Secretary Du hoped Shen Zizhen would go but worried about her safety if she did.
Shen Zizhen was a renowned scientist from the capital, and the provincial government attached great importance to her. If anything happened to Shen Zizhen due to her own reasons, she would be held accountable.
Especially since Shen Zizhen was also bringing a young girl with her, Secretary Du was even more concerned.
Thinking of Su Xiaotian, Secretary Du couldn't help but glance at the young girl again.
Such a young girl, wouldn't a gust of wind blow her away?
However, when he turned his head back, he saw Su Xiaotian walking with firm steps.
Such resolute steps were completely different from Su Xiaotian's delicate appearance.
Secretary Du suddenly began to believe that this young girl, Su Xiaotian, might truly be as Shen Zizhen and Su Sangong had said, not only not a burden but also helpful. Sudanshuwang.
Secretary Du, feeling more at ease, quickened his pace slightly.
The distance from the dike to Secretary Du's house was not short.
In the wind and rain, the group could not walk fast at all.
By the time they reached the dike, half an hour had passed.
Since the heavy rain continued, the sky was about to turn completely dark.
There were already quite a few people on the dike, some of whom had brought flashlights.
Although it was getting late, the dike was not completely invisible.
"Secretary Du, there are quite a few people here," Shen Zizhen said.
He had been worried that the dike might not hold, but now, seeing so many people who had voluntarily come to the dike, Shen Zizhen's anxious heart was slightly relieved.
"Everyone knows the situation, but this heavy rain shows no sign of stopping, and the sky is getting darker."
Natural disasters, coupled with the night, made repairing this dike even more difficult.
Secretary Du was still very worried.
Secretary Du and Shen Zizhen spoke loudly to each other, while Su Xiaotian carefully observed the dike.
This dike was very narrow, only about two meters wide.
If it were a normal riverside dike, about two meters would be barely manageable.
It wouldn't be destroyed by a downpour.
But the problem was that this dike was built at a bend in the river channel, and the river's erosion of the dike was continuous.
Especially with the heavy rain, the water volume had increased, and the flow speed had become even faster.
Waves were directly hitting the dike.
Su Xiaotian suspected that the rapid river water was washing away a portion of the dike's sand and gravel with each surge.
At this rate, the dike would soon be washed away as silt.
The heavy rain posed a significant test for this dike.
"Secretary Du, can you tell me what the current problems with this dike are?"
Su Xiaotian had already made some guesses but still asked Secretary Du.
Secretary Du was somewhat surprised by Su Xiaotian's question.
His initial thought was that if anyone could identify the problems, it would be Shen Zizhen. Why was it this young girl, Su Xiaotian?
"Comrade Xiaotian, the weakest point of this dike is this section."
Secretary Du pointed to a section of the dike.
"This dike was originally four meters wide and was built four or five years ago. Starting last year, people from the river management office noticed that the dike was gradually narrowing. At the time, no one paid much attention. Who knew that starting this spring, the dike narrowed at an increasingly rapid pace? Now, the original four-meter-wide dike is only two meters wide."
Secretary Du regretted not requesting assistance from the county earlier to repair this dike.
They had misjudged the situation, thinking that the rate of dike damage was not so fast.
Su Xiaotian frowned. If what Secretary Du said was true, she had reason to suspect that the dike might be even more severely damaged than it appeared.
Perhaps, in some places beneath their feet, it had already been hollowed out by the water, and who knew.
Although Shen Zizhen and the others were not specialized in hydrology and water conservancy, they were experienced people.
After listening to Secretary Du's words, Shen Zizhen also frowned.
"Secretary Du, the situation might be more serious than we thought."
What situation?
More serious than thought? Doesn't that mean this dike might not be saved?
Will it collapse tonight?
"Are there any people who are good swimmers? Arrange for someone to go down and check. I suspect the situation below the dike is even more unfavorable."
Su Xiaotian decided not to be indirect. This was not the time for subtlety; it was best to speak frankly.
"You mean?" Secretary Du was startled by these words.
If the situation below the dike was even worse, wouldn't that mean the spot where they were standing...
Secretary Du dared not think further.
"First, evacuate the people around. Try to have fewer people standing on the dike," Shen Zizhen also said.
Although Secretary Du was the secretary, the situation here was complex. Most of the people here were not from the township he was in charge of.
His role as secretary here was not very significant.
But fortunately, he was from this local area.
Seeing a familiar young man, he quickly called out, "Er Danzi, quickly find your village's Party branch secretary. I'll wait for him ahead. If you see village cadres from other villages, ask them to come over as well. I need to discuss something with them."
"Secretary Du, I just saw Mayor Liang. Our village Party branch secretary and village head are with him."
Er Danzi wiped the rain off his face before realizing it was Secretary Du and quickly explained his situation.
"I'll go find them. You quickly look for village cadres from other villages and ask everyone to gather to discuss a plan for repairing the dike."
Secretary Du briefly instructed Er Danzi and then walked in the direction Er Danzi had indicated. After taking a couple of steps, he remembered he had brought a few people with him.
"Teacher Shen, would you like to find a place to rest first?"
"If it's convenient, I'll follow you to take a look. Do you think it's okay?"
Since Shen Zizhen had come, she had no intention of resting.
The problem with this dike was much more serious than expected, and it might collapse completely at any moment.
At this time, even if she were asked to rest, she would not be at ease. It would be better to help offer some suggestions.
One more person meant one more strength!
"These two young comrades!" Secretary Du asked.
"Teacher, let's all go," Su Sangong quickly offered to go with them.
The group soon found Mayor Liang. When Mayor Liang saw that Secretary Du had brought Shen Zizhen and the others to the dike, he was surprised.
"Old Du, why did you bring them all here?"
Wasn't this just causing trouble?
People who understood how to research grain seeds might not necessarily be able to help at this time.
Mayor Liang understood the principle of specialization.
"