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墨書 Inktalez
Before the arrival of the Hearse, we placed our belongings in a relatively hidden and safe corner, not far from the body. Since we still needed to sort and pack various equipment, we assigned one team member to stay behind and watch over these items. Considering that there were other pieces of equipment temporarily placed in this area and that there were female members in our team, after some deliberation, we ultimately decided to assign a strong male team member for this task.
At first, this Male Team Member was able to move the equipment methodically. However, as time passed and the others gradually left to attend to their respective duties, he found himself alone in that dark corner. He later recalled that at that moment, an unprecedented fear surged within him. The surroundings were pitch black with hardly any light; when he tried to call for help, he realized everyone was engrossed in their own tasks and had no time to spare for him. If he wanted to leave that spot, he feared being blamed for lacking responsibility and neglecting his duties. He attempted to distract himself by looking into the distance to ease his anxiety, but the deep night made it impossible to see anything; as for looking around him, he couldn't muster the courage. Thus, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay put, struggling through the ordeal.
That night when he returned home, nightmares plagued him throughout the night, making it difficult for him to sleep. Even now, when I think back to that moment when I called out to him during our retreat and he seemed lost in thought for quite some time before responding, I finally understand why. At that moment, his mind was likely still trapped in the shadows of that terrifying experience.
After understanding the situation, we arranged for the team's psychologist to provide him with counseling. Fortunately, he was an outdoor worker who enjoyed exploring and engaging in extreme sports; his courage was commendable as he had a solid foundation.
As we began our retreat, the stars in the night sky blinked sleepily as the clock quietly approached dawn. Despite our exhaustion, everyone surprisingly agreed: let’s find a place for a late-night snack before heading home. So we turned our attention to a nearby roadside Noodle Stall glowing with warm yellow light.
After the vehicle came to a stop, we filed out one by one. Before we could even ask the owner about the menu options, he greeted us with a broad smile and enthusiasm, urging us to take a seat while confidently stating: "Don’t say a word; I know what you want! I’ll get it ready for you!" Hearing this made us exchange glances in surprise—was someone in our team a regular at this Noodle Stall? However, no one pressed further; after all, our growling stomachs needed immediate attention.
Before long, steaming bowls of fragrant noodles were served at our table. We were all ravenous and dug in heartily. For a moment, all that could be heard in the small Noodle Stall were slurping sounds as we devoured our meals and occasional praises for the owner's superb cooking skills.
After satisfying our hunger, it was time to settle the bill. Just as I reached into my wallet and approached the owner, he hurriedly waved his hands and rushed over to push me away while firmly saying: "Oh no! This meal is on me; don’t pay!" This left me utterly bewildered as my mind raced through thoughts of whether I had done something wrong or misunderstood something. At that moment, I suddenly noticed our Rescue Team Uniforms and realized that the owner must have seen us returning from a rescue mission and wanted to express his respect and gratitude towards us special workers in this way!
However, how could we let him go through all that trouble without compensation? After all, running a business is about making money to support oneself! Thinking this way, I quickly pressed money into his hands while repeatedly insisting: "No way! You work hard; you must accept this!" The owner stubbornly refused to take it. Thus began a back-and-forth where neither side would yield; eventually, we found ourselves somewhat at an impasse. Watching time tick away second by second made it clear that continuing this stalemate wasn’t feasible; reluctantly, we had no choice but to compromise temporarily.
Before leaving, while the owner was distracted, we huddled together for a quick discussion. We calculated the cost of our late-night meal and carefully placed the appropriate amount of cash under one of the bowls. Then we hurriedly left this warm and kind-hearted Noodle Stall like children who feared being caught after doing something wrong.
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