If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 76
Chapter 76: The Twenty-Seventh Day
Feng Shi, on his way to the airport, was taken aback. He hadn’t had high hopes when he called Cheng Liu. Shenyin Technology’s rescue robots were superior, and Keda hadn’t mass-produced that type of robot.
Keda had recently invested most of its resources in fulfilling the military robot order from Z Province. Military rescue robots were more effective in bomb disposal, patrol, reconnaissance, and firefighting.
They weren’t as useful in disaster relief. Having just signed a ten-year contract with Z Province, Feng Shi had received a request for rescue robots.
If Keda performed well, it would be a huge boost to their public image. But Feng Shi knew the situation in the disaster zone was complex. Keda alone wouldn’t be enough.
But sharing the mission with Shenyin meant most of the attention would likely shift to them.
After much deliberation, Feng Shi had made the call. Saving lives was the priority.
“You’ve already considered this?” Feng Shi said, realizing that Cheng Liu’s words implied she had already thought about deploying rescue robots to the disaster zone.
“Z Province has many mountains and lakes. In addition to the mudslides, the earthquake zone is also surrounded by mountains. With the continuous rainfall, the risk of secondary disasters is high,” Cheng Liu said. She simply hadn’t anticipated the aftershock and the new mudslide in the earthquake zone tonight.
“I’m already on my way to the airport. Come over,” Feng Shi said, putting aside their rivalry. “How soon can you get the rescue robots here?”
Cheng Liu calculated: “Three hours, from retrieval to loading and transport to the airport.”
“Alright, I’ll wait for you at the airport,” Feng Shi said, then hung up, feeling slightly deflated.
If Cheng Liu had refused, it wouldn’t have bothered him so much. But she had agreed without hesitation, even offering to collaborate, not asking for anything in return.
Such a young woman…no wonder she had achieved so much.
“I have to go,” Cheng Liu said, looking at Ji Chaozhou, her eyes still bright. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay,” Ji Chaozhou said softly.
Cheng Liu went to change, notifying the company to prepare the rescue robots for transport, and instructing the project manager to meet her at the airport.
When she came out with her luggage, Ji Chaozhou was still there, standing at the entrance of the living room, half of his body shrouded in shadow, the other half illuminated by the light.
To Cheng Liu, he looked like a lone pine tree in the morning mist, tall and silent.
She walked over to him, suitcase in hand, a smile on her face: “I’m leaving.”
Ji Chaozhou, looking at her, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear: “Come back soon.”
Cheng Liu, leaning against his hand, a smug look in her eyes, like a cat that had gotten its cream: “See you in a few days.”
Ji Chaozhou watched as she walked to the garage, got into her car, and drove away. He stood there for a long time.
He suddenly realized he was being greedy, wanting her to wait, yet also wanting to see her constantly, enjoying her presence, her proactive closeness.
…
The project manager hadn’t come alone. He had brought the project team leader with him.
He Bai was also there, overseeing the logistics.
“This is Zou Pan, the team leader of the rescue robot project,” the manager explained to Cheng Liu. “She’s currently in charge of the team.”
Cheng Liu nodded: “Let’s head to the airport. I’ve reviewed the latest research data on our rescue robots. We have smaller units designed for post-earthquake search and rescue, resistant to ordinary rainfall. But with the frequent landslides and mudslides in Z Province, they might not be effective.”
They switched cars, the project manager driving.
“Mudslides contain a complex mix of materials, wet and filled with debris, highly destructive. If the search area is covered in mudslides, the robots might malfunction, even short-circuit and burn out,” Zou Pan, sitting in the passenger seat, explained to Cheng Liu after a moment's thought. “CEO Cheng, our rescue robots are practically useless.”
“Keda Technology’s team will also be there,” Cheng Liu said, taking a tablet from He Bai. “We might be able to collaborate with them.”
“CEO Cheng, are you thinking of…” Zou Pan said, suddenly remembering the various spare parts they had loaded.
“Time is of the essence. We don't have the luxury of a proper testing environment or lab,” Cheng Liu said, looking up. “Once we’re there, we can try dismantling and combining the units.”
Keda’s waterproofing technology was exceptional. Their underwater rescue robots were renowned.
Zou Pan turned around: “CEO Cheng, waterproofing and mudslide resistance are different concepts.”
“Keda has its own proprietary technology. It’s not as simple as it seems,” Cheng Liu said, scrolling through the documents on her tablet. “Given the circumstances, we just need the rescue robots to function, not be perfect. Don’t worry about damaging these units.”
The project manager, driving, was shocked. CEO Cheng truly had no qualms about wasting resources. These robots were expensive. If they were all damaged…
“CEO Cheng, will Z Province be compensating us?” the project manager asked softly.
“I didn't ask, and I don't need compensation,” Cheng Liu said, turning the page on her tablet. “Consider it a learning experience.”
This was a rare opportunity to interact directly with Keda Technology. If they gained anything from it, the cost wouldn’t matter.
They arrived at the airport and met Feng Shi’s team. There were quite a few of them, at least seven.
Feng Shi led Cheng Liu and her team towards the plane: “There are a few engineers in Z Province who were previously in charge of training personnel on the military rescue robots. I’ve contacted them. Communication is unstable in the earthquake zone. The roads are blocked, impassable. They’re clearing a path now. We’ll be taking helicopters once we get there.”
Cheng Liu made a mental note. Just as she boarded the plane, her phone vibrated. She sat down before checking the message. It was from Ji Chaozhou.
Several photos of maps, maps of the affected areas, heavily creased, covered in pen marks, the ink faded and smudged, clearly old.
Ji Chaozhou: [Paper maps from the fleet. They used them before.]
Before the advent of digital maps, experienced drivers relied on these, marking newly discovered routes.
A smile appeared on Cheng Liu’s face. Ji Chaozhou had specifically found these maps for her.
—He cared about her.
“What are you smiling about?” Feng Shi, having just finished making arrangements, walking past Cheng Liu, saw her smile. “Good news?”
He Bai, next to Cheng Liu, glanced at her, the smile still lingering on her face, then, following her gaze, saw the contact name on her phone screen.
Ji Chaozhou again?
But, strangely, He Bai didn't feel jealous. Ji Chaozhou might be wonderful, but he wasn’t here with Cheng Liu.
It was he, He Bai, who was with her in this dangerous situation.
“Received a few maps. They might be useful,” Cheng Liu said, sending the photos to her team and to Feng Shi. “Please share them with the others.”
Feng Shi, zooming in on the photos, surprised: “Where did you get these?”
“My boyfriend gave them to me,” Cheng Liu said shamelessly. Since Chaozhou wasn’t here, he was her boyfriend.
He Bai’s fingers unconsciously tightened around his tablet. Were they…officially together?
“But these maps are six or seven years old,” Feng Shi said, after forwarding the photos. “Road conditions change. They might not be accurate.”
“Better to have them than not,” Cheng Liu said, opening the map photos and studying them as the plane took off.
…
Two hours later, they arrived at the airport, quickly transferring to helicopters. The rescue robots were packed into crates and suspended from a transport helicopter.
“We can’t transport everything at once. The robots will be delivered in batches,” Feng Shi said to Cheng Liu.
With all roads blocked, impassable, helicopters were their only option.
As they flew towards the disaster zone, they saw other helicopters coming and going, medical helicopters and others transporting soldiers and rescue teams.
Cheng Liu looked out the window, seeing a team clearing a path below.
“I didn’t expect you to come personally,” Feng Shi said, turning to Cheng Liu.
“You’re here too,” Cheng Liu said casually.
Feng Shi gave a wry smile: “I’m alone. Besides, the Z Province officials wanted me here, to ensure Keda’s full commitment to the rescue efforts.”
Entering the disaster zone carried risks.
“It’s just helping out,” Cheng Liu said, watching the small figures on the ground grow smaller. “If they can come, so can I.”
An hour later, the helicopter landed at the designated drop-off point, unloading the personnel and robots before flying back.
The drop-off point was a bustling hub, with rescue teams coming and going, military and civilian vehicles parked nearby.
The rain continued, the sky a gloomy gray, seemingly endless.
“The robots are loaded onto military transport vehicles. Follow us,” Feng Shi said, leading everyone onto a bus after making arrangements. There were also a group of doctors on board.
As they approached the disaster zone, the atmosphere grew more serious.
The Keda and Shenyin teams discussed their plan for combining the robots. They had already gone over it on the plane, but they hadn't reached a definitive solution.
Cheng Liu, not as familiar with rescue robot development as Zou Pan, didn't participate in the discussion.
The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes.
He Bai, standing up and holding onto a seat, said to Cheng Liu, “The road might be blocked.”
As they rounded a bend, they saw a large pile of rocks blocking their path.
Several vehicles skillfully detoured, taking another route.
Cheng Liu, having nothing to do, looked out the window, comparing the route with the map photos on her phone.
The disaster zone was in ruins, making it difficult to pinpoint their location. But as they passed a collapsed tower, she recognized it.
It was a landmark, marked on the map.
“They’ve been in and out of this area many times. They should know what they’re doing,” He Bai said to Cheng Liu. “Don’t worry too much, CEO Cheng.”
“Just observing,” Cheng Liu said. Apart from her pursuit of Ji Chaozhou, she always liked having a backup plan.
Given the unpredictable situation in the disaster zone, knowing more couldn’t hurt.
Besides, Chaozhou had specifically found those maps for her.
“How’s communication?” Cheng Liu asked Feng Shi.
“Intermittent, but it should be restored soon,” Feng Shi said. Just as he finished speaking, the ground shook violently, the bus swaying precariously.
Suddenly, someone in the front military vehicle waved a red flag, shouting, “Reverse! Everyone reverse!”
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