On May 21, 2026, it rained for four consecutive days, making the daily loading of containers quite challenging. We would set up tarps to keep the goods from getting wet in the rain.

At six in the morning, the patter of rain outside my window had been going on all night. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I walked to the window and gazed at the gray‑hued sky and the streets, gleaming after being washed by the downpour, letting out a quiet sigh—this was already the fourth consecutive day of rain. Since May 18, this coastal city has seemed to have flipped a switch to “rainy season mode”: every morning, a fine drizzle begins on time, turning into torrential downpours by afternoon, only easing off late at night. For someone like me, working in logistics, such weather is nothing short of a relentless test.

As the on-site supervisor at a medium-sized logistics company, I’m responsible for coordinating the loading of more than twenty containers each day. Normally, this task is demanding but fairly well-organized: forklifts move nimbly across the dry yard, workers skillfully stack various goods neatly, and everything is then tightly wrapped with waterproof tarps. But since the relentless rain set in, the entire process has become much more challenging. The downpour has not only turned the ground into a slippery, muddy mess, but it has also left the cargo highly vulnerable to damage during handling—especially items with paper packaging or electronic components, which can be rendered unusable by even a brief exposure to water.

“Old Zhang, pull Tent No. 3 another two meters west!” I shouted into the walkie-talkie, my voice quickly drowned out by the sound of the rain. In the distance, several workers were frantically hauling the blue rain‑proof tarpaulin. We’d specially prepared these tents for the rainy season—constructed from high‑strength waterproof canvas and a retractable metal frame, they can cover nearly two hundred square meters when fully deployed. Though they’re not cheap, that expense pales in comparison to the losses we’d suffer if rain damaged our goods. Watching the workers struggle to secure the tent’s corners in the downpour, I couldn’t help but recall last year’s disastrous rainy season, when inadequate preparations had wiped out a batch of electronics worth hundreds of thousands.

The rain suddenly intensified, with large droplets pattering against the tent roof in a rapid, rhythmic “pang-pang.” I hurried over to Master Wang, who was directing the loading. His raincoat and hat had long since been blown off by the wind, his hair plastered damply across his forehead. “It’s pouring today—forklift operations will have to be extra careful,” I called out, raising my voice. “Especially those carton‑packed goods: make sure to lay down moisture‑proof boards before moving them.” Master Wang nodded and wiped the rain from his face. “Don’t worry—I’ve already had Xiao Li and the others get all the moisture‑proof supplies ready ahead of time.”

Turning around, I looked toward the loading area, where more than twenty workers were toiling in an orderly fashion beneath a makeshift shed. Some were hauling goods out of the warehouse, others were carefully wrapping each item in plastic sheeting, and still others were meticulously checking the containers for watertightness. What moved me most was Old Liu, a long‑time employee nearing retirement. He could have applied for an indoor position, but he insisted on staying on the front line of loading. “I’ve been in this business for over thirty years—I know best how to protect the cargo in the rain,” he would often say. “If I don’t pass on this experience to the younger generation now, what will we do when the rains come again?”

Around noon, the rain eased slightly, but the sky remained ominously overcast. We seized the opportunity to speed up loading, aiming to finish most of the work before the next downpour hit. The canteen delivered a steaming lunch of ginger soup and steamed buns, and the workers gathered at the edge of the makeshift shed, eating while chatting about the weather. “This rain is really strange,” Old Li said, chewing on his bun. “In previous years, did it ever rain for four days straight in May?” Nearby, Xiao Wang chimed in: “I heard this is caused by extreme weather—things like this may become increasingly common from now on.” I listened quietly to their conversation, pondering whether I should suggest to the company that we invest in more rain‑proof equipment.

At three in the afternoon, dark clouds gathered once again, and raindrops began to fall. This time, the wind was even stronger than in the morning, causing the temporary sheds to creak and sway; several workers had to secure the supports with ropes. I picked up my walkie-talkie and checked the seal integrity of each container one by one: “Container No. 5, verify that the door seals are tightly fitted with waterproof strips!” “Container No. 12, confirm that the drainage holes are clear!” Through the curtain of rain, the workers’ figures appeared especially blurred, yet their movements remained steady and resolute.

At six in the evening, the last batch of cargo was finally loaded into containers. Watching more than twenty tightly sealed containers waiting to be shipped in the rain, I let out a long sigh of relief. That day, we handled a total of 320 tons of goods; though our efficiency was nearly one-third lower than on a clear day, thanks to thorough preparation and the hard work of our team, not a single item was damaged by the rain. As the last truck rolled out of the terminal, the rain suddenly stopped, and a faint glow of the evening sky appeared in the western horizon.

On my way home, I kept reflecting on the lessons this prolonged rainfall has taught us. Against the backdrop of global warming, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent. As logistics professionals, we must not only address today’s challenges but also plan ahead, preparing for potentially even harsher conditions in the future. Perhaps it’s time to consider building permanent rain‑proof loading and unloading platforms within our facilities; perhaps we need to adopt more advanced waterproof packaging materials; or maybe we should develop a more comprehensive set of operational guidelines for the rainy season...

The air after the rain is exceptionally fresh. I take a deep breath, savoring the earthy scent of soil and the delicate fragrance of grass and trees. Tomorrow, the sun will rise once again, and we will continue to face new challenges. No matter how the weather may change, our mission to ensure the safe and efficient transport of goods will never waver. This rain cannot extinguish our passion for work, nor can it shake our resolve to overcome adversity. For in this bustling logistics park, there is a group of ordinary people like me, who are using their wisdom and hard work to write the inspiring story of our times.

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