Power and Wealth

Under the debris.

Another few days have passed.

The radio is playing the news.

"Rest in peace, Director Dong."

"Let us remember Director Dong forever."

"The Party and people will never forget you."

"Dong Xuebing is recognized as a martyr!"

Dong Xuebing listened to the radio and had not switched it off. It had been twenty days since the earthquake, and most rescue operations had ended. The news released all sorts of reports and stories. Many of the stories are about the touching moments during the earthquake. Of course, Dong Xuebing is mentioned most of the time. Rest in peace…. Remember him forever…. Etc. He almost thought he was dead after hearing it so many times!

But Dong Xuebing had experienced this before and even attended his funeral.

Martyr?! Fine…. Can you all just send someone to save me!?

I will become a martyr if you all still don't save me!

Suddenly, the radio reported. "Work on retrieving Director Dong's body is continuing…. The City Government is shorthanded…… the…… We will report the latest news……."

What?!

They had been working on retrieving me?!

Dong Xuebing is stunned. He has not heard any digging sounds for several days.

Dong Xuebing quickly pressed his ears to the ground and heard some faint rumblings. He thought for a while and brightened up. He has always thought these sounds are passing vehicles in the past. These might be sounds from excavators or other machinery. They might be afraid to damage his body and hoist the concrete slabs with cranes slowly and carefully. That's why he didn't hear any sounds. He could hear noises before because the rescue party formed by the civilians used hammers and heavy objects to break the debris. They had not given up on him!

They are still digging through the debris!

Who cares if they are digging for his body?! This is terrific!

Dong Xuebing immediately listen carefully. 'Grrr…… grrrr…… Dong!' It sounds like a heavy stone falling on the ground.

There are people out there, and the noise is getting louder!

Dong Xuebing can feel some loose soil and dust falling on him, and he knows he is getting closer to freedom! He had waited too long for this. Spending more than ten days in total darkness is torturing!

Hurry and dig!

Faster!

Dong Xuebing waited anxiously.

One hour…. Five hours…. Ten hours…. The sounds of knocking and heavy vehicle engines are getting louder.

Dong Xuebing tried shouting, but no one could hear him. Maybe it is because of the noises outside. After a while, he fell asleep. He had been awake for more than twenty hours.

Dong Xuebing doesn't know how long he slept and when he opens his eyes, he realizes something different. He saw faint moonlight in his small enclosed space. It's been over ten days since he saw the light. Although the moonlight was faint, it was blinding to his eyes. This made him excited. His body was covered with sand and dust. Although the oxygen tank is empty, he can still breathe! That means there is an opening to the outside world!

Dong Xuebing was too excited to say anything. He quickly looks through the small gap where the light shines in. It is nighttime, and the sky is dark. He can't see anything except for a bit of moonlight.

Dong Xuebing pressed his ears to the gap and heard people talking.

It is soft, but Dong Xuebing can hear parts of their conversation.

"It has been more than ten days, right?"

"Yes. We have been digging for almost twenty days if we include the days before we arrived."

"Sigh…. I wonder if Director Dong's body is still intact."

"Alright…. Stop talking about this."

"Old Zheng, Old Sun, it's late. Let's continue tomorrow."

"Ok. I am exhausted."

"Let's go. We will continue digging tomorrow morning."

Footstep sounds moved away from Dong Xuebing.

It's been a long time since Dong Xuebing heard people talking other than radio. His mind had become slow and quickly shouted. "Hey! Hey! Don't go! Dig a bit more! I am over here! Hey! Can you all hear me?!"

No one replied.

Dong Xuebing can only hear his echo, and the people outside can't hear him.

Dong Xuebing is excited and frustrated. He tried shouting a while more and decided to dig himself out. The rescuers had dug many days and cleared lots of debris to create an escape route for him. He can finish this task himself. He had saved his time for many days despite using REVERSE. He had only been using a few seconds each day and had more than ten minutes left. It is enough for him to take the risk.

Dong Xuebing has a plan. He bent his body and lifted his legs against the concrete slab shining through the moonlight. He took a few deep breaths and kicked it hard!

The concrete slab moved slightly!

A pile of sand and dirt fell on his face!

Dong Xuebing spat the dirt from his mouth and continued to kick the concrete slab!

The large concrete slab loosens slightly, and the small space becomes brighter. Dong Xuebing can even see a few stars in the sky!

Dong Xuebing saw hope and continued to kick it with all his strength. He used his back as support and kicked three more times with all his strength. He should be weak after being trapped in a confined space for almost twenty days, but he had used REVERSE to recover his strength. His body condition is still in its top form.

After a few kicks, Dong Xuebing managed to break that concrete slab. He made a basketball-size crack, and he saw the moon!

Yes!

The wall was broken down!

Dong Xuebing smiled and pushed his head out of the crack. He forced his body through the tiny crack and made the crack bigger.

Five minutes later.

Dong Xuebing was finally out! He almost cried when he saw the stars in the sky!

Yes! I am finally out!