Super Soldier in the City-Chapter 1948 - 2011: Old Classmate

Two hours later, Murong Yuanqing called back, telling Li Yifei that the box might be made of沉玉, a highly rare jade that contains a large amount of metal, making it very dense and heavy. However, it’s difficult to cut, and he couldn’t say how to open the box. Li Yifei then asked if it could be forcefully broken open, by smashing it or using modern cutting equipment. Murong Yuanqing advised against it because the contents inside were unknown, and forceful opening might damage them.

Moreover, if the contents were harmful, releasing them could be disastrous.

Toxic gas? Li Yifei immediately thought of biological warfare, but then dismissed it as unlikely, though not impossible.

"Never mind, let’s not let this mess ruin the mood." Li Yifei tossed the box back into the safe and decided to let the matter rest for now.

After staying comfortably at home for a few days, Li Yifei went out. He didn’t drive but took public transport, planning to buy something on the way back. He got into a taxi, and the driver kept glancing back at him after a while. Li Yifei asked, "Driver, do you know me?"

The driver kept looking at him, frowning, and asked, "You look really familiar, really familiar, but I can’t say if you’re someone I know."

Li Yifei laughed because many people in Mile City knew him. Although he didn’t attend many events, he had been in the news a few times. They might not know him in person, but when Mile City’s Li family was mentioned, many would know. So, Li Yifei guessed that the driver might have seen his photo.

However, Li Yifei guessed wrong. The driver thought Li Yifei looked familiar not because he had seen his photo, but because Li Yifei resembled his elementary school classmate.

Li Yifei then asked, "Driver, where did you attend elementary school? I should count as an outsider, not from within Mile City."

"I’m not from the city either; I went to school out of town when I was a kid," the driver said.

After chatting a bit more, Li Yifei was surprised to find that the driver and he came from the same place, and even further, they attended the same elementary school.

"Did you also attend Lotus Pond Elementary School?" Li Yifei asked in surprise, looking at the driver.

The driver tapped the steering wheel and laughed, saying, "See, I told you that you looked familiar. We really were classmates."

Li Yifei mentioned his graduating year, though he suspected the driver looked over forty while he was only in his thirties, wondering how they could be classmates.

"It really is true. Haha, I remember now. Is your surname Li?" The driver asked, pulling the car over and turning to look at Li Yifei.

"Ah, yes, sorry, I don’t quite remember."

"It’s been so many years; everyone changes. I look over forty, but I’m just in my thirties. Well, my name is Wen Dagang, and back in school, I had the nickname Cannon because I was burly and could fight..."

"No way, I remember now!" Li Yifei clapped his hands and said, "Now I remember. When you mentioned Wen Dagang, I had doubts, but when you said Cannon, I recalled. It was you, I remember you mugged me for a bread after school once."

Wen Dagang didn’t remember this, but when Li Yifei brought it up, he immediately felt embarrassed, scratched his bald head, and said, "Brother, I’m sorry for that. I apologize here, and I’ll treat you to drinks after work tonight."

"Haha, no need, I just mentioned it. We haven’t seen each other for years. I remember you transferred out or stopped attending after the fifth grade?" Li Yifei asked.

"I stopped. I wasn’t good at studying, and there was no point. So, I started working," Wen Dagang said.

"Same, I also left school. It was pointless," Li Yifei said.

"Oh?" Wen Dagang, being a driver, knew how to read people. Li Yifei hadn’t dressed specially today, just wearing dark pants and a shirt, looking like an office worker, so Wen Dagang asked, "Did you just get off work?"

"No, I’m not working right now. I used to be in the military, just retired a few years ago," Li Yifei said.

"No rush finding a job. Being in the military is a good experience. I served in the army too, as a two-year conscript, then came back, and my family arranged a marriage for me. I rented a taxi and run it myself, hire someone for nights, and the income’s not bad."

"Not bad. Mile City’s business is alright now. I just waved down five or six cars, all had passengers."

"It’s just handling things. Small city, small place. You can go around the whole city for twenty bucks." Wen Dagang shook his head, started the car again, and continued driving.

Li Yifei nodded, seeing an old classmate felt naturally good, but his relationship with Wen Dagang back then wasn’t that great, so Li Yifei didn’t delve deep into conversation. As he was getting out of the car, Li Yifei tried to pay, but Wen Dagang refused to take anything and even asked for Li Yifei’s contact information, saying he wanted to invite him for drinks that night. Li Yifei didn’t decline and said, "Alright, let me treat you tonight!"

"What are you saying? I already said I’d treat you. You must let me return the favor for that piece of bread from back then."

"You didn’t even take the cab fare just now." Li Yifei laughed.

"That’s nothing. Okay, Old Liu, it’s settled then. Tonight I’ll call another classmate, also from our elementary batch, you might know him. The three of us will have a good drink. You go handle your business; I’ll keep working. I’ll call you ahead of time tonight."

"Alright, drive safely." Li Yifei waved, and Wen Dagang stepped on the gas and zoomed away.

The taxi drivers in Mile City are famous for their speed. I remember one time the news mentioned a Mile City taxi driver in a Jetta racing a BMW on the highway, and he actually won.

Wen Dagang wasn’t driving slow either. After a few zooms, the car quickly merged into traffic.

Li Yifei watched Wen Dagang race away, shook his head, and turned to handle his affairs.

Around six in the evening, Wen Dagang did call him, asking where he was, offering to pick him up. Of course, Li Yifei declined, got the address clear, and had the driver take him there. He got out of the car a few dozen meters away and walked over.

Since they were old classmates, Li Yifei didn’t need to put on airs, lest people think he’s not a good guy.

The dining place was a barbecue shop, two stories high, with over thirty tables and a few private rooms inside. Wen Dagang was already waiting at the door for him. Seeing Li Yifei, Wen Dagang was very warm. This person had been in society for a long time but hadn’t caught much of the city’s bureaucratic air, also because he had dropped out after fifth grade, so he had no classmates in higher grades. Meeting elementary classmates felt close, especially since both were striving in the same city.

"Sorry, I’m a little late. The place I live is a bit far, and there was some traffic earlier." Li Yifei apologized.

Wen Dagang waved his hand and said, "No need to apologize. I just got here, and Old Meng hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll wait for a bit. I just called, and he said he’s on the way."

"Alright!" Li Yifei nodded, and Wen Dagang pulled a box of Zhonghua cigarettes out of his pocket, took one out, and handed it to Li Yifei, saying, "Showoff stuff. If not for you guys, I wouldn’t have taken them out. I just went home to get them."

Li Yifei wasn’t polite, accepted it, and said, "Good smoke." At the same time, he quite appreciated Wen Dagang’s straightforward personality. It’s better than pretending.

"Of course, haha. These smokes were meant as gifts, but they didn’t get given. I got mad and took them back. My wife even told me to return them, but Wen Dagang in my entire life hasn’t smoked such good cigarettes. I reluctantly bought them this time; how could I return them?" Wen Dagang said, while lighting the cigarette for Li Yifei with a lighter costing one yuan, feeling somewhat frustrated.

"What matter needs such good cigarettes?" Li Yifei asked casually.

Wen Dagang sighed and said, "These days, it’s tough for ordinary folks to get anything done. My kid is of age to start elementary school, but my household registration is rural and doesn’t belong to Mile City. Although my wife’s family is from Mile City, her household registration is also in the suburbs and doesn’t belong here. Schooling becomes a problem. The schools here won’t admit him, so we have no choice but to send him to my father-in-law’s place to study. But the schools there are really not good. There’s a big factory next to the school, always spewing black smoke. The road in front of the school is the Outer Ring where big trucks run daily. I worry every day during school and dismissal times."

Li Yifei took a puff, nodded, and said, "That’s indeed a big issue, so far away, and having to pick him up every day is inconvenient."

"Exactly, I start driving early and need to handover with the night shift driver. At that time, the kid’s still asleep. He’s been crying these few days, waking up too early. My wife can’t take him either; her work is even farther, and it’s just an electric bike, not convenient," Wen Dagang sighed heavily. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Li Yifei was just about to say, I might be able to help you find someone to see if transferring schools is possible, at least closer to home. Such things are simple for him, no big deal, just a matter of speaking, but before he could say it, Wen Dagang raised his head and said, "Look, Old Meng works at the district committee, a civil servant, and a deputy section chief. I’m thinking of inviting him for drinks tonight, to see if he can help transfer the kid’s school record, even if as a cross-region study."

Li Yifei held back his words. Since Wen Dagang already had someone, he didn’t need to bring it up, avoiding seeming like showing off.

After saying this, Wen Dagang paused, turned to Li Yifei, and said, "Old Li, don’t get me wrong. Today, I’m mainly inviting you. Old Meng is just an add-on."