Chapter 270: Picking Up Passengers on the Road

Li Feng was driving the truck, foot practically flooring the gas pedal as he headed straight toward Jinmen. In no time at all, he was out of the Forty-Nine City(Beijing).

Once they were out, Li Feng pulled the truck over.

Zhou Dafu asked curiously, “Master Li, why are we stopping?”

There was nothing wrong with the truck, and no one needed to relieve themselves. Why stop all of a sudden?

Li Feng said, “This is your first lesson. When doing long-distance hauls, the moment you leave the city, you stop and wrap the license plates with red cloth. It’s not just for warding off bad luck—it also keeps those who are jealous of you making side money from figuring out how to report you.”

Zhou Yimin heard this and couldn’t help but shout in his mind, Holy shit.

Who the hell taught him this trick? This was exactly what people in the future would do—covering their plates to avoid getting caught for breaking the law. And back now, there weren’t even traffic cops checking plates, so there was practically zero risk.

“Dafu, make sure you learn this well—it’ll serve you.”

Li Feng smiled. “Team Lead Zhou really does know trucks. You get it right away.”

Long-distance truck driving could bring in a decent bit of extra income. It was no wonder others would be jealous. Best not to stir trouble if you didn’t have to. No one knew who invented this trick, but it ended up spreading throughout the trucker community.

And sure enough, once people started using it, complaints dropped off dramatically.

“Got it!” Zhou Dafu nodded and quietly committed it to memory.

Once Li Feng had covered both front and rear plates, he got back in the truck and resumed driving.

Before long, they spotted a middle-aged man in a blue uniform standing in the distance. He had a large bundle with him and a cigarette between his fingers, puffing away in huge mouthfuls.

As soon as he heard the distant roar of the truck’s engine, he leapt up, ran into the road, and started waving his hands excitedly so the truck driver would see him.

Zhou Dafu asked, “Master Li, what should we do in this kind of situation? Do we stop? What if it’s a highway robber? Then we’re screwed.”

He looked nervous. Before they left, his coworkers had told him all sorts of stories about road robbers. Now, every person who stepped onto the road looked like a bandit to him.

“Dafu, relax. He’s probably just trying to hitch a ride on our delivery truck. This is another way truck drivers make some side money,” Zhou Yimin explained.

It was kind of like the rideshare services that would pop up in the future. Of course, future rideshares were way more comfortable than a bumpy truck ride—and a lot safer too.

That said, even in the future, rideshares weren’t foolproof. When they first emerged, there were still bad actors taking advantage of the system.

It was undeniable that rideshares made long-distance travel easier for a lot of people. But in the early days, lack of proper regulation led to a number of tragic incidents.

Only once regulation tightened did the number of violators drop.

Li Feng raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Team Lead Zhou, you’re sharp. You knew what was going on right away. Dafu, if you could be as smart as Team Lead Zhou, you’d pick up truck driving in no time.”

“If I were even a tenth as smart as Uncle Sixteen, I’d be burning incense in thanks. There’s no way I could hope to be as smart as him,” Zhou Dafu rolled his eyes.

Back in the village, all he knew was that Uncle Sixteen could somehow get his hands on grain.

But after coming to the steel factory, he realized Uncle Sixteen wasn’t just good at securing food. That brain of his was brilliant. He’d invented all sorts of things that helped the country earn foreign exchange.

Honestly, out of everyone he knew, no one could hold a candle to Uncle Sixteen.

Li Feng nodded. “That’s true. If my son could be even a tenth as smart as Team Lead Zhou, I’d be satisfied if he could get into a vocational school.”

Right now, getting into a vocational school practically guaranteed a job placement—possibly even a position as a cadre.

In this era, vocational school was already a hot ticket. University? Forget it.

Soon, Li Feng brought the truck to a halt—within just thirty centimeters of the middle-aged man.

The guy was startled, thinking the truck was about to mow him down. He even prepared to dodge. He’d done this kind of thing before, but those other truckers always stopped way in advance—not like this daredevil.

Snapping out of it, the man ran over to the driver’s side, pulled a pack of Da Men Qian cigarettes from his pocket, and offered it up. “Comrade driver, heading to Dashahe Village—are you going that way?”

Li Feng rolled down the window, took the cigarettes without hesitation, and said, “We pass by, but we don’t go into the village.”

For every village or landmark along the way, they had done their homework and memorized the route.

It was basic skill for any truck driver. Knowing your way around was crucial.

Zhou Yimin was quietly impressed. No wonder he’d made it to team leader—he’d memorized all the villages on the route.

The middle-aged man was overjoyed. Passing by was good enough. It wouldn’t take much effort to walk into the village later. He quickly asked, “That’s fine. How much for the fare?”

He’d been waiting here for a while. Plenty of trucks had passed, but not one of them went by Dashahe Village. He was about ready to head back to the Forty-Nine Cities and check at the train station to see if there were any seats left to Jinmen.

If he delayed any longer, he’d miss his nephew’s wedding.

“Dashahe Village is about 200 li from here. Fifty cents for the cab, twenty-five for the bed.” Li Feng rattled off the prices instantly.

Then he remembered this time he wasn’t traveling alone and added, “Cab’s full. You’ll have to ride in the bed. Take it or leave it.”

There were already three people in the cab. Space was tight, and they were having a good conversation. No need to add a stranger and ruin the vibe.

“Can I ride in the cab if I pay one yuan?” The man gritted his teeth.

He’d ridden in trucks before. If he had to sit in the bed, he’d be rattled to bits. And he made over fifty yuan a month—one yuan wasn’t a big deal.

Zhou Dafu was stunned by the man’s generosity. One yuan could go a long way—pork cost less than that per pound, eggs were just a few cents apiece, and cornmeal with a ration coupon was only a few cents per jin. Of course, that was market price. Rationed items were hard to get.

The black market was easier—but the prices were outrageous.

Back in the village, earning enough labor points to get a yuan took ages. But now, just like that, they could earn one yuan. No wonder people said they’d rather hold the steering wheel than switch with a county magistrate.

Li Feng didn’t budge. “Only the truck bed. Twenty-five cents. Yes or no? If not, I’m moving on.”

The man had no choice. Who knew when the next truck going to Dashahe Village would show up? He resigned himself. “Truck bed it is.”

Then he handed over the fare.

(End of Chapter)