Chapter 110: The Rescue Continues

The tense rescue operation was still underway. Every second they held on meant a little more hope for those buried beneath the rubble.

Starting at 3 p.m. and working straight through until 4 a.m. the next day, thirteen hours of grueling physical labor had left everyone barely able to keep their eyes open. Yet not a single person in the team complained of exhaustion. They all pressed on in silence.

When a whistle blew nearby, no one reacted at first. The team leader walked over, still blowing his whistle, and said, “Take a break. If you don’t rest now, you’ll collapse too. We need to conserve our medical resources.”

Everyone exchanged knowing smiles, the tension in their nerves easing just a little. Back at camp, they realized they were the last group to return. They’d been so late the team leader had to come find them. They had wanted to keep going, but some of the younger team members were already trembling uncontrollably as they gripped their tools. Besides, the team leader had said that more people would arrive after daybreak, and working together would greatly improve efficiency.

Once back at camp, no one had the energy to clean up. They collapsed and fell asleep instantly. With Aofeng’s help, their rescues had been incredibly precise, each dig uncovering a survivor. The joy of saving lives had pushed their exhaustion aside, sending them into a kind of trance. Only now, lying down, did they feel the full-body soreness, every joint protesting the sudden strain.

While everyone else lay down, Song Changfeng remained on his feet. He went to the medical tent and asked the doctor for some antiseptic and a roll of bandages. The doctor, who had come with their team, looked up in concern. “Who’s hurt? Why didn’t they come here? If needed, I can go with you.”

“It’s Aofeng. His front paws are badly worn. I’ll bandage them myself,” Song Changfeng replied.

“If it’s Aofeng, then I definitely need to take a look. On the way here, if it hadn’t been for him guiding us and warning of danger, we might all be buried now,” the doctor said, clearly fond of Aofeng.

“No need. You’ve had a long day too. Get some rest,” Song Changfeng said, stopping the doctor from reaching for the medical kit. Though the medical staff didn’t have to dig, staying in that makeshift clinic was no easy job either. Everyone rotated shifts, and in an emergency, rest would be a luxury.

Back at the rest area, Aofeng was curled up next to a few other Search and Rescue Dogs, sleeping soundly. Occasionally, he’d twitch and brush against his injured paw, his face scrunching in pain before he drifted back into deep sleep. Song Changfeng crouched down and gently applied medicine and bandaged the wounds. Only then did he lie down fully clothed and fall asleep.

…

Aofeng felt like he had just closed his eyes when the whistle signaling assembly blew again. He jolted awake and sprang to his feet, but his front paws, now wrapped in bandages, buckled awkwardly beneath him, forcing him into a kneeling position.

No way! Aofeng quickly rolled to his side to avoid anyone seeing his ridiculous posture. As he lay down, he lifted his front paws and examined them closely. At some point, someone had wrapped them in thick gauze, almost like a plaster cast.

There was no doubt who had done it – Song Changfeng. He was the only one who could approach without triggering Aofeng’s alert instincts. What a loyal guy, still thinking of him even when exhausted.

Speak of the devil – just as Aofeng was thinking about him, Song Changfeng appeared, carrying a basin. He set it down, and Aofeng peeked inside. Not only was there dog food, but also canned meat and jerky. Compared to yesterday’s meal, this was a feast. He immediately dug in, chomping noisily, which made the other leashed Search and Rescue Dogs whimper with envy, their entire bodies radiating hunger.

Fortunately, their trainers soon arrived with identical food. The other dogs quickly quieted down and began eating too.

After the meal, Song Changfeng said to him, “Aofeng, you’re staying here to rest today. Don’t go out with the team.”

No way! Aofeng shook his head, clearly disagreeing. Song Changfeng tried persuading him a few more times, but Aofeng still refused. With him around, it was like having a radar system. He could help the team avoid wasted effort and conserve energy to save more lives.

Left with no choice, Song Changfeng brought him along. But he firmly told Aofeng he wasn’t allowed to dig today. Aofeng let out a soft whine in agreement.

Walking with bandaged paws felt strange, but he quickly adjusted and followed the team to the same street they’d worked on yesterday. When they arrived, another team was already there. These people were unfamiliar – clearly not part of their original group.

The squad leader stepped forward to chat with them and learned that they had come from Yun Province¹ to assist in Hengzhou. Because of the distance, they had only just arrived. Their rescue experience was even more extensive, as Yun Province was also located in an earthquake zone.

“Is that your search and rescue dog?” someone asked, eyes lighting up the moment they spotted Aofeng.

“No, he’s a Criminal Investigation Dog,” Song Changfeng explained seriously.

“A Criminal Investigation Dog?” the man muttered. “Why not send a proper search and rescue dog? I mean, sure, CI dogs are impressive, but they can’t be as good as trained rescue dogs.”

Before Song Changfeng could respond, someone nearby jumped in to refute him. To make the argument more convincing, the person even exaggerated Aofeng’s performance along the way.

By the time he finished, everyone was looking at Aofeng differently. What an outstanding police dog.

From then on, Aofeng was constantly on the move. Whenever he detected someone under the rubble, he would bark loudly to alert the team and even help them locate easier digging spots.

Thanks to everyone’s relentless efforts, they had nearly rescued all the survivors in the small food street they’d been assigned. As they approached the final collapsed building, spirits naturally began to rise.

Translator’s Notes