Chapter 140 –Rescue! (1/2)
Dong Xuebing immediately used all 7 BACKs without hesitation. These were all the BACKs he saved over the past few days.
“Why is the bus not here yet? Is there a traffic jam?”
“Who knows? I think 2 buses will arrive together later. We should be able to find a seat later.”
The traffic on the road was heavy, and many people at the bus stop were complaining about their wait for the buses. This was precisely 7 minutes ago. Dong Xuebing was thinking about many things. He saw Xie Huilan not too long ago when he was having lunch. Qiaobei’s river was not too far away, and that little girl should have just fallen into the river now. There’s still time!
Dong Xuebing immediately took out his phone can call Xie Huilan.
Ring…… ring…… ring…… ring……
Please answer…… Quick…… Don’t go into the water……
Xie Huilan did not answer his call. The phone had rung for quite long, but no one was answering. Shit! Shit! Shit! Sister Xie must have thrown her phone by the riverbank and entered the water to save that girl. No……. Maybe she saw that girl fell into the water from afar and was rushing to save her. That’s why she did not answer her phone.
What should I do? What should I do?
Dong Xuebing almost threw his phone on the floor from his anxiousness.
No. I cannot let Sister Xie die. I must save her!
Although Dong Xuebing did not want to face it, deep in his heart, he lusts after Xie Huilan. This had nothing to do with or without Aunt Xuan. All men have lusts. That’s why when Dong Xuebing heard that Xie Huilan will be leaving this world soon, he lost his mind. He could not keep calm. He started running towards the direction of the river while calling Xie Huilan again.
Ring……. Ring…… ring…… No one was answering.
F**k! Dong Xuebing cursed and ran as fast as he could towards the East.
Wait for me. I will be there soon. Hang on!
Dong Xuebing did not know he could reach in time. What he could do now was to run as fast as possible. 50m…… 100m…… 200m…… 300m…… Suddenly, the word ‘seaweeds’ appeared in his mind. That old man mentioned that all the onlookers did not enter the water to save Sister Xie was because of the seaweeds. Even if Dong Xuebing reaches there in time, he also could not save her. He might also be drowned. He immediately looked around and saw a small general store nearby. He dashed into the store.
“Boss!” Dong Xuebing threw a 100 RMB bill on the counter. “Give me a knife!”
That boss was shocked and did not move.
Dong Xuebing had no time to waste. He took out his work pass and slams it on the counter. “Police! Give me a knife!”
That boss saw Dong Xuebing’s identification card and quickly took out a fruit knife from under the counter. There was still a piece of apple peel on it. “We do not sell knives here. This is for our own use. You……”
Dong Xuebing grabbed his work pass and the small knife and ran out. He continued to run towards the river.
After making a turn into a corner, Dong Xuebing continued running forward. There were rows of houses by the side. The main road outside was bustling, but this place was formerly a village and was quite secluded. That small river on the east was not well maintained. There were all sorts of rubbish and was full of seaweeds. Sister Xie should be passing by that area to get to the food street on the opposite bank. Dong Xuebing quickly estimates the location where Xie Huilan drowned and planned the route in his mind.
I must get there in time!
500m…… 600m…… 700m……
Almost 3 minutes had passed. In another 3 minutes, that old man will be calling him to notify him about Xie Huilan’s death.
Hurry up! Dong Xuebing, why are you so slow? Run faster!
3 minutes and 15 seconds……
3 minutes and 30 seconds……
Suddenly Dong Xuebing could see the end of the row of houses. Dong Xuebing had gone to the food street here several times during his university’s days. He had walked on this route before and knew after these houses, he will reach the river. He used all his strength to run faster.
5 steps…….
10 steps……
15 steps……
20 steps……
Dong Xuebing finally got out of the alleyway.
He looked at the river. Where? Where is Xie Huilan?
The river was not frozen and was still flowing. At about 50 meters away, a young girl, covered in water, was lying by the riverbank coughing. There were 3 to 5 middle-aged men and an old man shouting towards the river anxiously. One of the men had one leg in the water and was poking around the water with a bamboo stick.
That’s the place!
Dong Xuebing could feel his blood rushing to his head and shouted: “Move aside!”
The people at the riverbank stopped moving and looked at Dong Xuebing, who was running towards them. “Young man, what are you doing? There are lots of seaweeds in the river. You will die if you enter the water.”
The man was using the bamboo pole to poke around in the water while shouting: “Grab onto the pole, quick!”
Dong Xuebing had reached those people. “Take that pole away and get out of my way!” Before all of them could react, Dong Xuebing had jumped into the water with his coat and shoes on. Everyone by the riverbank was shocked. That middle-aged man quickly moves aside with his pole. He shouted to Dong Xuebing that it’s dangerous in the water. But Dong Xuebing could no longer hear him.
Cold. The water was piercing cold!
The water was smelly, but it was not cloudy. Seaweeds had covered the bottom of the river.
Both Dong Xuebing’s legs landed into the seaweeds the moment he jumped in. But luckily, he reacted fast and tuck his legs up, preventing his legs from getting entangled in the seaweeds. He opened his eyes and ignored the stinging pain to search for Xie Huilan. He turned to his left, right, bottom…….
There she is!!!!
Dong Xuebing saw Xie Huilan 2 meters diagonally bottom from him. Her face was pale, and her lips had turned purple. Her long hair was messy, and her eyes were shut. She was no longer moving and seems to have lost consciousness. Dong Xuebing’s heart skipped a beat. I’m late? Am I too late? But Dong Xuebing had no time to waste. He swam towards her while praying in his heart. Sister Xie, you must not die. Hang on for a while more. I will bring you back to shore…….
Dong Xuebing, who had been sprinting all the way here, had used up all his stamina. What was supporting him was his determination to save Xie Huilan.
1 meter……
2 meters…….
Dong Xuebing swam over and grabbed Xie Huilan by her waist with his left hand. He started kicking and used his right hand to try to swim to the surface. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not pull Xie Huilan up. He looked down and saw a bunch of black colored seaweeds entangled on her right leg. Damn! Dong Xuebing quickly dived and took out the fruit knife to cut away the seaweeds on her leg.
The seaweeds were cut.
But just when Dong Xuebing was about to swim towards the shore, he felt something pulling him by his leg. One of his legs got entangled by the seaweed. The more he struggled, the tighter he got trapped. He could feel he was nearing his death. He had no more strength and could not hold his breath any longer.
Will I die here?
Dong Xuebing had used all his BACKs and had no other options. He gritted his teeth and summoned the last of his strength to cut the seaweeds on his leg.
Hang on for a while more……
Dong Xuebing kept telling himself to hang on for a while more, while he swam towards the surface with Xie Huilan’’s lifeless body in his arms.
1.5m to the surface……
1m to the surface……
0.5m more……
Har!!!! Dong Xuebing finally got to the surface and was gasping for air.
Alive! I am still alive.
Dong Xuebing turned and looked at Xie Huilan. He quickly swims towards the shore.
The people by the riverbank were stunned by Dong Xuebing’s bravery. No one ever expects Dong Xuebing to carry a fruit knife with him.
“How is the girl?”
“Save her! Save her quick! Is she still alive?”
The tired Dong Xuebing carried Xie Huilan onto the riverbank and lay her flat on the ground. He checked her breathing. 1 second, 2 seconds…… Dong Xuebing was shocked. He quickly checks her pulse. 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds…… Dong Xuebing was silent as he looked at Xie Huilan’s pale face.
No breathing and no pulse. Sister Xie is dead……
Dead? She is gone? I still did not get here on time?
The onlookers could tell from Dong Xuebing’s expression. Some of them sighed while others looked away.
Suddenly, the young girl, which Xie Huilan saved, shouted: “My teacher says you should do CPR during times like this. Hurry up and save her!”
Yes! That’s right! CPR!
There’s still a glimmer of hope left. Dong Xuebing immediately straddled Xie Huilan and start doing chest compressions. 1 press, 2 press, 3 press…… water began to flow out of her mouth. Dong Xuebing lowered his head. He hesitated for a moment and start blowing air into her mouth. 1 blow, 2 blows, 3 blows…… he got up and start the chest compressions again.
“Sister Xie, open your eyes! Don’t die!”
1 press, 2 press, 3 press……
1 blow, 2 blows, 3 blows……
“Xie Huilan! Wake up! Do you hear me? Wake up now!”
After a few cycles, Xie Huilan was still lying there motionlessly.
An old man sighed and said: “Young man, you know this lady? I think you should contact her family.”
That little girl started crying. All the bystanders felt there was no way for Xie Huilan to return to life.
Dong Xuebing was furious when he heard this. “Contact her family? Who the f**k says she is dead? Ah?!” Whenever Dong Xuebing got agitated, he will start swearing. This was Beijing natives’ character. No matter whether if it is a quiet and shy woman or a little girl, they will curse. “Wake up now! Xie Huilan! Wake up!”
After some chest compressions, Dong Xuebing gave a few blows into her mouth again……
“Cough, cough……” It was a coughing sound.
Dong Xuebing felt Xie Huilan vomiting the river water into his mouth.
“Ah! She’s coughing!”
“She is still alive! She is alive!”
“Miss……”
Dong Xuebing’s eyes were all red and continued with the chest compressions. He had revived Sister Xie.
Not long after, Xie Huilan vomited out more water and looked around her. She smiled weakly and asked: “What happened to me?”
Dong Xuebing stopped the CPR: “You still can smile? Do you know you almost died?”
Xie Huilan rubbed her face and suddenly remembered something: “How is the kid?”
“You saved her.” Dong Xuebing got off from Xie Huilan. “Just lay there. That little girl is fine.”
“Aunty…… I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”
Xie Huilan smiled and nodded. But she was frail. She asked softly: “Xiao Dong, why are you here? I remembered I got entangled in the seaweeds. Cough…….” Xie Huilan coughed a few times. “I remembered I got not pull the seaweed off me, no matter how I tried. Cough…… Why am I still alive?”
Dong Xuebing was full of respect for Xie Huilan. She could still be so calm and think logically after she was almost drowned. “I just happen to pass by.”
“Young lady……” The old man said. “You are fortunate to meet this young man. We tried to save you from the riverbank, but everywhere is seaweeds, and none of us dare to enter the water. This young man ran over from a distance and jumped into the water without any hesitation. We were all shocked. We thought he will be…… but who knows he had a fruit knife with him and used it to save you. But after he dragged you to shore, you have no heartbeats, and we thought you are gone. But this young man did not give up and performed CPR until you wake up.”
Another man added: “You own him your life.”