Practice wine

Zhao Dongchuan returned to the guesthouse, took a shower, changed his clothes, and prepared to buy a ticket to go back.

Counting the travel time, he had been here for about ten days already.

Although the system mission was within two months, he had plenty of time, but he was afraid it would be difficult to explain to Jia Bing if he returned too late.

Zhao Dongchuan left the guesthouse and headed straight for the train station.

He queued up to buy a ticket; fortunately, for the return trip, his work ID was accepted without requiring a letter of introduction.

After consulting with the ticket seller, he learned that all sleeper tickets for the next two days were sold out, and only sleeper tickets for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow were available.

Zhao Dongchuan had previously thought sleeper tickets were easy to buy, but he didn't expect them to be so popular here.

After thinking about it, Zhao Dongchuan understood.

Previously, rich people in Huangyuan City were unwilling to go out unless they had something important, and those who wanted to go out didn't have money.

This led to sleeper tickets from Huangyuan City to here being easy to buy.

However, this place, though a small town, is adjacent to Hong Kong, and many rich people thrive on smuggling, using various channels to conduct business across China.

In those days, there were explicit regulations on the types, quantities, and weights of luggage and parcels carried, and public security inspections were frequent to prevent speculation and long-distance trafficking.

Zhao Dongchuan had space and wasn't afraid of inspections, but he wondered how others managed to avoid them.

After buying the ticket, Zhao Dongchuan planned to find a state-run restaurant to satisfy his hunger.

He walked into a state-run restaurant, thinking about his return journey.

Inside the state-run restaurant, Zhao Dongchuan ordered two home-style dishes.

While waiting for his food, he habitually began to observe the other customers around him.

One middle-aged man was eating while reading a newspaper-like book, which caught Zhao Dongchuan's attention.

He stared at it closely; it looked like a periodical.

Before Zhao Dongchuan could examine it further, the man had finished his meal and put it away.

Soon after, his own dishes arrived, and he stopped thinking about anything else, focusing on eating and transforming into a 'dry rice person'.

After eating, Zhao Dongchuan returned to the guesthouse.

The guesthouse staff saw him come in and specifically called out to him, saying, "Hello, Comrade, two of your friends came looking for you two days ago.

You weren't here at the time, so they asked me to tell you that they would come back to find you in a couple of days."

"Okay, thank you, I understand.

I'll be at the guesthouse these two days, so if anyone comes looking for me, just let me know directly," Zhao Dongchuan knew who was looking for him without even thinking.

Besides Li Yuer and Hu Jianjun, whom he met on the train, there was no one else here.

He wasn't surprised that Hu Jianjun was looking for him, but Li Yuer looking for him was a bit strange; they weren't very close.

Men could meet for a meal, drink, and chat, but why would a cadre's daughter look for him?

He wasn't so narcissistic as to believe that his 'heroic aura' from transmigrating would make everyone worship and submit.

Since he had nothing to do these two days, he might as well meet up with them and make some friends.

Sure enough, Hu Jianjun arrived the next day.

He was in his room studying when a knock came at the door.

Zhao Dongchuan opened it, and it was the guesthouse staff, telling him someone was looking for him.

Downstairs, Zhao Dongchuan saw Hu Jianjun leaning against a car, smoking with a smug look on his face.

"Old Zhao, you're so busy! I finally caught you today," Hu Jianjun said excitedly.

"Come on, today I'll drive you around," Hu Jianjun said, opening the car door.

"You rascal, you can drive yourself now?" Zhao Dongchuan asked with a smile.

"Isn't it a coincidence? I got my license after I came back, but I don't have an official position yet.

Today, a buddy of mine wasn't feeling well, so it worked out for me," Hu Jianjun grinned.

"Oh, then I'll have to enjoy the ride today and bask in your glory," Zhao Dongchuan got into the passenger seat.

Hu Jianjun then drove Zhao Dongchuan, speeding along the roads of Shenzhen, all the way to Bao'an County Porcelain Factory to pick up goods for the Department Store in Shenzhen.

When Hu Jianjun got out of the car with the manifest to find the porcelain factory workers and start loading the goods, Zhao Dongchuan also got out to get some fresh air.

He looked around and found many broken porcelain pieces in the corner, which reminded him of the first mission activated by the system and of Shuangshui Village.

At this moment, Zhao Dongchuan suddenly missed that small village.

He wondered where the plot had developed to now.

ordinary world has a large time span, and many plot scenes jump forward by half a year or a year with a single transition, but there are no 'transitions' in the real world.

He had paid for Shaoping's meals, so Shaoping wouldn't have to starve or hide until everyone else was gone to get his black steamed bun.

He was just worried that Shaoping himself might become a 'hero saving the beauty' and fawn over Hao Hongmei.

He also wondered about Shaoan and Runye, and Xiulian.

For a moment, Zhao Dongchuan's thoughts wandered, not knowing where they had drifted.

When he came back to his senses, the goods had already been loaded, and Hu Jianjun was calling him to get in the car, ready to return to Shenzhen.

Along the way, the two chatted about everything, and Zhao Dongchuan casually mentioned that he had bought his ticket and was preparing to go back.

Hu Jianjun suggested that they go to the most famous state-run restaurant in Bao'an County for a meal, as a farewell for Zhao Dongchuan.

Zhao Dongchuan had no objections, so Hu Jianjun drove to the state-run restaurant in Bao'an County.

As soon as he got out of the car, Zhao Dongchuan noticed a very familiar car parked by the roadside.

When they entered the restaurant, he saw Li Yuer, her father, and a person who looked like a leading cadre, the three of them discussing business and waiting for their food.

Li Yuer and her companions were deep in conversation and didn't notice Zhao Dongchuan and Hu Jianjun entering.

Zhao Dongchuan and Hu Jianjun exchanged glances, both tacitly remaining silent, planning to find an empty table nearby so as not to disturb them.

However, when Hu Jianjun and Zhao Dongchuan called the waiter to order, Li Yuer inevitably heard some sound.

Feeling it was familiar, she turned to look at them out of a woman's intuition.

Seeing them, Li Yuer's eyes lit up.

She leaned down and said a few words to her father, who also turned to see Zhao Dongchuan and his companion, then smiled and nodded.

Li Yuer then left her table and walked towards them.

"What a coincidence, running into you two! Why didn't you invite me to your gathering?" Li Yuer said, no longer as shy as when they first met, with a hint of teasing.

"I was busy a few days ago and didn't run into you.

Today, it's also a coincidence that Old Hu came to the county to pick up goods, so I'm just hitching a ride and keeping him company on the road," Zhao Dongchuan replied with a smile.

"Old Zhao is going back tomorrow.

I thought I'd find a restaurant and treat him to a meal as a farewell," Hu Jianjun said.

At this point, Li Yuer's father's conversation also stopped, and he invited them to join their table for dinner.

There weren't too many people, just enough for one table.

Zhao Dongchuan found it hard to refuse, and with so many people around, making a fuss wouldn't look good, so he went along with it and agreed.

"Little Zhao, it's been many days since we last met.

How do you feel about this place?" Mr. Li asked with a smile.

"Uncle Li, this place is very good; it's more developed than where we are from," Zhao Dongchuan observed that this area was more tolerant of small businesses, and the general living conditions were better than in Huangyuan.

At this time, the dishes slowly began to arrive, so everyone started eating.

During the meal, the cadre occasionally toasted Mr. Li.

Mr. Li also laughed and talked about work with him.

"Director Li, the 'net-laying' in Bao'an has been getting more and more intense recently.

The border guards are soft-hearted and can't bring themselves to act decisively; we really are at our wit's end!" the man said with a sigh.

"Raise the nets higher, dig more pits, set up some obstacles to try and slow them down.

Remember, do not open fire unless the situation is severe!"