290: Reverence for life

When Lin Zifeng and the other two arrived at the Yingjianzui Scenic Area, the rescue team, composed of the Fire Department, the County Public Security Bureau, the County Hospital, the Heping Town Public Security Sub-bureau, and local guides, was already assembled and ready to go.

Seeing Lin Zifeng arrive at the scene, the County Leaders like Xu Minghao who had arrived earlier, as well as Chen Yuqing and others, gathered around to greet him. Lin Zifeng responded to each of them.

Xu Minghao reported to him, "Secretary, the temporary rescue team has completed all preparations before departure. Do you have any further instructions?"

Lin Zifeng nodded and stepped to the front of the rescue team. His gaze swept across the faces of the team members, and he saw many familiar faces among them.

These included Zhou Hua, the Deputy Director of the Heping Town Public Security Sub-bureau, the Head of the Armed Forces Department of Heping Town, and the Village Chief of Qianshan Village.

Lin Zifeng looked at the rescue team and spoke, "Comrades, the Wild Mountain Wilderness Area is full of dangers, so you must ensure your own safety."

"We revere life, but the prerequisite is that you can protect your own life."

"Be sure to conduct search and rescue only when your absolute safety is guaranteed. Set off, Comrades; we look forward to your triumphant return."

Everyone in the rescue team shouted "Yes!" in unison and set off under the leader's command.

The rescue team set off along the established route. Just then, a discordant voice rang out.

"Leader, what did you mean by what you just said? Isn't the rescue team responsible for rescuing? Shouldn't they have a spirit of fearlessness?"

"Shouldn't everything center on the person being rescued, and shouldn't they be saved at all costs?"

Hearing these remarks, everyone looked at the speaker. Among the twenty or so family members, a man in his thirties finished speaking and looked at Lin Zifeng with dissatisfied eyes.

A staff member came to Lin Zifeng's side and whispered the identities of these relatives to him.

Lin Zifeng nodded calmly, walked a few steps to within a few meters of these people, and then said, "Comrade, and other family members, we can all understand your anxiety and concern for the safety of your family."

"Our local government will do its best to rescue the missing persons and find a way to reunite your families with you."

"Since you've made such a promise, why did you instruct the rescue team that way just now?"

The other party pressed persistently.

Hearing what the other party said, a surge of anger rose in Lin Zifeng's heart, so his voice turned a bit colder.

"Comrade, our rescue team members also have families and loved ones. What is wrong with me reminding our rescue team to pay attention to their own safety?"

"By the implication of your question, do you want our rescue team members to trade their lives for the lives of your family members?"

"They are also someone else's sons, husbands, and fathers. Life is supreme, and no one has the right to use moral kidnapping to make such demands of our rescue team members."

"I, as a leader, cannot do it, and neither can you."

"You... you... you..." The other party stammered "you" three times, rendered speechless by Lin Zifeng's words.

Lin Zifeng ignored him, giving him no further chance to speak, and turned to walk toward the Temporary Command Post.

Xu Minghao and the others followed behind him. Chen Yuqing gradually moved closer to Lin Zifeng. The other County Leaders were not surprised, as they all knew that Chen Yuqing was Lin Zifeng's Older Sister-in-law.

"Zifeng, how can the families of these missing persons talk like that? It's as if their family members' lives are more precious than those of the rescue team."

"Even if they're worried about their family's safety, they shouldn't speak this way. It's too selfish; it's just moral kidnapping."

Hearing the anger in Chen Yuqing's voice, Lin Zifeng said softly, "We can't expect everyone's character to be up to standard. However, his remarks disregarding the safety of the rescue team were indeed unpleasant to hear."

"Let's not talk about this for now. Let's head to the Temporary Command Post for a meeting first!"

After saying this, Lin Zifeng took the lead and entered the Temporary Command Post.

Lin Zifeng presided over a temporary meeting attended by Xu Minghao, Wei Ting, Cao Shuang, Jiang Yufei, Zhou Xiong, Zhu Yushan, Chen Yuqing, and the person in charge of the scenic area.

The temporary meeting discussed and researched follow-up response policies for this emergency.

Chen Yuqing stated publicly that after this incident, isolation facilities between the scenic area and the Wild Mountain Wilderness Area would be vigorously constructed, and patrols and alerts would be strengthened to prevent such incidents from happening again.

She also promised that the scenic area would not evade any responsibilities it needed to bear.

Lin Zifeng gave an important speech, stating that while learning from the lesson, everything must have the rescue of lives as the core objective.

Zhu Yushan Yushan spoke, "Secretary, County Magistrate, and fellow leaders, I have already requested assistance from the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"The Municipal Public Security Bureau will send Economic Investigation Personnel with Drones and Search and Rescue Dogs to support us."

"They are expected to arrive in about two hours. We can organize a second echelon rescue team now. Once the support personnel from the municipal bureau arrive, we can immediately enter the mountains for search and rescue."

"The news reported by Zhu Yushan is very important. Assemble the second rescue team immediately. Meeting adjourned."

Lin Zifeng made the final decision. After announcing the adjournment, everyone went about their business.

Three hours later, the support personnel from the City Level arrived, and a second rescue team was quickly formed and sent into the mountains for search and rescue.

With the help of Drones and police dogs, the speed and scope of the search and rescue were enhanced and expanded.

However, because the vegetation coverage in the Wild Mountain Wilderness Area reached over ninety percent and it was the season of most lush growth, it brought great difficulty to the search and rescue work of the rescue team.

Lin Zifeng stayed at the command post, waiting at any time for messages sent back by the rescue team.

The rescue team was equipped with Satellite Phones, so they reported the search and rescue situation to the command post every hour.

Lin Zifeng also reported this emergency to the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government. Cao Mingxiu and Jiang Shiyu both attached great importance to it and instructed Lin Zifeng to go all out to search for the missing persons.

They requested to be reported to the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government as soon as there was news.

Time ticked away, and night soon fell. Lin Zifeng and the others had a working meal at the scenic area's staff canteen and stayed overnight in the rest area within the scenic area.

The two search and rescue teams in the mountains also had to stop their search, set up tents for the night, and wait until dawn tomorrow to resume.

Amidst everyone's varying moods, the night passed quickly.

At the first light of dawn, Lin Zifeng, who had slept in his clothes, got up. After a simple wash, he went to the Temporary Command Post.

Shortly after, others arrived at the command post one after another.

They got in touch with the two rescue teams and learned that they were all safe and had resumed their search and rescue work. Lin Zifeng and the others continued to wait for news at the command post.

Time passed minute by minute, and it was soon after ten o'clock in the morning.

Just then, a staff member of the scenic area walked in quickly, looking somewhat flustered.