Siheyuan: Why does your brother beat you up every day, Shazhu?

Xiao Wu remembered that the lunch box was on a shelf next to him, so why couldn’t he find it today?

He searched for a long time before finding it in the wooden box next to him, and complained:

"I don't know who it was that put the lunch box into the box without even saying a word."

After complaining, he took his things and returned to the section chief's office.

Two new sets of dark blue work clothes were neatly folded, two pairs of thick canvas gloves, and a heavy aluminum lunch box.

He placed the item on Section Chief Zhang Youhai's desk:

"Chief, everything is ready."

Zhang Youhai nodded: "Yes! Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Wu! Go ahead and get busy!"

"Okay!" After getting a nod from Zhang Youhai, Xiao Wu stepped out.

Zhang Youhai personally handed these things to He Weiguo, and said in a tone that was like the advice of an old comrade:

"Weiguo, take the things. Especially this lunch box,"

He pointed at the aluminum box:

"Remember to carve your name somewhere conspicuous when you get home. Our factory cafeteria is crowded, and if you don't mark it, you might take the wrong thing or lose it later and have no place to find it."

This is a very realistic statement and is also common sense among workers these days.

He Weiguo took it with both hands, feeling the thickness of the work clothes and the coolness of the lunch box, and thanked him sincerely:

"I see. Thank you for the reminder, Section Chief Zhang! You've taken the trouble!"

Zhang Youhai smiled and waved his hand, picking up the documents on the table:

"I still have some reports to finish, so I won't go with you."

What he said was both true and sensible. An administrative section chief accompanied the new driver to report for duty, and it was indeed passed.

Wang Wensheng replied at the right moment: "Okay, Lao Zhang, you go ahead and do your thing."

"Weiguo, follow me. The transport team is in the warehouse area at the back."

He was well aware of the limits in officialdom, and his personnel section chief sending someone over showed his respect without being too inappropriate.

The two quickly left the administrative department.

Walking through the factory alleys piled with wooden boxes and sacks, the air was filled with the smell of flour, grease and a faint smell of engine oil.

After passing two rows of tall red brick warehouses, the view suddenly opened up.

A huge piece of hardened cement ground appeared in front of us. This was the parking lot and maintenance yard of the transport team.

There were seven or eight dark green trucks parked on the grounds. Their fronts were square and angular, exactly the most common Soviet GAZ trucks of that era.

Most of these cars are dusty and many of them have traces of repairs and faint craters and welds on their bodies, which clearly show that they have experienced the baptism of war.

Several cars had their hoods open, revealing the relatively simple mechanical internal structures inside.

Tires, tarpaulins and some repair tools were piled up on the side of the field, and the air was filled with a strong smell of gasoline, diesel and engine oil.

As soon as I entered the venue, I heard a roar with great energy:

"Stupid ass! Did the door squeeze your brain? Can you clean the carburetor like this? Did you adjust the oil needle in the float chamber? Are your eyes on the back of your head?"

"I've taught you eight hundred times and you still don't know how to do it! You have a pig brain and you still want to be a driver? Get out of here and start carrying heavy bags!"

I saw a burly man in his forties, wearing oil-stained blue work clothes, with his hands on his hips, cursing at a young apprentice with a red face who was squatting in front of the hood.

The man had a full beard, thick eyebrows, and muscular arms, which were obviously the result of years of fighting against iron lumps.

Wang Wensheng saw this and shouted:

"Captain Wen! You're so angry so early in the morning! I can hear you cursing from two miles away!"

The burly man was the transport team leader Wen Tiezhu.

He turned around at the sound, his face still showing anger. When he saw that it was Wang Wensheng, he just curled his lips:

"Section Chief Wang? You have no idea! These apprentices are so stupid... I don't know how many times I've taught them!"

"If they can't even fix a broken carburetor, who can afford it if it breaks down mid-route and delays the factory's work?"

"My transport team is already short on manpower. The workload is overwhelming, and I still have to find people to train apprentices. I can't teach them, but I can't. How can I not be angry?"

He spoke in a loud voice, a habit developed from working in noisy environments for a long time, and his words were full of strict technical requirements and anxiety about efficiency.

Wang Wensheng smiled and led He Weiguo, who was beside him, forward a step:

"Okay, calm down! I have some good news for you today, and I also want you to have a capable future!"

"This is Comrade He Weiguo, the new driver assigned to your transport team!"

Wen Tiezhu's sharp eyes scanned He Weiguo, lingering for a moment on his tall figure and steady expression. He nodded, but his tone was still scrutinizing.

"Well, he's got a nice build, and a good driver. But I don't know about his brain..."

He tapped his temple with his greasy fingers.

"Are you smart or not? In our line of work, just having strength is not enough!"

He said this to He Weiguo, and it was also a bit of a warning to the newcomer.

When Wang Wensheng heard this, the smile on his face faded a little.

He knew that Wen Tiezhu was a straightforward person who valued technology above all else, but He Weiguo's situation was special.

This was someone Director Liu Wenhua had personally greeted, and the middle-aged man in military uniform who accompanied him that day had an extraordinary aura.

What’s more, He Weiguo has a solid technical resume!

He frowned and said:

"Wen Tiezhu! Stop looking down on others like that! What do you mean by smart or not?"

"Let me tell you, Comrade Weiguo is a veteran truck driver who retired from the Korean battlefield!"

"I've been driving in the army for ten years! I've been through fire and rain!"

"As for your driving and repairing skills, do you think they can compare to your mediocre skills of tinkering with a few broken cars in the factory?"

"They've seen more breakdowns and experienced more dangerous roads than you've eaten salt!"

Wang Wensheng's words were powerful. He was defending He Weiguo and also pointed out to Wen Tiezhu - don't use your tricks to bluff newcomers, their resumes are not worse than yours!

"Korean battlefield? Ten years as a motor soldier?" The anger on Wen Tiezhu's face was instantly replaced by shock, and his eyes widened!

He knows too well the value of these words!

In that battlefield where steel and flesh and blood are intertwined, a motor vehicle soldier who can run the transportation line for ten years is definitely a soldier king-level existence!

Technology, courage, experience, and luck are all essential!

That is the real master who crawled out from the pile of dead bodies!

His previous attempt to take advantage of his seniority seemed ridiculous in the face of such solid experience.

In an instant, a smile mixed with embarrassment, admiration and relief appeared on Wen Tiezhu's bearded face.

He habitually wiped his oily hands on his overalls, strode up to He Weiguo, and stretched out his rough, powerful hand:

"Oh! Comrade Weiguo! Look at me... this is really like a dog's mouth cannot spit out ivory! I can't recognize the real thing! Please don't take a crude guy like me seriously!"

His voice was still loud, but the arrogance in his tone was gone, leaving only sincere apology and respect for the powerful:

"You don't know, I've been dealing with these clueless idiots all day, and I'm so anxious that my brains are almost shaking!"

"When I get angry, I can't control my words! Please forgive me! Please forgive me!"

There was no embarrassment on his face, but rather a frank and rough expression and recognition of the master.

He Weiguo watched Wen Tiezhu's expression change so quickly and his arms, thickened by years of hard work, and understood. He was a pure technical manager, with a hot temper but a respect for true skill.

He smiled heartily, extended his equally powerful hand, and shook hands firmly with Wen Tiezhu:

"Captain Wen, you're too kind! It's all about work, I understand!"

"Back in the army, my old battalion commander used to curse much more foully than you do!"

His tone was relaxed, with the open-mindedness and humor unique to soldiers, which instantly shortened the distance between them.

Chapter 71 Delivery

He Weiguo did not lie.

He was so familiar with being scolded! Back in the car camp, when he first touched the steering wheel, Zhou Zhenbang scolded him so dirty!

Later, when he became a veteran himself, he scolded the new recruits even more harshly!

Damn it, the battalion commander doesn’t dare to scold those new recruits, but doesn’t he dare to do that?

……

Seeing that He Weiguo had made all the arrangements, Wang Wensheng didn't stay any longer and raised his chin towards Wen Tiezhu:

"Wen Tiezhu! I've delivered the person to you! Just be happy!"

Wen Tiezhu grinned widely, his greasy face showing a sincere smile:

"Oh, Chief Wang, I can't thank you enough for your kindness! I'll definitely treat you to a meal some other day!"

Wang Wensheng sneered, obviously not believing the stingy man's promise:

"Come on! You've said this eight hundred times! I'm so tired of hearing it! Okay, you guys get busy, I'm leaving!"

He turned to He Weiguo again, his tone much gentler:

"Comrade Weiguo, do your best! If you need anything, feel free to come to the Personnel Department and find me!"

After that, he left with his hands behind his back.

"Goodbye, Chief Wang!" He Weiguo replied.

As soon as Wang Wensheng left, Wen Tiezhu moved closer, the strong smell of engine oil hitting him. He lowered his voice, with a hint of curiosity and confirmation:

"Brother Weiguo, Director Liu asked Liu Jun to drive out to help haul some stuff a few days ago. Was it for you?"

"I remember Director Liu mentioned it, saying it was for the new driver comrade."