Chapter 49

Chapter 5: Water City

Gu Heng disagreed and held Li Yi's arm, "Li Yi, I have to be responsible for your safety!"

"I am a government advisor! Now I am working in Sanjiang City, and I have to be responsible for the people of Sanjiang City!" Li Yi met Gu Heng's eyes and said calmly.

After a few seconds of stalemate, Gu Heng slowly released his hand, "I'll go with you!"

Li Yi held him back, "We must have someone here to take charge. The people of Sanjiang City are numb to the routine. When necessary, you need to command the overall situation and coordinate with the upper and lower levels."

"Take care! You must be careful!" Gu Heng watched Li Yi rush out the door without looking back and muttered, "Old Li, I now believe you didn't make a mistake! Even if I have to lay down my life, I will help Li Yi achieve great things."

Li Yi found the person in charge, borrowed a raincoat and rain boots, and was driven by someone from the Water Resources Bureau to the largest Malin Reservoir.

The fifty-meter-high dam, almost as tall as a twenty-story building, stood between the mountains, like a giant monster. The sixteen huge floodgates, like the monster's open mouth, seemed ready to devour anyone at any time.

The Dam Management Office and the Irrigation Management Center, both under the Reservoir Management Bureau, were built at the foot of the mountain not far from Malin Reservoir. As the car drove into the courtyard, the people inside heard the car horn and ran to the eaves to look. When they saw the car from the Water Resources Bureau, someone shouted loudly, "Which leader has come down?"

A large white dog barked incessantly at the car.

The accompanying engineer was named Wang Haisan, in his thirties, who had worked in the Water Resources Bureau for several years. He was a veteran technician and naturally very familiar with the people at the Reservoir Management Bureau. After getting out of the car with Li Yi, they went to an office.

There were only three people in the office: an old man in his fifties, a middle-aged man, and a young girl around ten years old who was doing her homework at a desk by the window.

The middle-aged man smiled and came forward, "Hello, Engineer Wang! Who is this leader?"

"This is Li Yi, an advisor from the Provincial Government Advisor Office!" Wang Haisan introduced, "Advisor Li, this is Deputy Director Qin Fan of the Dam Management Office."

"Director Qin, hello!" Li Yi shook his hand.

"Advisor Li, please sit down!" Qin Fan happily invited Li Yi and Wang Haisan to sit, "Did you come down the day before yesterday?"

"Yes," Li Yi said, "We just came to take a look and didn't want to disturb you."

Another old man named Su Huai was there, and the girl was his granddaughter, Su Su, who was in high school. Normally, only Su Huai and Su Su lived in the management office. Today, because of the heavy rain, the school was closed, so she didn't go to school.

Apart from that, there was only the large white dog, which was watching Li Yi, the stranger, with some caution. After a few scoldings from its owner, it obediently squatted down.

Su Su curiously examined Li Yi, clearly intrigued by the fact that he was from the provincial government.

After a while, Li Yi asked in detail about the reservoir's situation.

Qin Fan smiled, "No problem! Old Sun from the observation station just came by and said the water level is still a ways off!"

Li Yi finally relaxed, thinking he had been too anxious. The people here were doing their job well, and there was no need to overreact.

Su Huai smiled, "Since a provincial leader has come, why don't you stay for lunch? A few days ago, I went into the mountains and caught a wild rabbit. I'll stew it for you."

Li Yi's mouth watered, and he smiled, "That would be great! I haven't tasted wild game in a long time."

Unexpectedly, Su Su coldly snorted, "Rabbits are so cute, and you still want to eat them. You have no heart!"

Li Yi smiled awkwardly.

Su Huai scolded, "Write your homework! Little girl, what are you talking about? Comrade Li, don't be angry, children don't know any better."

"No!" Li Yi quickly said, "She is very sensible. Rabbits are indeed very cute, but rabbit meat is also very delicious."

Su Su giggled, "Actually, I like to eat it too!"

Li Yi was taken aback and then burst out laughing.

After chatting for a while, the rain became even heavier. Li Yi, worried about the reservoir's safety, said to Wang Haisan, "I'll go up to the dam to take a look."

Wang Haisan said, "With such heavy rain, the road is difficult to walk on. Let's ask Old Su to go and check."

Su Huai immediately responded, "I'll go and check, and I'll chat with Old Sun while I'm at it."

Li Yi thought he was indeed not as experienced as they were and nodded in agreement.

Qin Fan looked at the rain and said, "The rain is too heavy. I'll go with Old Su."

Li Yi felt a bit embarrassed, "I'm causing you trouble."

Qin Fan chuckled, "This is our job, after all!"

The two put on raincoats, wore straw hats, and tied on rain boots, then disappeared into the heavy rain.

Li Yi sat at the door, staring in the direction of the reservoir. Wang Haisan smiled, "Advisor Li, why are you so nervous? Why is Sanjiang called Sanjiang? Because there's a lot of water! Su Su, count it: one 'jiang' has three dots of water, so three 'jiangs' have how much water?"

"Nine!" Su Su put down her pen and came over to chat as soon as she saw her grandfather leave.

"Right, nine! It represents a lot, like the emperor, the supreme ruler! In numbers, nine is the largest single digit, isn't it? So, Sanjiang is a city of water!" Wang Haisan was proud of his cleverness.

Su Su giggled, "Uncle Wang is so knowledgeable! Comrade Li, don't you think so?"

Li Yi chuckled and suddenly asked, "Su Su, how long have you lived here?"

"I've lived here since I was born, so I really like Malin Reservoir! After school, I always want to come here and don't want to go home." Su Su smiled, and a dimple appeared on one side of her face.

"Have you ever seen a flood?" Li Yi asked.

"Yes, one year there was a big flood, and it even washed away our pig. Several people in the neighboring village died!" Su Su replied.

"Aren't you afraid?"

"As long as the water doesn't flood me, I'm not afraid! It's actually quite fun!" Su Su giggled.

Li Yi said, "What a sensible child. Engineer Wang, have you inspected those floodgates?"

Wang Haisan said, "Yes, there are specialists responsible for it every year. That's not my responsibility."

Li Yi hummed and fell silent.

The sky was dark, and the wind blew rain into the doorway.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared on the road outside, running towards them.

Li Yi focused and recognized Qin Fan. Qin Fan ran in quickly, still out of breath, and shouted, "Engineer Wang, Comrade Li, a mountain flood has broken out, and the reservoir water level has risen sharply!"

Li Yi immediately got up, "Let's go and check!"

Several people rushed to the dam in the heavy rain. Although the rain was heavy, they could vaguely see the muddy streams rushing down the mountains nearby, and landslides had occurred in many places.

The reservoir water level had already exceeded the warning level and was not far from the top of the dam, appearing to be just below their feet.

Li Yi made a decision, "Director Qin, I'll stay here with you. Engineer Wang, please go back and notify the city leaders immediately and ask them to quickly develop a flood warning plan."

Wang Haisan hesitated, "Advisor Li, why don't you come back with me?"

Li Yi shook his head, "No, I have to stay here. You go quickly! Make sure the city leaders take it very seriously!"

Wang Haisan nodded and ran down quickly.