Above Destiny

Chapter 465 Good Days and Bad Days

After a sudden rain, the sun dried the mud on the road again, and dust flew as large trucks rumbled past.

In the humid and hot wind, the dust rose and fell weakly.

The exposed skin could feel an unpleasant greasy and sticky sensation, and the crotch of my pants was stuck together and felt uncomfortable.

Just a few steps outdoors and you’ll start to miss iced happy water and air conditioning.

Unfortunately, both of these are luxuries in the wilderness.

There are very few times when we can enjoy it.

As summer gradually fades away, after experiencing one seemingly endless rainstorm after another, the rainy season, which was so long that it made people grow mushrooms in agony, finally comes to an end.

The wilderness once again welcomed stability and prosperity.

Ignoring the relatively infrequent rainstorms and the relatively slack sunshine, autumn is already a good time of year with clear skies and cool weather.

The villagers and garbage collectors, who had been depressed for several months, once again carried all their belongings and came out in droves, as if they were busy with farming. For a moment, the deserted and barren wilderness in the past actually became busy.

What’s different from previous years is that this time there’s a lot more eye-catching red.

More and more colorfully painted and overloaded tricycles appeared on the roads, traveling between various settlements or temporary construction sites and mines.

The drivers, dressed in equally striking clothes, drink, smoke, carry guns, and are responsible for delivering the goods to every remote place.

The tricycles and uniforms are often spray-painted with a black logo and the name of a company that has recently become famous in the wilderness - Messenger Logistics.

"Uncle, Lao, Lao... who is this Lao Diao? The name is quite complicated..."

The bearded man stepped on the brakes, jumped out of the car, spat into the mud, and stuttered for a long time while copying the cargo list, but couldn't recognize the words.

Then, of course, there was a roar.

"Alpaca, if you can't read it, you don't have to read it, Lao Chang! Lao Chang!"

The man who placed the order opened the curtain of the shabby RV and came out amidst laughter. He snatched the order, signed his name on it, and slapped it back into the deliveryman's hand: "Where's the stuff?"

"Hey, why are you so fierce?"

The deliveryman shook his head, turned around and searched the carriage for a long time, found a metal box of uniform style and specifications, and handed it over.

There's also a combination lock on it.

It was obvious that this was not the first time they had dealt with each other. Lao Chang had long been accustomed to the rules of courier logistics and did not let him talk nonsense. Soon, when Lao Chang came out of the house, the empty box was thrown back.

The boxes are from courier logistics.

As for what was in the box... no one asked and no one told.

That's the rule. If you confirm when you send the package and it doesn't violate the boss's rules, then the delivery person doesn't have to worry about anything. If you stick to the standards too much in the wilderness, you won't get any business.

After confirming that an order has been settled, the deliveryman will ride his tricycle to deliver other ordinary goods.

Most of them are products in the courier logistics order book, medicines, emergency food, clothing, toilet paper, and spirits that are uniformly packaged and purchased in batches. A small portion is things like vegetables and meat that need to be refrigerated, or digital products that cannot be produced or made in the wilderness. Occasionally there are a few books, a few strange discs... or seaweed egg drop soup that has no vegetables or flowers in it and the soup was forgotten.

When it was finally the deliveryman’s turn, he yelled and cursed, asking which prodigal son had bought such a big toilet, and also, he wouldn’t install it!

After delivering a batch of goods, the deliveryman smoked a cigarette, then packed the things to be sent out in the settlement. After signing the contract, he took an order form with half of the goods written on it, nodded, and agreed on a time for another delivery with the leader of the settlement.

Next time I come, unless there is a special situation or urgency, it will take three days.

As it should be, and no one cares.

Unlike our colleagues in the city who would be scolded if they had to wait until the next day to deliver the goods, time is the least important aspect in logistics work in the wilderness.

The key is to deliver the goods.

"It's not safe to carry so many things at a time, right?" The idle man smoking at the entrance of the settlement poked his head in curiously: "What if we encounter car robbers?"

The deliveryman turned around, glanced at him, then glanced at a few curious people not far away, grinned, and said, "What else can I do? Just run."

He said: "The company's rules state that if you encounter a robbery, you should just dump the cargo boxes and run away. You don't have to worry about the cargo. Whoever gets the cargo will own it."

"So generous?" Some people around him laughed, as if they didn't believe his nonsense.

"Anyway, that's what we were taught during the training. We've encountered many cases of car robbers. Those who died received a pension and 20 months' salary. Those who survived didn't have their pay deducted and could continue delivering goods."

The deliveryman lit another cigarette, slowly started the car, and drove away.

In the crowd, a few people looked at each other and were about to say something, but the crowd dispersed in an instant.

A dark and skinny man walked over, looked at the person asking the question expressionlessly, and without any warning, slapped him in the face.

He also gave the guys next to him a slap in the face and a kick in the heart.

No one dared to fight back, not even to dodge.

"Uncle Li..."

"You've made some progress, Lao Shuhui."

The skinny man sighed, "You even dare to covet the goods from the coast? If you want to die so badly, why don't I help you and drive you out of the settlement and let you go on your own, okay? If you become famous in the future, maybe I will even look at your face."

"I, uncle, that's not what I meant." The idle man who was slapped avoided his eyes: "I really don't have that idea, I'm just asking..."

"You'd better not be."

The leader of the settlement was indifferent: "Otherwise, I would not need to go to the coast to hoist you up to the power tower first, so that when the collection team from the coast comes to our door, you will not kill us again!"

Everyone was silent.

"Okay, let's all disperse."

Uncle Li waved his hand, took one last glance at the restless young men, then turned and left.

After returning to his RV, he opened a bottle of beer and drank most of it. Without even turning his head, he said, "Xiao Liu, keep an eye on them. If they sneak out, tell me."

"Good words can't persuade a damned ghost."

The young man watching porn in the car shook his head and said, "Lao Shuhui is a rubbish who doesn't know what's good for him. You saved his life, but he thinks you're blocking his path to wealth.

It would be better for everyone if such people were driven out as soon as possible.”

Uncle Li didn't say anything and continued drinking beer.

After the fast forward, the young man waited for a long time and couldn't help asking: "The logistics company Coastal is a big tree that attracts the wind. I don't think it will last long.

Several bosses have spread the word, do you want to…"

Uncle Li looked over expressionlessly, interrupted him, and asked, "You said I'm the boss, do you think I look like a boss?"

"Not like."

Xiao Liu shook his head regretfully, "Like a poor bastard."

"Isn't that right?" Uncle Li sneered, "Why would a poor bastard worry about his boss's business?
If the boss wants to do something, let the bosses do it. After the bosses are done, no matter who dies or who wins, won’t they still have to find us poor guys to do the work?

Damn it, if I was capable of beating Coast, I would have been my own boss a long time ago. Why would I have to work so hard for their little money? "

Xiao Liu was silent for a long time, looked over suspiciously, and shook his head:
"That's really unlike you, uncle. When you took me out with your gun in your hand, you never flinched."

"I'm old and afraid."

Uncle Li picked up the bottle and looked up, only to find that it was empty. After a long silence, he did not take any more wine. He just smacked his lips and poured the last drop onto the tip of his tongue.

The beer ordered in bulk by Coast cannot be described as strong and mellow. At best, it is just a beverage with a little alcohol and flavor to go with meals.

The taste is bland.

But such beer, after being chilled, could only be enjoyed at any time by the leaders of the settlement in the wilderness.

Now, there was a whole row of them piled up at the back of his car.

A refrigerator that has been used for who knows how many years is wheezing away at the cooling power, a shoddy assembled air conditioner is whirring away with cold air, and the pre-prepared dishes in the scrapped microwave oven are turned over a few times and, with a ding, an enticing aroma emerges.

"Let's eat."

Uncle Li threw the crushed can into the box and picked up the chopsticks.

The packaging bag was torn open, and the green peppers, shredded pork and oil inside were poured into the plate, paired with sticky rice, and stuffed into the mouth.

During breaks from eating, he would occasionally look up and gaze at the wilderness outside the settlement.

The grass is green, the sky is blue, and the sun is shining.

The tarpaulins bought from the coast have been gradually put up. When the temperature drops a little, we can try to plant some garlic and rapeseed.

You can leave some space and ask someone to build a chicken coop. If you can’t sell the chickens, you can keep them for yourself.

Days like this are actually pretty good.

he suddenly thought.

It is clear that these days will not get better.

Under the same sky, in the same wilderness, people's joys and sorrows are difficult to communicate. Some people imagine the future, while others feel that there is no future.

No one spoke on the streets of the settlement. Every face looked solemn, gloomy, or curious. They poked their heads out and glanced at the "most imposing" building in the center.

Three-story buildings can be seen everywhere in the city.

In front of the door, an armored vehicle was printed with the Coast's logo, and armed security guards were standing around, glancing at each face with indifference.

The atmosphere in the hall was no longer as warm and friendly as before, and it was almost tense.

On one side of the tattered table, the visitors, neatly dressed in suits and ties, were calm and composed, while on the other side of the table, the weather-beaten, dark-skinned locals were already furious and their faces were red.

Many young people were already furious, and at the slightest order, they would rush forward and tear these outsiders, who only had money in their eyes, into pieces!

"Mr. Ji, are you going to kill them all?"

Feng Yao's hands were shaking, and he looked at the notice in his hand with bloodshot eyes: "You can't deny us a way out!
Do you mean to force us to death?"

As he spoke, the people around him glanced back and gave him a look. Suddenly, the atmosphere became more sad and angry, and the people surrounding outside the hall also started to make a lot of noise.

Some people have already picked up guns.

Defend your homeland! Defend your settlement! I would rather die than be a slave!

At worst, I’ll fight with you!

"This is different from what we agreed on before, Mr. Feng."

The debt collector was obviously used to the customs of the people in the wilderness, and sighed helplessly: "We came to ask a month ago, and you said that the water ghosts had not left and it was not safe. We came to ask half a month ago, and you said that there were too many injured people who had not recovered. Now I come to ask for the third time, how can it be considered that I forced you to death?
Even outside the city, we still have to follow the rules, right?"

"It's reasonable, it's a rule, but this is too harsh!"

Feng Yao's voice was hoarse, and he almost cried: "Mr. Ji's price is so high, we also have to live, taking so many people away at once..."

"It wasn't like this when you called for help."

The debt collector shook his head, took out his phone and pushed it to the middle of the table: "There is no contract in the wilderness, but the recording, video, and electronic confirmation signature at the time are all complete.

Mr. Feng, you want money, but you don't want to hand over the person, and you want to default on your debt. Now you want to stay alive. Where in the world can you get such a good deal?"

As early as the previous rainy season when water ghosts were rampant, Coast had already launched security services to all settlements in the Haizhou wilderness, providing 24-hour fire support.

If any settlement is overwhelmed by an attack or is in a critical situation, a helping hand can be extended at any time.

Whether it is weapons, equipment, or fire support.

Anytime, anywhere.

As for the price, it is also open and transparent. However, we do not charge money or precious metals.

The prices of all materials and fire support are calculated based on the construction period.

Among them, the price of one missile is ten years, and it does not matter whether ten adult laborers serve the coast for one year or one person signs a ten-year contract.

With the end of the rainy season, Feng Yao was left with a construction period of 160 years.

But after a moment of comfort, Feng Yao, like countless others who had to pay the bill after having sex, felt that the price was not quite reasonable.

If we really go by this price, the entire settlement will have to stop doing anything and will have to work for the coast for nothing for half a year.

Besides, with so many people gone, it's still unclear whether they will come back. Will the previous "business" still be able to continue? Not to mention business, I'm afraid the settlement will not be able to be saved!

What would I, as the leader, eat and drink then?
Do you also go to the assembly line on the coast to tighten screws?
So, after pretending to be nice and dealing with several waves of debt collection, Feng Yao started to think, and had some thoughts that he shouldn't have...

"You also know that I, Feng Yao, always keep my word and never go back on my word!" After wiping two tears, Feng Yao squeezed out a trace of sincerity and helplessness from his worried expression, "It's just that the rainy season has just passed, and the whole gathering really needs people. We can't even afford to eat. Please be merciful and let me take my time... I... I..."

When he talked about the exciting things, he couldn't hold back his tears.

Such a good man, when his true feelings were revealed, he actually shed tears.

"Okay."

The debt collector across the table nodded without hesitation.

"..."

Feng Yao stood there in a daze.

Not only him, but all the atmosphere group members behind him who were filled with righteous indignation and anger were also stunned and looked at each other.

This……

Is this right?
Is this how the plot should be?
(End of this chapter)