Chapter 61

Wu Yue took the manuscript and quickly read through it. With a look of pleasant surprise, she raised her head and looked at Xiao Yuanhang, saying, "Xiao Yuanhang, not only are you good at your technical work, but I didn't expect you to write so well. How did I miss such a talented person?"

Xiao Yuanhang chuckled and said, "Assistant Wu, you're too kind. This is my first time writing an article, and I had no confidence at all."

Wu Yue was in charge of publicity and had a strong foundation in writing. She could tell the quality of an article at a glance. Xiao Yuanhang's article was concise and powerful, with both good writing and a good angle. The train segment was short of people who could write, so finding Xiao Yuanhang today was a small surprise.

Wu Yue looked at Xiao Yuanhang and said, "The article is very well written. Even without any connections, the Songtied Gongren newspaper would publish it. But why did you write about something that happened the day before yesterday?"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled and explained, "Assistant Wu, this is something that happened to our team the day before yesterday when we were on duty. I only got back this morning and haven't even gone home yet. I rushed to finish this manuscript."

"Oh, I see!" Wu Yue nodded and said, "You must be tired from your trip. Go home and rest. I'll take care of the rest. I'll mail the manuscript to the newspaper office after I get it stamped."

Seeing how understanding and caring Wu Yue was, Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly said, "Thank you, Assistant Wu, thank you!"

Wu Yue said, "You don't need to thank me. It's my duty. By the way, Xiao Yuanhang, don't call me Assistant Wu anymore. It sounds too formal. Call me Sister Wu and Sister Yuan from now on."

Xiao Yuanhang quickly said, "Okay, Sister Wu, Sister Yuan!"

"Good!" Wu Yue nodded and said, "Xiao Yuanhang, go home and rest. In the future, if you encounter good things, write more articles and submit them to the newspaper. If your articles get published, our party committee has rewards."

Xiao Yuanhang said, "I will, and I'll definitely trouble Sister Wu in the future."

After a few more words with Wu Yue and Yuan Wenli, Xiao Yuanhang said, "Sister Wu, can I use the phone?"

Wu Yue said, "We're all in the same segment. What's the problem with using the phone? Go ahead."

Xiao Yuanhang smiled, nodded, and picked up the phone on Wu Yue's desk. He dialed 141, the railway long-distance recording desk, and said, "Hello, please record this for Linquan Train Segment Passenger Team One. Yes, my name is Xiao. Thank you!"

At that time, the railway phone numbers in Guhe were only three digits and could only be used for local railway calls. There was no such thing as a digital switchboard. To make long-distance railway calls, one needed the railway phone office to connect the call. Xiao Yuanhang waited for about five or six minutes before the phone on the desk rang. He picked it up and heard the operator say the call was connected. A female voice came from the other end: "Hello, this is Passenger Team One."

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Hello, this is Guhe Train Segment. Could you tell me which shift Zhao Bingnan is on today?"

"You're looking for Captain Zhao? He's here. Hold on a moment." The female voice called out to Zhao Bingnan, and soon his voice came through: "Hello, this is Zhao Bingnan. Who is this?"

Hearing the person call Zhao Bingnan "Captain Zhao," Xiao Yuanhang thought he must have been promoted. When he heard his voice, he said, "Brother Zhao, congratulations on your promotion! This is Xiao Yuanhang from Guhe Train Segment!"

Zhao Bingnan, upon hearing it was Xiao Yuanhang, said happily, "It's Brother Xiao! I thought you had forgotten about me. I'm just a deputy captain now, nothing to congratulate. But you, I heard you were directly promoted to train conductor. That's something to celebrate!"

Zhao Bingnan had unexpectedly won third place in the technical performance competition for train conductors at the railway bureau, a first for Linquan Train Segment. The division had given him a grand commendation and reward, and he was promoted to deputy captain of Passenger Team One upon his return. If Xiao Yuanhang hadn't made this call, he wouldn't have known.

Xiao Yuanhang said, "I've only been on one shift, and Brother Zhao already has such good information!"

Zhao Bingnan laughed and said, "Brother Xiao, you're the technical champion of the railway bureau. Everyone in the bureau is watching you. How could I not know about such a big thing? By the way, when are you coming to Linquan? I need to celebrate with you."

Xiao Yuanhang said, "I'm calling to tell you that I'm planning to take the noon train tomorrow. I'll arrive in Linquan around 6 PM. Will you be home?"

Zhao Bingnan said, "I was supposed to go on duty tomorrow, but since you're coming, I'll switch shifts. I'll go on duty tonight and be back by tomorrow afternoon to wait for you."

Xiao Yuanhang laughed and said, "Brother Zhao, you're really considerate. Let's make it official. See you in Linquan tomorrow night!"

Xiao Yuanhang hung up the phone, said goodbye to Wu Yue and Yuan Wenli, and went home with his backpack. He first went to the bathhouse for a shower, had lunch, and took a nap. Then he visited the four people he had arranged to borrow money from—Li Guiying and others—wrote IOUs, and put the 13,000 yuan he borrowed into the backpack he had prepared. He returned home.

In the evening, he specially went to the station to find Wang Dahai and told him to go to Linquan with him on the 11:10 AM train the next day to check the market for pine seeds. If it was good, they would bring a batch back. Wang Dahai, of course, was very happy to agree.

The next morning at around 10:00 AM, Xiao Yuanhang told his father, Xiao Qiliang, that he was going to Linquan to take care of some business and would be back in about two or three days. Xiao Qiliang, who now trusted his son, nodded and agreed without asking what he was going to do in Linquan. Xiao Yuanhang picked up his backpack with the money, went to the station, and found Wang Dahai waiting for him. They entered the station through the commuter entrance.

The train from Guhe to Linquan had just left the depot and was parked on Platform 1. The station had not yet started boarding, and all the doors of the train were closed. Xiao Yuanhang and Wang Dahai smoked while waiting for the train doors to open. Xiao Yuanhang couldn't help but touch the makeup box in his backpack, which he had promised to bring for Wei Wei. He had calculated that today was her shift, and he would give it to her when he saw her.

After the station started boarding, the train doors opened, and the attendants got off to wait for the passengers to board. Xiao Yuanhang and Wang Dahai got on the train and went directly to the soft-seat compartment. This train was also served by the Guhe Train Segment, and Xiao Yuanhang was very familiar with the train conductor, Zhang Kai. After greeting him, they naturally sat down in the soft-seat compartment.

Xiao Yuanhang sat by the window and observed the platform. Soon, he saw the vendors with their boxes appearing on the platform, calling out to sell their goods. It didn't take long for him to spot Wei Wei. He took the makeup box out of his backpack, handed the backpack to Wang Dahai to watch, and got off the train to go to Wei Wei.

Xiao Yuanhang walked over and smiled at Wei Wei, saying, "Wei Wei, you're on duty today?"

Wei Wei, seeing it was Xiao Yuanhang, was pleasantly surprised and said, "Xiao Yuanhang, you're back?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded and said, "Yes, I got back this morning. I asked at the station, and they said you were on duty today. Here, I brought this makeup box from Huanghai for you. Do you like it?"

Wei Wei hadn't expected Xiao Yuanhang to take her casual comment seriously. She was very happy and took the exquisite makeup box, opening it to find small compartments filled with various colored makeup powders, a mirror, and a small makeup brush. She had never seen such a beautiful makeup box and couldn't put it down.

******************************************************************

PS: Thank you to the readers "Long Shao LL1," "Wuxin Mutou," "srjx," "dkny10111," and "mumuyu0001" for your support!