Once We Lived in Nanjing

"If all the government officials were as efficient as you guys..." Bai Zhen muttered.

"Then I'd be worked to death," Wang Ning said.

Bai Zhen suddenly remembered that Old Wang was also a government official, a division-level cadre, no less. However, Bai Zhen has always deemed Old Wang a prime example of wasting taxpayers' money and dragging the country down. He said it's because there are too many people like Old Wang that Su Bei can't catch up with the development in Southern Jiangsu.

Old Wang said that Nanjing was a small part of Su Bei.

"Actually, there's still a lot of work that we haven't even started yet. Half a month is just too short," Fan Jiangshu slowly pushed the hard drive across the coffee table towards Bai Zhen, "But we couldn't resist Teacher Zhao's repeated urging to return the radio as soon as possible, so we had no choice but to return it."

"Not being able to get in touch for such a long time carries significant risks," Bai Zhen said, "It would have been even better if it was returned earlier."

"Old Bai, easy for you to say, you don't bear any responsibility, do you know how much pressure I was under? Such a big pile of issues to deal with, and it's not like I'm the one calling the shots. I have leaders above me, and they have their own leaders above them. Do you know how hard I had to work to convince them? So many people wanted to take this radio station for research, who do you think stopped them?" Zhao Bowen smacked the table vigorously, his tone fierce, "Every decision we make could potentially affect the fate of all humanity. Every internal reference and report that I wrote is on record. If history proves me wrong in the end, then I'll be humanity's greatest sinner. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Bai Zhen said.

"You understand shit," Zhao Bowen said.

"Don't fucking swear," Wang Ning reminded, "Both of you dicks mind the occasion."

"Cough cough," Fan Jiangshu cleared his throat, "Let's not fight, everyone. Teacher Zhao has indeed made significant contributions. If it weren't for his leadership and full dedication, the project wouldn't have progressed this fast."

"Our next focus is to analyze the causes of the dark moon's arrival and the forms of the apocalyptic disaster. This is the premise for all subsequent actions. Only by figuring out what will happen in the future can we come up with specific solutions and find a way to solve the problem. Right now, a dedicated team is analyzing BG4MSR's drafts and notes. Meanwhile, you guys need to get BG4MSR to the secret chamber as soon as possible to retrieve the data records," said Chedi Mouse. "The underground chamber in Purple Mountain is called First Base, and the one underneath Lake Mochou is called Second Base. Both bases serve as backups for each other; she just needs to find one to retrieve all the information."

"Are both bases completely finished?" Bai Zhen asked.

Chedi Mouse was taken aback, then nodded.

"Yes, they're finished. The construction team has been working overtime for the past half month, entering the tunnel after the subway stopped running at eleven o'clock at night, and retreating before six o'clock in the morning. The safety doors were just installed yesterday."

"How secure is it?" Wang Ning asked again.

"We've made it as secure as possible within the scope of our abilities," answered Chuan Shan Mouse, Bai Zhen and Wang Ning both presumed he must be in charge of the engineering, based on his appearance and name, "It's triple-protected against nuclear, chemical, and biological threats. The outer shell of the base is a one-meter-thick reinforced concrete structure. We poured in two hundred and sixty tons of cement, extremely sturdy, not even a bomb could blast it open. Plus, we've added a special leaking-proof layer to ensure that it stays watertight for fifty years."

"There is only one passage for entry, only big enough for one person. The safety door is of vault-grade, a thirty-centimeter thick solid steel plate with voice recognition. Once closed, only one person in the whole world can open it," Chuan Shan Mouse continued, "From any perspective, this is the world's safest time capsule. We believe that First Base and Second Base will hold up fine for twenty years."

"So, it's impossible to open it again?" Bai Zhen asked, questioning the group gathered before him, "Including..."

"Including us," Chuan Shan Mouse nodded.

"Extraordinary," Wang Ning applauded.

"How big is this whole operation now?" Bai Zhen inquired.

"I can only speak about what I know. Currently, four expert groups have been formed: one in Nanjing, one in Hangzhou, one in Sichuan, and one in Beijing. The elite from all over the country are in these four groups. Nanjing's group is the most important, with Teacher Zhao serving as the deputy head of that group," Chedi Mouse mentioned, "And you two, Bai and Wang, are also deputy heads."

"Me?"

Wang Ning and Bai Zhen chorused in unison, equally surprised.

"Both of you," Chedi Mouse nodded, "You are the most crucial members of the entire task force. We hope you all can ensure the work progresses without any errors."

"We guarantee to complete the mission," Bai Zhen sat up straight.

"Who is the head?" Wang Ning casually asked.

"The head of each group is also the top local municipal official," Chedi Mouse responded, "to provide the maximum resource support."

Bai Zhen and Wang Ning were taken aback by the high importance.

"Because this is no joke." Zhao Bowen let out a long sigh, "This is a war, old pals, and it's about to break out."

Bai Yang carefully aligned the Icom725 radio set, placing it back exactly where it was, its four feet pressing down into the impressions on the shelf just like before. Bai Yang strived for it to be completely restored to its original state, and so did Zhao Bowen; from the outside, Bai Yang could not tell that it had been taken away for meticulous research and analysis. Although people had put the very core of this radio under the microscope three times over, they did not overlook any detail in its reassembly, getting the number of turns of each screw just right.

After half a month, Bai Yang felt somewhat dazed as he touched the familiar Icom725 radio again.

He had thought it would never return.

Its return, like its departure, came without warning.

Bai Yang slowly restored it to the form he knew so well, connected the power supply, inserted the hand microphone, connected the antenna tuner, put on the headphones—all calmly and methodically. Strangely, he didn't feel anxious; he knew that it had been half a month since he last contacted that girl. Maybe she wouldn't be on the channel tonight, perhaps during those days, BG4MSR had given up looking for him, maybe the girl no longer believed he would come back. He hadn't even thought about what he would say later. What should he say?

It's been a long time?

Are you well?

How are you?

Bai Yang's mind was a blank.

With a soft click, Bai Yang pressed the power button, and the Icom725 radio's yellow LCD screen lit up, the frequency showing 28.350MHz, with boundless electronic noise filling the headphones.

Bai Yang then twisted the tuning knob, the numbers on the LCD screen jumping.

28.325MHz.

28.320MHz.

28.100MHz.

25.425MHz.

The frequency was drawing closer bit by bit. In the invisible world of electromagnetic waves, Bai Yang trudged along, step by step closer to that girl.

15.420MHz.

14.875MHz.

14.300MHz.

At the doorstep.

Bai Yang gathered his courage to knock, turning the knob one last time, the frequency jumped.

14.255MHz.

He had returned.

At the moment he pushed open the door, he heard the girl's soft sobs reverberating in the room:

"Are you still there? If you are, please don't ignore me, I beg you… Save me, please, save me…"