"Let’s follow Brother Zhang’s lead," Old Tian stood in his horse stance, "Just drop me off at any town on the way."
"We’re heading to Meng City in Qing Province," Xiaolin was straightforward, revealing their plans right away, "Brother Tian, where are you going?"
"Qing Province?" Old Tian contemplated for a moment,
’Qing Province isn’t far from here, I can make a quick detour back.
Now, this old mate and young brother kindly offered me a ride when my wallet was lost while looking for the mission character, so I can’t pay for the fare.
And neither the old mate nor the young brother mentioned money.
Even though they are local folk, once I leave this world, I won’t stay in touch with these natives.
But I’m not in a hurry right now, so why not escort them on their delivery and repay this hitchhiking favor, to avoid any inner turmoil.’
"I’m going to Qing Province too." Old Tian decided and smiled, "Looks like the three of us are on the same path!"
"This is fate!" Xiaolin sat in the middle of the long seat, gripping the seats of the driver and passenger, "Once we reach Qing Province, I’ll treat you two older brothers to a meal."
"That sounds wonderful." Old Tian laughed heartily, "I just lost my wallet and didn’t know how to bring it up, but since the young brother mentioned it, I’ll come clean—I don’t have money for meals now, haha."
"Haha..." Xiaolin, being the second generation of the factory, wasn’t bothered by this small expense and was amused by Old Tian’s words.
’This guy really says whatever’s on his mind,’ Zhang Feng quietly drove while occasionally glancing at the two chatting brothers.
If they could meet in his car and become good friends,
that would indeed be interesting.
He just wasn’t on the same path as them.
"By the way, I can drive too," Old Tian then said, "Though I’ve only driven small cars, I reckon big cars aren’t much different.
If Brother Zhang gets tired and trusts me, I’ll take the wheel.
My pants are nearly dry, I won’t wet your throne."
Morning, seven o’clock.
The rain had already stopped.
Zhang Feng woke up from the passenger seat, stretched a bit; gosh, his whole body was aching.
’It rained all night yesterday, didn’t rest well, my muscles and bones are chilled.’
Zhang Feng moved his limbs and also looked at Old Tian who was sleeping in the driver’s seat.
While it was around midnight yesterday.
Zhang Feng grew tired but trusted this meticulous Old Tian, so he let him take over, but within minutes, they almost drove into a ditch.
This was entirely without skill, just relying on trust between friends.
Then, the car parked by the roadside, and they all slept.
At that moment, Old Tian, feeling Zhang Feng’s movement and the seat’s vibration, also woke up groggily from his sleep.
Even now, he was still wearing his big shorts, holding his shirt in his arms.
"I’ll drive," Zhang Feng felt much of his soreness ease up after cracking his joints and gestured to switch seats.
"Why not let me have another go?" Old Tian, with a mindset of repaying kindness, didn’t get up immediately, "It was raining last night, couldn’t see the road.
But with the good weather now, I think I can give it another shot."
Zhang Feng didn’t let him try.
Zhang Feng still preferred to keep the steering wheel of fate in his own hands.
Along the way, Old Tian talked about food.
His culinary skills seemed decent, everything he said was on point.
Anyway, it made Zhang Feng hungry.
By noon, they stopped at a restaurant in the suburb for a meal.
Zhang Feng ate heartily.
’This local old brother is quite genuine,’ Old Tian found Zhang Feng’s earnest eating amusing.
"Hey," Xiaolin received a call, it was from his dad.
Zhang Feng ignored him and kept eating.
"Brother Zhang, you don’t seem fat," Old Tian held a drumstick in each hand, "but you sure can eat."
"Labor work," Zhang Feng casually replied, "didn’t eat in the morning."
"Indeed, it’s hard work." Old Tian looked at the drumstick in his hand, gave the bigger one to Zhang Feng, "Brother Zhang."
"Alright," Zhang Feng continued eating.
"Brother Zhang," Xiaolin, finishing the phone call and happily said to Zhang Feng, "When we get to Meng City, there’s another batch of appliances to bring back to the factory.
We don’t need to wait for a return load; Brother Zhang will earn double the freight."
"Brother Zhang earning money is certainly a good thing," Old Tian looked at Xiaolin in surprise, "but aren’t you a bit naive, Xiaolin? Your family has so many appliances sent back to the factory, why are you so happy?"
Destination, Meng City.
Outside an appliance store.
Zhang Feng was picking vegetables in front of a skewer stall, preparing to eat his third bun with fillings.
"Young brother," Old Tian, eating a bun with fillings, looked at Xiaolin, who also ate a bun with fillings, "aren’t you going back?"
"Not going back," Xiaolin was rather helpless, not wanting to part from the two older brothers, but could not disobey his father’s orders, so he could only sigh, "My dad wants me to watch the store here and learn from the old manager."
"Your dad really has a new plan every day," Old Tian, mouth full of spicy sauce, "yesterday he wanted you to bring the payment back, today he asks you to transfer it, then has Brother Zhang return to the factory.
No, Brother Zhang is taking stuff back to the factory.
And now he wants you to stay at the store?
Your dad handles you , don’t you ever resist?"
"I..." Xiaolin didn’t know how to respond, regretting that his mouth had no filter, revealing everything.
"Haha," Old Tian was amused by his speechless appearance, "It’s good experience, probably your dad sees you as simple-minded, so he temporarily arranged a training task for you.
The store deals with many customers, it’s good practice."
"It really is a good thing," Zhang Feng, eating a bun, approached, "A few days ago you were Xiaolin Director, but now you’re the real Boss Lin.
It’s been only two days, right?"
"A day apart, and you’ve changed," Old Tian said philosophically, and then turned to Zhang Feng, "Shall we go? Brother Zhang?"