Nowadays experiencing it firsthand instead of relying on memory feels quite novel.
But barely two minutes had passed before Boss Li came over with five hulking fellows from the direction of the factory.
They spotted Zhang Feng.
He immediately asked, "Old Zhang, what happened to your car? Are you alright?"
Saying this, he looked Zhang Feng up and down.
The five burly men were also scrutinizing while asking questions.
"Brother Zhang, what did you bump into last night?"
"Uncle, zoning out? Did something really happen?"
"I have some leftover paint from the wall; do you need it?"
"Don’t listen to him, Brother Zhang; that paint isn’t for cars, how can it be used on a car?"
"By the way, brother, are you repairing your car today? If so, I’ll grab a jack first. We can prop the car up, and when we take it to the repair shop, they’ll just need to paint it."
Each of them was offering suggestions or inquiries.
"What’s going on, everyone surrounding Master Zhang?" Meanwhile, a few other colleagues approached from afar.
Some were there just to watch the commotion and gossip, whereas others were genuinely there to help.
Seeing a bunch of people gathered around, Zhang Feng waved his hand saying, "Don’t worry about it, actually my car isn’t that bad, a simple fix and it’ll be fine.
But with all this fuss, I’m afraid it might get messed up further."
Saying this, Zhang Feng walked towards the canteen, "Let’s go eat."
Despite a stomachache, he still needed to eat.
Plus, Zhang Feng planned to first train his stomach so his gastric issues would soon see effective relief.
"What really happened?" Boss Li chased after Zhang Feng for a couple of steps, whispering, "What exactly did you hit? From the looks of the mark, was it someone’s cattle or sheep?"
Though the mark might also indicate a person, Zhang Feng was surprisingly calm, speaking with an unfazed demeanor, as usual.
Thus, Boss Li didn’t entertain that thought.
"Hit a sheep." Zhang Feng casually made it up.
"It was really a sheep, huh?" Boss Li got intrigued, "Was it on the delivery route? From around here? If it’s someone we know, we should talk to the owner.
Let’s not wait for them to approach us."
"From the suburbs of He City." Zhang Feng arrived at the factory gate, "I met the owner then, compensated them, no worries, let’s eat."
Arriving at the small canteen.
Zhang Feng grabbed a few pig’s feet and some braised meat.
Before he could eat more than a couple of bites.
Boss Li’s broad figure plopped down across from him, saying again, "Oh, I forgot to tell you something.
Do you remember Director Lin? The friend I mentioned to you a few times before, my friend."
"Mm... I know." Zhang Feng swallowed a bite of meat, "He runs an appliance and refrigerator factory."
"That’s him." Boss Li picked up a pig’s foot from Zhang Feng’s plate.
"Li, Zhang." At this time, several colleagues from the factory also came to eat.
"Not now, I need to discuss something with Brother Zhang first." Boss Li waved a hand at them then turned to Zhang Feng saying, "He has a batch of televisions to deliver; he asked you to come around noon.
To deliver them to Meng City in Qing Province, roughly a thousand kilometers."
Boss Li spoke while taking big bites of the pig’s feet,
"Mm... also, don’t refuse.
If it wasn’t because his factory driver was out on an errand, with a truckload of televisions worth tens if not hundreds of thousands, they’d never let us haul them.
Although he and I have been acquainted for years, this load is really expensive."
"Mm... indeed." Zhang Feng also ate pig’s feet, contemplating for a moment.
Since there’s no clue on finding other intruders now, why not just take this big job?
Haul these big old TVs.
Meanwhile, traveling around might even lead to a meeting.
"What’s the freight charge?" Zhang Feng inquired.
"Five thousand." Boss Li wiped his mouth, "Not bad."
"That’s certainly decent." Delivering goods for decades, Zhang Feng well-understood this price was quite fair, "With the fuel price at 2.5 now, sending this batch to Qing Province, considering bridge tolls and fuel costs, the long-distance freight rate is slightly over 4 yuan per kilometer.
Roughly estimate, four thousand six to seven.
Director Lin offered three or four hundred more."
"Haha." Boss Li chuckled, "Maybe his televisions are just too expensive, so that extra three hundred looks to ensure stability, preventing them from rattling apart."
Coming to this point, Boss Li suddenly changed his tone and said, "That was a joke earlier; don’t get mad at Director Lin.
At the time, he also explained why there’s extra.
He said, fearing Master Zhang might find it hard to quickly land delivery gigs while out there, hence considering it as living expense."
"Mm." Zhang Feng silently munched the pig’s feet, "This Director Lin is a remarkable person."
"Sure thing!" Boss Li laughed heartily, "For someone as straightforward as me, if he’s not outstanding, would I engage with him?
Am I right, Old Zhang?"
"Right." Zhang Feng put down the pig bone, wiping his oily hands on his work clothes,
"I’ll go fix the car later, heading out to haul around noon."
"Good." Boss Li nodded, then shaking his head remarked, "If I knew how to drive, I’d have gone myself.
Moreover, Director Lin said he’d knock off two hundred on TV purchases.
My family’s TV is busted, I wanted to buy a new one anyway."
"Just be upfront, you want that discount." Zhang Feng smiled, shaking his head, "I’ll take you shopping at his factory once I’m back from the delivery."
"You said it!" Boss Li handed Zhang Feng another pig’s foot, "Here, Old Zhang, have another one, this one has more meat."
Zhang Feng did some repairs on his car, then headed to the appliance factory a few dozen miles away.
Arriving at the entrance.
Zhang Feng made a call,
"Director Lin, I’ve arrived."
"Sorry, Master Zhang." Director Lin apparently amidst a bustling city scene,
"I’m not at the factory, on the street outside.
I’ll have my son meet with you in a moment, he’ll help with the delivery and collection, please look after him."