Chapter Fifty-Three: A Chance Encounter

“Chen Liang, Lu Ke is looking for you!” Ever since he started soaking in medicinal wine, Chen Liang had deliberately begun to train himself—lifting weights, running every day, making sure his physical condition stayed at its peak.

Damn it, with his beloved Xiaoyu having fully entered her prime, every time Chen Liang played cards for fun, he found himself frustrated at never getting the landlord—equal parts pain and joy!

“Got it! I’ll head over now!” In the dead of winter, clad in nothing but a thin shirt and drenched in sweat, Chen Liang was steaming as he stopped his run at the call from his colleague.

After a quick wash-up, Chen Liang got dressed and hurried off to find his uncle.

“Chen Liang, there are two truckloads of special steel that need to be delivered to Harbin in the Northeast. Can you ride along with the shipment?”

“No problem, Lu Ke. I guarantee the mission will be completed!” During work hours, his uncle was always strict, and Chen Liang dared not slack off. He immediately stood at attention and replied loudly.

With business settled, his uncle’s stern expression softened a bit as he gave some final instructions. “Remember, being away from home isn’t the same as being here. Safety comes first, always. Head to Security and pick up two semi-automatics. If anyone threatens the safety of the people or the cargo, fire without hesitation. Don’t hold back for even a second. Understood?”

“Yes, Uncle. Safety above all! Don’t worry,” Chen Liang promised.

At units officially registered under the Ministry of Heavy Industry, they spoke with real authority—two Type 56 semi-automatics, four magazines, and all the necessary transfer paperwork. Nodding to his uncle, Chen Liang climbed into the passenger seat of the Dongfeng Liberation truck.

“Sir, may I ask your name?” Only after the truck had passed through the old city’s gate did Chen Liang relax. He took out a pack of Hongta Mountain cigarettes, offering one to the driver.

“No need for ‘sir’—I’m just a few years older than you. Just call me Brother Niu. Hey! These are Hongta Mountain?” Brother Niu was a gregarious man, and years of driving long-haul routes had given him plenty of stories.

Through their conversation, Chen Liang learned Brother Niu was the team leader and a regular on the Northeast run.

As they chatted, Chen Liang kept an eye on the cargo truck behind them. Suddenly, he noticed the vehicle had stopped. “Brother Niu, stop the truck!” he yelled.

Startled by Chen Liang’s urgency, Brother Niu slammed on the brakes. Chen Liang grabbed the Type 56 semi-automatic, chambered a round with a sharp click, and opened the door to get out.

Gun in hand and nerves taut, Chen Liang thought, Damn it, could I really be so unlucky as to run into trouble on my first escort mission? Though the safety wasn’t off, his thumb hovered over it, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

“Get out! Who are you?” he barked, seeing a woman in the passenger seat.

“Wait, don’t shoot! I—I was just hitching a ride!” The woman caught sight of Chen Liang’s gun and panicked.

“Security comrade, don’t shoot! She’s just catching a ride!” the driver of the following truck quickly jumped out to explain.

By then, Brother Niu, holding the other gun, had come over as well. Hearing his apprentice’s voice, he instantly understood.

Back then, being a truck driver was such a coveted job that you wouldn't trade it for even a county chief’s position—great pay, high status, and easy work. Plus, truck drivers enjoyed certain unspoken perks: side deals and taking passengers, both of which brought in extra cash.

“Damn it, Xiao Meng! Didn’t I tell you, no side gigs on this run? Did my words go in one ear and out the other? Do you even want to keep this job?” Because Xiao Meng was his apprentice, Brother Niu didn’t hold back a bit.

After a round of scolding, Brother Niu turned to Chen Liang, a little embarrassed. “Well, Xiao Chen, this is awkward. I’ve already chewed him out—how about we just let it go?”

After all, he was Xiao Meng’s mentor. At the end of the day, Brother Niu wanted to smooth things over and move on.

Such incidents could be big or small—make a fuss and Xiao Meng could lose his job. But Chen Liang wasn’t the type to blow things out of proportion. Since Brother Niu had already reprimanded him, he decided not to pursue it further.

However, when the topic of making the woman get off came up, Xiao Meng couldn’t stay quiet. He tugged secretly at his mentor’s sleeve. “Master, I really wasn’t running a side business. She’s my neighbor. Her husband is stationed as a soldier in the Northeast, and she wants to visit him.”

“Oh! Why didn’t you say so earlier?” When he heard she was a soldier’s wife, Brother Niu’s attitude changed completely.

Xiao Meng rolled his eyes inwardly. You never gave me a chance—you started scolding right away! When was I supposed to explain?

But since Brother Niu was his mentor—and had even pleaded with Chen Liang after the scolding—Xiao Meng kept his complaints to himself.

“Alright, I’ll check with Xiao Chen,” Brother Niu said, unable to make the call himself.

“A soldier’s wife? She can hitch a ride, but she’ll have to sit with me,” Chen Liang replied. He still didn’t feel fully at ease, so he decided the only solution was to have her sit next to him, even if it meant things would be a bit cramped.

In this era, soldiers held high status, and most people would help a soldier’s wife if they could.

Frankly, in Chen Liang’s eyes, giving someone a ride was no big deal.

When Chen Liang stated his terms, the woman readily agreed. The passenger seat of the Dongfeng Liberation was spacious enough for two.

Compared to squeezing into a crowded green train carriage, this was luxury.

Back on the road, Xiao Meng didn’t dare pull any more stunts. Even if he saw people on the roadside signaling for a ride, he didn’t stop.

Did they think Chen Liang’s Type 56 was just for show? Staring down the barrel of a gun is no joke.

Through conversation, Chen Liang learned the soldier’s wife’s family name was Zhang. Her husband was a major and battalion commander in the Northeast’s “Tiger Regiment,” and her trip was prompted by her mother-in-law’s relentless urging to have a child.

The mention of having a child struck a chord with Chen Liang. He’d been married two months, goofing around with dear Xiaoyu every day. What if she was pregnant too?

Damn. That would be a headache. Sure, Xiaoyu was his wife for life, but he’d hoped to enjoy a few more years of just the two of them.

With Old Lu’s secret aphrodisiac wine in his system, and endless opportunities to play dress-up with Xiaoyu, how could he not indulge?

Still, if Xiaoyu had a child and turned cold like Mrs. Zhang, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. A “celibate goddess” style might even be fun.

Ah, these cursed life choices—so hard to decide!

From the old city to Harbin in the northeast is over 1,300 kilometers. Given the driving style of the era, it would take about forty hours.

They stopped a few times along the way to refuel, top up the water, and eat some dry rations before getting back on the road.