Chapter 30: The Mission

It was the depth of winter, and the biting north wind cut across Li Yifei’s cheeks like a cold chisel.

He wrapped his coat tighter around himself, traveling between schools of various sizes across Shan County in Shan Province, his eyes a mix of profound exhaustion and unwavering resolve.

On January 2nd, from the first glimmer of dawn until the heavy shroud of night descended upon the earth, his footsteps barely ceased. At every school he visited, he meticulously observed the exterior, structure, and age of the buildings. Upon returning to his hotel, he would then cross-reference relevant materials to verify their construction dates and the types of materials likely used.

By the time he dragged his leaden legs back to his modest hotel room, the night was already deep. He didn't even stop for a hot meal before diving into the pile of documents spread across his desk. Under the dim light, his hunched figure cast a focused, stubborn silhouette against the wall. The cold glow of his laptop screen reflected in his bloodshot eyes as he searched for literature online, pored over geological and architectural charts, categorized the information from each school he visited, and neatly entered it into spreadsheets, occasionally jotting down his own observations and burgeoning concerns in the margins. Outside the window, the bustle of the county town had long since faded, leaving only the persistent clatter of his keyboard and the rustle of turning pages to echo stubbornly until the early hours.

On the morning of January 3rd, before the sky had fully brightened, the faint morning light barely outlined the distant mountains. Li Yifei had already set out, his slightly heavy backpack strapped to his shoulders. Inside were the professional measuring tools he had painstakingly purchased or rented for this trip using his own savings. He hailed a taxi and gave his destination: the mountainous area near Shan County.

In the car, Li Yifei took the initiative to strike up a conversation with the veteran driver. "Sir, you’ve lived in Shan County for many years, haven't you? Could you tell me about the history of this area? Especially regarding the geology—for instance, have there ever been any instances of landslides or shifting mountain slopes?" His tone was earnest, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The driver, a talkative local, kept a steady grip on the steering wheel as he opened up: "Young man, here in Shan County, the mountains are many and the valleys are deep; the terrain is incredibly complex. As for disasters, according to what the elders say and some earlier records, there have indeed been small-scale landslides and shifting soil in certain areas during years with unusually heavy rainfall. I don't know the technical geological details, but people always say the ground beneath this land doesn't seem entirely at rest..."

These words were like a stone thrown into the lake of Li Yifei’s mind, stirring up deep ripples and making him even more desperate to conduct his field survey.

The taxi soon arrived at the foot of the mountain. After paying the fare, Li Yifei took a deep breath of the crisp, earth-scented mountain air, tightened his backpack straps, and set off on foot toward the designated survey area. The mountain paths were far more rugged than he had imagined, choked with thorns and brambles. His coat was torn in several places by sharp branches, and his exposed hands were marked with fine red scratches, yet he remained oblivious, focused solely on identifying his path.

Finally reaching several key observation points, he carefully retrieved his instruments. First, he used a professional soil sampler to collect samples at varying depths, meticulously observing their color, grain composition, and moisture levels. Next, he used a hardness tester to measure the exposed bedrock and surface soil at different parts of the mountain. As the data accumulated, Li Yifei’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

The results showed that the surface soil structure of many mountain slopes was relatively loose, and the bedrock showed a high degree of weathering. The overall stability was concerning, presenting clear risks of potential landslides.

"The situation is not optimistic. It must be recorded in detail," he whispered to himself, quickly pulling out his waterproof notebook to meticulously document the specific location of each measurement point, the geological phenomena observed, and the raw data. He recalled the days spent buried in books on geology and surveying at the university library in the capital; those profound theories were finally transforming into actual power.

After finishing the basic measurements of hardness and soil condition, Li Yifei took out the portable geological detection equipment he had rented through special channels. He strictly followed the operating procedures, carefully selecting suitable positions to set up the instruments, and then, holding his breath, began to collect and analyze signals of deep geological activity.

Time slipped away in the wait, the silence of the mountains seemingly magnified, and Li Yifei’s heart rate quickened involuntarily. About five minutes later, abnormal echo signals began to appear on the device's display. Their intensity and density exceeded the range of normal geological background activity and showed a trend of continuous strengthening.

Li Yifei’s heart sank, and beads of sweat instantly pricked his forehead. "The signs of underground activity are so active..." He felt a wave of intense unease. He knew full well that with current technology, accurately predicting an earthquake was an almost impossible task. What did these abnormal signals he had observed actually signify? And how could he bring them to the attention of the relevant authorities?

He packed up all his equipment swiftly and efficiently and hurried down the mountain, his mind clouded by immense anxiety and a sense of urgency. At the exit of the mountain path, he waited anxiously for passing vehicles. In the biting cold wind, he paced to keep warm, his gaze cast toward the end of the road time and time again.

The wait seemed exceptionally long. Finally, he flagged down a passing taxi. "Sir, go to Dashi Lake! Please, as fast as you can!" Li Yifei said urgently as soon as he got in. Sensing the anxiety in his tone, the driver nodded, pressed the accelerator, and the car sped toward Dashi Lake.

Upon arriving at Dashi Lake, Li Yifei did not delay for a moment and immediately climbed the lake dam. Before him, the broad surface of the lake appeared exceptionally calm under the winter sun, like a giant mirror. Yet, beneath this calm, was there some unknown crisis lurking? He immediately took out his professional hydrological measuring instruments and began to precisely measure the real-time water level, flow velocity, and the minute ripples on the lake's surface.

He moved along the dam, constantly changing observation points to cover a wider area, recording every set of data in detail. Time passed silently during his intense work. As the sun set, it dyed the clouds on the horizon and parts of the lake in a pale, golden red. Li Yifei, however, was completely immersed in his work, unaware of the changing scenery around him, still focused on operating his instruments and recording data.

It was not until dusk had fully gathered and the surrounding objects became blurred that Li Yifei dragged his seemingly drained body back to the hotel. After a quick wash, he sat on the edge of the bed, the scenes and data he had observed throughout the day flashing through his mind like scenes from a film—the loose soil, the abnormal geological signals, the seemingly calm yet turbulent lake... A shadow of a massive disaster seemed close at hand, crushing him until he could hardly breathe.

The most frustrating part was how to effectively relay this heavy warning to those who needed to know and prompt them to take action.

"I cannot give up! I must find a way!" Li Yifei bit his lower lip hard, forcing himself to stay calm. He opened his computer and systematically organized and performed a preliminary analysis of all the data, photographs, and raw notes he had collected in the mountains and at Dashi Lake.

Subsequently, he opened a new document and began drafting a detailed "Briefing on Geological and Hydrological Activity Observations Around Shan County, Shan Province." His gaze became exceptionally sharp, his brows knitted together, and his fingers flew across the keyboard.

The report began with the background and purpose of the field survey, objectively stating the building conditions he had observed at different schools, the data on soil and rock structure measured in the mountains, the characteristics of the deep geological anomaly signals detected, and the measured hydrological parameters such as the water level and flow at Dashi Lake. He emphasized the complexity of the geological structure in the observation area and the potential instability factors, as well as the abnormal points noted during hydrological monitoring. Based on the existing data and his professional knowledge, he prudently proposed suggestions for strengthening regional geological disaster monitoring and early warning, as well as for screening and identifying hazards in important facilities. The entire report strove for rigor and objectivity, speaking through data and facts, avoiding any exaggeration or speculative conclusions.

The room was silent, save for the crisp, rapid clatter of the keyboard echoing within. Li Yifei was completely absorbed in writing the report, forgetting the passage of time. When he finally typed the last period and wearily lifted his head, the gray-white light of dawn was already showing on the horizon outside. A glance at the time in the bottom right corner of the computer screen showed it was past 3:00 AM. Extreme exhaustion washed over him like a tide; he could barely hold on, so he hastily closed his laptop, pulled up the quilt, and fell into a deep sleep.

The day and night of rushing about and high-intensity work had exhausted all his physical and mental strength. It was not just the extreme physical fatigue, but the immense pressure and the heavy burden of responsibility he carried. He had never felt so drained, but he knew clearly in his heart that this was his choice, his duty to those who might face risks on that land, and a guardianship he had to attempt.

The jarring alarm clock rudely dragged Li Yifei from his brief, deep sleep. He struggled to get up, splashed his face with cold water to rouse himself, and quickly packed all his luggage and the most important item—the laptop containing the report and raw data. He checked out and set off on the journey back to the university in the capital.

Sitting on the long-distance bus, the scenery outside the window sped backward. Li Yifei’s mood remained as heavy as a mountain. He did not know how much of an echo his efforts would eventually create, or whether he could buy precious preparation time for the massive test that might be coming. But a voice in his heart was incredibly clear: he must not retreat. He had to do everything in his power to submit this report, which condensed his heart's blood and anxiety, to the institutions and mentors capable of taking action as quickly as possible, making one final, all-out effort to protect lives and minimize loss.