Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"But my situation is special this time. There's an emergency at home, and I absolutely need to use the car."

"This is just a small token of my appreciation, to buy the brothers a pack of cigarettes. Please don't mind."

Looking at the four neatly stacked "Hongtashan" cigarettes in front of him, exuding the aroma of high-grade tobacco, Lao Yu's smile faded and his brows furrowed slightly.

He put down his notebook, picked up a pack of cigarettes, weighed it in his hand, and then put it down again.

"Old Li, you're being too polite!"

Old Yu raised his voice slightly, a hint of displeasure in it, "What's our relationship? Why are you giving me this crap?"

"Put it away quickly!"

He pushed the cigarette towards Li Hongfeng: "What would people think if they saw this!"

"Old Yu, don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant."

Li Hongfeng didn't move, and gave a wry smile: "The main problem is that the car was used for too long this time, and I... I really feel bad about it."

"Although the team has many vehicles, we know how many there are. I'm borrowing this for half a month because I'm afraid of causing you trouble and also because I'm afraid of what others will say."

"Trouble? What's the trouble?"

Old Yu scoffed, lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "The convoy is our territory!"

"I'm in charge! That Daihatsu truck, besides hauling some odd jobs, mostly just sits idle in the sun."

"Did someone ask?"

"I told them the car broke down and needed major repairs, and it wouldn't be ready for at least two weeks!"

"It's no big deal!"

He stood up, walked around the table, and patted Li Hongfeng on the shoulder: "Old Li, I know you're the kind of person who wouldn't say something like that for no reason."

"If you need the car for anything at home, feel free to take it!"

"I'll fill up the tank for you. Just refill it when you come back."

"Stop with all this fluff, it'll hurt our feelings!"

Li Hongfeng felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. He knew that although Lao Yu spoke lightly, he must have been involved in some way behind the scenes and had to go to great lengths to cover it up.

"Old Yu...thanks! Really!"

Li Hongfeng squeezed Lao Yu's hand tightly. "I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. By the time I get back, the car should be ready to be used."

"When the time comes, I'll treat you. Let's find a place and have a good drink! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

"Haha, okay! I'll remember that!"

Old Yu laughed heartily, "Don't worry, I'll take care of the car!"

"You can use a car anytime you need it. As long as I'm still the team leader, there's no problem!"

Li Hongfeng thanked him repeatedly, threw the cigarette on the table, and then left the team's office.

Stepping out of the compound, the afternoon sun was a bit dazzling, but he felt much more at ease.

The most difficult part of my son's whimsical "plan"—the transportation—has finally been settled.

State-owned enterprises in this era were mostly like this, with the line between public and private blurred as much as the oil droplets in the communal cooking pot in the canteen.

Everyone is used to treating public property as their own, from small screws and work gloves to large machine parts, vehicle tools, and other items.

Borrowing a car is not a big deal, as long as it's not too outrageous. You can ask beforehand, or even not ask, as long as you know the person in charge.

This is an unspoken "benefit," and also a deeply ingrained habit.

Are the factory leaders unaware of this trend?

I definitely know.

But the law cannot punish everyone, and water that is too clear will have no fish. No matter how big a family business is, it cannot withstand so many people "handling" it little by little.

Next, he still had to go to the printing factory... Thinking of his son's face, a mixture of childishness and ambition, Li Hongfeng shook his head, sighed, and couldn't help but feel a little expectant.

What kind of trouble can this little rascal possibly cause?

When Li Yunjing returned in the evening, he saw the bread cart parked in the yard and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Yunjing was quite satisfied with his father's abilities.

Borrowing a car is not difficult on ordinary days, but borrowing it for half a month at once is a problem.

Fortunately, the father successfully completed his mission.

During dinner that evening, Li Yunjing brushed aside his parents' questions, saying only that he had seen Lü Ruoxi and that she was doing well, having a good university life.

They didn't say much else.

The next morning, after the father and son got up, Li Hongfeng opened the car door and called out to Li Yunjing, "Let's go! I'll take you to find a printing factory this morning!"

As he spoke, he climbed into the driver's seat and familiarly fumbled for the ignition. The car emitted a series of muffled "poof poof poof" sounds, and a thin wisp of black smoke billowed from the exhaust pipe.

"Alright!"

Li Yunjing, carrying his schoolbag, climbed into the passenger seat from the other side.

"Hold on tight."

Li Hongfeng shifted gears, and the bread truck, making even louder noises, shakily drove out of the yard.

"Dad, which printing factory are we going to?"

Li Yunjing asked curiously.

"We won't go to those houses in town; they're too conspicuous."

Li Hongfeng looked ahead and turned onto a narrower dirt road. "Go to Cuitun, it's about ten miles from here. There's a small village-run printing factory there, with only three or five people, an old-fashioned rotary printing press, and a hand-cranked paper cutter."

"The equipment isn't great, but it's passable for printing simple things."

"The key is... I don't know anyone here, so it's safe."

Li Yun nodded, secretly praising his father for his thoughtful consideration.

The printing factories in town are relatively large, with many people and eyes watching. There's no guarantee that someone won't gossip and spread the word, or recognize the father and son.

How awful it will sound if word gets out!

Even if making money isn't shameful, you can't let people talk behind your back!

Especially my dad, he's very concerned about his image!

Outside, who doesn't call him Section Chief Li?

When people start gossiping behind his back that his son is up to no good, won't the father be ashamed to death?

Li Yunjing had already imagined what his father hadn't said.

Going to these remote village-run factories may have poor conditions, but they are secluded, and these factories are usually tight-lipped in order to get work, as long as the money is right.

The car left the cement road leading from the factory area and the town center, and turned onto a dirt road leading to the countryside.

The road conditions immediately deteriorated.

The road surface was riddled with deep and shallow ruts and potholes from various vehicles. Dry yellow soil floated on the surface, and every time a wheel rolled over it, it would kick up clouds of dust that would seep in through the gaps in the car windows, making people cough.

Li Hongfeng had to roll the car window up most of the way, and the car immediately became stuffy and hot, filled with dust and the strange smell that was already inside.

The bread cart swayed and bounced up and down as if it were drunk, navigating the potholes.

Each violent jolt felt like it was shaking one's internal organs out of their throat.

The seats are hard, and the shock absorption is practically nonexistent.

Li Yunjing felt as if he wasn't sitting in a car, but rather on the old, dilapidated fishing boat from his hometown, heading out to sea and encountering a huge storm, violently bobbing up and down between the crests and troughs of the waves.

My stomach was churning, and the porridge and steamed buns I ate for breakfast were pushing upwards.