Chapter 13: The War of Schools (4)

  After waiting for about an hour, I couldn't help it anymore, so I took out the military phone again to ask Wang sister when she could send us food and water.

  Just then, the phone rang, and Wang's voice came over: "Jin Cang? Our warriors have found a location where they can deliver food and water to you. Go to the second floor of the library now, open the window near the Cultural Arts Museum, our people will try their best to deliver food and water to you."

  I was overjoyed, thanked him and ran to the window like flying, and moved the desks that were originally piled up at the window as a defense with several classmates. There were already a few people waiting for us in the cultural and artistic center across the street, and when they saw us open the window, they waved at us.

  When I looked closely, I understood what they meant, which was to ask us not to make a sound and quietly cooperate with them in delivering food and water. If those **** knew that someone was secretly providing us with food and water, they would definitely start fighting again.

  I and Teacher Wang hastily chose a few classmates with great strength to help, catching the long rope thrown over from the opposite side and securing it on the window.

  After the rope was fixed, several soldiers in the cultural and artistic museum pulled some food and water over along the rope one by one. Our classmates on this side were responsible for receiving the food and water and transferring them to a nearby place. Although everyone was cooperating for the first time, they didn't feel awkward at all. Everything went smoothly and quietly, and soon we had a large pile of food and water.

  I secretly felt relieved, knowing that no one would ask me to go out and find a way again. After all, most of the students nowadays are spoiled and pampered greenhouse flowers, and there are not many people who can find their own way in such a situation.

  As I watched the almost last bucket of water being taken down by a classmate from the rope, my hanging heart finally put down. Fortunately, those who had no food and water like us did not discover our underground activities here.

  Mr. Wang also involuntarily let out a sigh of relief and said in a low voice: "Now that's good, we finally have food and water..."

  He hadn't finished speaking when someone loudly shouted: "Someone is approaching, fire! Fire quickly!"

  Immediately afterwards came a dense burst of gunfire, and I saw a soldier opposite me suddenly shudder all over, his chest clothes immediately turned red, he was hit.

  The soldier opposite immediately retreated into the cultural and artistic museum, never daring to show his head at the window again. I also hurriedly moved the desk with several classmates to block the window, but my heart was filled with panic.

  I've seen dead people bleeding before, and I didn't think it was a big deal. But this time, it made me feel extremely shocked and sad inside. After all, that soldier was shot while delivering food and water to us, and it happened right in front of my eyes.

  Mr. Wang also saw this scene, his face was very ugly, probably his heart was also extremely shocked and sad.

  Some classmates who saw this scene were all stunned and stood in place, unsure of what to do.

  I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and gritted my teeth: "Divide these food and water among everyone, make sure each student gets some... Tell them that the soldier from just now, for our sake... probably lost his precious life. Although we can't do anything about it now, we must remember him, it was he who used his life to deliver this food and water to us..."

  I said a lot, but I always felt unable to express my current feelings and emotions. In the end, I could only silently give a deep bow to that wounded soldier...

  Many classmates also stood with me, silently bowing their heads in the direction where the soldier fell, and many girls couldn't help but burst into tears.

  The gunfire outside seemed to be the fuse, and from the beginning, it didn't plan to stop easily. The dense gunfire was mixed with explosions, angry roars, and miserable screams, and everything seemed to have returned to when the attack just started.

  Was it me who caused all this? I kept asking myself deep down, feeling that my guilt was too great. If I hadn't asked them to deliver food and water to us, if I hadn't said that the cultural center and library could be used for delivery of food and water, perhaps none of this would have happened... perhaps...

  Teacher Wang seemed to see through my thoughts and whispered beside me: "Don't think too much about it, this has nothing to do with you..."

  I know he was comforting me, but I still can't forgive myself.

  So I picked up the military phone: "Wang sister, sorry... it's all my fault, I've caused..."

  Sister Wang interrupted me: "How can you blame yourself? You're thinking too much. Our soldiers are serving our people, and when the people need them, even if it means sacrificing their lives, they won't hesitate..." As she spoke these seemingly grandiose words, a hint of pain and repression seeped into her voice, and I knew that deep down, she was actually very sad and distressed. She was just trying to make me feel less guilty, so she deliberately made light of it...

  I quietly listened to Wang Jie's words, secretly blaming myself in my heart: Why didn't I choose to wait a little longer? Maybe if I had waited a few more minutes or hours, the government and **** would have negotiated the conditions, and no one else would have been sacrificed, nor would everyone have suffered. Was I too impatient? Didn't I think about those soldiers who fought to the death on the battlefield at all? Was I wrong? Shouldn't I have done it this way?

  My head started hurting again, it hurts so much. I couldn't help but squat down, grasping my hair tightly and loudly asked Wang Jie: "Shouldn't I have asked you to send us food and water? Was I wrong?"

  Sister Wang fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "You know, when I heard this news just now, I almost couldn't bear to shoot you dead, for... for our soldiers to seek justice. But the team leader's words earlier completely awakened me. As military personnel, we are originally serving all people in need and protecting this country and everyone in it. So, our sacrifices, as long as they help you... are worth it... even if it's just delivering a little food and water."

  I heard Wang sister crying, her words sounded good, but in her heart, she must be blaming me. I didn't know how to comfort her, so I just quietly listened to her continue speaking.

  Sister Wang said a lot, she must be very painful and helpless in her heart, and can only relieve her emotions by talking. But a voice interrupted Sister Wang's words, it was a very serious voice: "Jin Cang classmate, sorry, our liaison officer is emotionally out of control, said many things that should not be said, please forgive!"

  "After a moment of stunned silence, I spoke out loud: 'No, she's right. This was my fault for not thinking it through, and now an excellent soldier is dead...'"

  That serious voice fell silent, and after a long time slowly said: "Don't think too much, this is just a normal mission failure, which often happens in war, nothing... Oh, you also don't have to blame yourself, this has nothing to do with you, it's all because those **** are too cunning and too cruel. If there weren't many hostages in their hands, we're worried that innocent people would get hurt, I would definitely lead the whole army to fight them to the death, never letting them escape punishment and continue to wreak havoc on the world!"

  I haven't forgiven myself, but I also know that I'm already powerless to do anything about it. All I can do is say sincerely: "I'm really sorry, and after this matter is over, I will definitely go visit the soldier who sacrificed himself because of me."

  A serious voice fell silent again, and after a long time, he let out a sigh: "Jin Cang, once this matter is over, if I'm still alive, I'll come to this school to pick you up, and we'll go visit him together."

  I nodded heavily, and my mood became even heavier. My intuition told me that the person who just sacrificed himself was definitely not simple.

  This time's attack, the number of casualties will definitely not be small, and there will be many soldiers among them. This is an inevitable thing. However, I have never seen the troops' emotions so low and sad before. But this person's sacrifice made Wang sister so heartbroken and lost, plus the serious man's words and attitude just now, I knew that this person was definitely not simple.

  Perhaps this time I have caused a great loss of talent for our country.

  Although this crime is a bit big, I certainly have some responsibility and it won't be too small. So my mood became even heavier.

  I put down the phone and suddenly couldn't hear the gunfire and explosions outside anymore. I entered a very strange world where I couldn't hear or see anything, but I could feel a voice, a very soft voice that was too light to be heard with my ears, only with my heart.

  I carefully felt this voice, and slowly I understood the meaning of this voice: doing things with less thinking, harming others and oneself, making others sad and difficult, also making oneself regretful and sad.

  I don't know how long it took until my ears started hearing gunshots and explosions again.

  I came to, looked at my classmates who were eating, and then looked at a classmate standing next to me. He was staring at me strangely, and his hand, which was about to pass me some bread, inexplicably withdrew.

  I saw a thread of fear in his eyes. This fear was not caused by the war outside, but by me.

  I furrowed my brow: "What's wrong?"

  He hesitated for a moment, then boldly handed me the bread and said: "Why are your eyes so red? Didn't you sleep all night..."

  My heart skipped a beat as I realized that my gaze must have been quite frightening earlier, or else this male classmate wouldn't have been scared by me: "Yeah, didn't sleep, so..."

  I gestured to indicate that I was too tired. Then, ignoring him, I took big bites of the bread in my hand, stood up, brushed off the dust on my clothes, and walked away, not wanting him to see my eyes again.

  I felt my eyes must have been filled with apology towards the warrior and hostility towards the **** who killed him, these two gazes intertwined together must be very intimidating. To the extent that I had a thought of killing that ****.

  This time the gunfire and explosions lasted for nearly two hours, many classmates seemed to have slowly gotten used to these sounds, one by one they were no longer as scared as last night, after eating something, either finding a place to rest or sticking to their own posts.

  Apart from classmates guarding on the first floor, male students and several teachers on the second floor also stood guard at several windows to prevent **** from breaking in and harming everyone.

  After eating, Mr. Wang's spirits picked up noticeably. As he directed everyone to reinforce the temporary defenses, he shouted at me, "Jin Cang, contact the troops below again and find out when we can be rescued!"

  I hesitated for a moment and then answered Wang's call: "Why are you still calling? Has the negotiation broken down?"

  Wang sister's mood improved a bit: "It's just that our area is still exchanging fire, but other places have already stopped firing, negotiations are still ongoing, and it's estimated that there will be results soon. You guys wait a little longer, as soon as there's a result, I'll contact you right away."

  I quietly hung up the phone and conveyed Sister Wang's words. Many classmates' eyes had hope, even Teacher Wang smiled slightly.

  I was still thinking about the fallen warrior, and silently sighed, knowing that not everyone would grieve for a long time for that warrior, and understanding them, so I didn't say more, patiently waiting for news from Wang Jie.

  Not long after I spoke with Wang Jie on the phone, the gunfire gradually stopped. It seemed that both sides had received the message and ceased fire.

  Less than half an hour after the gunfire stopped, Wang sister called me: "The negotiation is over, **** agreed to release most of the hostages and only take away ten. These ten hostages will be released once they leave here and arrive at a safe place. We'll send someone to rescue you soon, before that, don't come out, in case you're caught by the retreating **** as new hostages."

  I also felt a surge of joy in my heart, and loudly told the news to all the classmates and teachers trapped in the library. The classmates suddenly burst into cheers, and the previous fear and fatigue seemed to disappear instantly, one by one couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  The feeling of being reborn after a disaster has touched everyone deeply, but without exception, it's all joy. Who wouldn't be happy to have survived a great calamity?

  I am also delighted, but I am facing a new predicament - the death of that warrior has left me with an eternal regret.

  Mr. Wang said to me at this time: "Thank you, Jin Cang. This time thanks to you, if it wasn't for you, we might... Ah, don't say anything else, from now on you are my friend, whatever happens, just speak up, I guarantee to do my best..."

  Many classmates were also talking about the same thing on the side, and even some unfamiliar classmates expressed their gratitude to me.

  Just a few hours ago, I would have had a proud and complacent feeling. But now, I don't have that feeling anymore. I just politely answered Teacher Wang and my classmates, then calmly expressed the thoughts in my heart: "Wang Jie has already emphasized it, we can't casually go out to prevent being captured as hostages. This time everyone must listen to Wang Jie's orders, absolutely do not act rashly, stay here and wait for rescue."

  Classmates unanimously responded, and Teacher Wang nodded and said: "It won't happen again, this time there's hope, no one will want to come and cause trouble."

  I nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then walked to the entrance of the library. I looked outside through a gap, thought carefully for a while, and then said to Teacher Wang: "Let's get our classmates to clean up a bit. After we go out later, please send those fainted classmates to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. Then, distribute all the food and water among the classmates, making sure everyone gets a share. Since it will take some time for the school to resume classes and the cafeteria to operate normally after we leave, we need to bring food with us when we go out." I paused for a moment: "Also, there must be many injured classmates and teachers. After we go out, let's try our best to help them."

  Mr. Wang nodded and turned to distribute food and water to the classmates, while I selected fifty male and female classmates with better physical conditions, divided them into ten small groups, and everyone unanimously decided that after being rescued, they would go to help those injured classmates and teachers, and do their best for those in need.

  We had just made preparations when Wang Jie's phone call came, saying that someone would come to rescue us in a while.

  After waiting for a while, the soldiers really came to escort us out. We formed two lines of boys and girls each, and marched out of the library in an orderly manner, just like a victorious army returning triumphantly. Unfortunately, behind our ranks, every two male classmates carried those who had fainted on desks, changing everything. We didn't look triumphant, but rather defeated and disheveled, with some embarrassment.

  Fortunately, there were no casualties among us students and teachers; otherwise, it would have looked like a defeated army in full retreat.

  As we walked out of the library, we all felt like we were reborn. Many classmates couldn't help but shed tears again. But this time, the tears were not because of fear or horror, but because of joy and happiness. And those brutal **** were nowhere to be seen, probably they had all withdrawn. The only thing we didn't know was what would happen to the ten hostages they took away.

  I and fifty classmates with better physical conditions immediately set off in the previously divided groups towards their respective destinations to assist in rescue efforts after leaving the library.

  I and five classmates rushed to the hospital outside the school, because that was where the attack first broke out, and the casualties would definitely be the greatest. Now **** has already been evacuated, and the hospital is also a place for treating injuries, so it must need more people to help.

  Everywhere on the ground along the way were signs of battles, whether it was a big hole blown up by bombs, or bloodstains left behind by people who had been injured, or the wounded being hastily carried to hospital, all made me feel wave after wave of fear and unease.

  Suddenly, I thought of that sacrificed soldier again in my heart.

  Then, I suddenly thought of two people, one is Zhou Hui, she is a nurse in the hospital, don't know if she was injured or... The other one is actually Du Yifei, according to Du Yifei's cleverness, there shouldn't be any problem. But during this war-torn time, who can predict what will happen?

  Almost at the same time I thought of Zhou Hui and Du Yifei, I also thought of my roommates, Da Zhang, Xiao Lizi and A Qiang, they ran back to the dormitory, don't know if anything happened.

  Then I thought of many people, classmates in the same class, teachers who taught me, even some school staff, owners of restaurants outside the school, internet cafe managers... Anyway, there were many people, and I was worried about their safety.

  I hope everyone is safe, although this wish is unrealistic.

  Along the way, we six people encountered countless wounded. Some were relatively lucky and only had minor injuries, while others were unlucky and seriously injured. We saw several who were missing arms or legs, and some people lay motionless on the ground, with little hope of survival.

  My classmate and I rushed to the hospital with a classmate who was injured in the abdomen, while four other classmates also carried or supported the wounded and hurried to the hospital. Although no one said a word, everyone's face had the same heavy expression. This terrifying incident has caused lifelong harm to many people and families.

  The hospital was already overcrowded, with many wounded people forced to wait on the highway outside for medical treatment. Those with more serious injuries were given priority and carried into the hospital by doctors and nurses for treatment. After all, being able to save one more person is a good thing, so the hospital adopted a policy of prioritizing treatment for those with more severe injuries.

  After handing over the wounded person I was carrying to the nurse, I hurriedly went to look for Zhou Hui. I was worried about this kind nurse who had been good to me.

  In the crowded hospital, I searched for a long time before finding Zhou Hui. She seemed to have nothing wrong with her and was still busy in the hospital. I was worried that I would disturb her, so I just took a glance at her from afar, confirmed that she was fine, and then left the hospital to help others.

  We six classmates were busy until nightfall, and many students and teachers who had been rescued joined the rescue efforts as long as they were not injured. With the help of these classmates, more and more people were rescued, and one after another touching scenes appeared before our eyes, moving even more people to join in the rescue efforts.

  Such a side, in the previous school, is what we can't imagine at all. We all thought that nowadays people who are willing to lend a helping hand when others need help are already very few, but didn't expect that in the face of real disaster, there are still many people willing to help others.

  The hospital set up by the school had doctors and nurses, including some medical facilities that were clearly insufficient. Fortunately, at a critical moment, military medics came to their aid, with exquisite medical skills and equipment, greatly alleviating the difficulties caused by the lack of doctors, nurses, and medical equipment, and solving the urgent problem.

  By nightfall, all the wounded had received effective treatment. Of course, some of the wounded were too severely injured and lost their lives during or after treatment.

  The wicked ones have brought unprecedented disaster to all the children here this time, countless people have been killed and injured here, countless buildings have been destroyed here, and everything here will change because of this.

  Many years later, people still shudder when they recall this incident and secretly pray that such a thing will never happen again.

  At night, I returned to the dormitory with five classmates. Looking at the almost completely destroyed dormitory building, my heart suddenly went "thud": Da Zhang, Xiao Lizi and A Qiang... they won't be... This thought had just appeared in my mind when it was ruthlessly extinguished by me. I was afraid to think about it, nor did I dare to continue thinking...