"Dad is so nice," Lin An said happily, hugging Lin Feng and kissing his cheek like Fu Wenwen usually did.
Lin Feng paused slightly, then mimicked Lin An and kissed his cheek.
After bathing Lin An, Lin Feng took him to Fu Wenwen's room. Seeing Lin An's excitement, Lin Feng felt it was necessary to discuss Lin An's matters with Fu Wenwen.
"Wenwen, I wanted to ask for your opinion on something?" Lin Feng looked at Fu Wenwen. Fu Wenwen glanced at him curiously. "You say."
"I think Lin An can sleep by himself now. He's already three years old. In the village, children sleep alone at three," Lin Feng said to Fu Wenwen earnestly.
Fu Wenwen blinked and looked at Lin An, who vigorously shook his head, wanting to continue sleeping with his mother.
"I think you can wait a bit on this. How about you take Lin An to sleep?" Fu Wenwen looked at Lin Feng, who waited for her to finish.
"You know we just moved here. Lin An doesn't feel secure. He needs familiar people around him. I suggest we wait a bit longer," Fu Wenwen said seriously to Lin Feng. Lin Feng nodded.
"I was too hasty. I apologize, Lin An," Lin Feng said, looking at Lin An tightly hugging Fu Wenwen. He had indeed failed; he hadn't noticed this. He was fortunate Fu Wenwen reminded him.
Lin An, upon hearing he could continue sleeping with his mother, beamed with joy.
"Then I want to keep sleeping with Mama," Lin An said to Lin Feng, his eyes pleading for his consent.
Lin Feng thought for a moment. Seeing Lin An's clear preference for Fu Wenwen, though he wanted to sleep with his son himself, he still respected Lin An's wishes. "Then you can sleep with Mama for a while longer, but you are a big boy now, and there will come a day when you'll sleep by yourself."
Lin An didn't quite understand Lin Feng's meaning but nodded obediently.
The next morning, Lin Feng carried the lunchbox Fu Wenwen had specially prepared for him to the office. However, the office was empty except for Lin Feng. Lin Feng frowned. By the time work was supposed to start, not a single driver had appeared. Lin Feng then realized this was a "gift" prepared for him.
An hour had passed, and still no one had come to work. Lin Feng walked to the captain's office. Inside, the driver who had led the discontent with Lin Feng yesterday was sitting in the captain's office, drinking tea. Even though the clock had already pointed to ten-thirty, they all sat there laughing, completely unafraid.
The captain looked at them and advised, "I know you have opinions about Old Fu not becoming the deputy captain, but openly skipping work like this, if he decides to deal with you, I won't be able to save you. Hurry back to work. Delaying this morning's task would be a serious offense."
"Captain, we didn't say we wouldn't work. Aren't we already at the unit? Besides, if we don't curb his arrogance, how will he learn?" Fu Liqun looked at the captain, leaning back lazily. He's just a young pup. If he dares to sit in my position, let him show me what capabilities he has."
"Exactly, Captain, don't worry. Brother Fu has it under control," the few individuals, led by Fu Liqun, had followed him for years. They only listened to Fu Liqun and didn't take the captain seriously.
The captain glanced at them. When he took office, they had used the same tactic, forcing him to compromise. To complete the tasks assigned by his superiors, he had to humble himself and beg them to drive. After the previous deputy captain retired, Fu Liqun had his eyes on the position. Just as he thought victory was within his grasp, a formidable obstacle appeared, snatching the deputy captaincy from Fu Liqun's hands.
When he saw Lin Feng yesterday, he knew Lin Feng was no pushover. The aura he exuded could not possibly be just for show. But Fu Liqun had been dominant in the transport team for years, and this time he still didn't take Lin Feng seriously, intending to hollow him out just as he had others.
"Brother Fu, it's already eleven o'clock. The morning's task should have been delivered by now. Today is a big order for the textile factory. He still hasn't come to beg you; does he not know about today's mission?" Hu Jianjun, Fu Liqun's top supporter, showed some hesitation. It was almost eleven, and Lin Feng had shown no signs of activity.
Fu Liqun pondered, a flicker of unease surfacing in his heart. He glanced at Hu Jianjun, who immediately got up and walked out to see the situation outside.
"It's bad, Brother Fu! That Lin Feng gave our first team's task to those people in the second team. They left a long time ago," Hu Jianjun said, rushing back, almost out of breath.
Fu Liqun's heart sank upon hearing this. The individuals who had been sitting in the captain's office with Fu Liqun instantly panicked. They stood up quickly and said to Fu Liqun, "Brother Fu, we brothers followed you to give that Lin Feng a little warning by not going to the garage. You promised us nothing would happen. Now, the order is completed, but it's done by the second team. Isn't this going to ruin us?"
"Brothers, don't panic. Rest assured, if anything happens, I'll bear it alone." Fu Liqun looked at them, cursing inwardly, but outwardly smiling and promising to take full responsibility.
When Fu Liqun and his men rushed to the garage, there was no one at the station. They couldn't find Lin Feng anywhere.
"Xiao Qin, where is that Lin Feng?" Hu Jianjun asked the female colleague who was organizing documents in the office.
The female colleague in charge of statistics looked at Fu Liqun and his group and sneered. "The deputy captain has already taken the second team to deliver the goods himself. Do you think the deputy captain knows nothing? He knows the roads of Fengcheng like the back of his hand. You refused to drive, and the second team has been waiting for tasks all along!"
"You've kicked an iron plate today," Qin Hongying said, looking at Fu Liqun, whose face had turned grim. "I won't mince words. Lin Feng has already reported your situation to the higher-ups. They are taking it very seriously, and an investigation team is already on its way."
"Brother Fu, what should we do? If the investigation team catches us, we'll lose our jobs." The men from the first team, upon hearing the name "investigation team," immediately panicked and looked at Fu Liqun.
Fu Liqun hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so resolute. He had been in the first team for so many years, and this tactic of hollowing out had always worked. Yet, with this stubborn youngster Lin Feng, he had been outmaneuvered.
"I said, I'll bear whatever happens," Fu Liqun gritted his teeth. After calming the men down, Fu Liqun returned to the captain's office. He had just sat down, contemplating what to do, when the investigation team arrived.