C15 Wild Mountain Road

Over the course of a year, Xue Lang dedicated his time to hunting game for his grandfather and rigorously training in the mountains. He honed skills from his past life, mastered special techniques taught by his grandfathers, and revisited lessons from his childhood.

Despite his growing strength, Xue Lang felt frustrated by his inability to uncover any clues about his grandfathers' past identities before they retreated to the mountains, no matter how persistently he probed.

Time sped by, and before he knew it, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year had arrived. Xue Lang tidied up and headed back to the grain depot early, bidding farewell to the holiday season and pondering potential tasks.

Stepping out of the mountains, his phone buzzed with a barrage of text messages. He scrolled through thirty to forty New Year's greetings, replying to each one and explaining the lack of mountain signal to avoid any impression of neglecting the holiday or the well-wishes.

He had just replied to Fatty Shao's message when his phone erupted with a call. Fatty Shao's voice exploded through the speaker: "Damn! I was starting to think a bear snagged you to play groom. If I couldn't reach you today, Daxuan and I were ready to storm the mountains!"

Xue Lang chuckled, phone in hand, "What's got you so worked up?"

"Get back to the convoy, pronto. We're starting work tomorrow. Today's for a trial run to familiarize ourselves with the route."

Hearing the din of machinery through the phone, Xue Lang didn't press for details. He assured Fatty Shao he'd arrive in just over an hour and ended the call.

Upon reaching the grain depot, Xue Lang learned of an urgent shortage—20,000 tons of rice needed to be transported to fill the deficit.

Before he could even make it to the loading site, Sun Zhongliang's horn blared from his truck, signaling his arrival at the weigh station.

"Talk about timing..." Xue Lang mused to himself as he hurried over. Taking the ticket from Sun Zhongliang, he greeted him with a smile, "Happy New Year, Brother Liang."

"Happy New Year."

Sun Zhongliang returned the greeting with a smile. "You know, having no signal in your valley isn't good. Try to limit your trips back home, and don't linger too long when you do. Otherwise, we won't be able to find you when there's work to be done."

"Got it, Brother Liang. I'll do my best to stay away."

Xue Lang responded as he got ready to hop into the car.

Sun Zhongliang, however, opened the car door and instructed, "Head to the cashier for a thousand yuan, and grab some mineral water. I'll be waiting for you at the gate."

"Alright."

Xue Lang nodded and made a beeline for the convoy.

It was only at the cashier's that he realized getting an advance was a privilege few in the convoy enjoyed. Typically, they had to front the money for fuel and get reimbursed later. And in the black bag he received, there wasn't just mineral water, but also ham sausages, chicken feet, bread, and more. The cashier's subtle hints made it clear that this was special treatment not afforded to many.

Liang's really looking out for me...

Musing to himself, Xue Lang quickly made his way to the gate.

What surprised Xue Lang was that Liang took the passenger seat, seemingly ready to accompany him on the drive.

It clicked instantly. As the convoy captain, Liang was responsible for new drivers who hadn't yet proven themselves. It made sense that he would supervise.

Understanding Liang's intentions, Xue Lang wasn't bothered. In his past life, he had over a decade of driving experience, handling nearly every type of vehicle with wheels. His skills were beyond question, and this was simply part of the assessment.

He smoothly engaged the gear and confidently drove out of the gate.

On the road, Xue Lang's driving was seamless—shifting gears, accelerating, overtaking, and downshifting on inclines without a hitch, his movements fluid and stable.

After less than thirty kilometers, Liang couldn't contain his curiosity. "Xue Lang, how many years have you been driving?"

"About two or three years," Xue Lang replied, giving a rough estimate based on his current age.

Two or three years?

Liang was taken aback, but then he reconsidered. Given Xue Lang's age, it was impossible for him to have started driving at ten. Yet, to an experienced driver like Liang, Xue Lang's technique was undeniably top-notch. He might not even be able to outperform him.

Shifting gears is the least of it; the real trick lies in the throttle control. No matter how you shift, maintaining that steady engine hum is not something just anyone can achieve. It's a technique that saves fuel without overloading the engine, hitting the sweet spot with gas—it's definitely not a skill honed in just two or three years.

Take turning, for instance. Xue Lang knows to accelerate into a turn, a nugget of wisdom only seasoned drivers possess. By harnessing the vehicle's centrifugal force and giving it some gas, the front end lifts, reducing the front wheels' friction and making the turn a breeze.

Impressive, indeed.

Sun Zhongliang had taken full measure of Xue Lang's abilities. With driving skills that stood out in the fleet, Xue Lang was more than capable of handling solo runs.

Liang, done with the evaluation, leaned back comfortably and advised, "Drive with care. If there's anything you're unsure about, just ask Fatty Shao or Liu Zhong."

Xue Lang responded with a steady affirmation, "Got it, Brother Liang."

"Whether it's about fueling up or fixing the car, go to Fatty Shao with your questions. He's got four or five years under his belt, and you two get along well. Don't forget to ask for receipts when it's time; it's all government business, so don't end up footing the bill yourself."

Xue Lang might have been slow on the uptake, but he grasped the essence of Sun Zhongliang's words. He was being cautioned about the bureaucratic maze of using a government vehicle and encouraged to learn the ropes quickly.

When spring arrived, the unloading process was impressively swift.

Watching Xue Lang eagerly climb aboard and strike up friendly conversations with the porters, Liang's worries dissipated.

Mindful of Liang's advice, Xue Lang, after dropping off the Hazel Grouse at Liang's place post-work, sought guidance from Liu Zhong and Fatty Shao over dinner.

Fatty Shao, eager to impart knowledge, shared some insider tips on car maintenance and refueling. Yet, Xue Lang realized that the advice from his three grandfathers was far more insightful and practical.

Hadn't his grandfathers always lived in the mountains? It was as if they were the real veterans of office politics...

Lost in thought, Xue Lang was brought back to the present when Liu Zhong, sipping his tea, remarked, "With winter coming, taking General Ridge could save us twenty to thirty kilometers a trip. You wouldn't even need as much fuel as a motorcycle."

"General Ridge?"

Xue Lang paused, setting down his chopsticks to inquire, "Then why isn't anyone running it now?"

"Who would dare?"

Liu Zhong's face contorted dramatically as he explained, "In the summer, that road might tempt the brave, but now it's covered in snow. To run it would be a death wish!"

Xue Lang let the subject drop. They continued their meal, sipping tea and eating without indulging in alcohol. They all knew they had to start loading the trucks by two or three in the morning, and drinking could cause unwanted delays.

The grain depot was a beacon of activity in the dead of night, its lights shining brightly. Over two hundred workers hustled on rotating shifts, loading trucks at a rapid pace. The extended vehicles, with their roaring engines, rolled out one after another.

Xue Lang was among the first to leave, his truck loaded and bound straight for the Spring Welcoming Storehouse.

The Spring Welcoming Storehouse was just as alive with light and labor. They had kicked into high gear, constantly taking in rice from neighboring depots to prepare for an imminent inspection.

Arriving at dawn, Xue Lang busied himself with unloading, all the while striking up casual conversations with the local workers. It didn't take long for him to gather the information he was after.

He was set on taking the General Ridge route.

The issue of skimming off the top had always left him uneasy, even though it had become the norm. But the savings felt more secure in his own hands.

On his return trip, Xue Lang avoided the national highway, opting instead for the forestry road—General Ridge itself. The journey began easily enough, the road wide and the slopes gentle. But about an hour in, as a looming mountain narrowed the path, the road twisted into a series of tight bends, making it impossible for his empty truck to shift into fourth gear.

The hairpin turns were the worst, nearly right-angled and as sharp as elbows. The ascent became steeper, and Xue Lang found himself on the most treacherous stretch of General Ridge.

Gazing down the steep slopes that dropped off beside the road, hundreds of meters into the abyss, Xue Lang finally understood why so few dared to traverse General Ridge at this time.

If he took a bad fall, the car would surely be wrecked.

Yet, for him, such road conditions hardly induced panic. They were a breeze compared to the treacherous Sky Road, not even in the same league.

Having safely returned to the grain depot, Xue Lang topped off his fuel tank, bid farewell to Liang, loaded up, and set off for General Ridge.

At that moment, the road to General Ridge was nearly empty, with only a few small cars in sight, making for a very pleasant drive. The pace was a tad slower on General Ridge, but it cut the journey by about thirty kilometers. Plus, most of the remaining route consisted of gentle slopes. Coasting in neutral, he could save fuel while still making good time.

After completing the round trip, Xue Lang refueled once more. Zhang Yuhong questioned his frequent fill-ups, but he just smiled without offering an explanation.

He had worked out the math on his fuel consumption: three trips equated to saving a full tank of gas. That meant he could save roughly one tank per day.

With his fuel savings calculated, Xue Lang felt even more driven. After outpacing his colleagues on another run, he plunged back into the woods.

Although Sun Zhongliang had confidently let him go solo, he was unaware of Xue Lang's audacity in taking on General Ridge.

But at the moment, no one was paying attention; every driver was pushing their vehicle to the limit. With the fortnight's rush, their mission was one thing, but the real incentive was a 10% commission and the provision of proper fuel receipts.

In essence, it was peak earning season for the drivers, and who wouldn't give it their all?

The grain depot was a hive of activity, with trucks loading around the clock and drivers pressing on relentlessly. When fatigue hit, they'd snatch a few hours of sleep; some even made do at the depot, foregoing the trip home.

Xue Lang subsisted on bread and ham sausages handed out by the young cashier, catching naps in his truck when needed. After three days and nine trips, he had earned the awe of all the drivers, Liang included.

The most anyone else had managed was five trips. Xue Lang was pushing himself to the limit.

Little did they know, saving a tank of gas each day could net six to seven hundred yuan, adding up to ten thousand yuan over half a month. How could Xue Lang not push himself to the extreme?

As dusk approached on the fourth day, Xue Lang, returning from his twelfth run, entered the grain warehouse and was greeted by Zhang Yuhong's beckoning hand. Puzzled, he halted and inquired, "What's up, Beauty Hong?"

"Can't take your ride out?"

Zhang Yuhong gave Xue Lang an exasperated look and, talking as she went, pulled open the passenger door.

Xue Lang glanced at Cui Ying, who was holding a bundle, and chuckled, "Cui Ying, if you're heading out, you should've waited for my heavy-duty car to be ready. I still need to weigh and load it."

Cui Ying just smiled, lifting the blanket-wrapped package in her hand, and without a word, slid into the cab alongside Zhang Yuhong.

Xue Lang didn't give it much thought and drove straight to the weigh station.

When they reached the loading area, they found Guo Loong's truck still being loaded. As Xue Lang pulled up, Zhang Yuhong called out dramatically, "Xue Lang, is this your daily meal?"

He glanced at the black convenience bag she was rifling through and replied with a grin, "No time for the mess hall, and it's not easy at night, so this will have to do."

"Tsk, I thought as much."

Zhang Yuhong grabbed the blanket package from Cui Ying's embrace and handed it to Xue Lang, saying, "Cui Ying here is the one who truly looks out for you. Take this."

As Xue Lang accepted the package, he immediately felt the weight of a thermos and beamed, "Fantastic, I haven't had a hot meal in days."

Without hesitation, he unwrapped the package and pulled out the thermos.

Noticing a white cloth bag inside, he was about to inquire when Cui Ying, with a smile, interjected, "The thermos is too small, and I worried it wouldn't be enough for you. Inside there's sticky rice with rat meat that Hong steamed." She reached past Hong and flipped open the thermos lid.

As the aroma hit him, Xue Lang's appetite surged. Forgetting his manners, he eagerly grabbed the sticky rice with rat meat from the cloth bag and popped it into his mouth.

Before Xue Lang could sink his teeth into the sticky rice-stuffed rat, Zhang Yuhong protested, "What do you mean I steamed it? All I did was lay down some Suzi leaves."

Cui Ying's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she shot Zhang Yuhong a reproachful look.

Xue Lang, oblivious to the exchange, was wholly engrossed in his meal. He savored the sweet, sticky rice-stuffed rat, spearing pieces of the vinegar-glazed tenderloin with his fork and devouring them in hearty bites.