Chapter 2

Chapter 2

By the time we reached the loading point, several of the younger drivers were already on the verge of coming to blows with Wu Defa’s people.

Old Zhang and Dashun saw what was happening and rushed over to pull them apart.

Wu Defa was bald, broad, and thick with meat. He had a dozen or so men under him, and he used to take jobs around Southeast Asia, so he spoke with a heavy accent.

The moment he saw me arrive, Wu Defa changed his tune fast. With the earnest air of an elder giving heartfelt advice, he said, “Brother Long, these kids you’re leading don’t know the rules. We’ve been loading first these past few days. What are they trying to do, blocking the road like this?”

“Bullshit!”

Shao Xing was the youngest among us. He had only joined Peng You’s company two months ago, and he was at the age where he refused to swallow any slight. “Did your family build this road? We’ve been waiting in line for over an hour!”

“Enough!”

I told Shao Xing to shut up, then turned to Wu Defa. “We’re lining up according to the rules. If Brother Wu has special permission from the mine to load first, then have someone from the transport department come tell us, and we’ll move aside. If not, then it’s only fair that everyone goes in order of arrival.”

Wu Defa saw that I wasn’t giving him face, and his expression immediately turned unpleasant.

One of the lackeys behind him stuck his neck out and cursed, “We’re fucking loading first whether you like it or not. What are you dog-shit eaters gonna do about it?”

“Is your mouth begging to be slapped? Or did no one ever teach you how to brush your teeth?”

My face went cold as I took a step forward, my dark, looming shadow falling over Wu Defa. “If you can’t manage the people under you, I don’t mind doing it for you.”

With me standing so close, Wu Defa couldn’t help taking a step back.

I was born with an unusual appearance-frightening to look at-and my build was far taller and more powerful than an ordinary man’s.

After more than ten days of wind and sand out here in the great northwest, I looked even more like some asura fiend from a wild mountain shrine.

Just then, a shriveled old man behind Wu Defa leaned close and murmured something to him.

Wu Defa frowned. When he looked up again, his whole expression had changed. Smiling amiably, he said to me, “Sorry about that, Brother Long. The kids don’t know any better. Be the bigger man and don’t hold it against them. How about this-you load first, and we’ll line up behind you.”

Wu Defa quickly led his people away. I glanced again at that old man.

Wu Defa seemed to value him highly. Even the way he dressed was more refined than the others. I hadn’t seen him do any work these past few days either. He just followed Wu Defa around all day.