Chapter 66

It’s almost Spring Festival, Xu Qin is so busy. She has no sentimental feeling toward the Spring Festival. She doesn’t expect that at Wu Fang street they really take Spring Festival so seriously.

Every time she passes for street for going to work or coming to work, she could feel the jubilant atmosphere around.

Jiu Jiu (Uncle) is so busy to finish his works, Jiu Ma also starts to purchase special merchandises for the Spring Festival, she also makes the paper-cut for window decoration.

Di Miao also tries to make few of it, but she cut a duck into a swan.

As for Xu Qin, she also joins them to make something. She could make a beautiful wooden butterfly. Since she was young, she is good at handwork. She is good at carving and also drawing.

Di Miao could only sigh: “Your hands are great, they could hold the scalpel. I think it’s better for me to use my hands to make a paste.”

Jiu Ma takes Xu Qin to a side and gives her a card.

Xu Qin is confused: “What is this?”

“Yan Yan’s Pa has a house. After living with us, the house is rented out. The renting fee is here. For the money, Yan Yan used the money once when he was twenty years old. Eight years ago, Yan Yan gave the card to me. He said that he wants to show filial respect to us. How could I and Jiu Jiu take these money. We never touch it. You guys would live together. Just take this.”

Xu Qin shakes her head: “I will not take it.”

Jiu Ma frowns: “Why don’t you want it? I and your Jiu Jiu leaves this money for his wife.”

Xu Qin still shakes her head: “Song Yan said it is for you guys, then it’s yours. I don’t want it.

“You kid, how could you be as stubborn as him. Even though you don’t need it, you should keep it.”

Jiu Ma tries to stuff the card on her hold again. But Xu Qin is quick to dodge, she turns her body and runs: “I’ll go to work now.”

“Ay—-“

Then she just disappears.

On the way to work, Xu Qin looks at the scenery outside from the taxi.

The beginning of February is the coldest month. In just a month, it would be spring, there would be flowers all around the city.

On the way she gets a call from Meng Huai Jin, he is asking whether she would come back home to celebrate Spring Festival together with the family. Meng family has a Ye Ye (Grandpa) so for every year they need to gather to celebrate Spring Festival together.

Xu Qin says that she would not come back, she needs to work on New Year’s Eve.

Meng Huai Jin sighs, he asks her to find come to come over and visit Ye Ye.

She puts down her phone and be silent for a while. She feels fortunate that she has to work so she doesn’t need to choose. She doesn’t want to go home to Meng family to celebrate Spring Festival. But spending a happy day with Jiu Jiu and family might make things awkward for her.

It’s better for her to stay at the hospital.

That day Song Yan also doesn’t come home.

In the Lunar New Year’s Eve, a lot of people would play with fireworks so it’s important for firefighters to watch out for any kind of disasters.

Song Yan has his transfer order in place, after this public holiday he would go to Nan cheng’s firefighting detachment department. So this is his last day at Shi Li Tai firefighting station.

One the Lunar New Year’s Eve, the city is empty. A lot of people are going back to their hometown. There are only few cars and people around. The city has turned quiet and peaceful.

Xu Qin goes to enjoy the dinner together with her colleagues. Everyone brings food from their home and shares it together. They are eating and chatting. It’s quite happy occasion.

Because of holiday celebration, everyone is much more lenient. The nurses and doctors also prepare something to share with the patients.

Xu Qin leans on the wall and looks at the television with zero interest. She keeps on looking at her phone from time to time.

Song Yan doesn’t call her, he should be happy.

Since that day off, it’s been two weeks of not meeting each other. She misses him so much.

How could he not give her a call?

Xu Qin looks at the television while holding her phone.

Suddenly her phone vibrates. She turns happy and looks at the phone. It’s a call from someone she longs.

She goes toward the corridor and answers the call. “Hello?”

He laughs: “Are you busy?”

“Today the people are very obedient.”

She is learning from him, he laughs again and asks: “Have you eaten something with your colleagues?”

“Em.”

“Is it taste good?”

“Okay, what about you?”

“I just finished my dinner at the dining hall.”

“Is it crowded?”

“Crowded. I just keep on missing you.”

Xu Qin takes a deep breath. Since being with her, she feels so happy like never before.

She looks at the scenery on the window. The city is filled with red colors and words of “Happy Lunar’s New Year”.

She smiles: “Song Yan, Zhu Ni Xin Chun Kuai Le oh” (I wish you a Happy Lunar’s New Year!)

“I hope one for you too.”

“What time are you going to get off the work?”

“Tomorrow morning at 06:00 a.m., what about you?”

“Same. This time after the getting off work, you would be transferred. How do you feel?”

He sighs: “I couldn’t describe it.”

“It’s okay if you are disappointed. When you are home, I’ll comfort you.”

“I’m expecting this.” He laughs happily.

“Song Dui Chang (Team leader Song), I hope you could fulfill your task perfectly oh.”

Xu Qin goes back to the patient’s room with a smile on her face.

She continues to watch TV.

When it’s 12:00 p.m, the city starts to be livelier. The fireworks are everywhere.

Xu Qin watches it from the window, she thinks of Song Yan, whether he is watching the fireworks like her.

She waits for the time to pass. She is expecting the new year. She wants to finish her work as part of emergency department’s doctor in perfect way. She couldn’t wait to start a new chapter of her life.

But thirty minutes after the New Year, there’s an alarm that something bad is happening.

It comes without any sign.

Xiao Nan runs inside the emergency department room and says: “Xu Yi Sheng (Doctor Xu), Zhang Yi Sheng (Doctor Zhang), Liu Yi Sheng (Doctor Liu), hurry up get on the ambulance. There’s a factory burning at Ba Yan Qiao.”

Several doctors and nurses move, one of them is puzzled; “Ba Yan Qiao is not under our jurisdiction.”

“There’s no enough manpower at Ba Yuan Jiu hospital. They are asking for help.”

Xu Qin feels that this matter is serious.

The first time Shi Li Tai firefighting station get the order, the fire at Ba Yan Qiao’s factor is so serious. Every firefighter stations is called together to handle it together.

On the Lunar New Year’s Eve, most people stay at home. The street is empty.

The fire engine could pass through to get to the fire scene faster.

The burning factory is a paper factory. The factory also has a complicated structure.

The time Shi Li Tai’s firefighters and Qi Feng Lu’s firefighters are there, they immediately familiarize themselves with the factory’s layout.

They get the order to get in to save those factory works who stay at the dorm.

Everywhere there’s a fire. The fire is so big.

Sogn Yan and friends are going to the the dorm. They want to rush inside but the fire is everywhere and the smoke blocks their view.

The firefighters are quick to act, they kick the door and notice there are dead people around. Yet they couldn’t mind them, they just need to continue to get in to find the survivors.

Song Yan and Yang Chi go to the fifth floor and hears a woman is calling for help.

Both of them rush over and finds the woman near by the door.

Song Yan orders Yang Chi to take the woman.

Song Yan looks around to find another survivor. Song Yan pants, he chokes because of the black smoke. He is thinking of the way to go out as everything is burning too.

Suddenly the woman yells: “Behind you, there’s a gas tank there! Hurry up come out!”

Song Yan wants to run but he realizes that his comrades are all over the building. He takes that gas tank and retreats two steps. Then he runs forward and throws the gas tank out of the fire scene.

The gas tank is thrown out and exploding outside the fire scene.

Song Yan’s heart is beating so fast. He is panting, he feels that he couldn’t breath.

He could feel that temperature around him raising rapidly. The other firefighters are successful in saving more than factory workers around.

Song Yan also comes out of the fire scene and notices the fire is getting even greater.

The firefighters outside start to spray the water toward the burning factory. But the area is too big.

Song Yan has a bad feeling about this.

Every firefighter is worried too. They know that this matter is getting serious.

Xu Qin stands outside the factory and looks at the burning factory. She doesn’t believe that this will happen that day.

She has no much time to worry as she needs to tend the injured people and firefighters.

Xu Qin tries hard to place Song Yan on the back of her mind. She works seriously, but though she tries hard to calm down, she is worried of her.

She watches several firefighters are out of the fire scene. She notices Xiao Ge and then she sees Song Yan.

She blinks and notices that his suit is full of dust and blood. This moment he is still alive and she could see him but she doesn’t feel relieved. She is panic.

Because the fire is getting bigger and out of control.

Indeed Song Yan doesn’t see her. He takes his bottle of water and washes his face few times. Then he walks toward command post.

Her view is blocked. A injured firefighter comes over: “Yi Sheng (Doctor)!”

Xu Qin regains herself: “Xiao Bei!”

“Yes!”

The injured firefighter is treated by Xu Qin, he is hit by the collapsing burning wall and has injury on his neck. Most of his hair is gone too.

The nurses are trembling with terror when they are treating him.

Tonight there are lots of people are injured. Every doctors and nurses are on the verge of collapsing.

Xu Qin is treating everyone in calm matter. She wraps the injury quickly and passes the follow-up work to the nurse. She gets off the ambulance to treat the next injured person.

This time, two polices come over and says: “There are workshops inside the factory that have produce illegal fireworks! the director of the factory is confessing his crime. It could explode easily.

Then suddenly there’s an explosion. It’s so loud and terrifying.

Everyone is so shocked and turning silent.

The fire and explosion are getting out of control.

The factory looks like it would explode soon. There are lots of people are crying: “Don’t burn again! Don’t explode again!”

But Xu Qin feels complicated. To whom should she beg?

Everyone’s heart is hanging. There’s a noise from the command post.

Firefighters are getting ready to get inside again.

When they are going to the fire scene, there’s another explosion.

It’s another big explosion.

The police is asking the ambulances and medical personnels to go behind the police line for their own safety.

The dusts and ashes are everywhere.

Xu Qin looks over. This is a really a nightmare.

She stands there and watch over the firefighters.

“Doctor! Help!”

One of the comrades of the injured soldier, who hit by the crumbling and burning wall, cries and yells. He is asking for help for the injured firefighter.

The doctors come over to check, the injured firefighter is not breathing anymore.

Yet his comrade isn’t willing to give him up, he yells and crying.

The other firefighters are preparing to get inside like they don’t care about their life.

“Don’t get in again! It would burn everything! Don’t go in, you guys would die!” Xiao Nan has a mental breakdown.

Then all the people except the firefighters also yell: “Don’t get in! It would burn again! Don’t get in! Let it burn!”

But the firefighters don’t stop.

Everyone looks so serious.

The fire keeps on burning, it’s so intense and fierce.

What could they do?

If they don’t go, who would help those inside? Who help those who might be waiting for help inside?

Xu Qin notices Song Yan and runs toward him. “Song Yan!”

Song Yan is getting ready to get inside the fire scene. Hearing Xu Qin’s voice, he looks at her. She is startled.

She has black ash on her face, there is blood on her doctor’s white robe. She is looking at him.

“Do you remember that I dreamt before about the explosion! It’s this building!” She points at the building and says to him. “It’s this building Song Yan! I……”

She opens up her mouth and couldn’t speak up. She says: “I…….”

I beg you don’t go.

You would die ah!

I beg you don’t go!

Don’t abandon me!

Her eyes are teary. She shakes her head, yet she couldn’t speak out.

Song Yan’s eyes are red too, his face has injuries too. “Xu Qin…..”

He couldn’t say anything.

Xu Qin looks at him and says nothing. She bites her lips and her tears just come out.

if you die, I would die together with you too!

She looks at him: “Song Yan, take me to die together with you. If you die, I would die together with you!’

His tears come out too. “I would come back and find you.”

They only have limited time, he couldn’t comfort her. He leaves and says to others: “Let’s go.”

Just like that, they just bid their goodbye.

Xu Qin stands there and let the tears fall down.

She watches him get inside the building and he disappears in front of her gaze.

That moment, she suddenly doesn’t cry anymore.

She wipes her tears and goes to wait.

No matter what is the ending of this fire scene, she decides that their ending is they would be together, there’s no other option.

Whether he is alive or dead, she would be with him.

With that thought, she doesn’t feel fear anymore.

She calms down and goes to do her duty.

It happens for few hours. She just does her work without feeling anything.

The nightmare continues for the whole night.

The time the sky turns a bit bright, the fire is under control.

Finally the firefighters are out of the building and returns to sit down nearby their fire engines. They look tired. Some of them are laying down, drinking or washing their faces and hands.

That time Xu Qin is done with her work, she comes over to look for Song Yan. She looks around the firefighters.

Everyone looks unfamiliar. She goes to look around. Till she finds the firefighters of Shi Li Tai. Most of them are sleeping.

She recognizes someone. She takes a bottle of water and helps to wash his face.

That young man opens up his eyes and looks at her. “Sao Zi.”

Xu Qin’s tears are on her eyes, she says to him: “Sleep for a while.”

“Em.”

Another one of them calls after her: “Sao Zi……”

Xu Qin looks at him, it’s Xiao Ge. Xiao Ge is laying on the ground, he says hoarsely: “Help …….. call their names.”

“If you forget, I’ll tell you about it.”

Xu Qin nodes.

She stands up and looks around. She clears her throat and calls after each of the firefighters’ name loudly: “Yang Chi!”

“Here!” A weak male voice replies after her from her back. Yang Chi raises up his hand for a while, then continues to sleep.

Xu Qin takes another deep breath and calls after another name: “Ge Yi!”

“Here!” Xiao Ge answers. He is waiting for her to finish.

Xu Qin has a good memory, she remembers all of their name.

“Li Cheng.”

No one responds. Xu Qin is startled, her heart is beating so fast. She looks around and be so nervous: “Li Cheng!”

“here!” He is awake from his dream and replies.

She continues.

“Zou Xing!”

“Here!”

She calls them one by one.

She releases a breath.

But….

She looks around. She shivers slightly:

“Song Yan!”

No one answers.

“Song Yan!’

All the Shi Li Tai’s firefighters are opening their eyes.

Xiao Ge stis up.

“Where is Song Yan?” Xu Qin asks: “Where is your team leader!”

She is trembling. Her face shows her feeling.

“Song Yan!”

“Here!” A hoarse voice answers her.

Xu Qin is stunned for a second and looks back.

He is standing there with his dirty orange firefighting suit and tired face. “I’m here.”

She is startled and just runs toward him. She hugs him and lets her tears fall down.

Her feelings are mixed up.

Inside his embrace, she just cries.