Wang Yu is their benefactor? A life-saving benefactor?
Everyone was stunned, and the media people's mouths were wide open, almost swallowing their tongues.
The contrast between before and after was too great!
Weren't they just portraying him as incompetent, stingy, irresponsible, and morally corrupt? How did he suddenly become everyone's benefactor?
And all by himself? How could he have saved so many people? Was this a joke?
However, no matter how disbelieving these media professionals were, the sight of so many people kneeling on the ground was an undeniable fact!
"Thanks to Director Wang!" a forty-something uncle in the crowd said emotionally. "I was pinned under the floorboards back then. I don't know how long I was in a daze. Just when I thought I was going to die, someone rescued me.
I only found out later that it was past midnight, and it was pitch black. If Director Wang hadn't personally worked through the night to repair and restore power, the rescue workers would never have found me, trapped in that forgotten corner!"
He ended up with thirteen stitches on his head, but his life was saved!"
As he spoke, the uncle showed everyone the bandage wrapped around his forehead, clearly indicating a serious and severe injury.
"That's right, my wife was also trapped in a gap in the wall, with heavy bricks pressing her down. In a complete blackout, she couldn't have been rescued by manual labor alone. It was only thanks to our benefactor's timely restoration of power that the rescue team used a pneumatic drill to break through the bricks pinning her down, and then she was saved."
Another young man wearing glasses echoed, "She's still in critical condition and can't leave the hospital, so she asked me to express her gratitude to our benefactor no matter what!"
"That's right, me too..."
"Yeah, yeah!"
People in the crowd chimed in, some even sobbing with emotion.
Only when facing natural disasters head-on did humans realize how insignificant they were.
Every single one of these people had been rescued from areas where Wang Yu had toiled through the night, restoring power with modified fuel generators.
The importance of power and light provided at such a critical moment in the dead of night was immeasurable for rescue efforts!
Not to mention the trucks and fuel-powered scooters that Wang Yu brought, which helped transport debris and supplies, alleviating the immediate crisis!
"Please, don't do this. I just did what I should have done. The real hard work was done by the rescue personnel!" Wang Yu quickly said, trying to get everyone to stand up.
Being kneeled to like this made him very uncomfortable, especially seeing some elderly people among them.
Wang Yu supported the foremost elder, who was leaning on a cane, trying to help him up.
"Sir, please stand up. At your age, you could be my grandfather. I cannot accept such a deep bow from you!"
Wang Yu tried to pull the elder up, but the elder's grip was surprisingly strong. He pressed down on Wang Yu's arm, preventing him from being pulled up.
"Young man, you're right about my age. I could indeed be your grandfather. But no matter what, you must accept this bow from me."
The elder shook his head stubbornly. "I've lived long enough. If I die, I die. But my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson – a family of three – would not have been rescued if you hadn't restored the power and provided searchlights back then. We almost sent the older generation to mourn the younger!"
For this reason alone, you deserve this bow! If you don't accept it, this old man will not get up today!"
The elder's words were resolute. Although they lacked the grand and passionate rhetoric of Fang Zhongtian, they were more sincere and simple.
"This... didn't the Metallurgical General Plant restore the power?"
The media personnel were completely shocked by the scene. Some quick-witted individuals began to liberally use their film, taking frantic pictures.
That's right, photography back then still relied on film, and each roll was not cheap!
Then, someone, it was unclear who, suddenly asked this question.
Indeed! For days, everyone had been interviewing and reporting on Fang Zhongtian, the head of the Metallurgical General Plant, who was at the forefront of disaster relief. Didn't he work tirelessly day and night to restore power to the most affected areas?
Why had it suddenly shifted to someone else?
"Liars! All of you are liars!"
Fang Zhongtian suddenly let out a hysterical roar. He had naturally noticed the shift in everyone's gazes and expressions, and he bellowed angrily,
"You all saw my hard work, but what about him, Wang Yu? No one saw him do anything!" Fang Zhongtian pointed at Wang Yu and shouted, then his gaze swept over the surrounding crowd.
"And now, to claim credit, you've hired so many impostors to put on a show. How despicable!"
Fang Zhongtian's words immediately made people half-believe and half-doubt.
It seemed to make sense! For days, they had only seen the people from their Metallurgical General Plant working tirelessly in every corner.
And the people from the so-called automobile factory were nowhere to be seen.
Could they really be paid actors? Then this person was too much of a glory seeker!
"The reason you didn't see little brother Wang do anything is because he had already finished before you all arrived."
Lin Chunfeng stepped forward from the crowd and said to everyone, "Little brother Wang rushed here on the very night of the earthquake and began rescue efforts throughout the night without any sleep! I can vouch for this!
As for you all, you only arrived the next day, after he had already completed all his work, to pick up the scraps and clean up!"
"And who do you think you are? You claim to vouch for him?" Fang Zhongtian roared and spat at Lin Chunfeng, his posture like a wild dog whose territory had been invaded.
"You're all just impostors putting on a show!"
"Heh heh, you're from the Metallurgical General Plant, aren't you?"
Despite Fang Zhongtian's angry insults, Lin Chunfeng remained unperturbed and calmly asked.
"That's right! I am from the Metallurgical General Plant! And we were the first to arrive and rescue everyone in this disaster!" Fang Zhongtian stated without reservation.
"Oh? Is that so? Then when did you arrive? In which area did you conduct your rescue operations? Who was the person in charge of coordinating the rescue efforts in that area?" Lin Chunfeng asked very calmly.
"I... What business is it of yours?" Fang Zhongtian stammered slightly, then pointed at Lin Chunfeng, "Who is this nobody trying to act all important here? Why should I report to you?"
"On what grounds?"
Lin Chunfeng smiled faintly and unhurriedly took out a small notebook from his pocket.
"On the grounds that I am the newly appointed city administrator of Jianglin City, transferred here last week."