Chapter 001: Discontinued Cigarettes

I am puzzled: Is a test drive not necessary

Are the various bizarre events truly as reported in the news?

He was sitting in the office, picking at his toes. Upon seeing me enter, he immediately put his feet down, put on his leather shoes, and walked over to greet me with a friendly handshake. I felt quite repulsed, but still shook his hand symbolically.

I nodded and smiled, saying: Yes, I just started work today

Humans and ants are fundamentally alike in their pursuit of food to satisfy hunger, yet there are always some individuals with ulterior motives who, in order to enjoy better sustenance, engage in actions that violate moral principles

The young girl did not smile at me; instead, she walked to the back of the bus with an indifferent expression

Recruitment

The little girl looked up at me and quietly asked, "Uncle, if I have no money, will you let me ride in the car?"

I still nod in agreement, as I find these matters quite reasonable. First is the professional standards, second is the prohibition against slacking off, and third is the code of conduct that bus drivers must adhere to

After a pause of approximately three minutes, I will resume the journey and head towards the house store

I nodded again

No need, no need, I trust you! Let's go to work tonight, okay? Chen Wei appeared very bold, but I always felt something was off. The hiring process was strange; only one trip was made in a day, the salary was so high, and surprisingly, there was no test drive during the interview.

I nodded: Yes, go ahead.

I find this point very reasonable; buses can only stop at designated stations. However, outside the suburbs, there are not so many rules, and often it is simply a matter of hailing the bus to stop and waving to get off. This aspect makes me feel that Dongfeng Yuntong Company's approach is very proper

Chen Wei then smiled again and said: If there are no issues, shall we start work on the evening of the 10th?

I nodded and smiled: My name is Liu Mingbu, and I have operated Blue Star for four years

I find it hard to understand why Dongfeng Yuntong Company, which is a financially strong company, still retains such buses

Real News 2: A woman publicly urinated on a bus and threw a sanitary napkin at the driver's face. (Could a normal person do such a thing? But who knows if that woman suddenly experienced a mental breakdown)

A deep dive into the shocking bus incident reveals that the bus you have ridden may not only carry the living

The house store is located in the suburbs, far from the city center, and it took over an hour by bus to get there. At the passenger transport terminal, I found Chen Wei, who was in charge of recruitment; he appeared to be in his early thirties.

It is rare that there are still companies like Yuntong hiring such drivers; isn't this akin to the saying, "When the mountains are exhausted and the waters are depleted, doubt arises with no way out, yet there is a glimmer of hope in the dark willows and blooming flowers"? With a mindset of trying my luck, I headed to the housing store

As it was midnight, there was hardly anyone at each station. After driving for five or six stops without interruption, a young man got on at the picking garden station. Upon seeing me for the first time, he exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, we have a new driver, huh"

Real News 1: The driver of Bus 14 worked continuously for 43 days, resting only four hours each day, and unexpectedly passed away. (The driver was commendable, but why did a seemingly healthy person suddenly die?)

Returning to my own single dormitory, while washing my feet, I remembered the cigarette clamped between my ear. I took it down, lit it, and just after taking a puff, I immediately felt a sharp irritation in my throat, much like smoking a cigar

The journey was quite smooth, much more enjoyable than taking the bus from m.hetushu.com. The advantage of driving the last bus at midnight is that there is no traffic, saving time, and I almost reached the coking plant terminal in one go

However, while it seems reasonable, I also feel that Chen Wei's words are somewhat excessive. If I were to encounter someone in a car accident, I would have to stop the car and call 120, wouldn't I

I was taken aback and replied with a smile: Of course, it is possible

Who would have thought that Chen Wei smiled and said: "It's nothing, let me tell you a few things, and you remember them. First, do not stop until you reach the station, understand?"

I nodded

Secondly, upon arriving at the coking plant terminal, you may rest for five minutes, but do not exceed ten minutes, absolutely do not exceed, do you understand

At the age of twenty-six, I had already been a bus driver for four years. The Longhua Transport Company I worked for was not very strong in terms of resources. With the advancement of technology and the opening of express routes, this long-established transport company ultimately could not withstand the competition from multiple operating companies and ended up being dissolved

What Chen Wei said left me stunned on the spot

I shook my head and smiled, saying: No, smoking is not allowed in the car

Everyone is busy every day, and every ant is also busy every day. The question is, what are people busy with, and what are ants busy with?

When I used to drive a bus, I often saw people posting small advertisements on the bus stop signs, which were nothing more than messages like "No need to worry for those with STDs, × × products will relieve your concerns." Or various services for obtaining permits, and also advertisements for escort services.

Real News Three: During the peak hours of getting off work, Bus No. 37 was overcrowded, resulting in one death and three injuries. (The bus compartment is not a concert venue; are you sure that person died from being crushed, rather than from other causes?)

Seeing Chen Wei's resolute expression, I nodded and said, "I will comply with all arrangements," for the sake of the generous benefits.

I received a set of deep blue driver uniforms at the office. I first returned home, which is not far from here, and the rent for my place is also inexpensive. After I had tidied up my belongings, I brought the clothes and bedding to the bus terminal.

I have consecutively approached several transport companies. Initially, they were quite satisfied with me during the interview process. However, after a round of test driving, the leaders all shook their heads in disapproval. Driving a bus is not about performing tricks; it is a matter of being responsible for the safety of the passengers.

After settling down, Chen Wei smiled and asked: What is your name? Can you drive the Blue Star bus?

The "Blue Star Bus" mentioned in this job advertisement is precisely the vintage bus that I am proficient in

I squatted on the street, twisted open the cap of a mineral water bottle, and drank the last sip, catching a glimpse of a small advertisement贴 on the bus stop sign out of the corner of my eye

All the passengers have disembarked, and I sat in the driver's seat to rest for a while. Looking at the time on my phone, it was already 1:50. The distance from the house shop to the coking plant is indeed not short, and it is also located in the suburbs, making the roads difficult to navigate

After a long while, I still nodded: Yes, no problem, I can start work tonight

"What's the big deal? Smoking one more cigarette won't hurt, go ahead and smoke it." The young man was quite enthusiastic, but I insisted on not smoking; I simply tucked the cigarette behind my ear.

The time is about right, I will hurry along and take Bus No. 14 from the Fangzidian Terminal.

I glanced at my phone and said, "Brother Chen, it's fifty minutes past the hour. I should go prepare now; the bus will be leaving soon."

The main station is open, and at night, the road at https://www.hetushu.com is very dark. Moreover, the houses and shops here are indeed too far from the city center, too remote, and there are no streetlights along the way. The headlights of the car are also quite dim, making the drive very uncomfortable

Dongfeng Yuntong Company (pseudonym) is currently recruiting a driver. The candidate must be at least 25 years old and proficient in driving Blue Star buses. The compensation is generous. The address is Fangzi Store Passenger Transport Terminal. The contact person is Chen Wei, and the mobile number is 186......

There was no one in the car, and the young man was quite talkative. He handed me a cigarette and smiled, saying: "Here, master, you go ahead and smoke first"

Thirdly, smoking is not allowed in the vehicle, and carrying lighters or flammable and explosive materials is strictly prohibited, do you understand

I feel as if this is a stroke of good fortune, and I am about to nod in agreement, but unexpectedly, Chen Wei quietly adds: However, there is one thing you need to pay attention to.

After traveling a few more stops, at the Charm City station, a little girl boarded the bus, looking quite forlorn. I kindly reminded her, "Little girl, please insert a coin to board."

The return journey is even simpler, as there are hardly any people at the stations, with only a few passengers scattered along the way. The first day of work went very smoothly

Seeing the surprise on my face, Chen Wei shifted his position, moved a little closer to me, and patted my shoulder, saying: "There will be irregular benefits distributed, how does that sound?"

To speak frankly, this No. 14 bus is even more dilapidated than the ones I used to drive. When it starts moving, you can clearly hear the sound of the chassis shaking. Although the driver's seat is quite soft, it is uneven, making it feel as if a pair of hands is supporting my backside from underneath the seat. Whenever I encounter a bumpy road, it always results in a painful jolt.

You must be punctual; the departure is at twelve o'clock at night! After arriving at the coking plant, you may stop for a maximum of five to ten minutes, and then you must return. On the way back, you are not allowed to pick up passengers midway, not even someone who is gravely ill; you must stop only at the designated station. Do you understand

I held the cigarette holder, glanced at it under the light, and with just that one glance, I was so startled that my hand trembled, nearly causing me to drop the cigarette

Oh, four years of driving experience, very good. Here, we are in need of someone for the night shift, the last bus on Route 14 departs at twelve o'clock every night, going from Fangzidian to the Coking Plant, and returns at two o'clock. Accommodation and meals are provided, with a monthly salary of 6,000. How does that sound?

At 11:50 PM, Chen Wei came to the dormitory to find me, handed me a cigarette, and said with a smile: "Xiao Liu, have a smoke first, let's chat for a while"

For three consecutive days, I wandered the streets, overwhelmed by a sense of helpless defeat. At twenty-six, a man is in the prime of his efforts, striving to earn a living for his future wife. While others are flourishing, I have not even found a girlfriend.

What truly caught my attention was a plain A4 sheet of paper, on which was written a job advertisement.

What brand of cigarettes is this? It's so strong

The buses I used to drive were all equipped with old-fashioned pneumatic brakes, but other transit companies had long since phased out such vehicles in favor of more advanced buses powered by natural gas or even electricity. I have never had any experience with these advanced buses and am unable to operate them

I am unemployed

I have been driving a bus for four years and have never encountered such treatment. I only get one trip per day, and my monthly salary is 6,000, which includes meals and accommodation

I took a one-yuan coin out of my pocket, tossed it into the coin slot with a bang, and then smiled at the little girl, saying: This time, it's on me, dear.