"Try the smallest bomb device. If it works, it will be much faster. I will get it," the soldier said and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, Lao Gao stopped him.
"No need. I can handle it," Lao Gao said.
He concentrated a small flame orb, about the size of a fingernail, in his right hand and threw it into the hole. The moment it touched the ice, it exploded.
Everyone nearby, unprepared, got their faces blackened by the smoke. Of course, Lao Gao was no exception.
Ling Jiang muttered, "Can't you be more careful? I am so old, not married yet. What if my face gets ruined?"
"You are old enough now. Married or not doesn't matter. I never met this situation before," Lao Gao said, touching his face, smiling. "The end result is good, isn't it?"
Indeed, the size and power of Lao Gao's explosive were just right for this ice. It created a passage without damaging their protective shield. This result was already a good start.
Lao Gao said, "Sister Lan, poke the ice in the middle. I can use a stronger bomb here. The blast will cover more area."
Ling Jiang warned again, "Don't make it too big. If more ice collapses, we could all be buried."
Lao Gao rolled his eyes, "Am I that careless?"
Meanwhile, Lan Jin used the spike to make a fist-sized hole in the middle. Before Lao Gao threw the explosive, everyone instinctively stepped back, afraid of being caught in the blast.
With a loud 'boom,' the ice split open a large hole. Surrounding ice shattered. Just as they planned to move forward, the ice overhead cracked, making everyone stop.
After a while, once it was safe, a soldier said, "Wait here. We will clear the debris first, then detonate. The distance isn't far. Move some people back to avoid injuries."
After some work, Lan Jin and Lao Gao coordinated again, and the passage was finally cleared.
Brother Zhang grinned. "You really did it. The passage cleared so fast."
"Clearing this isn't hard," Lao Gao said.
Indeed, their teamwork had taken little time. However, the passage was uneven from the blast. Ice above was further cracked, increasing collapse risk. Transporting supplies directly through it was unsafe, but temporarily shoring it up to move things was fine.
Since Brother Zhang had a plan, they didn't ask more. Just as they were about to leave, Brother Zhang stopped them. "Don't leave yet. You are free anyway. Help here. Contribute a bit, not wasted effort."
Lan Jin sighed. "Yesterday you said to rest. One night and now we have work?"
"Since we are here," Lao Gao muttered.
Brother Zhang was right. Leaving now seemed improper. Even ignoring other places, this passage had to be cleared; otherwise, items upstairs could not be moved one by one downstairs.
Their task was clear: deal with the ice.
Brother Zhang provided some tools, but nothing matched the strength of their hands and feet. Lan Jin first pulled down chunks of ice in the passage by hand, and thicker parts she kicked.
Lan Jin was very strong. The ice in the hallway was not thick. One kick shattered it. A few more kicks turned it to ice fragments, which the staff shoveled into buckets for disposal.
Seeing Lan Jin's method worked, Huang Jinghe and Lao Gao tried the same, stomping with their feet. They found it better than using tools.
Ling Jiang could not use this method. Her strength was limited, so she joined in carrying ice fragments instead.
Step by step, floor by floor, they cleared ice. Staff carried it down behind them. Soon, one floor's debris was done. Brother Zhang was delighted. "Your efficiency is amazing."
"Finish early, rest early. Brother Zhang, do we have a work meal?"
Though they had worked only a short time, physical labor made them very hungry before lunch.
"Yes, it will arrive soon. Enough to fill you up."
That was enough. A little later, before lunch, Qiao Qiao called. At home were only Grandma Ling and Qiao Qiao. They had never been to the new cafeteria. When leaving, Lan Jin hadn't stored food at home, and their residence cards had no contribution points yet.
It was not that the four left the cards behind. They needed one card each to pass the dorm gate, so they took the cards. This left the two at home in a tricky spot.
Lan Jin quickly answered. "Qiao Qiao, are you hungry? Mama forgot to save contribution points. Can't go eat?"
Qiao Qiao responded with a heavy 'mm' and said sadly, "Yes. Qiao Qiao hungry. Mama, when come back?"
"Mama couldn't go back immediately."
Brother Zhang said, "Just the two at home? I will send two meals over."
"All right, thanks, Brother Zhang." Lan Jin said to the phone, "Qiao Qiao, Uncle Zhang will send food. Remember to get it."
Qiao Qiao hesitated. "Need open door. But… cannot open for strangers."
"You cannot open for strangers alone. But Grandma Ling is home. She can check first. The food is from an uncle in uniform, not a bad person. Qiao Qiao, don't worry."