"That old man, always bullying me just because he's my second grandpa!" Hou San grumbled. Suddenly, his mind caught up, and he fumed, "Damn it, Dongzi, are you trying to take advantage of me?!"
Li Xiangdong shook his head. "I didn't mean it like that. We'll keep it straight—I still call your dad Uncle Hou."
Hou San snorted. "Whatever, as long as you're not taking advantage of me."
Azhe, standing nearby, looked confused. "Who's Uncle Hou? Dongzi, you know Hou San's dad too?"
Li Xiangdong didn't answer. He could see Hou San gearing up to show off again, clearly fishing for compliments, and he wasn't about to feed his ego.
Azhe pressed, "Dongzi, don't just stay quiet!"
"Come on, Dongzi, say something!"
"Alright, alright, I'll talk," Li Xiangdong said, exasperated. "Hou San's dad is the head of the personnel department. Uncle Hou is the deputy station chief's father—Hou San's second grandpa. He's currently at the gatehouse watching the entrance."
As he spoke, it hit him.
Wow, the Hou family was seriously connected!
Glancing at Hou San, who was puffing up with pride, Li Xiangdong realized he'd unintentionally hooked a big fish. This guy was the perfect scapegoat for any future trouble!
Now that Azhe knew Hou San's background, he looked at him like he was a walking goldmine. Even those droopy triangle eyes started to seem charming.
"Hou San, I'm counting on you, brother! You've got to find a way to get me assigned to the same train as you two."
This sent Hou San into full-on smug mode, his eyes squinting with a grin.
"No problem! Hou San keeps his word. We're all friends here."
Li Xiangdong glanced at Azhe, still fawning over Hou San, and thought to himself, 'What a spineless guy!'
Sucking up to Hou San was pointless. With his attitude, he was at best a lackey at home. Azhe would be better off chatting with Uncle Hou at the gatehouse.
He cut in, "Alright, you two, enough already. Hou San, finish what you were saying. What's with this habit of stopping halfway?"
Hou San tilted his head back, holding the Daqianmen cigarette Azhe had given him. He didn't smoke it, just sniffed it under his nose.
"Fine, I'll lay it out for you. Our job as water suppliers is to travel with the train. After departure, we keep an eye on the insulated water tanks. If they're empty, we refill them. If they're broken, we report them for repair. And, of course, if passengers need hot water, we pour it for them."
Hou San finished in one breath. "Got it?"
Li Xiangdong nodded. "Yeah, got it. Keep going."
Hou San looked puzzled. "Keep going? That's it."
Li Xiangdong couldn't believe it. "That's all? That's all we do on the train?"
Seeing Li Xiangdong staring at him, Hou San scratched his head and thought hard. "Dongzi, don't look at me like that. I've told you everything."
"But isn't that a bit…?"
"Easy, right? That's why I said you hit the jackpot. This job isn't something just anyone can get."
Hou San smirked. "What, you want more work? Fine, once you're on the train, you can carry a kettle and go seat by seat, pouring water for every single passenger."
"Get lost!"
Li Xiangdong shot him an annoyed glare.
A whole train full of people? He'd never keep up!
Of course, if he could avoid extra work, he wasn't going to make trouble for himself. If he had that kind of dedication, why would he have returned to the city? He'd have stayed in the countryside and carved out a grand future there!
"Your job sounds so cushy," Azhe said, grinding his teeth in envy. As an attendant, he had to serve passengers from the moment they boarded until they got off at their destination. Even after they left, he still had to clean up!
Compared to Li Xiangdong and Hou San, he was like a hired hand!
Hou San shook his head. "It's not as easy as you think. Whether we're busy depends on how thirsty the passengers are."
The three chatted as they reached the logistics warehouse.
At the entrance, a man in his thirties sat in a chair, reading a newspaper and sipping water, his legs propped up on a table, looking completely relaxed.
Hou San called out, "Brother Jun, busy?"
Zhang Dajun put down the newspaper and chuckled. "Hou San! Busy? Nah, I've got a pot of water and a couple of newspapers to pass the time. What's up with you guys?"
"Two friends just started today. I'm bringing them to pick up their supplies. Can you grab them for us?"
Hou San introduced them to Li Xiangdong and Azhe. "This is Zhang Dajun, our warehouse manager. Been here over ten years. Just call him Brother Jun like I do. Brother Jun, this is Li Xiangdong and… Azhe, what's your full name?"
"Shi Zhengzhe," Azhe said.
Zhang Dajun stood up, smiling. "Welcome to the train station, you two."
Li Xiangdong grinned. "Nice to meet you, Brother Jun. You're too kind."
"Brother Jun, want a smoke?" Azhe offered a Daqianmen, but Zhang Dajun waved it off.
"No smoking in the warehouse—it's a restricted area. The bosses would dock my pay if they saw. You guys are friends with Hou San, so we're friends too. No need for that. I'll make sure you get your supplies."
Li Xiangdong, standing to the side, could practically smell the slickness rolling off Zhang Dajun.
A cushy job like warehouse manager, held for over a decade? You're either a fool or a master schemer!
Li Xiangdong and Azhe handed their logistics slips to Zhang Dajun. He glanced at them and said, "I'll go grab your labor protection supplies. There's water here—help yourselves if you're thirsty. Don't be shy."
Li Xiangdong and Azhe just smiled.
Hou San, however, took Zhang Dajun's words literally, picking up the tea mug and taking several big gulps.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"
Spitting out tea leaves, Hou San bragged, "See? Your boy Hou San's got face everywhere!"
Li Xiangdong and Azhe ignored him completely.
They'd already figured out Hou San's personality. Give him an inch, and he'd open a dye shop—underestimating him, even! Give him a match, and he'd burn down the train station!