Dozens of trucks lined up in front of the narrow food factory road, blocking the road completely. Zhao, the company’s cashier, was cramping his hand from counting money. Su Ping Nan set up a stool on the curb and stood on it with a loudspeaker, shouting hoarsely at the top of his lungs as he directed the inspection and loading of goods. He had been shouting for so long that his voice was hoarse. He was completely unlike his usual self, who could remain unfazed even under immense pressure.
It was Zhang Tong who discovered Wei San. Zhang Tong was nearly exhausted. Su Ping Nan was furious and Zhang Tong was now a firefighter. He turned his head, dazed and confused, and saw Wei Lao San standing there in shock.
“San Ge, the car has arrived?”
Zhang Tong had been waiting for the car with green eyes. Upon seeing Wei Lao San, he immediately shouted.
Wei Lao San was still recovering from the shock of the scene before him, muttering to himself: “How much money can you make in a day?”
Everyone said Little Red Robe had reformed and become timid, hiding in the cargo yard and not daring to go out. Who knew he had secretly created such a huge scene?
Wei Lao San only came to his senses after being pulled by Zhang Tong for a while.
“It’s here. Good heavens, how much has Little Red Robe earned?”
Wei Lao San was still in a daze, while Zhang Tong was already running excitedly towards Su Ping Nan.
“It’s too crowded, tell Wei Lao San to pick up the car tonight.”
Tian Du City was about 7 hours away from Wu City. If they went at night, they could be back by the next morning.
Although he got Zhang Tong’s response, Wei San still squeezed his way to Su Ping Nan with a flattering smile: “Hong Pao Ge, don’t rush, I’m busy now. Lao San will get some good wine tonight, and I’ll wait for Hong Pao Ge at the Hexagonal Pavilion.” He was an old hand in the underworld and naturally understood how much power a rich Little Red Robe would have. He naturally changed the usual “Little Red Robe” to “Hong Pao Ge.”
Su Ping Nan nodded, as a seasoned veteran, he knew what to say.
It was 7pm when the dozens of trucks finished loading and left one after another. One of the brothers guarding the freight station ran over to inform Su Ping Nan that another 170,000 jin of pine nuts had arrived. Su Ping Nan’s heart tightened, “Hire people, quickly promote some clever and reliable people. If this keeps up, I’ll be tied up here, what will I do?”
He glanced at the exhausted Zhang Tong and kicked him without hesitation.
“Brother, Hexagonal Pavilion?” Zhang Tong climbed up cheerfully, brushing the dust off his body.
“Get out of here, go home. Ask your old man, we need someone who can manage this kind of scene. See if he has any good candidates.” Last time, Zhang Jian Guo recommended Zhang Lihua and Su Ping Nan had picked up a talent. He thought that Zhang Jian Guo was a lucky star, and he couldn’t help but point out that Zhang Jian Guo must have other good candidates.
Looking at the reluctant Zhang Tong, Su Ping Nan patted him on the shoulder.
“Your old man is not easy, go to my office and get two packs of good cigarettes from Xiao Zhao, take them back to pay your respects to your old man.”
Su Ping Nan treated his loyal brothers well, each of them had two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes every month. This was both to prevent them from spending money recklessly and to maintain the image of his brothers.
Naturally, Zhang Tong obeyed Su Ping Nan’s words, although he was reluctant, he still listened.
Zhang Jian Guo was enjoying his life recently, the pine nuts brought in an extra 30 to 50 yuan a day from his car, and his subordinates were also making a lot of money, all of them obediently listened to him. This made Zhang Jian Guo hesitate about his plan to retire early and let his eldest son take over.
Su Ping Nan was skillful, all the extra fees were only given to the train conductors. Zhang Jian Guo and the other conductors’ prestige increased day by day. They had money, so naturally they had more friends. The overall status of the Wu Feng Line train section at the Wu City station had unknowingly improved.
Recently, the atmosphere in Zhang Jian Guo’s house was very subtle. Zhang Tong’s elder brother, Zhang Gang, had already found a girlfriend. Now, the woman’s family was just waiting for Zhang Gang to get a stable job before they got married.
Zhang Gang was getting anxious as the year was coming to an end. His father didn’t mention anything about applying for retirement voluntarily, which made him conflicted. His father was making a lot of money recently, once he retired, all of that would be gone. And based on his current experience, it would take him years to become a train conductor. So Zhang Gang was worried that his father would regret not retiring early, which might lead to his girlfriend breaking up with him.
It was rare for Zhang Tong’s mother to see her second son back, so she happily prepared a full table of delicious food. Zhang Jian Guo knew that Su Ping Nan’s business was now very big, in just a few months, he had transformed from a big hooligan chatting with him on the train to a powerful figure with hundreds of people working under him.
His younger son’s influence was now even greater than his, he followed Su Ping Nan every day and had unknowingly become a minor figure at the train station. Seeing Zhang Tong come back and even bring two packs of good cigarettes for him, he felt very comforted. He specially took out a bottle of treasured wine, planning to have a few drinks with his successful son.
During a train ride, a few hooligans were drinking and causing trouble. After trying to persuade them without success, Zhang Jian Guo almost had to call the train police. One of them respectfully asked if he was Tong Ge’s father. He was confused for a few minutes before he realized that the “Tong Ge” they were talking about was his own son. He nodded and the men immediately apologized with bowed heads, the incident was resolved. He realized that his son had finally grown up.
At the dinner table, Zhang Jian Guo raised his glass for the first time, drinking several glasses with Zhang Tong. Zhang Tong’s mother was also very happy. She had always had a thorn in her heart about her younger son not being able to take over. Seeing that Zhang Tong was doing well now, she was happy and kept smiling, constantly adding food to Zhang Tong’s bowl.
“Son, I heard that your Su Boss is good to you? He values you a lot. You have to work hard and live up to his expectations.”
Zhang Tong was a teenager at heart, he had recently felt that life couldn’t be better. He had let go of the idea of taking over, hearing his mother mention Hong Pao Ge, he immediately started talking excitedly.
When he heard that his monthly salary was 1500, his family was stunned. When they heard that he got two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes every month and a house, Zhang Jian Guo and his wife were speechless in shock.
Zhang Gang felt increasingly uncomfortable as he listened. He was now unemployed at home, and he hesitated for a long time before spending ten yuan on a date with his girlfriend, while his younger brother already owned a house? And it was an apartment?
He felt increasingly uncomfortable, a nameless anger surged. Zhang Gang suddenly put down his wine glass heavily, his voice sarcastic: “Su Boss, Su Boss, he’s just a fart! He’s just a middleman, sooner or later he’ll get blown up!”
The moment he said that, the dinner table fell silent. Zhang Tong’s smiling face instantly became gloomy, his eyes glared at Zhang Gang, his voice was cold and stern: “Zhang Gang, if you’re a man, say it again.”
Su Ping Nan was like a god in Zhang Tong’s heart. Hearing his brother say that, he was furious.