Your House Is More Luxurious Than My Work Dorm!
"Deal! A gentleman's word is his bond! Whoever goes back on their word has to treat the other two to a lavish buffet!"
"Let go first, my hand is about to evolve into a hydraulic clamp!"
Darwin withdrew his hand and turned to walk towards the east side of the town.
Zhou Xing followed with the Moon-Boy, asking, "How are you planning to deliver it?"
Come to my house to get your car.
"Your home?"
"Yes, my home."
Do you have a home in town?
"Are you an idiot? I've lived here for three years, have you expected me to sleep in a garbage can every day?"
"Then why did you say before that you were making popsicles in Alaska?"
"Adjectives, you understand?"
The three walked through two streets and finally stopped in front of a two-story wooden house on the edge of town.
The roof is fitted with solar panels and a generator.
Darwin arrived at the garage and opened the roller shutter door. Inside, there was a motorhome and a snowmobile next to it.
Zhou Xing stood at the door, and after a long pause, he finally managed to stammer out, "You said before that you were just barely surviving?"
Darwin took out his keys and opened the door. "Is there a problem?"
This is a huge problem!
Old Zhou rushed into the house; the radiator was on, and there was hot water in the tap.
The Fridge was crammed full of all sorts of food, and there were even several game consoles in the living room!
"I've been starving in your mother's cabin for so long, watching Old Harry study the eight major cuisines. And your place is so comfortable?"
Darwin asserted confidently, "My mother likes living in the mountains. I've tried to persuade her to move, but she refuses!"
The Moon-Boy walked into the living room draped in a bed sheet, his eyes drawn to the television, which was showing an animal documentary.
A group of monkeys were perched in a tree, picking lice from each other.
The Ape-Man paused for a few seconds, then reached out and touched the screen.
"Are they locked inside?"
That's a television.
Why did the TV station catch so many monkeys?
"Extras hired by the production team," Zhou Xing replied casually. "They give you two bunches of bananas and boxed lunches for each day of filming."
The Moon-Boy looked on with awe. "They all have jobs?"
"So knowledge changes destiny, and labor creates happiness." Zhou Xing patted his arm, then turned to urge Darwin, "Hurry up and cook, my stomach is about to rebel. Put the entertainment expenses on your tab, you can get reimbursed after you start working."
"I wasn't even hired!"
"Young people shouldn't be so calculating; they should learn to do the work first and then complete the paperwork later."
"You're just like a Blackheart boss who withholds wages!"
"Nonsense! This Blackheart boss is making you work overtime voluntarily; this is a test from the organization."
Unable to stand Sing Sing, Darwin stormed into the kitchen.
Half an hour later, three large plates of fried luncheon meat, a pot of spaghetti, and two grilled fish were placed on the table.
The Moon-Boy ate very quickly, even chewing the fish bones.
Just as Darwin took the last piece of luncheon meat, Zhou Xing's chopsticks suddenly appeared from the side.
The two pairs of chopsticks clashed three times above the plate.
"This is meat from my family's meat!"
"I am an international friend; I am a guest from afar!"
You just said you were a cadre!
"Officials traveling abroad are also considered international friends; their status can be flexibly switched."
Darwin clamped his fingers tightly onto the slice of meat.
"Release!"
"You loosen your grip first!"
The Moon-Boy reached out, took the plate, tilted his head back, and poured it all into his mouth.
Zhou Xing put down his chopsticks and gave the meat to Darwin.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Darwin took out a map and spread it on the table. "Now let's get down to business. It's over 5,000 kilometers to drive from here to Los Angeles. Even in normal weather, it will take several days, and we'll need to refuel, change tires, and cross the border along the way."
Zhou Xing used chopsticks to trace the map, "By plane?"
Darwin pointed to the Moon-Boy.
The Ape-Man is squatting in front of the television, intently learning the workplace lice-picking techniques of the monkey troop.
"How are you going to get him through security? Are you going to say he's your cousin?"
"Atavism (excessive hair growth)."
"The key is to storm the airport!"
Zhou Xing pondered for a few seconds, then placed his chopsticks on the eastern side of Alaska: "We can only drive there."
Have you thought it through?
"Yes, he needs a live animal certificate for air transport. Quarantine, insurance, and special cargo space all cost money."
"Alright, whatever you say." Darwin tapped the map. "From here, head southeast. First, you'll pass through Prince of Wales Bay. There might be blizzards and ice fog. There are two small towns along the way where you can rest. Finally, you'll reach the border crossing into the Yukon Territory of Canada."
Zhou Xing stroked his chin. "You can claim an extra overseas allowance for transit business trips. Alaska, Canada, and Los Angeles —that's practically a three-country mission."
"The continental United States and Alaska belong to one country."
"Finance requires evidence. The map shows we're separated by Canada; geographically, we're no longer the same."
"Can your bureau's finance department accept this?"
"Anton will definitely throw his abacus at me, so we have to act first and ask questions later."
Darwin put away the map and said, "My car's heater and engine are working, and there's room for two people to sleep in the back. With a full tank of gas and a few cans of diesel, that should be enough to get to the supply depot."
How's the car?
"It flipped over once last year, was hit by a moose the year before, and fell into the river and soaked for half a day the year before that."
"It can still be driven?"
"I've fixed it."
Zhou Xing was silent for a few seconds, then reached out and patted Darwin on the shoulder. "It's a waste of your talent to send you to the disaster relief front line."
Darwin became wary. "What are you trying to do?"
"Our logistics vehicle fleet is short of a mechanic; he can earn double the allowance if he works part-time."
"Shut up!"
The three of them were busy until evening.
Load the diesel fuel, food, blankets, and necessary tools into the RV.
The Moon-Boy sat in the back of the car, his floral bedsheets replaced by an oversized brown down jacket, a knitted hat on his head, and a scarf wrapped around his face.
As long as he keeps his head down, from a distance he looks like a particularly robust skiing enthusiast.
Zhou Xing got into the driver's seat and turned the key, causing the car to shake violently.
"Nice car!"
How did you know it was good?
"A car is good as long as it can start; as long as a person is alive, there is hope, and the same goes for machines."
Upon hearing this, Darwin immediately sent the man away, insisting on driving himself.
"Get out! This is my car! You sit in the passenger seat!"
"Who do you think you are? When I was delivering pork in my tricycle, you were still trying to find a place to insulate yourself in the snow."
"Keep your Mount Akina skills for delivering goods to Satan!"
As the RV drove out of the town, dawn was just breaking.
Darwin was still complaining, but he kept a steady speed.
He had checked the tires twice beforehand, and there was a first-aid kit hidden under the passenger seat. The oil drum was also secured separately with ropes.
He didn't mention a word about these preparations.
Silver Peak's helicopter has found the snowfield; if it stays there, it will sooner or later bring danger to Mother.
The trip to Los Angeles might seem like Zhou Xing was dragged into the car, but it was actually the safest option he could think of.
As for the first-class ticket that Zhou Xing Chow promised...
Darwin glanced at it sideways.
Old Zhou was holding a map and carefully writing four characters next to the Yukon Territory of Canada: "Transit Allowance".
Darwin looked away and quietly raised his target price for the return ticket to business class.