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Mountain City.

After get off work, Zhang Honghua went straight home.

The Zhang family lived in a house allocated by the company, with two bedrooms and a living room. The kitchen and bathroom were shared outside, so the Zhang family prepared the dishes at home and then cooked them in the kitchen outside. At this moment, Zhang Honghua's daughter-in-law was picking vegetables in the living room. She heard a sound at the door and looked up to see her mother-in-law coming back. Wang Meili didn't stop her hands and said with a smile, "Mom, you're back."

"Well, just make something simple today. Don't make it too complicated. Let's finish eating early and go to the square." Zhang Honghua saw her daughter-in-law picking vegetables and hurriedly instructed.

Wang Meili: "Okay! Mom, have you packed all your things?"

The leaders had already told everyone about the earthquake and asked them to make preparations in advance. In addition to going out today, they should also pack up their valuables and take them out with them. Otherwise, if there is a real earthquake, it would not be good to be trapped inside. The Zhang family's wages and valuables are usually kept by Zhang Honghua, so Wang Meili asked this.

Zhang Honghua nodded and said, "Okay, I've packed them all and will take them away tonight." Ever since her superiors informed her of the earthquake, Zhang Honghua had begun to prepare for it. She sewed the money and tickets inside her old clothes so that they would not be noticeable when she took them out and would not be easily lost.

Hearing what Zhang Honghua said, Wang Meili smiled and thought her mother-in-law was really reliable!

"By the way, Mom, Qiangzi called me today and said that the leave he applied for has been approved. The truck that was leaving this afternoon will arrive tomorrow." After Wang Meili said this, she glanced at Zhang Honghua cautiously.

Her husband, Zhang Honghua's only son, Zhang Ziqiang, is a soldier and is currently serving in the Northwest Army. He did not come to the military exercise in Shan City this time. Zhang Ziqiang just took a home visit leave two months ago. In fact, he should not have come back now, but because of the Shan City earthquake, both the army and the local leaders of Shan City attach great importance to it. Zhang Ziqiang's family is in Shan City, and he only has his elderly mother and wife at home. He is really worried about the two women, so he took leave to go home to see them, so that he can help in case there is a real earthquake.

Hearing her daughter-in-law's words, the smile on Zhang Honghua's face deepened a little. Although her son has been away from home for many years, he is very filial and considerate.

"Okay, it's good to be back."

Wang Meili heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that her mother-in-law was not angry. She was quite afraid that her mother-in-law would be angry. Her mother-in-law had always attached great importance to Qiangzi's work in the army. She was afraid that her mother-in-law would think that Qiangzi was "not doing his job properly". It was good that she was not angry. When she thought that she would be able to see her man tomorrow, Wang Meili felt a little secretly happy in her heart, and she was not even so afraid of the earthquake.

After picking the vegetables, Wang Meili took the things to the kitchen. After finishing dinner with her mother-in-law, they each carried a bag and went to the square.

......

Ten p.m.

Night enveloped the entire city, and a depressing atmosphere permeated under the starry sky.

Under the cover of night, many people gathered in Fengxian People's Square, including Zhang Honghua and Wang Meili, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. They were a little tired but alert, with a hint of uneasiness in their eyes.

County Magistrate Gao looked at the people who were in low spirits. He walked to a higher place and said loudly, "In the past, whether it was drought, flood, or war, we have survived. I believe that we can also survive this time! As long as we unite together, we will be able to overcome the difficulties. Please stay alert, obey the command, and protect yourself and those around you."

His voice was firm and encouraging.

The people below listened with all their might. The closer the predicted earthquake time came, the more nervous they became. Even though the county magistrate, whom they respected very much, was loudly encouraging them, they were still very nervous.

Wang Meili looked at the county magistrate who was standing high up in the sky. She asked in a low voice, "Mom, is there really going to be an earthquake? Will it be serious?"

Zhang Honghua looked at her daughter-in-law and consoled her with a smile: "Meili, all we can do is obey the orders and try to protect ourselves. Trust the decisions of the leaders, they will definitely do their best to protect our safety."

As a person who had experienced war, she was very grateful to the leaders of China and naturally trusted them very much. What's more, the leaders were able to tell them about this matter in advance. Regardless of whether an earthquake would occur or not, the leaders were doing it for their own good, and she had no other thoughts.

After listening to her mother-in-law's words, Wang Meili felt more at ease. Her mother-in-law was right. With the leaders there, nothing would happen even if there was an earthquake.

......

Time passed slowly, and the quiet of the night was filled with the atmosphere of expectation and fear. People were always alert, staring at the distant sky intently. Every tiny movement around them attracted everyone's attention, and every breeze made people feel uneasy. Feeling the atmosphere around them, the young woman, Wang Meili, became more nervous, not knowing when the terrible earthquake would come.

At two o'clock in the morning, when everyone was almost unable to hold on and were feeling drowsy, several dogs brought by people nearby started barking wildly. The big dog in Wang Meili's house also kept howling. She was dozing off and woke up almost the moment she heard the dog barking. When she realized it was her own dog barking, she quickly smiled apologetically at the people next to her.

Zhang Honghua frowned at her dog, who was always obedient, and asked her daughter-in-law in a low voice, "Meili, why is Dahuang barking suddenly?"

Wang Meili shook her head. "I don't know. I almost fell asleep just now and didn't notice it. Did someone step on its tail?"

Zhang Honghua originally thought the same as her daughter-in-law, but when she noticed that other dogs were howling not far away, and even chickens were clucking, her brows furrowed even more.

What's going on? Why are dogs and chickens barking in the middle of the night? This is too weird.

Just when everyone's patience with the noise of the dogs and chickens was about to run out, suddenly, the ground began to tremble slightly. People's hearts suddenly rose, and their eyes were fixed on the surrounding buildings. A young man couldn't help but shout excitedly: "It's an earthquake! Be careful!"

As soon as he finished speaking, before the people around him had time to react, they saw houses not far away collapsing one after another, streets cracking open, filled with dust, and screams echoing in the night sky.