I was in my early thirties and worked as a bus driver.
I was also the youngest driver in the company fleet.
A lot of people probably thought driving a bus at my age meant I had no prospects.
But I didn't care. I didn't steal or rob anyone, and I supported myself. Apart from not having a girlfriend, I wasn't missing much.
Every morning, I pulled out of the depot at five sharp and returned to the starting terminal by seven. I made another round trip in the afternoon and was usually off work by four thirty.
With only myself to feed, I spent my days enjoying my own company. Life was pretty sweet.
Old Wu was our fleet captain.
Everything in the fleet, big or small, had to go through him first. He was the kind of man who wouldn't lift a finger unless there was something in it for him.
That Sunday was my scheduled day off, and I happened to be having a wonderful dream.
In my dream, I was actually dating Fan Bingbing.
We'd had dinner and watched a movie. I'd only just taken her hand when "The Hottest Ethnic Style" suddenly started playing all around us.
At first, I wondered why the music had started when it wasn't even time for square dancing.
Then, under Bingbing's bewildered gaze, I suddenly woke up.
I grabbed the phone blaring on the table, hit answer, and snapped impatiently:
"Are you nuts? Calling me at this hour."
The person on the other end paused. Then Old Wu's voice came through slowly.
"Little Li, it's Brother Wu. What are you doing at home? Stop sleeping and get to the office. We need an emergency meeting."
Despite my extreme reluctance, I murmured an acknowledgment and hung up.
If something came up at work, we had to show up even on our days off. Those were the rules.
After a quick wash, I hurried over without even eating breakfast. By then, Old Wu's office was packed with my coworkers.
I barely managed to squeeze inside. Seeing me arrive, Old Wu nodded at me and said:
"All right, everyone's here. Here's the situation. The city sent us a notice last week. We're to add a bus service from here to the paper mill. Today, we'll discuss who gets assigned to it."
"What? The paper mill? That place is so deserted you barely see a soul. Who's going to ride a bus out there?"
Old Wu had barely finished when one of the drivers in the crowd started griping.
Old Wu frowned and said:
"Never mind whether anyone rides it. The city told us to add a service. If you've got a problem, take it up with the city leaders. What are you whining to me for?"
Seeing Old Wu lose his temper, no one dared say another word. He looked around and continued:
"This service only makes one round trip a day, then you're done. Whoever takes it gets an extra five hundred yuan a month."
At that, the crowd grew lively again.
"One trip a day and five hundred more than everyone else? I'll do it!"
"Me too!"
As everyone clamored, Old Wu glanced sideways at them and said with a smile:
"Exactly. Would I, Old Wu, ever fail to fight for you when there's something good on offer? You think I'd let you call me Brother Wu day in and day out for nothing?"
After that, a few of the flatterers started leading the applause.
As the clapping swelled, Old Wu's smile grew even brighter.
He cast another sidelong look around the room. I kept feeling there was something wrong with that look, and sure enough, he continued:
"I've explained the work and the money. That's the deal. It's a good opportunity, yes, but there's one tiny drawback. It's a night shift."
"What? A night shift? So that's why it's only one trip and there's extra pay. What's a night bus going to the paper mill for? To pick up ghosts?"
"Exactly! I've heard Tangwazi Village is haunted. Ghosts show up there all the time!"
"Listen to yourselves. Where are these ghosts? You're grown men, and you're scared of the dark? There's a village out there, isn't there? Someone reported to the city that lots of villagers come into town to sell vegetables during the day and can't get home at night. The city approved this service to make things easier for them."
"What? Those villagers sell vegetables at the night market until ten or so. What time does this bus leave, then?"
Old Wu pursed his lips and said with a cheerful smile, "Eleven at night!"
The paper mill was in a very remote part of the outskirts. Leaving our main terminal at eleven, it would take an hour to get there even without traffic at night.
In other words, by the time I started back from the paper mill, it would already be midnight.
Thinking of that, I gave up any idea of taking the route, leaned against the doorframe, and yawned.
When no one volunteered, Old Wu gave an awkward cough and said:
"Oh, come on. You're drivers, and you're being picky about routes and hours?"
Old Li couldn't take any more.
"Old Wu, it's not that we won't drive it. We've all got wives and kids at home. We'd get back at two or three in the morning. The kids would be asleep. We'd disturb their exam preparations, wouldn't we?"
"Right, I've got a kid too. Ninth grade. High school entrance exams!"
"Mine too. Twelfth grade. College entrance exams!"
"Mine's a college junior. Big exams!"
To avoid driving this night bus, everyone's children were suddenly about to take exams, no matter how old they normally were.
Just as I was silently cursing them for having no shame, Old Wu seemed to spot me in the crowd. With a meaningful smile, he said:
"Little Li, to use you young people's words, you're still a single dog, aren't you? No kids, right?"
A whole room of veteran drivers turned to look at me at once. I was momentarily speechless, and before I could say anything, a hand landed on my shoulder.
"Little Li, you're young. This is the time to work hard and make money. Give it your best!"
I was just about to speak when another hand landed on my shoulder.
"Little Li, there aren't many passengers at night, and there's no traffic. It's easy work. Plus, plenty of young women ride at night. Make the most of it!"
Before I could refuse, those guys hurried out through the door, grinning as though they'd already settled on me.
In an instant, everyone was gone, leaving only Old Wu and me.
The wrinkles on Old Wu's face bunched together like a dried-up head of cabbage. With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, he said:
"Little Li, things have come this far, so don't turn it down. How about this? I'll apply for another two hundred for you. That means you'll earn seven hundred more than everyone else!"
I found that pretty laughable. I was about to swear at him when he beat me to it again and grabbed my hand.
He put a set of bus keys in my palm and said:
"Don't worry about your day shift. I'll sort it out. From now on, you'll drive 2386, parked in the northwest corner. Come to me if anything comes up. Your Brother Wu has faith in you!"
I tried to speak again, but Old Wu waved a hand and made straight for the door.
With half his body already outside, he turned back and said:
"Oh, Little Li, that notice came last week, but your Brother Wu only remembered it last night. It's a bit urgent, so you'll have to start tonight. Eleven sharp. Don't forget!"
From the start to the end of my appointment, I hadn't said a single word, yet somehow my shift had been changed.
Looking at the keys in my hand, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But after thinking about it, I let it go.
With an extra seven hundred, I could smoke decent cigarettes every month now.
While I was having dinner in the cafeteria, Old Tang came over with his tray and sat beside me. With a secretive air, he whispered:
"Brother, what's this I hear about Old Wu putting you on the night shift to the paper mill?"
I put a mouthful of plain rice into my mouth and nodded.
"Holy crap, brother, are you an idiot? You think just anyone can drive that paper mill road?"
Hearing something behind Old Tang's words, I turned to look at his serious face.
"What's wrong, Brother Tang? It's just a night shift, isn't it? It's fine. I've got plenty of yang energy, and I'm still a virgin. What the hell have I got to be scared of?"
Old Tang shook his head at that and continued helplessly:
"You haven't been with the company long. There are things you don't know. You think those old guys really refused the paper mill shift because they're scared of the dark or worried about waking their kids when they get home?"
Hearing that, I sensed something was wrong. I put down my chopsticks and asked:
"What is it, Brother Tang? There's something else?"
Old Tang gave a bitter laugh and said quietly:
"The paper mill route existed ten years ago. Then the night-shift driver drove straight into the reservoir with a whole busload of people. Strange, don't you think?"
Relieved, I smiled and said:
"Brother Tang, in our line of work, a serious accident isn't that unusual, is it? What's strange about it?"
"Not strange?" Old Tang grew agitated. He put down his chopsticks, leaned close to my ear, and whispered:
"Afterward, the second and third drivers both drove into the reservoir with full busloads too. In six months, three drivers and three busloads of people-all gone!"
The smile on my face froze instantly. I asked Old Tang:
"How come I've never heard of something this big?"
Old Tang looked around. Only after making sure no one was paying attention to us did he continue:
"It'd be stranger if you had heard about something this big. The city handled the compensation and suppressed the news long ago. And now, after how little time has passed, they've started the night service on this route again."
After hearing what Old Tang said, I was filled with pent-up anger.
Old Wu definitely knew about this. He'd forced this assignment on me. The bastard was screwing me over.
Seeing my grim expression, Old Tang patted me and said:
"Brother, I'm only telling you because we're close. Maybe they really were just accidents caused by bad road conditions or something. Since you've already taken the job, keep your wits about you!"
I nodded, took a newly bought pack of Furongwang cigarettes from my pocket, and handed it to Old Tang.
"Brother Tang, thanks. I've been with this company for a year, and you're the only friend I've made."
Old Tang pushed my hand away and said worriedly:
"Brother, don't be so formal. Just remember to come to me if anything happens. I'll help however I can!"
In the end, I pressed the cigarettes on Old Tang anyway. In today's world, you couldn't ask for much else. Someone willing to tell you the truth was already a decent friend.
After dinner, I went looking for Old Wu in a fury to settle the score, but he was nowhere to be found.
I stayed in the dorm, my heart tight with anxiety, until ten thirty. After agonizing for a long while, I finally climbed into the driver's seat of bus 2386 on Route 13.
I gripped the familiar steering wheel, but my palms kept sweating.
I gritted my teeth and thought, I'm not scared of any of that crap. I'm still a virgin, damn it.
With that, I started the bus. As I passed the gatehouse, I happened to glance inside.
That one glance gave me a fright.
The old gatekeeper was standing by the window, his eyes wide, staring at me in terror!