Twenty years of cold chain

Chapter 8 Unpredictable Cold Luck

The day to return to school is getting closer.

These days, the two brothers are helping their parents gather rotten vegetable leaves from the fields. These can't be left in the fields, otherwise they'll affect the growth of the next crop. Hu Yuntong is much more efficient at the work. He remembers when Hu Shutong was in high school, Hu Yuntong was only in elementary school. Back then, the vegetable patch was still just open field. The Hu family made a living by raising pigs. When the two brothers went to cut wild vegetables, Hu Yuntong would gather two baskets, while Hu Shutong would barely manage one.

At that time, my father said that my second son could support himself well with his hands. Although he didn’t say anything about Hu Shutong, the implication was clear.

Ever since Hu Shutong went to university, whenever the family chatted together, his father would always subtly offer some "advice." He believed that sitting in an office, sheltered from the wind and sun, and securing a stable, secure job was the path a university graduate should take.

Hu Shutong knew that not only his parents, but also the elders in the neighborhood had high expectations for him. When the college entrance examination results came out that year, the villagers gave him eggs and cured meat, and offered many words of blessing and encouragement. In people's minds, these expectations could not be met by a logistics company that "drives big trucks".

But in the past few days, my father hasn't mentioned it again.

Luan Qizhen arrived at the Hu family's house with a trunk full of things.

Upon meeting, Luan Qizhen gave Hu Shutong a thumbs up, "You're amazing, kid! Your proposal has been getting promoted all the way up, everyone who's seen it says it's great, and you've even turned it into a model for me. You not only solved my problems with materials, but you also got a subsidy!"

Luan Qizhen had always found Hu Shutong captivating, and this incident only deepened his admiration.

"Old Hu, if you ask me, you should just stop messing around with your vegetable garden. I'll cut down a section of my orchard for you. Just come to me to sell your fruit when it's time, and I'll give you a friend-and-family price!"

Hu Wankui laughed and said, "You cut down a thousand acres and gave me one acre, and there isn't a single good tree for a hundred meters or so."

Luan Qizhen laughed and then picked up the contents of the trunk. The Hu family father and son were amazed by the sight of the contents: boxes and boxes of jam and large bags of dried fruit were all unloaded.

Hu Shutong exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle Luan, what are you doing?"

"I've already divided it up. You and Pingxin each get half. Please take it to her for me."

"But we don't know when we'll be able to see each other yet."

"After all, it's close by!"

Immediately afterward, Luan Qizhen reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. "Shutong, this five thousand yuan is compensation. I can't pay the design agency the original price; you'll have to get a share. As for being recognized as a model youth, I've already applied to the county government. You'll definitely get a banner for being an advanced youth or a model youth!"

Five thousand yuan is an income that an ordinary family might not earn in a year. Hu Shutong was taken aback, but then focused his attention on the jam and dried fruit. "Uncle Luan, I'll accept the gifts."

Luan Qizhen glanced at Hu Shutong, didn't argue about the money, and smiled as he withdrew his hand. "Take this and bring it with you. Talk to Pingxin for me. She's been away from home for so long, she must have some worries."

"Definitely, definitely."

After Luan Qizhen left, the Hu family also got busy.

My mother washed and dried the pickled vegetables, cured meat, and freshly roasted peanuts, then busied herself repackaging them into bottles and jars.

Hu Yuntong rode his bicycle back with a bundle of beer, opened three bottles for Hu Shutong, and then carefully examined the bottle cap with the winning number.

My father didn't say much, nor did he mention things like a secure job or driving a truck. He drank the same cheap liquor he used to drink, but he got drunk quite quickly today. He didn't talk about the future, but instead talked about many things from the past.

That night, the Milky Way stretched across the sky, and the stars hung low.

Hu Shutong hugged his neck and looked at the night sky, feeling a sense of vastness thanks to the alcohol.

……

Carrying heavy luggage, Hu Shutong boarded a train bound for Mingyuan City, a journey that would take 15 hours.

Unlike the inner turmoil she felt upon returning, Hu Shutong's experiences during this period made her stop thinking about ABC and she unconsciously made a decision in her heart.

He turned down two well-known food companies and chose Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics, a cold chain logistics company in Mingyuan City.

Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics isn't a very large company, but it was established in 1994, making it a veteran in the cold chain industry. When Hu Shutong was recruiting for an internship at Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics, what impressed him most was their equipment. Their refrigeration compressors and supporting equipment were all imported, and their refrigerated trucks were also domestically sourced, fully assembled vehicles. Such upfront investment requires boldness in this industry.

After arriving in Mingyuan City, Hu Shutong first called Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics. They were very welcoming and told Hu Shutong that he could come for an internship anytime.

Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics is very close to Mingjiang University, just four bus stops away. Hu Shutong first returned to the school, where the dormitory was empty. Some of her roommates were working during the holidays, while others had already started their internships a month ago. Hu Shutong packed her toiletries and a change of clothes, along with the books Luan Pingxin had sent, as well as everyday items such as a desk lamp and a radio.

Including the things brought from my hometown, it took two trips to move them to Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics.

A manager at Tianheng Cold Chain Logistics was genuinely surprised that a student from the University of Minnesota had actually chosen Tianheng for an internship. Even though it was just an internship, it was the first time in many years that such a student had chosen Tianheng. University of Minnesota students are highly sought after; there are plenty of options for them regardless of their major.

It was already evening when the manager received Hu Shutong and arranged a dormitory for him. As for the company's situation and the specific work of the internship, the company boss would personally talk to Hu Shutong the next day.

The dormitory is fairly spacious, with two bunk beds on the left and right sides. The lower bunk has a desk and wardrobe, while the upper bunk is the bed. There is a private balcony and a wash area. The conditions are much better than the school dormitory.

On the opposite table, a tin can was half-filled with cigarette butts, next to it was a half-empty bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), and next to it were copies of "The Legend of the Sword and the Flower," "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," and "The Legend of the Great Banner Hero." Two large pairs of shorts hung on the balcony, and several pairs of socks were soaking in the sink.

As Hu Shutong was arranging things, he suddenly heard the sound of a key opening the door. After a questioning sound, a somewhat dark-skinned and thin person appeared in front of him.

The man was wearing a beige short-sleeved shirt and a matching beige baseball cap, and had a rather sparse beard. Upon seeing him, the other man exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! He's moved his whole house here!"

"Sorry, there's a lot of stuff."

The man first placed his lunchbox on the table, then picked up a wine bottle, weighed it in his hand, and placed the bottle back on the lunchbox. "Who put you here?"

In an instant, his tone changed.

"Manager Zhang, the one with the buzz cut."

"That's impossible! Old Zhang said this room was reserved for a top student from the University of Minnesota. Only a crazy person would come here!"

……