novelslam Chapter 90 Ants flee, snakes and rats emerge from their holes
Chapter 90 Ants flee, snakes and rats emerge from their holes
Chapter 89 Ants flee, snakes and rats emerge from their holes
The torrential rain that had lasted for four days and four nights finally subsided a bit. Although the sky was still overcast with dark clouds, at least the rain had stopped, and Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
In the past few days, water supply centers in various townships have frequently reported various water disasters, including water towers collapsing, riverbeds being flooded, bridge piers being destroyed, and water pipes bursting.
Taking advantage of a break in the rain, Lin Chen and Chen Ya went to the four major water plants of Linshan, Bailu, Huoji, and Heshan, as well as the Wushan water station, to inspect the flood prevention situation.
In Lin Chen's view, water plants and water stations are the lifeline of Suicheng's water supply. As long as these are stable, even if there are some minor problems with the other tributary reservoirs and water storage ponds, they will not cause any major issues.
The scene along the way was shocking. The trees along the roadside were bent and twisted by the rain, and the ground was covered with broken branches and fallen leaves soaked in puddles, sticking to the road surface.
As they drove towards the towns, they encountered several landslides, with piles of yellow mud mixed with rubble forming high mounds. The roads were not cleared for the time being, so vehicles had to take a long detour with great care. Even Lin Chen, who was used to traveling in towns, was shaken and felt uncomfortable, while Chen Ya practically jumped out of her seat like a rabbit.
Our first stop was Linshan Water Plant, the oldest water plant in Sui County. The plant area is not large, but the terrain is raised very high. The current water level is not yet half full, so the flood risk is not high. The inspection was relatively easy. Lin Chen just gave instructions to strengthen patrols and reinforce the slope.
Factory Director Xin saw that Lin Chen and Chen Ya had relaxed, so he came over to tease them.
"Commissioner Lin, you've really made a name for yourself lately, becoming a true professional inspector."
Lin Chen shook his head helplessly: "There's nothing I can do, I'm just unlucky to have this kind of trouble happen to me."
"It's not that you're unlucky," Director Xin said with a smile, his words tinged with a hint of teasing. "Now you're comparable to the imperial envoys of the past, wielding real power. Who wouldn't be afraid of you? We all depend on you for our livelihood."
"It's not me holding a big knife, it's clearly a knife hanging over my head, I don't know when it will fall." Lin Chen's tone became serious.
Factory Director Xin laughed and said, "Even if there is an accident, you are still fulfilling your duties in the line of duty, and you should be posthumously awarded the title of First-Class Hero."
"Director Xin, you'd better have some good wishes for me," Lin Chen rolled his eyes and said half-jokingly, "I'm still waiting for a promotion and a raise, to marry a beautiful wife and enjoy a life of leisure."
Factory Director Xin glanced at Chen Ya and winked, "Director Lin, you have such a beautiful woman right beside you, yet you don't know how to cherish her. What a waste!"
There was something indescribable in Chen Ya's eyes; it was impossible to tell what it was, but she walked away.
Lin Chen thought to himself, "Why does everyone around me look at me like that? Is Chen Ya really that great, that everyone wants to set her up with me?"
So what if you have a good figure and good looks? But if you're constantly being urged to improve, you'll get annoyed too.
We arrived at Bailu Water Plant again. The water level there is quite high, almost at the warning line. If it continues to rain, it could be dangerous.
Lin Chen immediately approached Factory Director Mao, his tone serious: "We must take this seriously. We need to prepare for flood discharge and pressure relief in advance, and the dikes must be reinforced as soon as possible. We can't wait until the alarm sounds and everyone panics."
Director Mao, however, didn't seem to care and waved his hand dismissively: "It's alright, Director Lin, you're worrying unnecessarily. Remember that flood five years ago? The Heshan Water Plant was flooded, but we were completely unaffected. This water level is nothing."
"Just because nothing happened five years ago doesn't mean we can be lucky this time," Lin Chen's face turned cold. "Flood prevention allows no room for carelessness, and we cannot afford to be complacent."
"Master Lin, that's not very helpful. According to you, we should just stay by the water plant every day and not move an inch?" Director Mao's tone became sharp, with a hint of perfunctoriness.
Lin Chen's eyes sharpened, and his tone was as hard as iron: "Whether it's interesting or not, you have to do it. It's your duty."
"If you don't want to do it, just tell me, and I'll have Director Song find someone else to take over."
Factory Director Mao stood there, his disdain frozen, and after a long while he didn't dare to say another word. He turned around and went to arrange things.
Lin Chen knew that his aggressive attitude must have looked terrible, but he couldn't help it.
Everyone looks out for themselves; heaven and earth will punish them.
In this position, sometimes being a little selfish is the key to survival.
Moreover, this is not a trivial matter, but a major one, a matter of great importance concerning the interests of the masses.
Chen Ya hadn't expected Lin Chen to be so firm. Seeing his tense expression, she couldn't help but reassure him, "It doesn't look too bad here. Although the water level is high, the dikes are well-built. There's no need to be so nervous."
"Who can guarantee anything?" Lin Chen shook his head. "It's better to be safe than sorry."
The original plan was to go to Huoji Water Plant as the third stop, but they encountered a landslide halfway there, which completely blocked the road and made it impossible for vehicles to drive up. The two had to change their route and head straight to Heshan Water Plant.
Upon arrival, Lin Chen and Chen Ya both frowned; the situation here was far more serious than they had imagined.
The reservoir was full, reaching the shore. A layer of firewood and branches floated on the murky water, along with strange white foam. Mixed in were pillows, clothes, and even several bloated animal carcasses that had been washed ashore. The stench wafted in on the wind, making one's stomach churn.
Lin Chen quickly found Li Kai, the station manager of Heshan Water Plant, pointed to the water and said in a deep voice, "This situation is far from optimistic. If there is another heavy rain, the water level will rise a little more and it will overflow. There are many communities around, which is very dangerous. We must take emergency measures immediately."
Having experienced the previous drought, Li Kai looked anxious and shook his head with a bitter expression: "Director Lin, there's nothing I can do. I've done everything I can. All the outlets are open, and the pumps are running at full capacity, but the water level is still rising. There's nothing I can do."
Lin Chen squatted on the bank and watched for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Logically speaking, the rain has stopped, and the water level shouldn't be rising so fast, why is it still bubbling up?"
Li Kai: "I don't know about that. All the gates that can be opened are opened to the maximum, and all the water pumps that can be operated are running at full capacity."
Lin Chen thought for a moment: "Immediately send people to inspect the water outlet and dredge some of the drainage ditches outside the water plant. It looks like something is blocking it."
Li Kai: "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."
Sure enough, the water outlet of the water plant was blocked by a large tree with a lot of garbage hanging on it, blocking half of the outlet. The drainage ditch outside was also full of silt and garbage, so the water could not drain away at all. After some dredging, the water level slowly dropped a little.
The last stop Lin Chen and Chen Ya inspected today was the Wushan Water Station.
Wushan Water Station truly deserves its reputation as a benchmark water station in the province. The size of this water station is astonishing; its water storage area alone is equivalent to the total area of the other four water plants in Suicheng.
So even with torrential rain for days on end, it was impossible to fill the entire reservoir.
Stationmaster Ma Boyang had dealt with Lin Chen many times and knew that this guy was known for being incorruptible, tough, and not to be fooled in the slightest.
He practically stepped over their shadows as he approached, pounding his chest with a resounding boom: "Director Lin, you can rest assured! We've implemented every single flood control requirement. All the reservoir's inlets and outlets are unobstructed, and the surrounding ditches have been thoroughly cleared. We have personnel monitoring the water level 24 hours a day; there's absolutely no chance of anything going wrong! With this kind of rain, if it stops today, the water level will drop immediately!"
Lin Chen, however, was not so easily appeased. The Wushan Water Station bore the heavy responsibility of supplying half of Suicheng's water supply; a single mishap could affect the entire city, leaving no room for complacency. He didn't respond and walked straight towards the reservoir dam.
It is visible to the naked eye that the water level is indeed not high, just over six meters.
However, the Wushan Water Station is built on the mountainside of Wushan. Normally, the river surface is already full of blue waves, but at this moment, the turbid waves are even more towering, and the rolling torrents are crashing against the dam with a terrifying force.
Lin Chen stood atop the dam, a fierce wind whipping at his face with moisture. Suddenly, a gigantic wave shot into the air, like a raging beast, its gaping maw crashing violently against the thick dam. With a deafening roar, water splashed several meters high. Even the dam beneath their feet trembled slightly. The earth-shattering force sent shivers down the spines of both Lin Chen and Chen Ya behind him.
For some reason, even though the water level was far below the warning line and the water station was operating normally, Lin Chen suddenly recalled the moment when Zeng Huihuang almost slipped and fell off the dam. A strange chill crept up his spine and up his neck, and he subconsciously took half a step back, not daring to stand any further forward.
The riverbed of Wushan is deep, and the dam is so solidly constructed that it seems indestructible. Yet, Lin Chen felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. An inexplicable unease followed him like a shadow, as if some great danger was lurking beneath the calm surface of the water.
"Station Chief Ma, what is the highest water level today?" Lin Chen's voice was even deeper than the wind on the dam.
"The peak this morning reached 6.5 meters, but it has dropped a bit now, to about 6.1 or 6.2 meters," Ma Boyang answered crisply.
Lin Chen's heart tightened: "Immediately organize manpower to reinforce the dike! The wind and waves are too fierce; I'm afraid the dike won't withstand it. Either open the floodgates ahead of time to release the floodwaters and lower the water level to below five meters, or we absolutely cannot take any risks! The Wushan Water Station is a responsibility neither of us can bear!"
Ma Boyang laughed nonchalantly, patting his chest and assuring everyone, "Director Lin, you're just worrying unnecessarily! Our water station is a model project in the province, its quality is so solid it can withstand an 8-magnitude earthquake! The maximum designed water storage capacity is a full ten meters, that's the warning line, it's only five or six meters now, not even a fraction of that, what's the panic?"
Lin Chen was momentarily speechless. He couldn't produce any substantial evidence to prove that the water level was fraught with danger, so he could only say in a deep voice, "The Wushan Water Station is of paramount importance; the higher-ups are keeping a close eye on it. Especially at times like these, we must be extremely vigilant and cannot afford to be careless in the slightest!"
"Director Lin, I'd rather risk my own job than gamble with the lives of millions of people!" Ma Boyang cried out anxiously. "This water level is nothing. Two years ago during the flood season, the water level reached seven meters, and it remained as stable as Mount Tai!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's face instantly darkened, his gaze fixed on the riverbed beneath his feet, his eyes heavy and unyielding.
Chen Ya also reassured him, "Lin Chen, it should be alright. We've taken all the necessary precautions, and the rain looks like it'll stop soon. Even if it rains again, it won't be too heavy. The Wushan flood discharge system is very efficient; there's really no need to be so nervous."
Lin Chen remained silent for a long time, his unease not only failing to dissipate but growing stronger. He turned his head, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Open the sluice gate at the bottom of the reservoir; I need to go down and take a look."
Ma Boyang's expression changed drastically: "Director Lin! You can't do that! The wind and waves are too strong right now, it's too dangerous down there, none of our men dare to go down!"
Chen Ya also became anxious: "Yes, Lin Chen, don't go, it's too risky!"
Lin Chen was well aware of the danger, but the feeling of unease in his heart was like an invisible thread, pulling him tightly. He was destined to have a sleepless night if he didn't see it for himself.
"Open the door, I'll just take a look at the bottom of the dam, I won't go any deeper."
Unable to refuse, Ma Boyang had no choice but to take the key and open the iron gate leading to the bottom of the dam.
The rusty gate was pushed open, and Lin Chen, crouching low, carefully made his way deeper into the reservoir along its edge. Chen Ya, worried about him, followed closely behind.
The further they went, the more violent the wind and waves became. A wave crashed over them, and the icy water instantly soaked their clothes.
As they approached, Lin Chen and Chen Ya realized that the scene before them was so eerily unsettling that it sent chills down their spines.
The high walls and crevices of the dam along the riverbank were now covered with countless red "earthworms," one after another, scrambling upwards as if on a desperate migration. The sight of that scarlet expanse made one's stomach churn.
Chen Ya's face turned deathly pale. She covered her mouth and barely managed to hold back from vomiting.
What's even more chilling is that, besides the earthworms, countless ants and rats were scurrying about in a panic among the piles of rocks on the shore, fleeing in all directions away from the water.
There were even a few brightly colored snakes, their tongues flicking, wriggling their slippery bodies, desperately trying to climb ashore, as if some ferocious beast was chasing them.
Ants flee, snakes and rats migrate, and earthworms emerge from their burrows.
What's going on here?
This shocking scene, with its indescribable eeriness, cast a heavy shadow over Lin Chen's heart.