However, most people were not adequately prepared. Many devices broke down shortly after setting out, with some sinking to the bottom. In the biting cold, they could only cling tightly to the last glimmer of hope at hand.
沈昭 stood by the window, watching the silhouettes of people approaching, furrowing his brow in worry.
Beside him, Comrade 李梅 had already cooked a meal using an alcohol stove. With the dropping temperatures, having something warm to eat was better than anything else.
“Son, it’s time to eat!” 李梅 handed沈昭 a large bowl of rice, which also contained a small piece of leftover sausage.
沈昭 cut the sausage in half and, despite 李梅’s refusal, firmly placed it in her bowl. Although their supplies were tight, the mother and son could manage to eat for about a month, especially since沈昭 was not one to be selfish.
“Mom, the rain has stopped. We need to hurry and set off.” After finishing their meal,沈昭 and 李梅 discussed how to exit the area.
“Okay, I understand,” 李梅 said. After packing up their belongings, she suddenly sighed heavily. “I wonder how your grandparents are doing…”
“Mom, don’t worry. I checked the news earlier, and there were no reports of disasters where Grandpa and Grandma are. Didn’t you also call them before? Just relax.”
As they dragged the kayak forward,沈昭 reassured her, “Let’s put in our best effort; we should definitely reach there in no more than half a month.”
They had already decided to find 李梅’s parents, who were沈昭’s grandparents.
Though 李梅 was not from the province, she lived not too far away in a neighboring province, only over 300 kilometers from their county.
That area was at a higher altitude and was not flooded. Previously,沈昭 checked the news and found no reports of earthquakes or similar disasters there, so they planned to head there.
晋城 had a lower altitude and was one of the worst-hit cities, while other nearby cities experienced flooding up to three floors high at most.
At least communication had not been affected.
Taking advantage of the fact that others had not yet arrived at the office building,沈昭 set down the kayak and, with 李梅 and their supplies, left the building where they had lived for two days.
Outside, the stench was mixed with the smell of sewage. Fortunately,沈昭 was prepared; each of them wore a mask made by 李梅, which, while not completely blocking out the smell, helped mitigate most of it.
On the water, which seemed endless, more kayaks and various boats emerged; after all, there were quite a few smart individuals like沈昭 who preferred to be prepared.
Everyone paddled in unison toward higher ground. Some traveled in groups, while沈昭 kept his distance from them.
It would take at least seven to eight days to row from here to solid land. They had ample supplies, but that could not be said for everyone else.
李梅 initially had different thoughts; she believed that being in a group was safer. Traveling together meant companionship, and they could help each other in case of emergencies.
After all, everyone had boats, and they wouldn’t rob them. As for food, they could buy it once they reached the shore.
She did not believe in any apocalyptic theories; she only thought that the lack of rescue in 晋城 meant the government was preparing for something.
沉昭 couldn’t argue with her and could only agree to travel together.
When they merged into the main group, 沈昭 unexpectedly spotted acquaintances: his classmate 张子鑫 and his parents, along with a few other elderly people he did not recognize.
“沈昭!沈昭! Look over here! It’s me! 张子鑫!”
张子鑫 waved excitedly from a short distance away. Their kayak was exactly like the one沈昭 had.
Not only were 张子鑫 and his family there, but沈昭 also saw the boss who had sold him the kayak along with his family.
Looking around, it seemed that about ten kayaks were the same model as the ones from that shop.
The elderly on board appeared to have been rescued; their expressions were somewhat listless, and there were not many supplies on their boat.
After a quick glance,沈昭 noted that most of these people had supplies, enough to last seven to eight days, he presumed.
He sighed in relief and smiled upon seeing 张子鑫, paddling toward them.
“沈昭!”张子鑫 enthusiastically leaned out, nearly falling into the water as his parents quickly pulled him back, scolding him lightly.
张子鑫 smiled broadly, genuinely excited. If it weren’t for沈昭 messaging him to buy the kayak, he wouldn’t have been able to leave that building and would still be stuck inside.
Thus, he was immensely grateful to沈昭.
It was fortunate the typhoon had passed; the building hadn’t collapsed, and everyone else had returned home. Otherwise, they would still be trapped, and the kayak would likely have been taken by others.
“Good thing the water only rose to the height of five floors; otherwise, your house would have been flooded too,” he remarked, feeling lucky. But then he thought of those who hadn’t made it out in time and might have drowned, perhaps even his classmates, friends, or relatives, and his eyes turned red.
“Uncle, Auntie.” 沈昭 greeted 张子鑫’s parents before looking toward the other people on their boat, inquiring with a glance.
张子鑫 instantly understood and, after greeting 李梅, introduced his family.
“This is my grandfather, grandmother, and grandmother. Thankfully, they lived in a high place…”
张子鑫’s parents were only children, and his maternal grandfather had already passed away from illness two years ago. Thus, they went to pick up two elderly people who lived not far away while they could still row.
The kayak had just enough space for all of them.
“So, once we reach the shore, where are you planning to go?” 沈昭 asked as he rowed in tandem with the main group.
“I’m not sure. We’ll decide once we reach the shore. I saw on the news that many places have experienced earthquakes. Once we have signal, I’ll check online for safer places.”张子鑫 replied while also helping to paddle.
沈昭 nodded knowingly.
Given the current situation, it was best to make plans after reaching the shore; one step at a time.
For the rest of the journey, to conserve energy, no one spoke, simply concentrating on paddling forward.
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