Chapter 246 A Trapped Beast's Struggle
Outside the factory, Fang Lanxin's expression grew increasingly grave after listening to the fire chief's report.
"The leak point hasn't been found yet, and the gas concentration inside is already three times the standard. If it comes into contact with an open flame, the entire factory area will..." The fire chief didn't finish his sentence, but the consequences were self-evident.
Fang Lanxin tapped her fingers on the railing, her mind racing.
Is there any way to get in touch with them?
"All communication equipment has failed, so now we can only rely on firefighters to go in and relay messages, but they have to wear full protective gear every time they go in and out, which takes time..."
"Then let's use the most basic method," Fang Lanxin interrupted him. "Send someone in and tell Huo Qibang to evacuate everyone to the west warehouse; it's upwind and relatively safe there. Also, have the technicians thoroughly inspect the pipe connections at points three and seven; those two locations are most prone to aging."
The fire chief was taken aback: "How did you know?"
"I've seen the factory's construction blueprints," Fang Lanxin said calmly. "Pipeline No. 3 was renovated five years ago, and Pipeline No. 7 uses imported materials, but the supplier changed once, so the quality is inconsistent."
The fire chief immediately had someone make a note of it and then turned to make arrangements.
Guan Da stood to the side, looking at Fang Lanxin's overly calm profile, and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid?"
"What's the use of being afraid?" Fang Lanxin didn't even look up. "Does being afraid mean the people inside will come out?"
"You..." Guan Da choked for a moment, then sighed, "My brother really has good taste to have taken a liking to you."
Fang Lanxin didn't reply, but just stared in the direction of the factory gate, tapping her fingers on the railing repeatedly, a habitual action she took when nervous.
Ah Shuang squeezed through the crowd, panting, "Boss, Old Li and Old He are here with several directors, and... Old Mrs. Huo is here too."
Fang Lanxin's brow twitched.
The old lady is too old to withstand such an ordeal.
She turned and walked out, and sure enough, she saw Old Mrs. Huo being helped out of the car, her face as pale as paper.
"Mother." Fang Lanxin quickly went over and took her arm. "Why are you here?"
Grandma Huo's hands were trembling, but her eyes were still relatively clear: "Where's Qibang? Is Qibang inside?"
"Yes, but it's safe." Fang Lanxin squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, the fire department is handling it, and it will be resolved soon."
"You're lying to me." Old Mrs. Huo stared into her eyes. "I've lived this long, what haven't I seen? Your eyes are bloodshot, and you say you're fine?"
Fang Lanxin was taken aback by what she was told.
She then realized that her eyes were indeed extremely dry, probably because she hadn't blinked much the whole way.
"Mom, you go and rest in the car first. I'll stay here."
"I'm not leaving," Old Mrs. Huo said stubbornly. "My son is inside. What would I be doing if I left?"
Fang Lanxin didn't try to persuade her anymore. She just asked A Shuang to bring over a chair and helped the old lady sit down.
Old Li and Old He also came over, and neither of them looked too good.
"Mr. Fang, how is the situation now?" Old Li asked in a low voice.
"The investigation is still ongoing," Fang Lanxin said succinctly. "Mr. Li, could you please reassure the other board members and prevent them from causing trouble at this time? Mr. He, could you keep an eye on the media and prevent them from reporting inappropriate content?"
The two elderly people looked at each other and nodded.
At this moment, Fang Lanxin's calmness and decisiveness gave everyone a sense of security.
Just then, a muffled thud suddenly came from inside the factory.
Everyone's heart was in their throat.
"What happened?" Fang Lanxin immediately rushed to the fire chief's side.
"I don't know, it might be the sound of a burst pipe." Cold sweat beaded on the fire chief's forehead. "I'll send someone in to check right away."
"I'll go with you," Fang Lanxin said firmly.
"No!" the fire chief refused outright. "It's too dangerous inside; you can't go in."
"I have to go in." Fang Lanxin's eyes were as cold as knives. "Huo Qibang is my son, and I have the right to know about his situation."
"But……"
"No buts." Fang Lanxin interrupted him, "Give me a set of protective clothing, and I'll take care of it myself."
Before the fire chief could say anything, Guan Da suddenly spoke up: "Let her go."
"Mr. Guan?"
"There's no stopping her." Guan Da glanced at Fang Lanxin. "If this woman is determined to do something, not even ten oxen could pull her back."
Fang Lanxin ignored his teasing, took the protective suit and started putting it on.
Ah Shuang stamped her feet anxiously, "Boss, are you really going in? Or should I go in for you..."
"You stay." Fang Lanxin finished putting on her protective suit, her voice muffled as it came through the mask. "Cheng Yan still has work to handle, so keep an eye on her. Also, if anything happens to me, remember to give my will to the lawyer."
"Boss!" Ah Shuang's eyes were red.
Fang Lanxin didn't say anything more and followed the firefighters into the factory.
After passing through layers of protective doors, the air inside was noticeably thinner, and even with a mask on, the pungent smell of chemicals was still noticeable.
The ground was covered with water stains and foam, and several pipes hung crookedly in mid-air, constantly emitting white gas.
"Mr. Huo is in the west warehouse," the firefighter leading the way pointed in a direction. "Stay close to me and don't wander off."
Fang Lanxin nodded and quickened her pace.
In the west warehouse, Huo Qibang was discussing a blueprint with several technicians.
His face was covered in grime, his suit jacket was long gone, and the sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows, making him look utterly disheveled.
"Young Master Bang, we've found Pipeline Seven!" A young technician ran over. "But the leak is in the middle of the pipeline, out of our reach."
Kenneth Fok frowned: "Use a ladder."
"I tried, but the ladder can't be put up there; that spot is too high."
"Then..."
"Then let me do it."
A voice suddenly broke in.
Huo Qibang looked up abruptly and saw a figure in protective clothing walk in. The familiar figure made his eyes widen instantly.
"Mom?"
Fang Lanxin removed her mask, revealing a pale but composed face.
"How did you get in here?" Huo Qibang strode over, his tone unusually flustered. "It's dangerous here, you need to get out!"
"If I go out, will you be able to go out too?" Fang Lanxin retorted.
Kenneth Fok was speechless.
Fang Lanxin glanced around and walked directly to the blueprints: "Let me see."
"Mom..."
"Stop talking nonsense," Fang Lanxin interrupted him. "I've seen all the design plans for this factory; I know it better than you do."
Kenneth Fok opened his mouth, but ultimately gave up his seat.
Fang Lanxin examined the drawing carefully for several minutes, pointing to several locations on the diagram: "Here, here, and here—these are all potential leak points. But based on that muffled thud just now, the problem should lie at this interface."
She pointed to a mark on the drawing.
"This connector was replaced during maintenance last year, using domestically produced materials, which have lower pressure resistance than imported ones. The internal pressure is currently too high, and it's very likely it has cracked."
The technicians looked at each other in bewilderment.
"But this location..." an older technician hesitated before speaking, "requires someone to climb up and manually close the valve."
"Then climb up," Fang Lanxin said casually.
"No way!" Huo Qibang immediately objected. "That location is at least five meters high, and there's leaking gas all around. A slight mishap could..."
"Do you have a better idea?" Fang Lanxin asked, looking at him.
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