Chapter 271: Reception

After taking the fare, Li Feng didn’t even look at it and simply tossed it into a box in the driver’s cabin.

The middle-aged man had no choice but to sheepishly head to the back and climb into the truck bed. Once he was up, he called out, “Comrade driver, we’re good to go.”

Upon hearing this, Li Feng resumed driving.

Zhou Dafu quietly asked, “Judging by the way that guy was dressed, he might be a leader. Aren’t we worried about that?”

In his view, only leaders wore uniforms. Workers typically wore work clothes, and ordinary people, while their clothing had no fixed style, usually wore patched-up garments. These days, thriftiness was in vogue, and it was common to make clothes last three more years through constant mending.

Some especially poor families might only own one or two sets of clothes. Usually, only those going out to work got to wear them, while the rest had to stay huddled under the covers.

“So what if he’s a leader? As long as he’s not our leader, it doesn’t matter. And he doesn’t know where we’re from anyway—he wouldn’t even know where to file a complaint,” Li Feng explained.

That was also why he’d covered up the license plate.

Zhou Dafu nodded at that, thinking Li Feng made sense. His fear stemmed mainly from the worry that a complaint could cost him this hard-won job.

The three of them chatted off and on as the truck rumbled along the road.

Just then, Zhou Dafu’s stomach let out a loud growl, making him blush a little.

Even though he was now a worker, he often skipped breakfast to save money—or perhaps it was just a rural habit. In the countryside, many people didn’t eat breakfast either.

Li Feng chuckled. “I’ve got some mantou here—eat one to hold you over. When we get to Jinmen, we’ll hit a restaurant.”

Normally, he’d bring dry food like corn cakes; white-flour mantou were rare. He had a decent quota of white flour, but he couldn’t bear to eat it. He’d usually save it for holidays to make dumplings, or trade it for coarse grains or meat.

They say yawns are contagious—but so is hunger.

Hearing Zhou Dafu’s stomach, Zhou Yimin realized he was getting hungry too. “Let’s eat mine instead!”

Then he pulled out three large meat buns from one of his bags.

Li Feng and Zhou Dafu saw the meat juices seeping through the dough and couldn’t help swallowing hard.

“Team Lead Zhou, are those meat buns?” Li Feng blurted, amazed. Eating meat buns on the road?

How extravagant!

Even though he was a truck driver, he’d never splurged like that.

Usually, he treated meat with extreme caution—eating it only two or three times a month, and even then just nibbling at it to get a hint of flavor.

Meat rations were so limited that it was better to save them for New Year’s.

Zhou Yimin joked, “Yup, meat buns. What, you don’t like them?”

He handed one to each of them.

Before Li Feng or Zhou Dafu could say anything, Zhou Yimin had already taken a big bite and added, “Too bad they’re not fresh out of the steamer.”

Li Feng and Zhou Dafu were speechless. You’re on a business trip and still thinking about hot food? Just having anything to eat is already a blessing.

Zhou Yimin started to miss the service stations of the later generations. The food there might be expensive, but at least it was hot. If it weren’t for the others being around, he would’ve pulled a piping hot chicken leg or chicken steak from his system’s store to chow down on.

Li Feng and Zhou Dafu didn’t hold back either. They bit into the meat buns hungrily.

In just a few bites, each had finished the bun, which was larger than a fist. Afterward, they licked their lips, as if trying to savor the lingering taste of meat.

They weren’t full yet, but didn’t dare look at Zhou Yimin again—after all, meat buns were rare, and having even one was a treat.

Zhou Yimin didn’t care what they were thinking and generously handed them each another. “Here, have another.”

He still had quite a few left, but it wouldn’t do to eat them all in one go.

This time, Li Feng and Zhou Dafu didn’t stand on ceremony. As soon as they got one in their hands, they started eating.

The road ahead was straight, with few turns, so Li Feng could still drive with one hand.

Of course, the occasional bump was inevitable, but as long as no one got bounced out of the truck, it was all good.

After a few more bites, the buns were gone. Still not full, Li Feng pulled out some white-flour mantou he had brought himself. Driving a truck was hard physical work, after all, so it made sense to eat a lot.

Li Feng said, “Team Lead Zhou, I brought some white mantou—try a couple, don’t mind the taste.”

Zhou Yimin smiled and took them without hesitation.

“Dafu, eat up!” Li Feng called over.

Along the way, the truck broke down twice. The shortcomings of this model were beginning to show, and Li Feng was exasperated. Looks good, but doesn’t hold up?

He’d even sung its praises at first—what a joke!

By the time they reached Jinmen, night had already fallen.

That man who had boarded midway got off back in Dashahé Village.

Zhou Yimin and the others headed straight for the factory.

“Hello, comrades! We’re from the First Steelworks in the capital. This here is the expert your factory invited, Comrade Zhou Yimin…” Li Feng stepped forward and handed over a cigarette.

The gatekeeper, upon hearing that, quickly let them through.

The factory director had already issued instructions: experts from the capital were arriving today to provide guidance, and they were to be treated with utmost respect and their arrival promptly reported.

“Welcome, comrades! We’ve been expecting you—please, come in. I’ll go notify the factory leadership immediately.”

He rushed off to report.

Li Feng and Zhou Dafu didn’t go inside. Their job was just to get Zhou Yimin there safely; they had other tasks to handle.

Before long, a group of factory leaders arrived.

“Comrade Zhou Yimin, young and capable! Welcome, welcome!” Director Chen led several of the factory’s leaders to greet him.

They hadn’t met Zhou Yimin before, but they had done their homework. Though young, he had already produced several inventions beneficial to the nation and its people.

Such talent was valuable no matter where you went.

Their rice cooker factory, after all, was built based on one of his inventions. How could they afford to treat him poorly?

Director Chen then introduced everyone around him.

Zhou Yimin shook hands with each of them, exchanging a few words of greeting.

“Let’s head to the cafeteria and talk over dinner. It’s getting late—we can discuss work tomorrow, how about that?” Director Chen suggested.

They had already decided what to serve: he had to be well taken care of.

“Guests follow the host—whatever Director Chen says,” Zhou Yimin replied with a smile.

“Great!”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This young expert didn’t seem difficult at all—they could relax a bit.

Previously, they’d worried that someone so young might be arrogant, but he turned out to be easygoing.

The group headed to the cafeteria. Being leadership, they certainly weren’t eating from the communal pot. A private meal had been prepared, featuring multiple meat dishes—hospitality standards were high.

After the meal, Director Chen made arrangements for Zhou Yimin’s accommodation.

(End of Chapter)