Chapter 84: Serves You Right! Let’s See You Show Off

“Da Ni, are you thirsty?”

“Da Ni, have you finished your water?”

“Da Ni, I’m here again.”

“Da Ni…”

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“Get lost!”

“Aii~”

Li Xiangdong watched Hou San with extreme speechlessness. He was like an eager little bee, carrying a tin water kettle. Every time he passed the broadcast room near the sleeper cars, he would push the door open to greet Kong Da Ni.

Li Xiangdong remembered people in later generations saying that love was a poison, and others saying it was a strong liquor.

But he felt that Hou San’s love was a Snickers bar!

The guy wasn’t even complaining about being hungry anymore. His short legs moved incredibly fast, like a fully-powered little motor!

He pressed down on the overly excited Hou San. “Aren’t you tired of this? I’m a guy and even I can’t stand it, let alone a young lady.”

“Ah~”

The smile on Hou San’s face gradually faded. “Brother Dong, then what should I do?”

“That’s too profound a question. Your brother here hasn’t researched it either.”

Li Xiangdong shook his head. How would he know how to woo a girl? He and his wife were introduced by a matchmaker.

“Brother Dong, when you and sister-in-law were on your blind date, what did you talk about? Can you teach me?”

The fire of gossip burned brightly in Hou San’s slanted, triangular eyes.

Li Xiangdong smiled, “It’s no use even if I tell you. Your sister-in-law and I were a two-way street, understand ‘two-way street’? One destination, both starting at the same time.”

“The most crucial part is, your Brother Dong here was jogging, while your sister-in-law was sprinting. Get it now?”

“Two-way street?”

Hou San scratched his head. “Where were you two going at the time? Why did you have to run? Brother Dong, didn’t your family have a bicycle?”

For a moment, Li Xiangdong didn’t know what to say. He took a deep breath to calm himself. “You know my family couldn’t afford a bicycle.”

He felt that after spending so much time with Hou San, his own brain was growing!

“It’s okay, Brother Dong. Aren’t we about to make money? Don’t be anxious, you’ll have a bicycle sooner or later…”

Hou San started chattering endlessly. Just as Li Xiangdong was about to tell him to shut up, the train conductor suddenly appeared from the other end of the carriage.

The conductor saw Li Xiangdong and Hou San huddled together, leaning against the carriage wall, chatting and laughing.

He shouted loudly, “What are you two talking about? Is your work done?! Why are you running? Stop right there! If you dare run, I’ll break both your legs!”

Li Xiangdong and Hou San, who had originally planned to make a run for it, could only stand obediently in place upon hearing this, waiting for the conductor who was striding towards them.

The conductor, with his upright posture and resolute face, walked with an extremely vigorous and powerful gait.

He walked up to the two of them, his tiger-like eyes staring intently at them. “Not running anymore? What were you two talking about that made you so happy? Why not include me, and the three of us can chat for a while?”

“Uncle Gao, if you’re not busy, then let’s chat. We’re idle anyway. Do you need a cigarette to freshen up?”

Hou San took the sarcastic remark literally and smoothly pulled out his cigarettes.

Hearing Hou San’s words, Li Xiangdong felt the guy was going crazy!

He secretly reached out and tugged on Hou San’s clothes, signaling him to shut up. Who would have thought Hou San would turn his head and say, “Brother Dong, don’t be anxious. This is the conductor of our train, Gao Xinmin. Uncle Gao is an elder, so of course, the cigarette should be offered to Uncle Gao first.”

*You’re so considerate and polite, aren’t you~*

Li Xiangdong tried his best to control his facial expression. If the conductor weren’t here, he would have definitely kicked Hou San a few times!

“Uncle Gao, have a smoke. I secretly took this Panda from my granduncle’s drawer when I visited my second great-grandfather’s house a few days ago. It’s a special supply~”

Hou San’s tone was full of showing off, and he even dragged out the last three words.

Li Xiangdong saw Gao Xinmin look at him after taking the cigarette. He quickly called out, “Hello, Conductor.”

“Mmm, you’re partnered with Hou San, so you must be Comrade Li Xiangdong, right? I’ve heard your name. In front of outsiders, call me what you should. In private, you can just call me Uncle Gao like Hou San does.”

Gao Xinmin had actually seen Li Xiangdong’s small gesture just now, but he didn’t say anything.

Li Xiangdong followed the lead, “Hello, Uncle Gao.”

“Mmm, work hard, young man. Don’t be like some people who don’t take their proper jobs seriously and only think about crooked ideas all day, undermining the state’s unified procurement and sales. Sooner or later, I’ll have them all arrested and shot!”

Gao Xinmin’s face suddenly turned serious. His righteous and awe-inspiring aura was so strong that Li Xiangdong could barely keep his eyes open.

He quickly nodded, “I understand, Uncle Gao.”

Gao Xinmin snorted, his tone filled with dissatisfaction. “You’re a slippery one too. You only say you understand, but you don’t state that you won’t do such things yourself.”

As soon as his words fell, he turned and slapped Hou San on the back.

*Smack!*

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the carriage, startling Li Xiangdong who was standing nearby.

“Look at your posture, standing so sloppily with your shoulders crooked and hips twisted! Show me the ‘three feet off the ground, I’m number one’ spirit of our railway workers!”

“Hiss~”

Hou San flinched from the slap, shrinking his neck and hopping on the spot twice. Seeing Gao Xinmin glaring at him, he finally straightened his back and stood properly.

Seeing this, Li Xiangdong also puffed out his chest. He didn’t want to get slapped for no reason.

“I really don’t know how your father taught you.”

Gao Xinmin grabbed the hand Hou San was holding the cigarette pack with and snatched the entire pack of Panda cigarettes, putting it in his own pocket. “This pack of cigarettes will be the tuition fee for just now.”

He turned and walked away. Hou San said anxiously, “Uncle Gao, that’s the only pack of cigarettes I have. What will I smoke if you take it?”

“Catch.”

Gao Xinmin, who had walked a few meters away, took a pack of cigarettes from his own pocket and threw it through the air into Hou San’s arms.

“Get to work. If I see you two idling around and chatting again, I won’t say another word before kicking each of you.”

Hou San watched Gao Xinmin’s figure disappear. He sniffled and looked down. “Shengchan! And it’s only half a pack!”

His voice cracked as he shouted.

Special supply Panda cigarettes were priceless and unavailable on the market. Shengchan cigarettes were 8 cents a pack. This tuition fee was comparable to a one-on-one tutoring session with a top-tier teacher in later generations!

Li Xiangdong laughed, “Serves you right! Let’s see you show off.”

Hou San’s face crumpled. He pulled out a cigarette and asked, “Brother Dong, want one?”

“I’m good, it’s harsh on the throat.”

Li Xiangdong shook his head and started working again, carrying the water kettle.

“Cough cough~ cough cough~”

Hou San took one puff and started coughing incessantly, almost choking to tears. In a fit of anger, he threw the lit cigarette onto the carriage floor and stomped on it twice.

“Brother Dong, wait for me.”

Hou San quickly caught up with Li Xiangdong, and the two began their repetitive work.

“Hou San, the conductor’s income isn’t low. Why does he smoke Shengchan?”