My IQ has been increasing year by year.

In late August, even the wind in Zeyang City was scorching hot.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the large iron gate of the First Machinery Factory opened, and the workers who had finished their shift pushed their bicycles out, forming a gray-blue torrent. Chen Jianguo was sandwiched in the crowd.

He pushed his old-fashioned bicycle out of the factory gate. Instead of riding it home, he stopped at his usual tobacco and alcohol wholesale store. The supermarket owner, Old Wang, was sitting behind the counter, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan and watching TV.

Chen Jianguo parked the car and went inside.

"Old Wang, give me two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes."

Old Wang paused for a moment, holding the palm-leaf fan, and looked up at Chen Jianguo with some surprise.

"Jianguo, did the sun rise in the west today? Normally I hesitate for ages before buying a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes, but today you're going straight for two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes?" Chen Jianguo chuckled and pulled his wallet out of his pocket.

"For errands, also bring me two cases of good quality pure milk, the Yili brand."

Old Wang turned around, took out two cartons of Zhonghua cigarettes from the glass cabinet behind him, and then moved two boxes of milk from the corner, placing them all on the glass cabinet. "Eight hundred and sixty in total," Old Wang said, pressing the calculator.

Chen Jianguo nodded and counted out nine hundred-yuan bills from his wallet and handed them over.

Old Wang gave him forty yuan in change.

"Is it for Xiao Zhuo to do some errands for?"

Old Wang handed over the change and casually asked a question.

Everyone in this area knows that Chen's son won first place in the country and is about to go to Huizhou to attend some kind of special program for gifted children.

"Borrow a car."

Chen Jianguo stuffed the cigarettes and change into his pocket, then bent down and carried a carton of milk in one hand.

"I borrowed a friend's car to take my child to school. They didn't want any money, so we have to know the proper etiquette."

Old Wang nodded and gave a thumbs up.

"He's a meticulous person. Okay, drive carefully."

Chen Jianguo tucked the change into his pocket, picked up the plastic bag containing cigarettes, and carried two boxes of milk in both hands as he walked to his bicycle.

He found an old elastic band and tied the milk securely to the back of the bicycle.

Chen Jianguo hopped on his bike and pedaled toward the city center.

I rode for about ten minutes.

The road gradually became smooth and wide, and the shops on both sides were replaced by clothing stores and restaurants with glass facades.

Chen Jianguo squeezed the brakes and stopped the car on the side of the road.

Across the street is a newly built residential complex.

Brocade Garden.

Chen Jianguo pushed the cart over.

There was a guard post at the main entrance, where two young men in dark blue security uniforms stood.

"Sir, are you looking for someone or delivering goods?"

The security guard stopped him, glancing at Chen Jianguo's bicycle and the milk on the back seat.

"Looking for someone." Chen Jianguo stopped in his tracks. "Looking for Zhang Zhicheng, the owner of Unit 2, Building 6."

Upon hearing the name, the security guard picked up his walkie-talkie.

"You're Mr. Zhang from Building 6, right? Please wait a moment."

Two minutes later, the crossbar was lifted.

"Go in, keep walking straight in, turn left and you'll see Building 6."

Chen Jianguo pushed the cart inside.

The community's roads are paved with neatly laid bread bricks, and on both sides are large expanses of neatly trimmed lawns.

Several automatic sprinklers are rotating and watering the lawn.

Walk downstairs to Building 6.

Chen Jianguo spotted the black Santana 2000 at a glance.

The car was parked in the marked parking space, washed until it gleamed, the windows reflecting the light.

Zhang Qiang's father, Zhang Zhicheng, was standing next to the car door making a phone call.

Zhang Zhicheng was wearing a t-shirt and crisp trousers, with a leather phone case clipped to his waist and his black leather shoes polished to a shine. He was holding a flip phone and speaking loudly.

"That shipment is stuck on the provincial highway? Okay, I got it. I'll have someone go and urge them tomorrow."

Zhang Zhicheng closed his phone case, turned around, and saw Chen Jianguo pushing a cart towards him.

"Hey, Old Chen!"

Zhang Zhicheng's serious expression vanished, replaced by a smile, and he quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Qiangzi was just upstairs talking about how you were coming to pick up your car. In this sweltering heat, why did you ride your bicycle so far?" Chen Jianguo propped his bicycle up next to the curb.

"I came straight here after work."

Chen Jianguo wiped the sweat from his brow.

He turned around, untied the two cartons of milk from the back seat, and took the plastic bag containing two packs of premium cigarettes hanging on the handlebars. Chen Jianguo took two steps forward and placed the bag next to the Santana's hood.

"Old Zhang, that's the day after tomorrow. I'll drive the car back today and familiarize myself with it."

Chen Jianguo pointed to the pile of things.

"Take this upstairs for Qiangzi to drink."

Zhang Zhicheng glanced down and his expression hardened.

"Old Chen, what are you doing?"

Zhang Zhicheng reached out and pushed the two packs of cigarettes away.

"We're practically family, aren't we? Qiangzi was able to get into the top high school in the city smoothly this year, but if it weren't for Xiaozhuo tutoring him, he wouldn't have even made it through the cracks in the door." Zhang Zhicheng sighed, his tone very sincere.

"I, Zhang Zhicheng, know what's most valuable in business. Xiao Zhuo's brain is the top scorer in our Zeyang City. I lent you this car to drive to Huizhou because I benefited from it. You're bringing these things here to slap me in the face." Chen Jianguo didn't back down and blocked with both hands.

"Old Zhang, let's keep things separate."

Chen Jianguo is a straightforward person, not good with words, but stubborn.

"Borrowing a car is borrowing a car, but a favor is a favor. You only bought this car less than two years ago, and you take such good care of it. I'm going to travel hundreds of kilometers, and it will take several days to go back and forth." Chen Jianguo looked into Zhang Zhicheng's eyes.

"If you consider me a brother, then accept the things. If you don't, I'd rather borrow someone else's car than drive yours. I, Chen Jianguo, won't take advantage of you." Zhang Zhicheng stood there for a while, looking at Chen Jianguo's stubborn temper.

He suddenly laughed and reached out to pat Chen Jianguo on the shoulder.

"Okay, Lao Chen, you're a reliable person."

Zhang Zhicheng picked up the cigarettes and milk and put them on the ground next to him.

He pulled a car key with the Volkswagen logo from his pocket and handed it over.

"Take it."

Chen Jianguo wiped the sweat from his palms on his pants and took the keys.

"I filled up the tank at the gas station yesterday. There's a spare tire and a jack in the trunk, and the windshield washer fluid is freshly refilled," Zhang Zhicheng explained. Chen Jianguo nodded and opened the driver's side door.

There was a faint scent of car perfume in the car, and the seats were covered with bamboo mats.

Chen Jianguo got in, inserted the key, and turned the ignition.

The engine emitted a steady, deep roar.

He pressed the clutch, shifted into first gear, and tested the feel of the pedal.

"The clutch is a little high," Zhang Zhicheng said from outside the window. "That's just how this car is; you'll get used to it after a couple of tries."

"That's good." Chen Jianguo turned off the engine, opened the car door, and got out.

At that moment, the unit door of Building 6 opened.

Chubby Zhang Qiang, wearing slippers and holding an old-fashioned popsicle, came running out with a clattering sound.

"Uncle Chen," Zhang Qiang greeted him, taking a big bite of his popsicle.

"Qiangzi." Chen Jianguo smiled.

Zhang Qiang walked up to the car and looked inside.

"Uncle Chen, Brother Zhuo didn't come?"

"He didn't come. He's at home watching TV. It's so hot, I didn't let him go," Chen Jianguo said.

Zhang Qiang slurped up the ice water in his mouth.

"Oh, then I'll go to your place tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to visit Brother Zhuo. Anyway, he's leaving the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, come on, let your aunt cook you something delicious," Chen Jianguo agreed.

Chen Jianguo turned around and looked at his old bicycle.

"Old Zhang, open the trunk, I'll put the bicycle in and take it away."

Zhang Zhicheng walked over and used the key to open the trunk.

The two of them worked together to lift the heavy bicycle and put it into the trunk.

The trunk lid wouldn't close, so Chen Jianguo found a red plastic rope and tied the lid to the safety bar underneath.

"Old Zhang, I'll head back now." Chen Jianguo opened the car door.

"Okay, drive carefully on the road. I'm still having some problems on the provincial highway these past few days, so I won't be able to see you off. I wish you and Xiaozhu a safe journey." Zhang Zhicheng waved his hand. Chen Jianguo nodded and closed the car door.

He released the handbrake, lightly pressed the accelerator, and the black Santana slowly drove out of the gate of Jinxiu Garden and merged into the evening street.