Chapter 728: In the teeth of the storm
Sunday afternoon.
Fen Zhou Daily had created the most significant uproar since it started.
An article asking people to be prepared for an earthquake had shocked the whole city.
The article states the following. “Based on our reporter’s findings, Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s Director Dong had noticed some abnormalities during his Subdistrict’s earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness campaign recently. Director Dong told our reporter. “Our subdistrict had been educating our residents on earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness recently, and we have become quite sensitive to some situations. This morning, we are alerted to a few dogs barking. Those dogs behave differently from other days, and we immediately look into it. We found behavioral abnormalities among many pets. For example, dogs barking for no reason, cats growling, fishes jumping out of the fish tanks, animals refusing to eat, restlessness, etc. These are signs of an earthquake. We expanded our search to the City and saw the same abnormal behaviors. We confirmed that an earthquake might be happening these few days. Please be prepared and don’t panic or create chaos. Leave for a safer region or get to a safe place if possible.”
The rest of the article is basic disaster relief knowledge.
Most readers stopped reading after the first part. They were shocked.
Almost all households are panicking.
“An earthquake is happening!”
“Ah…. We got to leave!”
“We don’t know if this is true. How can someone predict an earthquake?”
“How can this be false?! It’s published in Fen Zhou Daily!”
“But why is it not reported on TV or printed on the first page of the papers?”
“Who cares if it is real or fake? I don’t care. I am going back to my hometown in the south.”
“This article reminded me of my dog’s weird behavior last night. My dog had been barking and howling yesterday, and I thought he was not feeling well. No… I got to pack and leave now.”
“You all can go ahead. I don’t believe this will happen.”
“I will wait and see. If an earthquake happens, the Government will evacuate us.”
The article spreads fast. Many, who don’t read Fen Zhou Daily, also heard about the earthquake. Even the surrounding Cities and Provinces know about it. If a major earthquake hits Fen Zhou City, the surrounding region will be affected.
Everyone is worried.
Dong Xuebing had asked everyone not to panic in his article, but how is it possible?
Earthquake is a natural disaster, and many families immediately leave the city that night. Of course, these families are only a tiny portion, and the majority are hesitating and waiting for the latest news from the Government. Most residents had lived in Fen Zhou City all their lives and are reluctant to leave. They will only leave when the local authorities order them to evacuate.
Yan Tai County, County Government Building.
Mayor’s secretary Hu Silian rushed into the Mayor’s office.
Xie Huilan listened to a department head’s report when Hu Silian rushed in without knocking. She looks at her. “What is it?”
Hu Silian took a deep breath. “Mayor Xie, this is important.”
Xie Huilan nodded and looked at Chief Liu with a smile. “Old Liu, let’s stop here.”
“Ok. I will go back to work.” Chief Liu looked at them and left.
“What happened?” Xie Huilan looks at Hu Silian.
Hu Silian took out a copy of Fen Zhou Daily and flipped to the second page. “Look at this article.”
Xie Huilan read the article and threw it on her desk. She smiles wearily. “This brat…. Haha…. He can’t stop creating troubles. How can he publish such an article? What’s the reaction on the ground?”
Hu Silian replied. “I made some calls, and some of our County’s residents had started to evacuate.”
Beep…. Beep…. Beep…. Cars are sounding their horns outside. Xie Huilan and Hu Silian looked out the window and saw a ma.s.sive traffic jam outside.
Panic and fear start to spread.
Xie Huilan stopped smiling and turned to Hu Silian. “How reliable do you think about Xiao Bing’s earthquake prediction?”
Hu Silian hesitated and answered. “I think the possibility is quite low. I heard the Provincial Earthquake Administration had sent experts to conduct a test. There are no abnormalities or indications of an earthquake. If they had found something, the City would have ordered an evacuation. Mayor Xie, you….”
Ring… ring… ring…. The phone on the desk rang.
At the same time, Xie Huilan’s mobile phone also rang.
Xie Huilan quickly answers the phone and looks at Hu Silian. “It’s a mess outside and is getting out of control. Secretary Xiang had called for an emergency meeting, and I got to attend. Xiao Hu, drop all your work and investigate the animals’ abnormal behavior mentioned by Xiao Bing. Check if it is true, and I want a detailed report about it.”
“Yes.”
At the same time.
Nan Shan District Party Committee Building.
Geng Xinke is with his sister in the District Mayor"s Office. “Sis, I am impressed with Dong Xuebing’s guts.”
Geng Yuehua threw the newspaper on her desk and did not say anything.
“He had created a big mess for himself.” Geng Xinke slapped his forehead. Dong Xuebing had dragged all of them into this mess, and the City Government might punish everyone in Guang Ming Subdistrict.
Dong Xuebing had spread earthquake rumors and ignored the Earthquake Administration’s findings. It is a serious crime even if he had spread rumors secretly, let alone publis.h.i.+ng it on the papers. What’s worse is he published it on Fen Zhou Daily! That’s the most popular newspaper in Fen Zhou City!
Who dares to do such things in Fen Zhou City?!
Dong Xuebing is the only crazy person who dares!
A short article, consisting of a few hundred words, had pushed Dong Xuebing in the teeth of the storm. The Subdistrict Offices, District Governments, City Governments, and all department leaders got to know the crazy Dong Xuebing through this article.