Siheyuan: Starting from a Truck Driver

Li Xiaodong drove the truck to the edge of Zhangjia City in less than an hour. Through the morning mist, low buildings in the suburbs were vaguely visible.

After parking the car, Li Xiaodong took out a piece of red cloth from under the seat and covered the license plate on the back of the truck, then continued to drive forward. When he saw a group of people at the entrance of the highway, he slowed down and approached slowly.

In the cold wind, a group of members wearing worn-out cotton-padded clothes gathered at the intersection, smoking and chatting. "I don't know if there will be a passing car to Beijing today."

"Hey, I've been waiting for three days. My daughter is in Huailai and recently gave birth to a big fat boy. I saved a basket of eggs and got a certificate from the commune, but I can't buy a ticket."

"Three days is nothing. I've been waiting for almost ten days. My son is studying in Beijing, and my wife and I want to visit him."

Someone in the crowd suddenly became excited, "I think I heard some noise, is the car coming?"

When the truck appeared on the horizon, everyone waved and ran over. "Comrade conductor, please get ready!"

Li Xiaodong smiled, turned the steering wheel, and the truck drove towards the intersection. "Yes!" Niu Meng took out a canvas bag from under the seat and hung it on his chest, looking like a bus driver.

"Stop!" The truck braked suddenly and slowly stopped in front of the crowd. "Master, are you going to Harbin?"

"Are you passing by Huailai?"

"I want to go to Suzhou, I want to go to Suzhou."...

The crowd gathered in front of the truck. Niu Meng rolled down the window and shouted twice, and the crowd dispersed. She jumped out of the car and shouted, "For the buses going back to Beijing, please line up, comrades heading to Beijing."

"Also, everyone, please take out your letters of introduction. If you don't have any, please leave as soon as possible. I will pretend that I didn't see them."

Passengers were well aware of the rules and lined up to buy tickets. "Comrade, I want to go to Huairou," asked an old lady wearing a flowery headscarf, carrying an egg basket and a large package on her back.

"It's more than 200 kilometers to Huairou, and the fare is two yuan." Niu Meng replied. "The commune secretary is right, passing cars are indeed cheaper."

The old lady took out an old handkerchief from her pocket and unfolded it layer by layer, revealing a neat stack of banknotes. The truck was yellow, the Yangtze River Bridge was light green, and the biggest logo was the reddish-brown hydroelectric power station.

She carefully counted out two dollars and handed it to Niu Meng: "Girl, here are two dollars. Here you go."

Niu Meng took the banknote, looked the old lady up and down, and said with concern: "Auntie, it's so cold, and you are too old to sit in the back of the car."

"It doesn't matter. I'm in good health and a skilled worker in the commune. I can earn ten work points a day." The aunt patted the package on her back and said, "Besides, I brought a quilt with me!"

The auntie was probably worried that the young man would not be allowed on the bus, so she got on the bus quickly while talking.

There are long-distance buses from Zhangjia City to Huairou, but tickets are hard to find and the price is twice that of indirect buses.

It would be better to use that money to buy some antique silver and make a longevity lock for my grandson.

Li Xiaodong was stunned. This lady was over 50 years old, but her skills were just as good as those of the young man.

tomato

"Okay, if it's really cold, just call me." Niu Meng handed the basket of eggs to the other party.

Then he turned around and took the opportunity to collect the money.

"Miss, I'm going to Gujiaying."

"Gujiaying, fifty kilometers, fifty cents from you."

“I’m going to Suzhou.”

"Don't make trouble, young man, but it's not Suzhou!"

...

Those who got on the truck laughed, and those members who didn't take the right route could only squat again and hope for good luck.

The truck started again. Li Xiaodong concentrated on operating the steering wheel, while Niu Meng counted the income like a little money-grubber.

"One cent, two cents... Yeah, we just picked up sixteen passengers and made a total of two dollars and thirty cents, which is enough to buy more than seventy steamed buns."

The little face was filled with a satisfied smile that only a person with a full stomach can have.

"Is that all you want? Follow the master and I guarantee you'll have plenty of meat and fish to eat!" Li Xiaodong grinned.

No wonder the people in the security department envy truck drivers so much, this extra money really comes easily.

In this era, there are few vehicles on the road, and long-distance bus and train tickets are hard to come by.

If you don't want to ride hundreds of miles in the cold wind, the best way is to wait for passing cars.

The trucks from the steel mill usually leave fully loaded and return empty, so it is easy for them to pick up thirty or forty passengers.

I can earn at least seven or eight dollars each time, which is often more than the driver's salary.

Earning extra money by carrying goods for others has long been an unwritten rule.

If the people don't report it, the officials won't pursue it, just like a chef taking away the leftovers.

Moreover, even if someone wanted to expose it, they could not find any conclusive evidence.

The license plate on the back of the car has been covered with a red cloth. Who can you report?

Of course, giving people a ride must be limited to daytime.

The roads are unsafe and it is the old rule that trucks do not stop at night.

...

Niu Meng leaned against the car window, holding the canvas bag tightly, looking at the rapidly receding tree shadows, his cheeks flushed with excitement: "Master, let me sing a song for you!"

"No, no, I'm not sleepy now!" Li Xiaodong turned the steering wheel to avoid a donkey cart.

Niu Meng: “…”

Since the truck's fuel gauge had been damaged long ago, Li Xiaodong estimated the remaining amount of fuel based on his experience.

After passing Gujiaying, he saw a stream on the side of the road and stopped the car.

He shouted to the passengers in the car: "Everyone wait a moment, add some water and gas!"

"No hurry, no hurry, it's still early!"

The middle-aged man in the carriage helped pass the oil barrel, and more than a dozen passengers took the opportunity to jump off the car and ran straight to the woods next to them.

Why? People have three urgent needs!

-

Each old military oil drum can hold thirty liters, and two are just enough to fill a tank of oil.

"Gulp gulp", the fuel tank is full.

Niu Meng also used a ceramic basin to bring a basin of clean water from a nearby stream.

Opening the hood, Li Xiaodong put on protective gloves and unscrewed the radiator cap.

Steam was already rising from the tank.

Oh my god, it's boiling.

"Master, thanks to your improved fan, otherwise the water tank would have dried up by now." Niu Meng looked at the half tank of water left and seemed to be still frightened.

"Oh, that sounds nice to me. I'll talk about it more in the future."

Taking the basin, Li Xiaodong poured the water into the water tank, then walked around the truck to check carefully, and only climbed back into the car after confirming that everything was correct.

“Beep, beep, beep!”

Honking the horn loudly, the team members who were watering and applying fertilizers rushed out of the woods.

Some of them even ran towards the truck in a panic without even pulling up their trousers.

"The car can't wait, let's go!"

After Niu Meng counted the number of people, he nodded to Li Xiaodong.

The truck started again and sped towards the capital in the biting cold wind.

When passing Yehuling, all the "passengers" on the truck had already got off.

Li Xiaodong held a cigarette in his mouth, held the steering wheel, and focused on driving.

There seemed to be something wrong with Niu Meng.

She felt in urgent need of help and wanted to ask the driver to stop the car, but she felt a little embarrassed.

Although Li Xiaodong is her master and is about the same age as her father, he is only a young man in his early twenties after all.

How can an eighteen-year-old girl talk about such an embarrassing thing?

Li Xiaodong was so focused on driving that he didn't notice the changes in his apprentice. Thinking of the joy of returning home, he couldn't help but whistle.

"Shhh~Shhh~Shhh~"

Amid the continuous whistling, Niu Meng felt the urge to urinate becoming stronger and stronger.

Her legs were clamped together, her hips were twisting on the seat, and her face was gradually turning red.

Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore and let out two slight hums.

At this time, Li Xiaodong noticed something unusual. Taking advantage of the straight and wide road ahead, he turned his head and took a look.

"Physical discomfort?"

"Master, I want to go to the toilet..." Niu Meng's face turned red with embarrassment.

"You should have said it earlier. Eating, drinking, defecating and urinating are important matters in life. There's nothing to be shy about."

Alas, it is really troublesome to travel long distances with a female apprentice!

Li Xiaodong parked the car on the side of the road and gestured, "Go to the woods and take care of it. I'll keep watch for you."

This wilderness was deserted, and the watch was to guard against wild wolves.

"Ok."

Niu Meng couldn't hold it in any longer, so he jumped out of the car with his legs clamped together, covered his abdomen, and ran quickly into the depths of the woods.

The further we went, the denser the forest became. Although it was winter, some of the small trees on the mountain still had leaves. The sparse sunlight shone through the red, brown, yellow and green leaves, sprinkling on the withered grass and fallen leaves.

Niu Meng found a place in a dense patch of hay, looked around, and couldn't wait to unbuckle his belt and squat down.

Comfortable~

Li Xiaodong picked up the crank and walked out of the woods. He turned his back to his apprentice and lit a cigarette.

As a master, he has done a good enough job, and he also has to act as a guardian for his apprentice...

After a burst of splashing water sounded in the woods, Niu Meng's panicked voice suddenly came: "Master, Master, hurry up, hurry up!"

Damn, are there really wolves?

Li Xiaodong gripped the crank tightly and rushed into the grove, only to see Niu Meng holding up his trouser waist with one hand and pointing at the bushes in the distance with the other.

Her little face was filled with excitement: "Quick, quick, there is a fox over there."

"..."

Li Xiaodong looked up.

Sure enough, under a big tree, he saw a gray-brown fox squatting on the ground chewing grass seeds.

The fox moved, and its soft fur swayed gently in the wind.

"Shh!"

He raised his finger, signaling Niu Meng not to make any noise.

Li Xiaodong approached cautiously, holding the crank.

The ground in the grove was covered with dead branches and leaves. Although he was extremely careful, he still couldn't avoid breaking some twigs, making slight noises.

The fox was very alert, as if it had sensed something strange. It pricked up its ears and listened for a moment before jumping towards the tree.

How can you let the prey escape when it is right in your mouth?

"Look at my darts!"

Li Xiaodong raised his arm high, and the black iron crank flew out of his hand, turning into a black shadow and accurately hitting the fox.

"boom!"

The fox fell to the ground.

Li Xiaodong ran forward, grabbed the fox's tail and lifted it up.

Well, this fox is indeed fat, weighing at least five or six kilograms.

At this time, Niu Meng had also put his clothes in order and ran over, saying with a little pity: "The fox is so pitiful. It was just looking for food, but we disturbed it."

Li Xiaodong shook the fox and found that its legs were still twitching. He said, "It seems that it is not dead yet. Why don't we let it go?"

However, before he could finish his words, a snap was heard.

Niu Meng broke the rabbit's neck with his bare hands.

She pulled her hand back, her eyes wide open, confused: "Master, what did you just say?"