Chapter 49

After the train left the platform, Xiao Yuanhang followed Zhang Yaping to begin patrolling the carriages. At the start of the journey, both shifts worked simultaneously, with two attendants in each carriage. It would take 35 minutes to reach the first stop, Liucheng Station. After the train departed from Liucheng Station, the staff of Shift B would go to the dining car for their meal, and after eating, they would return to take over their shifts. The staff of Shift A would go to the dining car for their meal and then return to the sleeping car to rest. At 7:30 PM, they would take over the night shift, and the staff of Shift B would go to the dining car for their meal and then return to the sleeping car to rest.

As soon as the train started, the first task for the attendants was to organize the luggage racks. This was a crucial task involving passenger safety. Passengers often carelessly threw their luggage onto the racks and ignored it. With many passengers, the luggage racks were full, with large and small bags haphazardly placed. The attendants had to rearrange the items on the racks to ensure they were securely placed, preventing them from falling and injuring passengers during the journey.

Only light luggage was allowed on the racks. Large items, metal objects, and long items were not permitted. If such items fell from the racks, they could cause minor injuries like cuts and bruises, or even serious injuries leading to disability or death. When the attendants organized the luggage racks, they required passengers to remove these items and place them under their seats for safety.

Xiao Yuanhang followed from the back to the front, addressing any issues he found and instructing the attendants to correct them immediately. When they reached the first carriage at the front, the train arrived at Liucheng Station. The two of them got off and patrolled the platform to the soft sleeper car, which took about 2 minutes, the exact duration of the stop at Liucheng Station. After getting back on the train from the soft sleeper car, the train started moving again.

The two of them went from the soft sleeper car to the dining car, where the crew meals were already prepared. The police officer and the maintenance staff had already started eating, and the crew members of Shift B were gradually coming to the dining car for their meals. Zhang Yaping said, "Xiao Yuanhang, you should eat with them. It's Shift B's turn to take the first shift today. The train just started, and the passenger load isn't heavy, so there's nothing much to worry about. You can take over for now, and I'll take over from you when I wake up in the evening."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded and said, "Okay, Sister Zhang, you go ahead and do your work." He then called the crew members of his shift to come and eat.

Seeing Xiao Yuanhang become the train conductor, the dining car manager, Old Yang, smiled and said, "Xiao Xiao, you're really something! You've become the train conductor in just a few days. I never thought it would happen so quickly!"

Xiao Yuanhang chuckled and said, "Manager Yang, I just got lucky. I hope you will continue to support our work in the future."

Yang Dalì patted his chest and said, "Xiao Xiao, you're too modest. I have no problem with that. Just let me know if you need anything. It's the dining car that needs your support, little brother!"

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Brother Yang, you're going too far. We should support each other!" Since Yang Dalì called him "little brother" to show closeness, Xiao Yuanhang naturally changed to calling him "Brother Yang," adept at handling relationships.

Xu Yanchun, a crew member of Shift B, called Xiao Yuanhang to come and eat. Xiao Yuanhang went and sat at the second table. Each table seated four people, and the crew meal consisted of two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup. The dining car attendants gradually brought the food to the tables. Yang Dalì walked to the front and loudly said, "To celebrate Xiao Xiao becoming the train conductor, we'll add an extra dish today!" He then called to the chef in the kitchen, "Xiao Li, add a braised mandarin fish to the crew meal!"

"Great!" The crew members who were already eating were delighted and cheered. Zhang Yaping, the regular train conductor, sat at the first table and smiled without a word. Yang Dalì was a smooth operator, skilled at handling relationships. Whether the dining car made money depended on the train conductor's mood. With Xiao Yuanhang as the new train conductor, he had to show his support!

After saying this, Yang Dalì looked at Xiao Yuanhang, who nodded and smiled in thanks. There was no need to say anything; everything was understood without words...

Although Zhang Yaping maintained a smile on her face, she was extremely unhappy inside. It wasn't because of Yang Dalì; she and Yang Dalì had worked together for over two years, and he always did as she asked, trying to curry favor with her. His actions were also to build a good relationship with Xiao Yuanhang. She had been harboring resentment for five or six days. Every time she saw Xiao Yuanhang, a surge of anger would rise in her heart, growing stronger with each passing day!

When she learned that Tang Jing had been promoted to deputy captain of the first passenger team, she was utterly depressed and in a terrible mood. She had been a train conductor for 8 years, maintaining good relationships with her superiors and subordinates, and had achieved outstanding performance in her work, making her a strong contender for the deputy captain position. She had done a lot of work behind the scenes, which was why Tang Jing's promotion had been delayed.

This time, Tang Jing participated in the railway bureau's technical performance competition and won second place in the train conductor category, solidifying her position. With reduced resistance and the full support of the section chief, Wu Fengshan, she was smoothly promoted. Losing this opportunity, Zhang Yaping didn't know how long she would have to wait to become a deputy captain.

Xiao Yuanhang was originally a train attendant under Zhang Yaping, with excellent technical skills and a strong work ethic. He was also a member of the Communist Youth League and a key member of the team. Zhang Yaping had always liked Xiao Yuanhang. However, Tang Jing's promotion to deputy captain due to her technical performance and Xiao Yuanhang's promotion to train conductor for winning the technical championship naturally made her transfer her resentment to Xiao Yuanhang.

When the team leader, Lin Yan, talked to her and asked her to mentor Xiao Yuanhang, she readily agreed but had already made up her mind. "You're so good at technical skills and won the technical championship of the railway bureau. Do you need me to mentor you? You can do whatever you can, and if something goes wrong, you'll have to take the blame yourself. Don't blame others!"

Zhang Yaping had been a train conductor for 8 years and had honed her skills to perfection. She never showed her true feelings on her face. She spoke well in front of Xiao Yuanhang, without any leaks, but she was determined to ignore him and let him figure things out on his own. If something major happened and he was dismissed, it would be even better!

After the crew members of Shift B finished their meals and returned to their respective carriages, Xiao Yuanhang went back to the soft sleeper carriage, washed his face, and then went to patrol and inspect the carriages. The crew members of Shift A gradually returned to the dining car for their meals and then went to the sleeping car to rest. Seeing the train conductor, Zhang Yaping, also heading to the sleeping car, the water attendant, Lin Zhigang, followed and said, "Conductor, are you going to rest too? Are you not worried about Xiao Yuanhang, who just became the conductor and doesn't know anything?"

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PS: Brothers, you're amazing! Today, we once reached third place, which I never expected. Thank you for your support. The plot will continue to unfold, and the best is yet to come. Stay tuned!

{Piaotian Literature}