The two large dogs finally located the exact spot using their keen sense of smell.
Everyone pitched in and started digging. After a short while, they dug Liu Yonghe out from underneath.
Wang Dazhuang let out a scream and grabbed Liu Yonghe's shoulder, shaking him violently. "Brother Yonghe!"
He Tiantian quickly went forward to check on him and found that he had only fainted temporarily.
She quickly ordered everyone to evacuate and moved the injured to the tiled roof where Director Song worked.
Mo Zhu had already received orders and hurried off to the city to fetch a doctor.
It should be dark by the time the doctor returns.
He Tiantian and Hong Erniang didn't stay at the mine for long. With the situation that had arisen today, Song Yun was too busy to attend to their coal-buying needs.
News of the mine collapse quickly reached Changfeng Village, and families with members working in the mine rushed over.
Standing on a stone under the old locust tree at the village entrance, Zhao Tingzhang puffed on his pipe with some concern.
In just a short while, quite a few people came from the village.
As far as he knew, there were now forty or fifty men from the entire village working in Changfeng Village.
There are quite a few people here. A few years ago, men from their village died in mine accidents. I counted about a dozen of them.
The conditions were much worse a few years ago; the wages were low, and the work was much more arduous.
Since Director Song arrived, the situation at the mine has changed a lot.
He Tiantian and Hong Erniang returned to the village under the setting sun, and unexpectedly met Zhao Tingzhang, who looked worried, at the village entrance.
Zhao, the pavilion chief, jumped down from the rock and grunted.
This action made He Tiantian's heart pound. After all, she was getting on in years, and if she fell, it would be terrible.
"Chief, please slow down," He Tiantian couldn't help but remind him.
Zhao, the pavilion chief, turned red with embarrassment. He coughed and tucked his pipe into his waistband.
"Wanzi's mother, I heard you went to the mine. How is it there?" Zhao Tingzhang asked anxiously.
God knows how distressed he felt, having only heard bits and pieces about what was happening in the mine.
Everyone has a psychological trauma; whenever they hear about an accident in the mine, it must be something very serious.
Before He Tiantian could answer, Old Lady Zhao rushed over in a flurry of activity, quickly standing between Zhao Tingzhang and He Tiantian.
Old Mrs. Zhao looked anxious. "Chief, what's going on at the mine? Oh dear, my third son and two grandsons are all working there."
"What a tragedy... I told you long ago that I'd rather starve to death than go there. But my son saw the high wages and went without telling me..."
Old Mrs. Zhao said in a tearful voice, "If anything were to happen to my son, would I, an old woman, even want to live anymore?"
Zhao Tingzhang knew his wife well, and he was already somewhat irritated because of his worries. His wife's outburst only made his situation worse.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'm asking because I don't know the situation either!" Zhao Tingzhang slapped his thigh.
He then continued talking to He Tiantian about the issue that had just been interrupted, "Wanzi's mother, you know this best, tell me what happened."
Old Mrs. Zhao also looked at He Tiantian, a hint of disdain flashing across her face.
He Tiantian hesitated for a moment, then said calmly, "It's nothing serious now. Director Song has already invited the best doctor in the city."
Old Mrs. Zhao's emotions calmed down a little, and she suddenly stepped forward and grabbed He Tiantian's clothes tightly, "What about Xiang Nan? And how are my two grandsons?"
He Tiantian thought for a moment and calmly said, "I didn't see it."
She definitely didn't see any of the three members of the Zhao family.
"What?" Old Mrs. Zhao became impatient again.
What do you mean you didn't see it! Could it be that this bitch doesn't want to talk to her and is just trying to annoy her?
"How could you not know? Didn't you come down from the mine? They work in the mine, how could you not see them?" Old Mrs. Zhao grabbed He Tiantian's clothes excitedly, looking like they were about to fight.
Hong Erniang stepped forward and grabbed Old Lady Zhao's hand. She was quite strong, having honed her skills from carrying goods. In a few quick movements, she pulled Old Lady Zhao's hand away.
"You old woman, just talk, why do you have to hit me!" Hong Erniang said irritably.
He Tiantian straightened her clothes and looked at Zhao Tingzhang, saying, "Tingzhang, I really didn't see anyone from the Zhao family in the mine. It's still unknown whether they went to work in the mine."
Old Mrs. Zhao's shouting stopped abruptly. Had she gone to work?
Given the family's lazy, cunning, and sly nature, it's not impossible.
During the time she wasn't in charge of the household, the third son's family started to decline.
The eldest son's family, on the other hand, has seen their lives improve thanks to the help of that despicable woman, Madam He.
Thinking of this, Old Lady Zhao straightened her clothes.
He forced a sheepish smile and said, "I was just in a hurry. Don't take it to heart."
These words were spoken to He Tiantian. For a moment, He Tiantian thought she had misheard.
Even Zhao Tingzhang, who was standing to the side, looked at Old Lady Zhao in disbelief.
Old Zhao's wife continued, "Our family is poor, and ever since the third son's family split up, we haven't been doing well. He Shi, since you're willing to help the eldest son's family, why don't you help the third son's family too?"
"Utterly shameless," was He Tiantian's first reaction.
This was the first time that Old Lady Zhao had ever shown such hostility towards her; before, she had acted as if she wanted to devour her whole.
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