The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 116 The Commando Team Undergoes a Major Change; Drivers Need to Make Purchases (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
The sea breeze in December is like a whip wrapped in ice shards, chilling you to the bone.

If the rednecks in the cotton fields had this in their hands back then, the blacks probably wouldn't have survived until Lincoln liberated them.

Lou Xiaoguang hunched his shoulders and crawled into the boiler room early in the morning. He was very diligent, fetching water for his family, the mobile canteen, and the neighborhood committee every day.

He had originally intended to fetch water for Qian Jin, but Qian Jin firmly refused.

Qian Jin said that they were comrades, and during working hours there was a superior-subordinate relationship, but outside of working hours there was no such thing as one serving the other.

Lou Xiaoguang greatly admired Qian Jin.

He is generous, capable, fair and just, and most importantly, he treats people with sincerity.

He left the boiler room carrying four thermos flasks in both hands and headed to the neighborhood committee.

Qian Jin was waiting for him at the door: "Xiao Guang, you are really diligent."

Lou Xiaoguang chuckled: "Just consider it my morning exercise, and I'll also leave a good impression on the leaders."

Qian Jin said, "It's good that you're exercising; life is about movement. But there's no need to do this just to leave an impression on the leaders."

“I know you want to find a proper job. Now there’s a suitable one. The Second State-Owned Restaurant is recruiting chef apprentices. Several more state-owned restaurants will open in the city in the next year or two. Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship, you should be able to work as a chef at one of those restaurants.”

"You know Guan Dabao, the head of the team at the State-owned Second Restaurant, is my older brother. How about it, do you want to work for him?"

Lou Xiaoguang was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized: "Chief Qian, you're going to work as a chef's apprentice at a state-run restaurant? You can become a chef later?"

Qian Jin hesitated: "It's hard to say whether you can be a head chef. After all, there aren't many women who can be head chefs these days. You might not be able to find a female head chef to be your wife in the future."

There are quite a few male chefs.

But he felt that it was best not to make gay jokes these days.

Lou Xiaoguang was stunned for a moment before he realized the dirty joke in his words.

People are too naive these days.

They get confused by even slightly suggestive jokes.

After figuring it out, he was overjoyed, threw down the thermos, and shouted, "Finally, it's my turn—holy crap!"

The thermos exploded.

It's full of hot water!

Fortunately, I was wearing thick pants and it was freezing cold, so the hot water was already warm before it even penetrated my pants.

Qian Jin said helplessly, "Don't be so alarmed. Look, what a waste of four nice thermos flasks!"

Lou Xiaoguang said happily, "It's okay, it's okay, Chief Qian, I'll buy four new thermos flasks for the neighborhood committee myself."

"You can become Chef Guan's apprentice at the state-run No. 2 Restaurant? That's great, it's a good job."

He rubbed his fingers, which were red from the cold, and asked a little embarrassedly, "Chief Qian, when can I start work?"

Qian Jin said, "We can go today, but don't rush it."

"You should get ready today. Take a good shower, get a haircut, and make sure everything is clean. As a chef, you have to pay attention to hygiene."

Lou Xiaoguang nodded vigorously: "Understood."

Qian Jin then asked him, "Do you know why I recommended you to the state-run No. 2 Restaurant when there are so many comrades in our team?"

Lou Xiaoguang guessed, "Is it because I am loyal to you, Chief Qian?"

Qian Jin chuckled: "Don't give me that. We're not those white dogs of the National Revolutionary Army. We don't do that kind of loyalty stuff."

"I'll tell you the answer directly, and you need to remember it."

"I sent you to learn to cook at a state-run restaurant because you are skillful. Among the people who slice potatoes and cut winter vegetables for the mobile canteens, you are the most skilled and have the best knife skills. That is your advantage."

This is a fact.

Lou Xiaoguang gained some confidence and puffed out his chest, saying, "Captain Qian, I'm not bragging, but no one in our team can compare to me in this aspect. I love playing the erhu, and I've already trained my wrists and fingers to be more flexible."

To be honest, Qian Jin was a little reluctant to let go of Lou Xiaoguang, such a formidable fighter.

He's a real talent at chopping vegetables.

Previously, he had arranged for a few people to chop winter-stored vegetables in the warehouse. Lou Xiaoguang used a cleaver to chop the cabbage, and managed to neatly arrange the cabbage stalks.

He patted Lou Xiaoguang on the shoulder, and after the labor commando team members assembled for work, he told them the news.

Despite the groundwork laid by Xu Weidong, Wang Dong, and others assigning tasks, the team members were still amazed to learn that Lou Xiaoguang would be going to the state-run No. 2 Restaurant to learn cooking from the group leader.
"Alright, Xiao Guang, you've finally gotten what you deserve after all these years. From now on, you're set for life..."

"When you get to the Second Restaurant, don't just focus on eating the meat yourself. Remember to bring back a few spoonfuls of broth for your poor buddies when you come back..."

"Lou'er, you'd better do a good job when you get there. This job is different from others. From now on, when we brothers get together for drinks during holidays, we'll be counting on you to be in charge of the cooking..."

Lou Xiaoguang laughed loudly, "Don't worry, brothers. From now on, watch me when we eat. I'll eat the thick food and you'll drink the thin food. I'll eat the fragrant food and you'll smell the foul food."

"Get out!" Several people threw cotton gloves and hats at him.

Qian Jin said to the others, "Comrades, don't worry, there will be bread and jobs. You call me captain, so I will definitely arrange a suitable job for you!"

The team members offered their opinions all at once:
"No rush, Chief Qian, don't worry, we're not envious..."

"That's right, our labor commando team can't fall. Someone has to stay in there. I'm willing to stay until the very end..."

"Me too. If you can assign me a job, Chief Qian, I'll do it. If you can't find a suitable one, I'll stay here and clean toilets and unclog sewers..."

The atmosphere in the labor shock brigade was lively, completely different from the lifeless atmosphere of the past.

It's clearly not that the team members' awareness has increased.

Rather, it was the strong earning power of the mobile canteens that gave them their confidence.

Hearing their enthusiastic voices, Wei Xiangmi walked over with a smile: "Oh, Chief Qian, are you holding a morning meeting for the comrades?"

Qian Jin nodded and said yes.

He saw that Wei Xiangmi had brought two young men with her, and guessed that they were replenishing the workforce for the labor shock brigade.

This is true.

Both of them were educated youth who had just returned to the city. One was named Cheng Jianshe and the other was named Yu Dongfang. They were about the same age as Qian Jin.

Their situation is better than Qian Jin's. They are registered at home, but their families are poor. They joined the labor shock brigade purely for the 50 cents a day subsidy.

However, the two were delighted when they learned that the street's labor commando team and security commando team were now integrated.

Because the subsidies have doubled.

For the two of them, it was simply a doubling of the subsidy.

The income and benefits of the mobile canteens for the people have nothing to do with them; this was a rule that Qian Jin set when the small collective enterprise was established.

The labor shock brigade will continue to establish small collective enterprises, and the benefits of all enterprises will be linked only to the members who joined at the beginning of the establishment.

New team members who join later will not enjoy the same benefits as those who joined the previous company.

Similarly, once a member leaves the labor commando team and is taken in by another unit, they will no longer enjoy the benefits and treatment of the company they will be employed in.

This is why some team members volunteered to stay behind to sweep the streets and unclog the sewers.

They believed that following Qian Jin into small collective enterprises was more promising, as the income and benefits were better than entering state-owned factories or government agencies.

However, everything is currently in draft form. The country has not yet started its reform and opening up, so Qian Jin is not in a hurry to formulate detailed rules and regulations and guidelines for the labor shock brigades.

Otherwise, it could easily cause trouble for yourself if it gets out.

This has the suspicion of forming factions and cliques within a large collective.

Two new recruits were left behind, and Qian Jin was added to the second team.

The work of the labor commando team was very routine, and the members were already familiar with it, so he didn't need to make any arrangements; he just needed to go to work.

However, Qiu Dayong's side needs his command.

Qiu Dayong brought four strong young men to find him. The first thing they did upon meeting was shout, "Call me Captain Qian!"

"Captain Qian!" The voices rang out in unison and loudly.

Qian went in, patted them on the shoulder, and gave each of them two hot buns: "Didn't have breakfast? Fill your stomachs. Let's try to work together in the future, and we all need to work hard!"

The young people grinned as they wolfed down the hot buns.

Qiu Dayong handed over the files of five educated youth, including himself, all of whom were muscular and capable workers.

These five people are equivalent to the labor of ten people in Hu Shunzi's team.

Qian Jin delivered the documents to the Labor and Wages Department.

He knew that the company couldn't keep all five of them. He would see how Cui Hu decided to keep them, and he would be satisfied no matter how many he could keep.

Although it's just a temporary job, the Supply and Marketing Cooperative is a large, reputable organization with many procedures to follow, so the five people will have to wait for a while.

The next day at noon, Qian Jin didn't eat at the office; instead, he went back to the neighborhood committee to pick up Lou Xiaoguang.

Despite the freezing weather, Lou Xiaoguang wasn't wearing a cotton-padded coat, only his spring/autumn green military uniform, which made him look exceptionally energetic.

It could also be due to a frozen spirit.

Qian Jin shook his head: "Aren't you just asking for a cold dressed like that? Go back and put on your cotton coat."

"Wearing a cotton-padded coat isn't very practical. Didn't you ask me to test the knife today? I need to be quick and efficient," Lou Xiaoguang explained.

Qian Jin said, "You're just as quick in your cotton-padded coat. Look, I've prepared all the tools for you."

A white hat, a white coat, and a pair of cotton rubber shoes.

This is the three-piece set of a chef in a state-run restaurant today.

Apprentices don't have such good conditions; only formal chefs can receive such assignments from their employers.

People who have lived for 27 years would shake their heads at the sight of this three-piece set, because well-off families with a future don't want their children to suffer in the kitchen.

Being a chef is not an easy job.

The first is standing for a long time and repeatedly flipping the wok, which is tiring.

Secondly, there are many occupational diseases: looking down and straightening up can easily lead to cervical and lumbar spine problems; always facing a wok can easily lead to oil fume disease; in addition, there are stomach problems, obesity, and other issues.

Third, it's too hot and unbearable in the summer.

Fourth, and most importantly, they had low social status.

In 77, things were reversed.

Compared to other jobs, being a chef is not considered tiring. Chefs are not hungry, so they don't suffer from anemia or malnutrition. Also, while it's hot in the summer, other jobs are cold in the winter.

Most importantly, they now have a high social status.

Lou Xiaoguang took the three-piece suit home, put it on, and came out again. He felt much more energetic.

He walked down the street with a powerful stride, and the residents greeted him in surprise.
"Are you trying to become a doctor or a chef?"

Lou Xiaoguang responded: "I want to go to the No. 2 State-run Restaurant to learn to be a chef."

This immediately drew a chorus of praise: "Awesome! You got into the state-run No. 2 Restaurant. As a chef, you'll never lack chicken, duck, fish, or meat at home."

Qian Jin rode his bicycle into the restaurant with Lou Xiaoguang. The waiter glanced at them and thought they were chefs who had just started work.

But when they saw his face, they realized they didn't recognize him. Then, when they saw his crisp white chef's coat and brand-new cotton boots, they suspected that the higher-ups had invited some amazing chef to inspect him.
Even after Qian Jin said he wanted to find Guan Dabao, and the waiters led them into the kitchen, they still couldn't believe that the person who came was an apprentice.

The other apprentices were like bean sprouts, just ragtag troops from local warlords, unlike Lou Xiaoguang, who was directly equipped with a German-trained division of the Central Army.

At this moment, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of oil and meat, mixed with the salty and fishy smell of shrimp paste, creating a unique flavor.

The blower hummed loudly, and the fierce flames licked the eight-marked iron pots like a simp licking a goddess's crotch.

These days, without range hoods, kitchen fumes are all drawn out by exhaust fans, which don't remove them completely.

The slogan on the wall, "Prepare for war and famine for the people," has been scorched yellow by smoke.

Guan Dabao wiped his hands with his apron as he came to greet the person.

His eyes lit up when he saw Lou Xiaoguang's attire: "Okay, you look like someone special."

Lou Xiaoguang knew how to handle things, so he quickly took out a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes and offered it to him, saying, "Master, please have a cigarette."

Guan Dabao lit a cigarette and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

Qian Jin kindly advised him, "Stop smoking in the kitchen, okay? The ash will fall into the food..."

“Then we’ll benefit, we’ll have an extra ingredient!” Guan Dabao replied with a laugh.

Qian Jin was speechless.

Guan Dabao's smile widened: "You actually believed that? Let me tell you, one of the standards for a chef to graduate is to cook while smoking a cigarette, and after finishing the cigarette, not a single ash will fall into the pan!"

Qian Jin was speechless.

This is a bad habit that is now comparable to drunk driving.

Now, many apprentices have arrived in the kitchen, and it's suddenly packed with people.

Guan Dabao gave a call, and everyone except the chefs who were cooking gathered around.

He pointed at Qian Jin and said, "This is my younger brother, my own brother. From now on, whether I'm in this restaurant or not, you all have to give him a warm welcome when he comes."

"Other people use one spoonful of oil for their dishes, but my brother needs two spoonfuls of oil for his dishes, understand?"

Qian Jin chuckled and quickly stopped him: "Brother, there's no need, no need. I absolutely can't let you break the rules because of me, or I'll quit."

Guan Dabao slapped his C-cup breasts hard: "Little brother, you're on my turf, so you just have to listen to me!"

Then he squinted at Lou Xiaoguang and asked, "What's your name, young man? What's your relationship with my brother?"

Qian Jin said with a wry smile, "He is my younger brother, so he's practically your younger brother too."

“Alright, let him stay. He’ll learn how to wash vegetables today,” Guan Dabao said readily. Qian Jin said, “Brother, don’t be so quick to agree. You should test his aptitude first. I’m serious, not just being polite.”

“We have many younger brothers. If you’re going to choose an apprentice, you should at least choose someone with good aptitude. You can’t just stuff any kind of idiot into your hands.”

Guan Dabao had a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) and felt that Qian Jin was being too polite.

But Qian Jin wasn't just being polite. First, he didn't want to put Guan Dabao in a difficult position by giving him a useless person, and second, he wanted to cultivate a proper kitchen talent around him.

Seeing that he insisted on testing his talent, Guan Dabao turned around as if by magic and grabbed a large cabbage:

"This is a famous local cabbage variety called Glass Green. You can see that its leaves are exceptionally thin. We chefs have a saying: 'Thin as paper, crisp as ice.'"

"Here, you cut it for me and try."

Lou Xiaoguang chose a kitchen knife that felt good in his hand, and began chopping the cabbage, making a sound like horseshoes.

A white cloud quickly spread out on the cutting board.

The outermost leaves were so translucent you could see their texture, and the stalks were cut so neatly they looked like an army in formation.

Finally, the vegetable stalks were picked up, and they were so clean that no more stalks could be cut off.

This skill was child's play in Guan Dabao's eyes.

But he still exclaimed to Qian Jin, "Damn it, you're a really good brother, you've really brought me a good prospect!"

"Let me tell you the truth, six of my eight apprentices came today. What are the other five? They're just using their connections to curry favor with me!"

Qian Jin then said to Lou Xiaoguang, "Chop some minced meat and show it to your master."

The white steam from the steamer blurred the red sanitation banner on the wall.

Lou Xiaoguang put down the special cutting board for chopping meat, switched to a thick-backed cleaver, and went over to start scraping the meat.

Half a pig was thrown over; Guan Dabao's strength was unmatched.

Qian Jin said, "I want to hear the chopping board sing."

Lou Xiaoguang grinned, revealing his teeth: "Chief Qian, don't worry. It's a pity my erhu isn't here. If it were, I'd chop up a whole 'Horse Racing' for you!"

This famous piece, created in 1964, is a signature piece for contemporary erhu players.

Qian Jin retreated to the corner and watched Lou Xiaoguang roll up his sleeves.

He was also too thin; when he held the knife, blue veins could be seen bulging on his wrist.

The sounds of the knife rising and falling on the cutting board were indeed quite rhythmic.

This piqued Guan Dabao's interest: "He really knows how to make music? Brother, this young man you sent me is no ordinary person."

Mince the meat.

Guan Dabao got excited and took out a cucumber, which was quite precious in winter, and said, "Could you peel a cucumber?"

Lou Xiaoguang was at a loss.

He knew about straw raincoats and cucumbers, but how could the two be connected?
Guan Dabao laughed heartily.

He picked up a kitchen knife and said, "Let's see what your master has to offer you today. When you can make a cucumber wrapped in a straw raincoat, that's when you'll graduate with your knife skills."

The moment the fat chef picked up the cucumber, his fingers began to tremble rapidly.

This requires making hundreds of cuts on a whole cucumber without breaking it, which is a true test of wrist strength and dexterity.

Sweat trickled down the fat chef's temples and into his collar. Finally, he flicked his wrist, and the cleaver tumbled through the air like a diver before slamming into the cutting board with a 'clang'.

Then the cucumber was stretched into a long chain.

Lou Xiaoguang's eyes widened.

This was the first time he had ever seen such knife skills, and the first time he had ever realized that a cucumber could be used in such a creative way.

A young man in his early twenties, seeing his surprise, revealed a smug expression: "What's so special about this? My uncle's Wensi Tofu is absolutely amazing. When provincial leaders come to our seaside town, this dish is a must..."

"Shut up," Guan Dabao said disdainfully to the young man. "As if you can cut tofu already!"

He patted Lou Xiaoguang's arm: "You kid better practice hard, practice like crazy. Don't be fooled by the fact that we have a lot of heads and even more hands in this house, but I reckon that in the future, you'll be the only one who can make Wensi Tofu."

"Your tools are all ready, so go straight to work today." Guan Dabao called over a waiter, "Take him to the labor and personnel department to register. When he comes back, he can hold a knife right away. He doesn't need to learn how to wash vegetables with those bean sprouts."

Lou Xiaoguang hurriedly and respectfully said, "Thank you, Master."

Guan Dabao's expression was very serious in front of his apprentice: "No need to thank me. This is not a preferential treatment from me. You earned it yourself through your own abilities."

Qian Jin was about to go back to work, so Guan Dabao opened the steamer and filled his bag with a whole bunch of big meat buns:
"Brother, you have a lot of men under your command, take a few more back with you."

Qian Jin needs to pay money and give tickets.

Guan Dabao pushed him away: "You're being polite with me, but I'll really get angry with you!"

Qian Jin exchanged sincerity for sincerity.

Guan Dabao repays sincerity with sincerity.

Others sent apprentices but only cared about themselves and didn't care about him. Only Qian Jin, fearing that he would be in a difficult position, chose a good apprentice for him.

Lou Xiaoguang went out to deliver the money and left.

The weather is bad today; it's snowing again.

The snowflakes had just fallen when the north wind whipped them against the hotel's glass door, making it impossible to open one's eyes when the door was opened.

The sycamore tree near the ventilation opening in the restaurant's kitchen was covered with icicles, which clattered as they fell to the ground in the strong wind.

Children wearing patched old cotton-padded clothes pick up icicles to eat here because these icicles are formed from the condensation of water vapor in the restaurant kitchen, mixed with oil fumes, and taste delicious when slurped up.

Lou Xiaoguang looked at the children and suddenly turned to Qian Jin with a smile: "Chief Qian, I don't know if you believe it or not, but I was one of them when I was a child."

"Back then, there were only four state-run restaurants in our seaside area, namely No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4."

"Back then, we had to fight to get the delicious icicles from behind the restaurant. I remember once I was beaten so badly that I cried. I swore then that when I grew up, I would become a chef in a state-run restaurant, and I would eat what was in the pot and never eat what was in the tree again."

Qian Jin said, "Now you've got what you wanted."

Lou Xiaoguang said earnestly, "I will definitely make something of myself here. When you get married to Teacher Wei, you can leave the banquet to me, and I will put on a spectacular show for you."

Qian Jin said regretfully, "That's unlikely. Teacher Wei and I have already chosen a date to get married."

"It was the day after the college entrance exam ended!"

Lou Xiaoguang felt both helpless and happy.

The wind and snow intensified. Qian Jin straightened his clothes, waved his hand, and rode his bicycle inside.

Lou Xiaoguang didn't go back directly, but instead looked at the children picking up icicles.

His gaze was distant.

The exhaust fans in the kitchen of the state-run restaurant roared, wafting out the aroma of fried pork tenderloin, which was carried by the wind to the restaurant entrance.

This was the first time in his life that he had smelled hope amidst the wind and snow.

Qian Jin carried meat buns and even ran two extra blocks to deliver them to Wei Qinghuan rather than to Liu Jinshan.

He is very clear.

If I bring this meat bun to the office, I won't be able to eat much of it.

School ends late because the college entrance exam is coming up soon, and both teachers and students are making the most of their time to study.

Wei Qinghuan was about to go to the cafeteria to get food when a handsome young man emerged from the snowstorm:

"The buns are still warm. They're meat buns from a state-run restaurant. Share one with your good colleague."

Seeing that Qian Jin's eyebrows and lips were covered in snow, Wei Qinghuan felt a pang of sympathy and quickly shoveled the snow away for him.

"What are you doing? It's freezing cold, I'm not starving, why are you suffering like this?"

Qian Jin exclaimed, "I didn't expect the second snowfall of this winter to be so heavy!"

I think we'll have a day off this afternoon.

They can't do the moving work in the heavy snow, so they rest unless there's an emergency.

He handed her the steamed bun he had been holding close to his chest: "It's still barely warm, what a pity. These steamed buns are delicious when eaten hot with meat broth."

Wei Qinghuan looked at him with gentle eyes.

The snow fell more heavily, and some snowflakes trembled as they landed on her eyelashes.

Her cheeks quickly turned red from the cold, like camellias blooming in the snow.

"What are you standing here for? Hurry up and go to the dorm to eat. I'm going back first." Qian Jin pressed the steamed bun into her arms again. "If it's still snowing after school, don't leave. I'll come pick you up."

Wei Qinghuan suddenly laughed: "With such heavy snow, don't leave. Let's go to the classroom to eat together."

She took off her scarf and wrapped it around Qian Jin's neck. The warm cashmere brushed against his Adam's apple, making him shrink back in ticklishness.

Qian Jin sighed, "If I were still a soldier, I really wouldn't leave; I'd just skip work."

"But now that I'm an official, I have to find out who skipped work so I can deal with them. Haha, just kidding. I should have a day off this afternoon, but I have to go back to receive and send out notices."

He turned his bicycle around and left.

A female teacher passing by greeted him, then looked at Wei Qinghuan with envy:
"Look at Teacher Wei's partner, knowing that it's not good to eat in our cafeteria on a snowy day, he specially came to bring her food."

"Sigh, there's an old saying that goes, 'Can good looks put food on the table?' Now I know, they really can, and they're good food!"

"Just you wait, that damn man of mine! I'm going to throw rice all over his face when I get home tonight!"

Wei Qinghuan couldn't help but laugh as she listened to the gossip.

She helped Qian Jin push his bicycle out the door and said, "I'll see you off. Be careful on the way."

"Hey? Why did you change your bicycle?"

Qian Jin didn't hide anything and told Qiu Dayong that his and Qiu Dayong's bicycle tires had been slashed with a knife:
"So I borrowed Zhu Tao's bicycle for work today."

Wei Qinghuan was a little worried: "You usually offend a lot of people, so you have to be careful."

Qian Jin comforted her, "It's alright, Dajun is always with me."

He was actually being very careful.

Take the bicycle as an example. He deduced that the person who scratched the tires wouldn't let it go so easily and would definitely take further action.

For example, finding an opportunity to steal a bicycle.

So he now parks his bicycle in a dead corner of the stairwell and has even installed a small contraption.

If anyone dares to touch his bicycle, they'll just have to wait and see!
The snow was already ankle-deep.

Wei Qinghuan stood at the school gate, watching Qian Jin's figure disappear into the wind and snow.

Snowflakes landed on her lips, melting into glistening droplets.

She felt a little disappointed.

If no one else is here, she will kiss Qian Jin; she knows Qian Jin has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Qian Jin braved the wind and snow to return to his office.

really.

The latest notice has been issued: this afternoon is a break, and we will give you another notice tomorrow.

The workers went home upon hearing the noise.

Qian Jin sighed, "No wonder everyone wants to be a worker these days; workers are treated so well."

The only difference between today's workers and those of the 21st century is the spelling of the word "worker," but everything else is completely different.

He didn't go home. Qiao Jinbu went to work today, and he wanted to find Qiao Jinbu after get off work so he could drive to pick up his wife.

The loaders and porters are on holiday, and the drivers have no work either. A group of people are warming themselves by a fire in the office.

Upon seeing Qian Jin arrive, Qiao Jinbu blocked him at the door and whispered, "Do you still have any of those sunglasses and gold watches you sold me? My brothers here want to buy them."

Qian Jin said, "Of course I did. Didn't I tell you back then?"

Qiao Jinbu chuckled awkwardly, "I drank too much and my memory is all muddled."

Qian Jin was speechless.

No wonder no driver has come to buy anything from him for so many days; he has prepared a large number of rare items that he can only stuff under his bed.

With his permission, Qiao Jinbu immediately started greeting everyone excitedly:
"Hey guys, haven't you been wanting to ask me where I got this watch and sunglasses? Here they are!"

The other drivers' attitudes toward Qian Jin changed. They already knew that Qian Jin had become the captain, and they all came up to congratulate him and then asked about the watch.

Qian Jin said, "We have stock. Anyone who wants to buy can come to me."

"But let me state the rules first: once the items leave my house, I won't take responsibility for them. If any of you want to brag about being dealt with by the anti-corruption agency, then don't come looking for me or cause me any trouble."

The drivers laughed and said, "It's okay, it's okay, it definitely won't happen."

Qian Jin invited them to his home: "Come on, it's freezing cold, let's go to my place for tea!"

The drivers exclaimed, "It's so spacious!"

Qian Jin explained, "There's no wine."

The drivers sighed, "Hey!"

Qian Jin dared not drink with them on this day. If the driver got into an accident due to the slippery roads caused by drinking, he would be the one to start it.

Thankfully, there are fewer cars and people on the road now; otherwise, given the current level of safety awareness among drivers, Qian Jin would probably be a road killer for 27 years!
In this respect, he was out of step with the drivers, who even thought he was too cautious and effeminate!

(End of this chapter)