The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 80: Meeting a New Driver Friend (Subscribe)
The sea breeze at the port has a faint fishy smell, but it’s not from the sea water. The sea water is very clean these days, and there are many fishing boats docked to unload their catches.

Cargo ships, fishing boats and passenger ships came and went, and the fishy smell was mixed with the smell of diesel, which was not pleasant.

The old workers fumbled with their cracked fingertips and smiled contentedly together:
“It’s different with new recruits.”

"It's time to have a baby. Damn, Xiaoyao and Quanzi used to be so hardy, but now they run away because they want to take the college entrance exam."

"Let them go and remove all the lock pads from berth number three later. Then we can ask the port for credit and get something for free..."

"What do you mean? Who should be asked to remove the lock pad?" A nonchalant voice sounded behind the pile of dried kelp.

The workers turned their heads.

Qiao Jinbu walked out with his hands in his trouser pockets.

The person who came was an acquaintance.

The worker who was speaking tightened his work clothes, the cuffs of which were frayed, and said with a smile, "It's definitely not for you, Driver Qiao."

Others also said hello:
"Old Joe, how come you have time to come here?"

"I heard you guys were driving to the Magic City earlier?"

Qiao Jinbu slapped the cigarette in front of him away and asked coldly, "Where's that bastard Hu Laoliu?"

The porters looked at each other in bewilderment: "Driver Qiao, did our Foreman Hu offend you in any way?"

We are all workers.

But these days drivers and porters are completely different.

One position is the convex point among all workers, and the other position is the concave point among all workers.

So when the porters saw that Qiao Jinbu was looking for trouble with Hu Shunzi and was not biased towards his own people, they all pointed towards the shed office.

Qiao Jinbu ran away, and a few drivers followed him with grins on their faces.

The porters blinked in confusion, and suddenly saw Qian Jin:

"Hey, new guy, why are you following?"

"Go fuck your mother!" Qiao Jinbu roared.

The worker who was speaking was completely confused: "What happened to him? Did he eat gunpowder?"

Inside the shed, Hu Shunzi, wearing a coat, looked like a mountain eagle in a cloak. He gestured to a woman with saliva flying all over his mouth:

"...Since you've been here just a short time, you might not know. Back then, there was a team of porters in Port Jia that called themselves the 'Labor Tiger Team.' I laughed when I found out. They were the tigers, and I was..."

At this moment, the wooden door was kicked open.

The sea breeze was so strong that it rushed into the small shed and began to run rampant.

Qiao Jinbu walked in with a fierce look on his face, followed by more than a dozen drivers and co-workers.

The suede shoes on their feet were equipment only available to the port fire brigade. The soles had anti-slip iron spikes, which made clanging sounds when they stepped on the iron plates of the shed.

Hu Shunzi stood up with a smile: "Brother Qiao, what kind of wind is this..."

"Old Hu, are you fucking tired of living?" Qiao Jinbu didn't give him a chance to finish his words. He grabbed an enamel pot and poured half of the hot tea into it.

Hu Shunzi was burned and grimaced.

He was confused and angry, his anger ignited into a cloud of smoke, but he saw the coldly shining iron wrenches in the drivers' hands, and then the smoke disappeared:

"Why—don't!"

Qiao Jinbu's eyes turned red, and he swung his arm, and the cast iron wrench hit the wall, brushing against the other person's ear.

Suddenly, sparks flew everywhere.

The woman was so frightened that she screamed and ran out of the shed.

"Are you beating my savior with a killing stick for fun?" Qiao Jinbu grabbed the collar of his work clothes and pulled him towards him.

Didn't pull.

But the work clothes had been washed so many times that they were no longer tiring. The tweed fabric tore with a "swish" sound. Coincidentally, a ship approached the port and blew its horn loudly, and the two sounds mixed together.

Every line of flesh on Hu Shunzi's face was filled with confusion: "How could I hit your savior?"

"Isn't your savior the security officer who saved you from a murderer at the beginning of the month? How dare I attack a police officer like a grandson?"

Qiao Jinbu pushed him hard: "It's Qian Jin!"

He stepped back, his back hitting the wooden wall of the shed, and the "Loading and Unloading Model" banner that he had just been awarded last year kept shaking.

Qiao Jinbu also tore his plaid jacket.

Three buttons flew off, revealing the scar on his chest: "Don't play dumb, I told everyone that the man who saved my life is Qian Jin! He's my life-saving brother!"

Qian Jin was stunned when he heard this.

Then he didn't understand what all this had to do with the scar on Qiao Jinbu's chest.

Qiao Jinbu stretched out his hand.

A driver handed him a greasy crowbar and said, "Sixth brother, don't blame us for not warning you. You really pissed off Brother Qiao this time. You'd better apologize quickly!"

The sheds that other drivers banged on with crowbars and wrenches made clanging sounds, startling flocks of seagulls that flew towards the sea.

At this moment, the engine roared outside.

Five more Dongfeng trucks drove over the flooded ground.

There is a metal plate hanging on the front of each truck: Advanced Transport Team.

The trucks stopped and the drivers jumped out, swinging galvanized steel pipes: "Where are the comrades!"

"Who bullies our driver?"

Social security is poor, and drivers are known to have money on them and goods in their cars, so they have become fat meat in the eyes of many criminals.

In order to protect themselves, drivers are extremely united. If a driver is bullied, other drivers will come to his aid regardless of whether they are from the same transport team or transport company.

The five drivers who came this time did not belong to the same unit as Qiao Jinbu and others, but they always ate, drank and discussed routes together on weekdays, so they were also friends.

Someone heard what Qiao Jinbu had just shouted, and called his colleagues who were loading the goods to come quickly.

Qiao Jinbu became more aggressive and started punching and kicking Hu Shunzi.

Hu Shunzi felt very wronged and depressed.

If they really fight, he can handle ten Joe Jinbu with one hand.

But he didn't dare to offend the driver because they, the porters, needed him for too much.

He had no choice but to hold his head to protect his vital parts and retreat, saying with a forced smile: "It's a misunderstanding, Brother Qiao, it's all a misunderstanding. If I knew Qian Jin saved your life, I would worship him as my grandfather!"

Qian Jin went up and grabbed Qiao Jinbu: "Brother Qiao, forget it, I'm fine."

"I know you're fine, and it's a good thing you're fine. If you were fine, I would have knocked all of Hu Liuzi's teeth out!" Qiao Jinbu grabbed a wrench and pretended to hit him, and Hu Shunzi stepped back in embarrassment.

Qian Jin dragged the man out. Qiao Jinbu didn't want it to end like this and was very angry:

"Your hands were fine last time you dealt with those two murderers, but today you just got to work and your hands are rubbed like this. I feel bad!"

Qian Jin kept saying, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm a porter, and this is the only way..."

He pulled Qiao Jinbu out of the shed and bowed to the other drivers, thanking them: "Thank you all for your concern for me. I'm fine. I'm sorry for all your hard work."

Lao Guai quietly handed him a handful of Fengshou cigarettes.

Qian Jin distributed cigarettes to the drivers.

The drivers clipped the sign to their ears as soon as they saw it.

A box of these cigarettes costs 9 cents.

They don't smoke this.

I can't get used to smoking, it's too choking and makes me cough.

Qian Jin understood what was going on and said, "Brother Qiao, please make an appointment with the brothers later. I'll treat you to a meal at the State-Owned No. 2 Restaurant."

Hearing this, the drivers all smiled.

Qiao Jinbu lit a cigarette and said, "Brother Qian Jin's brother is the team leader of the State-Owned No. 2 Hotel!"

The drivers were shocked: "Guan Dabao?"

Qian Jin nodded silently: "He's an older brother I have a good relationship with."

The drivers immediately looked at him differently.

The porters' eyes looked even more different.

Hu Shunzi in the shed was about to cry when he heard these words:

Aren't you a security guard? Why are you a porter? What's wrong? Are you here to experience the lives of us low-level workers?

After Qian Jin's persuasion, the drivers drove away.

Qiao Jinbu stayed and said, "I have to help you today!"

Hu Shunzi is a real man who can bend and stretch.

He handed Qian Jin a cigarette and said, "Look, the flood really washed away the Dragon King Temple. My family didn't even recognize it."

"Oh, your hands are so worn out? Then take a day off today. I'll count you and Wei Xiongtu as having full attendance."

Wei Xiongtu was resolute: "It's okay, Captain, I can still do it."

Qian Jin dragged him away directly: "Military orders are as heavy as a mountain. Let's just listen to the captain."

It is better to choose a day than to hit it.

At noon, Qian Jin asked Qiao Jinbu to call some people to eat together at the State-owned Restaurant No. 2.

Connections are like a bachelor marrying a wife, the more the better.

Qian Jin brought gifts to the restaurant.

A good friend for middle-aged people, wolfberry eight-treasure tea!
As soon as he entered the door, he ordered the dishes, paid the money and the food coupons and meat coupons, and ordered a lot of main dishes such as roast chicken, pork elbow, braised pork, fried fish and meat.

The drivers secretly gave Qiao Jinbu a thumbs-up: "This comrade is really honest!"

Qiao Jinbu was proud of it: "Not only is he honest, but he's also capable. I'm introducing you to such a friend. You all owe me a meal!"

Qian Jin called Guan Dabao out.

Guan Dabao enthusiastically shook his arm and said, "Brother, you're here? Tell me what you want to eat today!"

Qian Jin handed him the plastic bag and said, "I came here today mainly to give you something. How was the tea we drank last time?"

Guan Dabao exclaimed: "What a good thing! It's worthy of being made by a famous doctor in Beijing. I'm not exaggerating. I feel different after drinking it these days. I have a different energy!"

He looked around and lowered his voice, saying, "We men are different in that way!"

"To be honest, my family is just one word: tough!"

Qian Jin looked at his pressure cooker-like body and lowered his voice and said, "If you want to be tough, this won't work. Come back to me and I'll give you a tough one."

Only Alan can make a man truly tough.

Guan Dabao immediately made an appointment to meet him after get off work today...

The two separated.

Qian Jin handed the gift bag to Wei Xiongtu and said, "Give some to each of you brothers."

The drivers looked at it curiously and asked, "What is this?"

Qian Jin used the same excuse he had given to Guan Dabao again. The drivers ate and drank for free, and were so happy that their mouths were almost drooping from ear to ear:
"Brother Qian Jin, you're a real man, and we're no strangers either. If you need a car in the future, just let us know, and we'll get it for you even in the middle of the night!"

"Brother, what do you want to do as a porter? If not, follow me and learn to drive. I will take you as a driver!"

Qian Jin knew that these were just polite words. In this day and age, it was a big favor and a big deal for a driver to take in an apprentice.

He doesn't want to be a driver, he just wants to build relationships with the drivers:

If a family has a relative or friend who is a driver, the family can use good things from all over the world.

Drivers can travel around the country legally and take the opportunity to buy low and sell high. This has become an unwritten rule in the industry.

Qian Jin has many friends who are drivers. Whenever someone asks him where something comes from, he can just say, "My driver friend brought it to me from somewhere."

Plus the drivers are well-informed.

Everyone was drinking and talking without restraint.

Qian Jin discovered that although reform and opening up had not yet begun, the southern economy had already become active.

Nowadays, no one dares to start a business on their own, but the clan atmosphere in the south is strong, and many villages and production teams have established small businesses as collective units:

"If you want to buy hardware in the future, I'll recommend a good place for you to go, to Jiyang."

"There's a brigade there called Huaxi. Their leader is quite a figure. He led the members to run a small hardware factory. They produce a complete range of durable parts!"

The drivers remained noncommittal.

Qian Jin was shocked when he heard this.

Huaxi Brigade?

Isn’t this the so-called No. 1 Village in the World that later became famous all over the world?
It turns out that there is a factory in this village now.

Continuing to delve deeper into this topic, the drivers talked about their private business of selling goods.

Qian Jin listened quietly and figured out a business strategy:
Nowadays, drivers in Haibin City have access to the most cutting-edge culture in the country and they are very fashionable.

Moreover, these people have money, tickets and resources, making them good targets for Qian Jin to sell his goods to!
(End of this chapter)