Siheyuan: Starting from a Truck Driver

"......It's okay." Li Xiaodong gripped the crank tightly.

Niu Meng carried the real "dead" fox and sighed as he walked: "Ah, such a cute fox, what a pity, let's take it back and make spicy fox stew!"

"..."

With this harvest, Niu Meng began to think about how to deal with the fox meat and no longer mentioned the topic of singing.

The truck drove in silence all the way and soon arrived in the suburbs of Beijing.

**********

On wasteland beside a suburban road.

Skinny Monkey followed his brother-in-law Sun Ergou, with his hands hidden in the sleeves of his cotton-padded jacket, and walked along the ridge of the field towards a small shack not far away.

Skinny Monkey was originally a member of a nearby commune. His parents died young and he was lazy and gluttonous.

He would get up to work only when the sun was high in the sky every day, and was often criticized by commune cadres.

When it came to recording work points, this grown man got even less points than the female comrades, only a pitiful five points.

When there was a big canteen before, he could still fill his stomach. After the canteen was disbanded, food was distributed according to work points, and the little food that Skinny Monkey got was not enough to eat.

After being driven out of the commune for stealing two chickens, Skinny Monkey fled to the capital, dreaming of becoming a big shot and enjoying delicious food.

He has the ambition to be a Buddha, but lacks the corresponding means.

After two months in Beijing, he was caught three times, but failed each time. In addition, he was as thin as a bamboo pole, so the owner just beat him up and let him go.

Skinny Monkey, who failed in his business, was unwilling to return to the commune to farm, so he had to hide in his brother-in-law Sun Ergou's house.

Today, Sun Ergou found a job for Shouhou.

He went to collect the oil with a street performer named Chao Sanpao.

According to the old rules of the capital, Chao Sanpao should be called a stubborn leader.

But after all, he is from Jinshi and is the leader.

This Chao Sanpao is no ordinary person.

He came to the capital from Tianjin and worked as a monk for two years. Later he changed his career and started reselling fuel.

Leading a few young brothers, they waited at the intersection, waiting for vehicles returning to Beijing.

They buy gasoline from drivers and then sell it in the pigeon market.

The price of oil originally was 1.5 yuan per liter, but they can sell it for 5 yuan, which is a huge profit. I heard that they have four or five mistresses.

"Fairy Wood Romance"

...

Facing the biting cold wind, Sun Ergou ordered outside the shack: "I asked you to bring your weapons, did you bring them?"

"Yes, I brought it!" The skinny monkey wiped his nose with the sleeve of his cotton jacket and nodded in agreement.

He looked at the thatched roof of the shack swaying in the wind, his eyes looking a little confused.

It is really beneath your dignity to follow an old gangster and have to bring your own weapons.

Like the famous Soy Sauce San'er in the south of the city, he has seven or eight pistols at his command, which is really impressive.

"Hey, kid, cheer up." Sun Ergou understood what the skinny monkey was thinking.

This guy is determined to become famous in one battle.

"Brother Sanpao said that he would give you a commission of one dollar for every deal he made.

In half a year, you will be able to marry the third girl in the village."

The snot slid into his mouth, it tasted salty, and the skinny monkey spat out several times.

Then, he curled his lips in disdain: "I don't like Sannizi, she is as fat as a pig.

If I were to marry, I would marry the widow Zhang at the end of the village.

She is like the female spy in the movie "The Man on the Iceberg", so charming!"

Half a year ago, a projectionist from the city came to the village to show movies. The whole village was excited. Every household, regardless of gender, age or status, brought stools to the mill to watch the fun.

However, after the movie ended, the two hens from Old Wang's house at the village entrance mysteriously disappeared, and no one took responsibility after scolding them all night.

This made Sun Ergou so angry that he couldn't sleep or eat.

He had noticed the two chickens a long time ago, but someone else got there first before he could make a move.

Whenever he thought of this incident, the skinny monkey would curse in his heart that the thief who stole the chicken would definitely have no descendants.

...

Sun Ergou looked at the hopeless skinny monkey and frowned: "Widow Zhang has three sons."

"That's even better, I can have three more sons!"

The skinny monkey puffed out his chest.

"..."

Sun Ergou wondered how I could have such a brother-in-law.

If he wasn't worried that Xiulan wouldn't let him go to bed at night, he wouldn't bother with the skinny monkey's affairs.

"Well, let's not talk about this for now. Act dumb when you go in. Brother Sanpao likes straightforward people."

"I'm straight!"

Sun Ergou: “…”

The two were discussing in a low voice when a majestic voice came from the shack: "Er Gou, have you brought the people?"

Sun Ergou hurriedly took the skinny monkey and lifted the tattered cloth curtain, then lowered their heads and walked into the shack.

The shack was made of thatch and bamboo fences. There was a bonfire burning inside, and three middle-aged men were sitting around the fire to keep warm.

The skinny monkey held the pipe, sparks flickered, and the smoke oil made a "squeaking" sound.

The strong spicy taste almost made his throat itchy and he almost coughed.

But he held back and said to Sanpao with a flattering smile: "Brother Sanpao, I am Skinny Monkey..."

He blew two streams of smoke into Sanpao's nose and squinted with his triangular eyes: "Did you bring the stuff?"

"I have it, I have it!" The skinny monkey hurriedly took out a machete from his waist and waved it in the air.

"Hehe, I have practiced it before, so what do you think?"

Sanpao looked him up and down. He looked quite green and immature because he was only wearing an old cotton shirt in the cold winter.

"Okay, for your brother-in-law's sake, I'll take you in. You'll have plenty of good times in the future."

The skinny monkey grinned with joy and bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Brother Sanpao."

San Pao ordered: "You are new here, so the night watch mission is given to you."

"Keep watch?" The skinny monkey looked surprised.

It's freezing cold here. If you stay outside, you'll freeze to death.

It's not that he doesn't know the cold because he wears thin clothes, but he is really short of money and can't afford a cotton jacket.

Seeing San Pao's face turn cold, Sun Ergou quickly pulled Shou Hou and said with a smile: "It's okay, my brother-in-law has a sharp eye and will never make mistakes."

Having said that, without giving the skinny monkey any opportunity to object, he pushed him out of the shack.

"Boy, do you still want to make money and marry a wife?"

"I think, but the weather is too cold."

"One dollar for one deal, why are you so cold?" Sun Ergou turned his head and saw a worn straw mat in the corner of the shack. He took it and draped it over the skinny monkey. "This should be fine, right? Go quickly and keep your eyes open. Don't delay Brother Sanpao's business."

The skinny monkey wrapped himself tightly around the straw mat and surprisingly found it was quite warm.

He walked towards the roadside, taking one step forward and one step back.

Inside the shack, Sanpao looked up at the empty roof and stroked the dust above his head with his fingers.

Damn it, what a pair of young fools!

---

---

---

Li Xiaodong saw a toilet on the side of the road, asked Niu Meng to go in and relieve himself, and then he followed.

In fact, the environment of the toilet was much worse than that of the grove. It had a pungent smell and there was not even any toilet paper. However, there were quite a few leaves and stones in the grove.

I came out covering my nose and heard noise coming from the truck from a distance.

"Hey, female drivers are rare."

"Ergou, don't be nosy, we are here to exchange for gasoline."

"Comrade, we want to buy gasoline. Can you give us a price?"

Li Xiaodong saw four young men surrounding the truck.

When he got closer and took a look, he was stunned.

It’s fine that the middle-aged man is holding a pipe, but who is the man wearing a tattered straw mat?

Dressed as a special forces soldier?

He noticed two iron barrels at their feet and realized that he had encountered oil thieves.

After joining the fleet, he also heard Lao Bai mention that some drivers were reselling fuel privately.

If taking on work privately is an unwritten rule, then secretly reselling fuel is a strictly prohibited act for the fleet.

Nowadays gasoline is expensive and even buses have to burn firewood. Selling fuel privately is considered a felony.

...

Drivers, none of you are timid!

Li Xiaodong walked over casually, holding a cigarette in his mouth and taking leisurely steps.

He clenched his fists, and just as Niu Meng was about to try, he stopped him.

In this kind of situation, the master has to step in.

Although Niu Meng was itching to do it, he could only return to the cab in embarrassment.

She has complete confidence in her master.

"Brothers, what can I do for you?"

"Hey, I thought so. The protagonist is back. I knew it wouldn't make sense for a little girl to drive a truck!"

Chao Sanpao took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took out a cigarette, and leaned over to light it for Li Xiaodong.

"Brother, we are running low on gas, I would like to ask you to help us with some."

As he spoke, Chao Sanpao took out a stack of banknotes from his trouser pocket, shook it, and said, "Brother, you are not short of money."

The skinny monkey poked his head out of the haystack and said, "Yes, my brother has plenty of money."

Chao Sanpao: “…”

This guy is a bit ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.

Li Xiaodong winked at Niu Meng, signaling her to get back into the car.

Then he said to Chao Sanpao: "I'm sorry, after running for a while, the tank is almost empty. I'm sorry to disappoint you brothers."

He frowned and sneered, "You still want to hide it from me? Old Sanpao has been doing this for a long time. The trucks of your big factories always have at least 20 liters of fuel left in the tank."

The skinny monkey poked his head out of the haystack again: "Yes, my brother is very rich."

Oh, are you going to rob it by force?

Li Xiaodong put out his cigarette and asked, "What if I don't sell it?"

He lifted up Sanpao's cotton coat, revealing the guy on his waist: "Brother, don't be stubborn. The factory won't give you a penny more if you return the oil in the tank to the factory. We beat you in this wilderness, and you still need to spend money to treat your injuries, right?"

The skinny monkey poked his head out again: "Yes, my brother is not short of money."

...

"Hey, brother, what you said makes sense. How do we trade this gasoline?"

Li Xiaodong spoke as he casually approached the car door.

Chao Sanpao noticed his actions, but didn't think much of it.

It takes at least two minutes to start the truck, and this little driver can't get away.

...

"You are a straightforward young man. We will have a smooth cooperation in the future. How about this, the factories in the east..."

Chao Sanpao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Li Xiaodong had been moved by the money and wanted to take this opportunity to raise the price to close the deal.

After all, why resort to violence when money can solve the problem?

Li Xiaodong blew two streams of smoke from his nostrils and turned to look at Chao Sanpao. But before Chao Sanpao could speak, Li Xiaodong grabbed the iron crank and rushed forward: "You are really loyal, but... forget it, I'm too lazy to make it up, I just want to beat you up!"

"Oh, you are really a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers. I have been doing business for seven or eight years, and this is the first time I have encountered such a fierce newcomer."

"Go ahead, brothers, teach me a lesson... Ouch..."

While Chao Sanpao was still chattering, Li Xiaodong had already rushed forward.

He swung the half-meter-long black iron rod in his hand with great vigor.

Chao Sanpao was careless for a moment and was hit in the arm, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Ouch!"

He felt like his bones were about to break, the pain was so severe that he couldn't straighten his back and fell to the ground.

"Villains die from talking too much!"

Li Xiaodong's 72-move stick technique was perfect, and he pounced on the other three like a hungry wolf hunting its prey.