Chapter 9 Clarifying the Current Situation

  It turned out to be just like what my uncle said, in front of a place called Lutun, the bridge collapsed. A tanker truck full of gasoline and a cargo truck carrying firecrackers collided, and during the collision, the firecracker truck caught fire first. The scattered firecrackers ignited the oil tanker, which directly caused the big bridge to collapse.

  The accident caused 37 vehicles passing by at that time to fall off the bridge, resulting in 76 deaths and 39 missing persons so far. A total of 45 vehicles were involved in a massive traffic accident.

  When I heard this, I was suddenly stunned and felt that human life is so fragile. "He Shu, how are we going to get out from the front exit now?"

  "Let's get off the highway first," said Uncle Huo, seemingly also at a loss for what to do about this sudden situation, looking ahead and shaking his head, speaking to me without turning around.

  "Although both I and your uncle are in the logistics business, it's been almost ten years since we personally drove long distances. The Shen-Da Highway was only completed in 2004, so I'm not even sure about the specific route."

  He Shu said a few more words, then seemed to think of something and stopped talking, looking ahead as if waiting for his uncle to return.

  I also didn't have a good way out, as soon as I heard that we were going to get off the highway, I automatically lay back in the recess and used my right hand to pull down the flip board, disguising myself.

  This is also what I studied under the guidance of Uncle Huo on the road. There is a latch on the flip board, and there are two card slots on both sides of the flip board. At the corresponding position on the base, there are also two convex keys with springs inside and outside that can be pushed. As long as you close it with force, these two convex keys will be locked in the card slot.

  Those who don't understand can't even find the way by touching it with their hands, because after the convex key card is inserted into the slot, the outside is flat with the base. The base has a layer of linen fabric with the same material as the seat cushion on top, and to the naked eye, there's nothing wrong with it, just an ordinary rear seat.

  To open it from the outside, you need to find the right position and press inward with your hand. To open it from the inside, you need to pull down on the protruding key, and the letter box will naturally open.

  Before long, I heard the sound of opening the car door in the courtyard, and it seemed that my uncle had returned. "Where's Xiao Hua?"

  "Troubled, maybe," I was speechless as soon as I heard Uncle Huo's response. Was I hiding in vain?

  "Haha, let's take a shortcut, from here to the highway toll station is still about 4 kilometers away, look at this place being congested, it's too early to get there."

  I heard this inside and flipped open the lid to say to Uncle Huo, "Uncle Huo, why didn't you bring someone like that? Why didn't you tell me a thing?"

  Looking at the smiling faces of my uncle and Huo Shu, I was so angry that I couldn't help but feel like they were playing a trick on me! With all the chatter and commotion, the two of us didn't even notice how slowly time was passing.

  After passing the toll station, it was already completely dark. He Xiao stopped the car by the side of the road and my uncle went to buy some food and drinks for us. I got out from the trunk but didn't dare get off the car. The relaxing and pleasant journey almost made me forget that I was still a murderer on the run. The three of us could only make do with eating in the car.

  After finishing dinner, the two of us discussed how to proceed next. He Shu's idea was that since we were not familiar with the place, we wouldn't rush to travel in the dark. We would stay here for a night and ask about the route tomorrow morning, then take the highway and bypass the section where the incident occurred.

  My uncle also agreed with Mr. Hu's point of view, so I had no choice but to spend the first night of my escape in this completely strange place, in the driver's cab of such a large truck.

  Spring nights aren't that warm, and in this completely dark driving building, even a little noise would wake me up. Did the bald man I hit really die? How are my dad and mom doing? Are they worried about me too? Do I still have a chance to go back to my hometown?

  All these things made me sleepless for the whole night...

  The next morning, I was woken up by the sound of the engine, and subconsciously reached for my glasses, causing me to roll down from the already cramped back seat. Originally dazed from sleep, I was thoroughly shaken and found myself face down, twisted and wedged in the gap between the front and rear seats, flailing my arms wildly as I tried to get up.

  "What's wrong with you? Still half asleep?" I felt a strong hand grasping my shoulder, pulling me up. It was my uncle.

  I sat back in my seat, silently observing everything around me, subconsciously pushing the nonexistent glasses on my eyes that didn't need them yet. I wish yesterday's events were just a dream.

  "Alright Xiao Hua, have something to eat, once the car is warm we'll be on our way."

  Huo Shu opened the car door, crawled into the driver's seat, took over the food handed to him by his uncle, and turned his head to look at me with a dull expression: "Your uncle just asked for directions, not far ahead is Lutun Bridge, there is a convenient road that can go up to the bridge and cross the river, after walking for a while, there will be another toll station that can get on the Shenda Highway, today we can board the ship, if the speed is fast, tomorrow we can arrive in Yantai."

  I took over the food handed to me by my uncle and my mood slightly recovered, while stuffing things into my mouth, I looked at the scenery around the car.

  "Now we can only take a boat to Yantai, I remember that you and Uncle Huo took a direct boat to Qingdao more than ten years ago." My uncle said with a mix of nostalgia and sighs while eating the food in his hand.

  "By the way, uncle, what goods are you transporting?"

  I heard my uncle's words, and for a moment I forgot to chew the food in my mouth. I finally remembered the doubts in my heart. I recall that as early as 2008, before my rebirth, I was already suspicious of my uncle personally suppressing the car, but at that time I had injured Baldy Qiang, so I didn't have the mind to care about these trivial matters anymore.

  After rebirth, I heard that this trip was made by Uncle Huo and my uncle. I felt even more puzzled. However, at the time, my heart was full of unease and terror, and I didn't think about it carefully. Now that a day has passed, and I've left my hometown far behind, my fear has also subsided.

  As soon as my uncle said that, the doubts in my heart suddenly emerged. What kind of valuable goods would make these two people take a trip by themselves? From Harbin to Zhejiang, even if it was around 2014, the freight cost would be around 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, let alone in 2008. I suddenly became extremely curious about what my uncle and his companion were transporting.

  "There's nothing, just some trash!" My two uncles heard my question and their movements in their hands paused at the same time, perhaps it was a tacit understanding cultivated from years of cooperation. Their eyes met for a moment before they looked away from each other.

  My uncle chuckled and took over the conversation: "Xiao Hua, I discussed it with your Uncle Huo, you want to go north to Russia to make a living, I have connections for that, but considering the current situation, it's not very realistic. Firstly, you don't speak Russian, if you went to Russia, you'd be completely lost, and there's severe racial discrimination in Russia, plus the underground forces are numerous and rampant, I'm afraid you wouldn't survive well."