pass the notice out, and everyone should be prepared." The man behind the desk raised his tired but determined eyes: "Under no circumstances can we treat the lives of ordinary people as a joke. If it really is just a lie... I will take full responsibility for the consequences, and it has nothing to do with you."
"Suit yourself. You're the higher-ranking official, so you get to decide. But I bet you won't be in this position for long."
The man who had been disagreeing stood up casually, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and, too lazy to even bother with formalities, walked out without looking back after letting out a contemptuous sneer.
......
"What? An earthquake drill?"
"What's going on? We're not elementary school students!"
"They're keeping people up at night, don't they have to go to work tomorrow? We ordinary people have families to support, and these officials are just talking without any sense of responsibility!"
That evening, a message reached every household, causing a huge uproar.
"Anyone who goes out at four in the morning is out of their mind!"
"Let those officials do whatever they want, I'm not getting up. If you're so capable, arrest me and put me in jail!"
Almost everyone was complaining, but some naturally rebellious people simply ignored it all, determined to cover their heads with a blanket tonight and not care about anything else.
However, the vast majority of ordinary people still have a sense of awe towards the authorities. Despite their complaints, around 3 a.m., every household still brought their families out of their homes as required and gathered at the designated location.
People carrying children, supporting the elderly, and carrying bundles full of valuables filled the once empty central square, which was now teeming with people. People in smart uniforms were maintaining order, so there was no major chaos.
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