Reborn in the 60s, I hunt to support my family and even seduce the village beauty.

Monkey King was the first to stand up, pushing his chair back with a jarring sound.

"Why should they? This line used to be such a mess, it was us and Chang Kun who cleaned it up bit by bit. Now that things are peaceful, and the results are in, they're here to reap the benefits? Reaping the benefits isn't enough, they want to kick us to the curb too?"

"How many years have we been patrolling the platform? Braving wind and rain, our hands and feet freezing in the dead of winter, our skin peeling from sunburn in the summer... It's fucking insane!"

"Sister Wang, it's not that we're targeting you, we just really can't swallow this."

Lei Guohong finally spoke up: "Alright, what are you yelling at Xiao Wang for? She's just a messenger, what good would it do to talk to her?"

The others fell silent. Monkey pulled his chair back, plopped down, and sullenly remained silent.

Sister Wang stood at the door, her eyes a little red, and her voice soft.

"I know you're upset, but there's nothing I can do. I'm just a gofer; I just relay the orders from above. You...you shouldn't be too sad."

She paused, then whispered, "If Section Chief Zhang were still here, things definitely wouldn't have turned out this way."

These words were like a knife, stabbing into the hearts of several people.

Sister Wang sighed, turned around and left.

The silence in the office lasted only a few seconds before Monkey spoke again, this time in an even lower voice, but with even harsher curses: "That bastard Sima Bin will get his comeuppance sooner or later."

Lei Guohong opened his eyes, glanced at the group, and said indifferently, "Alright, what's the use of scolding? We need to get ready and prepare. We've done it before, we won't starve."

He stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to the group, looked out the window, and stopped talking.

Listening to the grumbling and cursing of the group, Chang Kun's plan became clearer and clearer.

Sima Bin's attempt to use his good track record of maintaining public order to enhance his image is a miscalculation.

The security along this route is maintained by his system; without him overseeing things here, chaos would break out in no time. Then we'll see how that Sima fellow explains himself to his superiors.

However, we must be careful not to overdo it. These days, ordinary people already have it tough enough; we shouldn't let thieves take advantage of them.

Everyone in the office silently waited until the end of the workday.

The day seemed to pass much slower than usual; the hands of the wall clock were like a centenarian, taking a breath after each tick.

Chang Kun tidied himself up, said goodbye to the others, and left the office.

Instead of going straight home, he turned a corner and walked out of the platform.

Sure enough, by the railway tracks, Zhang Qingfeng was hunched over, a cigarette in his hand, gazing at the setting sun.

He couldn't bear to leave the place where he had worked for so many years.

"Section Chief."

Zhang Qingfeng looked up at him, stubbed out his cigarette, and forced a smile: "Little Kun, still calling me Section Chief?"

He glanced at Zhang Qingfeng's face and felt a pang of sadness.

In just one day, Zhang Qingfeng looked five or six years older. The wrinkles around his eyes were deeper, and the energy in his eyes seemed to have been drained away. He looked listless.

"Section Chief, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner." Chang Kun got straight to the point.

Zhang Qingfeng waved his hand: "Why invite me to dinner? You just got married, so save your money."

"It's no big deal to have another meal." Chang Kun stood up. "It's a state-run restaurant, let's have a drink."

Zhang Qingfeng sighed, nodded, and slowly walked ahead.

He walked much slower than usual, his back view as if he were measuring the railway he had walked countless times, step by step, as if saying goodbye.

There weren't many people in the state-run restaurant. Chang Kun found a seat by the window, ordered a few dishes, and a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

Before the dishes were even served, the two clinked glasses.

Zhang Qingfeng tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. He put the cup down on the table and let out a long breath, as if he wanted to release everything that had been bottled up inside him for the past few days.

Chang Kun poured him a second cup, but didn't speak immediately.

Zhang Qingfeng held his glass, swirled it, looked at the wine inside, and suddenly laughed, a bitter laugh: "Xiao Kun, do you know where the organization has assigned me?"

Chang Kun shook his head.

"A sanatorium for retired cadres, to be its director." Zhang Qingfeng put down his cup, wrote two words on the table with his finger, and then erased them.

"I'm called the dean, but I'm really just a gatekeeper. Those retired cadres are all more influential than me. Who can I manage? Every day I just look after the yard, play chess with the old folks, and coax them out to bask in the sun when it's nice."

He picked up the glass and took another sip. This time he didn't swallow so quickly. He held it in his mouth and savored it slowly, as if he were tasting the flavor of the wine, or as if he were savoring the rest of his life.

"In my life, Zhang Qingfeng, I've never asked anyone for favors or flattered anyone. I started from the bottom and worked my way up step by step, relying on my own two legs and one mouth, and on doing my job well."

"I wanted to make a name for myself in the railway sector, manage this line well, ensure passenger safety, ensure cargo safety, and ensure that everyone working here could live a good life. But what do I get now? They've put me in a sanatorium. What is this if not retirement?"

As he finished speaking, his voice trembled slightly, and the hand holding the wine glass also shook a little.

Chang Kun looked at him, feeling a tightness in his chest.

He knew a little about Zhang Qingfeng.

Don't let her easygoing and jovial demeanor fool you; deep down, she's a very strong-willed person.

He didn't care about the size of his official position; what he cared about was whether he could get things done and whether he could do them well.

Sending him to a sanatorium now is tantamount to telling him that he is old, useless, and should retire.

This is even worse than being demoted!

Chang Kun picked up his glass and clinked it against Zhang Qingfeng's: "Section Chief, don't take it too hard. Maybe things will turn around."

"A turning point? What turning point could there be? They have connections and influence; I'm just someone with no one to back me up. What can I use to compete with them?"

Chang Kun put down his cup and looked at Zhang Qingfeng seriously: "Section Chief, let me tell you the truth. Even if you have connections with the new Section Chief, if you don't perform well and mess things up, you'll still be fired."

These days, things aren't as shady as they were later; nepotism is still widely criticized, and people don't dare to be open about it.

Zhang Qingfeng looked up at him.

Chang Kun said calmly, "The railway section didn't get to where it is today overnight, nor was it built up by any one person."

"If anyone smashes this signboard, the higher-ups won't ignore it. Don't be discouraged yet, just wait and see."

Zhang Qingfeng stared at Chang Kun for a long while, then drank the wine in his glass, put down the glass, and let out a long sigh.

"Xiao Kun, you're more open-minded than me."

Chang Kun smiled and put some food on his chopsticks: "Section Chief, eat your food, don't just drink."

Zhang Qingfeng picked up some food, chewed it twice, swallowed it, and the expression on his face gradually softened.

He picked up the cup again, but this time he didn't rush to drink it. He held it in his hand and turned it around, as if talking to himself.

"Let's wait and see... Okay, then let's wait."