Substitute Driver's Notes

Chapter 26 Loading the Cargo

Life must go on.

Early in the morning, Li Wei arrived at the agreed-upon place.

At ten o'clock, Wang Fuyou, carrying a satchel, arrived in front of Li Wei in a red three-wheeled black taxi, a local specialty that hadn't been properly dealt with even in 3050 years.

With a shout, Li Wei got on, and a thick plume of black smoke billowed out. Accompanied by a sputtering sound, the taxi, converted from a motorcycle tricycle, bumped and sped towards the parking lot for large vehicles.

In the parking lot, the chubby truck owner, Gao Youcai, was waiting in front of a tan-colored Jiefang semi-trailer in his brand-new Changhe Suzuki.

Upon seeing Wang Fuyou, Gao Youcai handed him several keys and a plastic bag: "Five thousand yuan for departure fee. I've already filled up the tank. Today we're loading melamine boards for five companies, and we'll unload at one of them."

Wang Fuyou took the money and said, "Boss, this is my friend Li Wei. He has all the necessary licenses and permits. Brother Wei, this is Boss Gao Youcai. You two chat! I'll count the money."

Li Wei extended his hand to Gao Youcai, a fat man with a protruding belly: "Hello, boss."

Gao Youcai warmly extended his hand and shook Li Wei's hand twice: "Ah! Hello, where did you used to go?"

Li Wei shook his head: "I didn't run."

"Never run before? Old Wang, are you planning to take on an apprentice? Can your body handle it?"

Wang Fuyou didn't even look up: "Take good care of your baby, or you can find a better one for him. You're always thinking about deducting the meager wages of people who can't drive. Aren't you shameless? You might as well train someone reliable. If he doesn't work for you anymore, I can at least gain a favor and make a friend."

Gao Youcai's eyes widened: "How dare you talk to the boss like that! Believe me or not, I'll dock your pay."

Wang Fuyou took out two hundred yuan and handed it over: "Go buy me and Brother Wei a pack of cigarettes, and then buy a set of toiletries. How can you be a boss if you don't have any sense? Didn't you see Brother Wei came empty-handed? While you're at it, lose some weight. You look like you're nine months pregnant, or your wife will run off with someone else."

Gao Youcai said "Oh," took the money, and drove off in his car.

Li Wei asked in surprise, "Old Wang, is it okay to talk to the boss like that? Aren't you afraid he'll dock your pay?"

"It wasn't working out a few years ago, but it's fine now. The truck industry is booming, and experienced drivers can't keep up. Don't underestimate the bosses; they're shrewd. Maintaining good relationships with drivers means making more money. Why would they drive themselves if everyone else was on the road?"

"But you're being too impolite."

"Brother Wei, everyone else on the same route is getting 3,200 yuan, but he's still only getting 3,000. You just arrived and you're only getting 2,800 yuan. That's outrageous! If you don't complain, he'll think he's getting good treatment."

"Just say it directly! Is instructing him like this even effective?"

"I brought it up, and he had a whole host of excuses! Like, 'Our food allowance is five yuan higher,' or 'We're not making any money because the work isn't good.' He tried to build rapport and build relationships, but he just wouldn't give us a raise."

"Why don't you change your boss?"

"I know the route well enough, I don't want to change it. Changing the boss would mean learning the route all over again. Besides, all bosses are the same, none of them are good people."

Li Wei was speechless. This reason? Powerful.

"Oh! How many cars does the boss have?"

"Three vehicles. Now that you're here, there are four drivers. It's so annoying to have to change drivers every time.

"What happened to the substitute?"

"You see all sorts of people. It's lucky if you run into a skilled driver, but some are fresh out of driving school who can drive you straight into a ditch and then run away. Then the boss ends up in a lawsuit with the agency. Even though it's none of our business, the repairs are delaying our earnings."

"Alright, I give up." Li Wei took out a cigarette, handed one to him, and the two lit up and smoked.

A moment later, Suzuki arrived in a flurry of activity, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Gao Youcai came down, handed Li Wei a backpack, and then muttered, "Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, towel, water cup, bath basket, and two pairs of socks."

Then, beaming, he said, "Brother Wei, haven't I been good to you? I even bought you socks, so you'll have to work for me for at least two years!"

Li Wei didn't know how to answer, so he just scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.

Wang Fuyou looked at him, took the cigarette, and said, "Alright, we'll remember your kindness. How about you divorce your boss's wife and let Brother Wei marry you?"

Gao Youcai's mouth trembled as he said, "You two hurry up and get going! Remember to weigh the goods after you've loaded them."

Wang Fuyou beckoned Li Wei to get in the car and started the engine to pump up the tires.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Li Wei said, "Looks like the boss is angry."

"You underestimate the boss. He won't get angry as long as you don't mention a raise. It's just that meeting you for the first time today made me feel embarrassed and like I was being put on a show. The toiletries are all cheap stuff, and the socks cost two yuan a pair. And you dare to boast about that?"

Li Wei admired him; the boss had it tough! He didn't even get angry after being talked about like that by his employees. That's a very high level of composure! He certainly wouldn't have done it in that situation; he might have even started a fight.

Gao Youcai circled the truck once, then returned with a smile on his face: "No need to rush, rest if you get tired on the way."

Li Wei agreed, and Wang Fuyou nodded solemnly in return.

The truck then drove out of the parking lot and headed straight for the first loading point.

After registering and entering the store, Wang Fuyou parked his car and waited in line. He then took the loading slip and went into the sales department to ask if the payment had been received and how long he needed to wait.

After they came out, they told Li Wei to find a shady spot to wait, and to load the goods an hour later.

This was the first time Li Wei had ever seen a factory like this. After finding out that he could wander around freely, he started to stroll around.

At the loading area, a forklift is loading bundled boards onto a truck.

Li Wei then entered the workshop.

A wave of heat, accompanied by the roar of machines, hit us. Inside the workshop, most of the male workers were shirtless, freely shaking off their sweat.

There were also many women whose clothes were completely soaked.

Next to each workstation, there was one of those enormous water cups; Li Wei noticed it was labeled 2.8 liters. Workers would occasionally come over, pick up the cups, and fill them with water.

Yes, in Li Wei's view, this was not drinking water, and even the phrase "guzzling" wouldn't be enough to describe the speed at which they drank water.

In a quiet place, workers were walking in their boots, and the sound of splashing water could be clearly heard from inside.

Li Wei couldn't stand the heat and left the workshop.

I saw a few people smoking and resting outside the door. The ground was covered with wet stains of sweat mixed with white alkali left by wringing out their clothes, so I went over to chat with them.

"How much do you get paid a month? It's hot enough in here."

"It's alright, I'm used to it. The capable ones make around two thousand, and the lazy ones make a little over a thousand."

Li Wei swished around a cigarette: "Not much!"

A man around fifty years old said, "That's not bad. My child is a college student, and he only earns about a thousand yuan a month. We don't have much education, so we just have to work to earn money!"

"Nonsense, there's no such thing as a college student that cheap. What school is he from?" someone next to him retorted, unconvinced.

"I think it's in accounting? I don't know if they're an accountant or cashier at the company, but as long as they don't do any work, all I care about is making money."

"You should know the college entrance exam scores from back then!"

"Oh! Over 480 points."

The group immediately started joking, saying things like, "What do you mean by 'a third-tier university' or 'maybe a junior college'? What do you mean by 'in our great Shandong province, you can't get a good school without scoring above 620'? It's definitely not as good as putting in a lot of effort," and complaining that the college entrance exam score was too high.

Li Wei quickly left. These guys weren't tired at all. What right did we laborers have to comment on the college entrance exam results of our great Lu Province? Anyway, my darling still has many years until the college entrance exam. I'd better go find Old Wang to have a chat!

I've long heard that there's heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below, and this season, the city of Qiantang is certainly teeming with beautiful women!