126: Chapter 126 Life-or-Death Rescue

"I also think this is the best plan we can adopt at the moment!"

"I support Secretary Qin Chuan's plan!"

Everyone quickly reached a consensus and decided to adopt the rescue plan proposed by Qin Chuan. As for the suggestion by County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng to send divers into the mine for the rescue, no one mentioned it again.

Secretary Guo Shunmin glanced at Qin Chuan with approval, thinking to himself, "Qin Chuan is truly excellent. He remains calm in the face of this major accident and has a clear train of thought. He is a rare talent. It is a pity that he is a bit too young and lacks seniority; otherwise, he could be promoted to a more important position."

As the Municipal Party Committee Secretary and the highest-ranking official at the rescue site, he made the final decision: "Alright, that is settled. We will adopt the rescue plan proposed by Comrade Qin Chuan. Locate the position as quickly as possible and start drilling immediately!"

Everyone quickly busied themselves...

...

Refuge Chamber.

It was deathly still and dimly lit here. Some miners simply turned off their cap lamps, sat there in a daze, their faces full of despair.

Only Liu Yubao seemed unwilling to give up. He kept encouraging everyone and continuously tapped on the abandoned ventilation pipe, hoping that people outside could hear the knocking.

Suddenly, he stopped.

After pausing for a moment, he immediately pressed his ear against the iron pipe with a hint of excitement. After listening, he became completely agitated.

That's right, he hadn't heard wrong!

There was knocking coming from the outside; although it wasn't very clear, it could still be heard distinctly.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

He knocked firmly three times and then pressed his ear against the iron pipe. Soon, he heard three responses. The "clang, clang, clang" response reached his ears, and his spirits lifted.

To be sure, he knocked a few more times and pressed his ear against the pipe again. Soon, he heard a few more responses.

It was confirmed!

Liu Yubao was so excited that he shouted, "Everyone, come and listen! There are knocking responses from the outside, come and listen!"

Really?

A few people swept away their previous despair and walked over, full of hope. After pressing their ears against it to listen, they were all revitalized.

"That's right, it really is a knocking response!"

"Great, we are saved!"

"Sob, sob, sob, the people outside will definitely find a way to save us!"

Some young miners even started to cry. In the darkness, a glimmer of hope rose in everyone's heart.

...

The drilling rig had been erected and started working with a rumble. Everyone watched the drill bit descend rapidly, feeling much more at ease.

Secretary Guo Shunmin even asked, "How long will it take to drill through completely?"

"Secretary Guo, the surface layer is soil, so the speed is relatively fast. After ten or twenty meters, it will be the rock layer, where the speed will slow down. To drill through completely, it will take about two days."

Two days—this was already the fastest possible time, and they were using the most efficient type of drilling rig.

Hopefully, the trapped miners below could hold on for two days, because the Refuge Chamber was not large and the air was limited.

Once drilled through, it would be great; not only could fresh air be pumped down, but water and food could also be sent down, and they could even talk or have a video call with the people trapped below.

After drilling to a depth of about twenty or thirty meters, it was around five in the afternoon. The families of the victims had likely received the news, and several families, totaling about a dozen people, had arrived.

As soon as they arrived, they immediately began wailing and crying.

The scene was filled with the sounds of weeping.

County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong, Qin Chuan, and others went over to console them.

County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong said, "Everyone, please rest assured. We will do our utmost to rescue them. It has now been basically confirmed that the trapped miners are all in the Refuge Chamber and are not in immediate danger of losing their lives."

"Our Secretary Qin Chuan has already provided the best rescue plan. Do you see that drilling rig in the distance? It will take at most two days to drill through to the Refuge Chamber..."

Of course, there was some exaggeration in this; at this moment, it was the only thing that could be said.

In fact, he didn't have much certainty in his heart—whether all 24 miners had made it to the Refuge Chamber, whether they had all survived, and so on.

"Secretary Qin Chuan, I know you!"

An elderly man with white hair, likely the father or grandfather of one of the trapped miners, stepped forward, trembling slightly, and actually prepared to kneel.

"Secretary Qin, I beg you, please save my eldest grandson. He cannot have anything happen to him. He is only 23 years old this year and hasn't even married yet..."

Qin Chuan was quick and agile; he grabbed and held him, saying, "Sir, please don't do this. We will definitely do everything in our power."

After a while, the emotions of the family members were finally basically calmed down.

Later, more and more family members arrived. Seeing the rescue situation here, especially hearing that the trapped miners were not in immediate danger, they did not cause trouble, but the sounds of weeping continued.

In the evening, a group of twenty or thirty people from the province, led by Standing Committee Member and Vice Governor Zhu Shihua, arrived at the Jiangjiachong Coal Mine.

Accompanying them, in addition to personnel from relevant departments, were rescue experts, reporters from television stations and newspapers, and so on.

After hearing the report, Vice Governor Zhu Shihua felt much more relieved.

He was particularly increasingly satisfied with Qin Chuan.

This future son-in-law was quite good.

Although young, he remained calm in a crisis and had a clear mind. In particular, he had provided the best rescue plan, which was completely different from other young second-generation rich kids. Coupled with his astonishing family background, his future development prospects were limitless.

Of course, the others did not know the relationship between Vice Governor Zhu Shihua and Qin Chuan; even Secretary Guo Shunmin, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, did not know.

Seeing Vice Governor Zhu Shihua holding Qin Chuan's hand and praising him in front of so many people, many people were envious.

Especially County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng.

He thought to himself, "This is a good opportunity. If I can connect with Vice Governor Zhu Shihua and gain his appreciation, not only will my position as County Magistrate be secure, but I also estimate that it won't be long before I can take another step forward."

So, he squeezed forward and proactively said, "Vice Governor Zhu Shihua, hello. I also strongly agree with this rescue plan..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

Vice Governor Zhu Shihua was slightly displeased. He was holding Qin Chuan's hand and saying some words of praise; how could this person be so lacking in tact as to force his way forward and interrupt?

"Who are you?"

This...

This was quite awkward; Vice Governor Zhu Shihua didn't know him at all.

County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng's face turned slightly red, and he hurriedly introduced himself, "Vice Governor Zhu Shihua, I am the County Magistrate of Sanjiang County, Zhou Tiansheng. I..."

He couldn't continue.

Because Vice Governor Zhu Shihua didn't pay any attention to him and continued talking to Qin Chuan.

His old face flushed red. Even though it was extremely awkward, County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng could only step back, because Vice Governor Zhu Shihua had no intention of speaking to him at all.

At night, the entire Jiangjiachong Coal Mine was brightly lit.

Several more high-power water pumps were put into use, and a large amount of water was pumped out of the mine shaft with a splashing sound, converging into a small river.

Everyone wore safety helmets and rubber boots, entered the mine shaft once again, and walked to the water's edge.

Looking at the water surface, everyone's expression was very grave.