Chapter 38: Liu the Driver

  Wang Xing hastily got off the car and circled around Song Shuang, saying: "The weight loss effect is so obvious? Which brand of slimming tea did you drink?"

  Song Shuang smiled reluctantly: "Uncle Wang, don't joke around, say what's on your mind."

  Wang Xing said: "Liu Handong will report to Qing Shi Gao Ke tomorrow, he can drive with ease, being a special guard is more than enough for him, estimated monthly salary of 8,000 yuan, and five insurances and one fund are no problem."

  Song Shuang nodded: "He saved Shu Fan, the Xia family should thank him, was it arranged by An Ning?"

  Wang Xing smiled: "Right, it was An Xiang who arranged it. I just passed on the message. Anyway, his work problem has been settled."

  "That's reassuring."

  Wang Xingdao: "Shuang'er, what's wrong with you? You look so haggard after not seeing you for a few days. Is there something on your mind that you want to tell me?"

  Song Shuang shook her head: "Really nothing, just the association's affairs are a bit busy."

  How could this kind of elementary lie deceive a private detective from the police, Wang Xing knew that Song Shuang must have had secrets in her heart, perhaps related to Liu Handong.

  ……

  The next day, Wang Xing drove to Qingshi High-tech in the northern suburbs of the city. Liu Handong was already waiting there. He didn't have a pass card and didn't know anyone inside, so he couldn't get in and had to wait outside the gate.

  Wang Xing beckoned Liu Handong to get in the car, took out his own gold-edged access card and swiped it on the non-contact access control device at the entrance. The electric gate slowly opened, and the Audi drove in. Inside the Qingke High-tech Park, the scenery was neat and beautiful, with large lawns and green spaces. Automatic sprinklers rotated 360 degrees to water the area. In the distance, the office building's futuristic design showcased the style of a high-tech enterprise.

  Audi stopped downstairs, Wang Xing came down, rubbed his newly shaved bald head, adjusted his brand new black suit, put on sunglasses, and led Liu Handong into the automatic door. Inside the door was a security checkpoint. When Wang Xing passed by, the alarm light went off, and the uniformed security guard politely said: "Sorry, please take off your weapon."

  Wang Xing lifted up his suit jacket, pulled out the ASP baton from his waist, and just then the security guard saw his gold-edged access card. He said, "Sorry about that, sir. You're a head of security level, you can carry weapons into the company."

  "Thank you." Wang Xing put away the whip and walked quickly with Liu Handong in the empty and spacious hall, the marble floor was spotless, the glass wall above was a simulated vast starry sky, next to the six high-speed elevators were stainless steel signs indicating the direction of each floor's office, they were headed to the 10th floor Human Resources Department.

  The general manager's office has already made a phone call, Liu Handong showed his ID and completed the registration procedures, signed the contract, took photos and made an access card. It takes up the whole morning to do all these things. There are many veterans like Liu Handong in the company, most of whom work as security guards or drivers. Liu Handong has a driver's license for large vehicles and was a vehicle soldier, so he was assigned to the motorcade team as a bus driver.

  "With a monthly salary of 6,000 yuan, including five insurances and one fund, you need to wear work clothes when going to work, and are not allowed to be late or leave early. Drinking and smoking are also prohibited during working hours. There are specific rules and regulations for everything, so take your time to study them later." The HR handed over the access card and rulebook to Liu Handong, telling him to go to the comprehensive department to pick up his work clothes, and today would be considered his first official day of work.

  When handling these formalities, Wang Xing was sitting with his legs crossed on one side, waiting and taking out his mobile phone to take a few photos to send to Song Shuang. He originally wanted to go find An Xin to chat, but Assistant An wasn't around at the moment, so he had no choice but to give up.

  "Liu Handong, work hard and you will have a bright future." After the formalities were completed, Wang Xing came over to shake hands with Liu Handong, offering his sincere advice.

  Liu Handong said: "By the way, what about the last time I smashed someone's ceramic tiles and electric motorcycle? How was it settled?"

  Wang Xing sneered: "You still remember, of course it's compensation. Song Shuang paid the money, I paid with my face. Otherwise, do you think others would let you off easily?"

  Liu Handong didn't say anything, but thought to himself that Song Shuang was actually a good girl at heart, so why did she want the traffic police to check her own tricycle?

  "Alright, I'm off." Wang Xing swaggered away.

  The driver's uniform was a black suit with a white shirt, paired with a black tie and black leather shoes, and a black cap with the Qing Shi High School emblem on it. Liu Handong changed into his uniform in the locker room and came to the underground garage, where the administrative department had assigned him a vehicle - a Birlite light bus with 21 seats, used as a shuttle for employees commuting to and from work.

  Colleagues were very enthusiastic, and upon learning that Liu Handong was a retired soldier, they immediately started chatting with him as if he were an old comrade, introducing him to their work experience. As a bus driver, the job was relatively easy, picking up one trip in the morning and sending off another in the evening, and just waiting on standby at ordinary times.

  "Our unit is a private enterprise, but it's very formal. We buy all the insurance we need to, and there are overtime fees for working extra hours. And during holidays, there are even benefits! By the way, how did you get in? Who introduced you?" Colleague Su Qiang was curious about Liu Handong's background.

  "It was introduced by a friend." Liu Handong vaguely glossed over it.

  At noon, Liu Handong followed Su Qiang to the canteen. The people eating here were all security guards, drivers, cleaners, and maintenance workers. The dishes were very rich, with four dishes and one soup in a stainless steel tray, as well as fruit after dinner. As long as you swipe your access card, you can enjoy it. Liu Handong ate his fill and sighed: "The unit's treatment is really good."

  Su Qiang said, "This is nothing, the engineers' food is really good. Come on, I'll take you to see." He then led Liu Handong to a building behind, where there was a small garden in front of it. Under the sun umbrella, technical personnel wearing T-shirts and jeans were having lunch. Their meals were completely different from those of the logistics staff, with a self-service buffet offering both Chinese and Western cuisine. There were also chefs making dumplings, frying eggs, and tossing Indian flatbread. The drinks were more abundant than those in the logistics cafeteria, including red and white wine, champagne, whiskey, and clear liquor. There were no less than ten types of mineral water, and the ice cream was H?agen-Dazs. Cigarettes and cigars were also provided in unlimited quantities. What's even more incredible was that there were cats, dogs, rabbits, and small pigs running around underfoot.

  Liu Handong was stunned, Su Qiang proudly bumped his arm and said: "How's that? Engineers are still paid highly, starting with a monthly salary of 10,000 yuan, but the threshold is also high, only graduates from 211 or 985 universities can qualify."

  The whole afternoon was still uneventful, Liu Handong held his mobile phone to play WeChat with Ma Ling, after wasting several hours, it finally reached the end of work time. He stood up and stretched: "Can we go now?"

  "Leave? You're dreaming, it's only 5:30, we can't leave until at least 10 o'clock."

  "How come you're working overtime so late?"

  "Otherwise, how would they get such great treatment? They eat and drink well every day, and can even keep pets in the office. When they work overtime, we have to stay late too, but don't worry, you'll still get your overtime pay."

  Dinner was still eaten in the cafeteria, and at 9:30, someone finally got off work. Liu Handong and his team were responsible for picking up high-level researchers, and the seats in the car were all fixed. After fifteen people had sat down, Su Qiang got into the driver's seat and started the car. Liu Handong asked him why he didn't wait until it was full.

  "They all stayed overnight without going back, the company has dormitories to live in." Su Qiang explained that this time he would first demonstrate once, explain to Liu Handong which stops there are along the way, send the engineers one by one to the entrance of the community, and then return the car to the company before he could get off work.

  After finishing this round, it was already midnight at 12 o'clock. The Birlie light bus drove into the Qing Shi High-tech Park under the night sky. In front of the long window of the 18th floor CEO's office, An Xin, wearing a professional attire, held a mini PAD and was having a video call with Xia Qing Shi.

  "He has been arranged to work as a driver in the logistics department. If he does well, we will break the rules and give him a raise and promotion. If he doesn't do well, we will also take care of him."

  Xia Qing Shi was very satisfied: "Not bad, teaching people to fish is better than giving them a fish, this is much stronger than giving him a sum of money. Next week I have a negotiation with Wall Street investment bank and won't be able to return for the time being. An Xin, you can wait a bit."

  Looking at Xia Qing's pale face, An Xing felt a pang of sadness: "Qing Shi, don't overwork yourself, take care of yourself."

  Downstairs, Bi Lian drove into the garage. Liu Handong finally ended a day's work and could get off work to go home. He sent a message to Ma Ling: "Get off work, driver Ma come pick me up."

  Ma Ling immediately replied: "You're the driver, your whole family are drivers."

  Liu Handong replied: "Isn't it? We are all drivers now."

  "Buddy, I'm leaving first." Su Qiang rode his electric bike away, Liu Handong also changed clothes and was about to leave work. Suddenly, someone rushed in from outside, it was Sun Zhonghai, the deputy director of the administrative department, reeking of alcohol but still clear-headed, shouting several times for Su Qiang, but no one responded, he jumped around anxiously.

  "Little Liu, you haven't left yet, come with me quickly, there's something important." Sun Zhonghai suddenly saw Liu Handong and immediately dragged him outside without saying a word. A Volkswagen Magotan was parked at the door, its engine still running.

  "Hurry up, you drive, go to the big roundabout in the south of the city." Sun Zhonghai urged.

  Liu Handong quickly got on the car, fastened his seatbelt, and drove out of the park. It was late at night, and there were few vehicles on the road, so he sped up to 120 km/h. Sun Zhonghai still thought it was too slow and kept urging him: "Faster, a bit faster."

  The mobile phone rang, Sun Zhonghai hastily answered it and said respectfully: "I'll be there right away, the traffic police are already in contact, I don't know what's going on, Wang Zhi is not answering his phone."

  The other party seemed to be very angry, and the voice on the phone grew louder. Sun Zhonghai wiped his sweat non-stop and explained: "Xia Dong, I've also had a drink, my heart is still reeling from it, don't worry, I'll do my best to settle this matter."

  After finishing this call, Sun Zhonghai made a few more calls in a row, but no one answered. Finally, someone picked up the last one, and Sun Zhonghai said: "Xia Shao, it's me Sun Zhonghai. I'll be there in five minutes. Don't get out of the car, and don't talk to the police."

  After hanging up the phone, Sun Zhonghai let out a sigh of relief, looked at Liu Handong and said sincerely: "Little Liu, help your brother with something. Xia Dong's son had an accident while drinking, you help him take the blame, it's just a general traffic accident, won't get into trouble or go to jail, remember, just say it was you driving, don't answer anything else, wait for the lawyer to arrive before talking again, got it?"

  Liu Handong felt a bit displeased, his good impression of Qing Shi Gao Ke instantly plummeted to the bottom. He sneered: "I'm on my first day of work and I'm already helping someone take the blame, isn't that great?"

  Sun Zhonghai said: "You don't understand this, do you? Others want to ask for such an opportunity but can't get it. You help Xia Shao Dingzhen and still can't get rid of your benefits? At least this number!" He stretched out one finger, "One million! Little Liu, you are also a lucky one, today you have won the lottery."

  Liu Handong snorted in disdain, but still drove to send Sun Zhonghai to the large rotary in the south of the city. This is actually a crossroads on the 4th Ring Road, where a group of people have gathered. A Cayenne was parked on the road with its front end dented, and tens of meters away was a severely deformed Jialing motorcycle. There were bloodstains on the ground, and two bodies lay on their backs, covered with raincoats. One of them had a very short body, like a child. A bloody little cloak and a woman's shoe were scattered on the ground. Nearby, three police cars were parked, surrounded by a large crowd.

  Maiteng pulled over, Sun Zhonghai got out of the car and again whispered: "Just say it was you who was driving, saw someone get hit and killed, panicked and ran away. Now come back to surrender, remember? 100,000 yuan!"

  Liu Handong ignored him and walked straight past, there were three people in the car, one man and two women, who refused to get out of the car with the doors and windows tightly closed, and even gave the traffic police outside a middle finger.

  Onlookers said the car crashed into a motorcycle stopped at an intersection waiting for the red light, the male driver was seriously injured, and a mother and daughter sitting in the back seat died on the spot, the child was only three years old.