The vehicle was repaired, and passengers began boarding one after another. With the conductor present, attempting to evade the fare was nearly impossible, unless the conductor happened to be negligent.
However, the bus hadn’t departed yet, as the matter of Zhang Yuanlin stepping in to fix it remained unresolved.
This not only helped the driver complete this trip smoothly but also greatly assisted passengers in urgent situations.
Thus, many people wanted to express their gratitude to Zhang Yuanlin. Some offered local specialties, others gave money, and those who had nothing to give simply thanked him sincerely.
Zhang Yuanlin smiled and politely declined each offer, stating it was a small effort not worth mentioning.
Just as he had done when removing his gear earlier, he slowly put back on his expensive overcoat, gloves, watch, and felt hat, moving unhurriedly with an elegant demeanor.
By this point, Zhang Yuanlin had completely won over the favor of the three members of the Qin family.
Seeing Zhang Yuanlin refuse everyone’s gratitude, the driver and conductor discussed briefly before extending an invitation to him.
“Young master, please board the bus. Wherever you need to go, I’ll take you there free of charge. As long as it’s within Sijiucheng, I’ll make sure you get there, and I’ll explain it to the unit later.”
A bus only earns money when it’s on the road. If it had been stalled for an hour and a half, plus the unknown time needed for repairs, the losses would have been immeasurable.
Therefore, giving Zhang Yuanlin a ride to his destination was something that, even if reported, wouldn’t lead to criticism—it might even earn praise, as the driver’s actions reflected positively on the unit.
Little did they know, Zhang Yuanlin had been waiting for precisely this offer.
It wasn’t that Zhang Yuanlin wanted a free ride, but rather he sought an opportunity to interact with the Qin family.
Striking up a conversation on the street would have been awkward, and since he had already put on such a performance, it was only natural to wait for the other party to take the initiative.
Thus, after the customary polite refusals, Zhang Yuanlin pointed to his bicycle and said:
“Driver, I also have this bicycle. Won’t it take up too much space?”
The driver then proactively got off the bus and lifted the bicycle onto a rack-like bar attached to the rear of the bus.
“Come on, young master! Everyone on this bus is grateful to you. Even without this rack, your bicycle could still come aboard—we’d just make a little room!”
The driver had a straightforward personality, and his accent marked him as a genuine native of Sijiucheng.
Although he was slightly older, his tone was full of respect, indicating heartfelt gratitude for Zhang Yuanlin’s assistance.
In this way, Zhang Yuanlin reasonably boarded the bus.
Next, it was time for the Qin family to play their part.
Zhang Yuanlin deliberately spent a moment on the bus, appearing to search for a suitable seat.
Then, Qin’s father stood up and called out:
“Come, young master, sit here. We don’t have much luggage and can keep it on our laps.”
Such an outstanding young man—missing the chance to connect with him would be a lifelong regret, enough to make one slap their thigh in frustration.
Coincidentally, he had a daughter of marriageable age, making the situation all the more fitting!
Most passengers on the bus were older folks, as bus tickets were expensive, and only those with urgent matters or financial independence would splurge on such fares.
Thus, everyone was perceptive. Upon noticing the beautiful young woman beside Qin’s father, they largely grasped the situation.
At that moment, families with daughters felt a pang of regret. If they had known they would encounter such an exceptional young man today, they would have definitely brought their own daughters along!
But then again, none of the families present with daughters felt confident enough to compete with Qin Huairu.
If any had, they would have stepped forward to contend with Qin’s father, at least to make their presence known and inquire about their home address, leaving room for future opportunities to reconnect.
Since only one person spoke up, what choice did Zhang Yuanlin have? Of course, he had to oblige and sit with them, as it would be impolite to decline such enthusiasm.
And so, Zhang Yuanlin ended up sitting with the Qin family, occupying two rows with four seats in total.
Qin’s father sat beside Zhang Yuanlin, while Qin Huairu and her mother sat in the row behind them.
This seating arrangement was deliberately set up to allow the mother and daughter to observe the young man closely and determine whether he was the ideal son-in-law they had in mind.
Although this family was from the countryside, one shouldn’t underestimate them as fools—that would be discriminatory. In fact, rural folks might be sharper than anyone!
But Zhang Yuanlin was precisely looking for intelligent people. He had no interest in the ignorant, the slow-witted, or the foolish.
Once married, Zhang Yuanlin couldn’t possibly spend his days coaxing his wife into deceiving her parents. Sooner or later, the truth would come out, since they were all family.
So, finding a clever family to interact with, where communication flowed smoothly—now that was ideal!
As for why this family had been deceived by the Jia Family, it just goes to show how cunning city folks can be.
The Jia Family shamelessly put on a show, flaunting their strengths and hiding their flaws, while the matchmaker, lacking any professional ethics, exaggerated their merits to the skies. It was a well-orchestrated trap—who could possibly resist?
Only someone as straightforward as Zhang Yuanlin, who didn’t bother with pretenses and laid all his cards on the table, could compare. In all of Sijiucheng, there wasn’t another young man as candid as him!
What?
His cards were too overwhelming, leaving them stunned?
Don’t worry, the best is yet to come!
When boarding the bus, Zhang Yuanlin casually mentioned a destination far away, just to buy more time. He didn’t want the conversation to end abruptly after only a few words.
Then, Zhang Yuanlin strode forward steadily. The driver, the conductor, and the passengers all greeted him with warm smiles, as if welcoming a distinguished leader on an inspection tour.
Only after their benefactor had taken his seat did the driver start the bus, moving forward slowly. The passengers already on board clearly felt how much steadier the ride was—no more shaking. Those prone to motion sickness relaxed noticeably, relieved they wouldn’t have to endure a nauseating journey.
They had their benefactor to thank for that. Who else had the influence to make the driver focus so intently and drive with such care?
Qin’s father seemed a bit reserved as well. Sitting beside this younger man, he hesitated several times, appearing rather awkward.
But for his daughter’s happiness and the honor of the Qin family, he decided to throw caution to the wind.
“Ahem, young master, you’re truly impressive! Who would have thought you could repair vehicles? You must work at a very prestigious unit, right?”
Zhang Yuanlin remained as calm as an old dog, his tone casual and understated.
“You flatter me, uncle. Although I can fix many things, I’m just an ordinary maintenance worker at the Third Steel Rolling Plant, earning thirty yuan a month.”
The average worker’s salary during this period was around thirty-seven yuan, so Zhang Yuanlin’s income was indeed below average—nothing extraordinary.
But in the countryside, this wage was considered a solidly high income. Although his answer wasn’t what they had expected, the Qin family was quite satisfied.
“But if you can even repair cars, wouldn’t it be a waste of your talent to work only as a maintenance worker?”
Qin’s father followed up.
Zhang Yuanlin’s smile remained unchanged as he prepared to astound all three members of the Qin family.
“Of course not. It’s precisely because of this easy and simple job that I can repair various items for different people and experience my own happiness.”
“For example, I fixed a watch for the clock shop owner that had to be sent abroad for repairs, saving him nearly two hundred yuan. Then he gave me a watch as a gift.”
“Another time, I repaired a gramophone for a clothing store owner, and she gave me a suit worth one hundred twenty-five yuan, occasionally inviting me to try new arrivals in her store.”
“Then there was the time I fixed a music box with sentimental value for a hot pot restaurant owner. He generously invited me to enjoy a premium lamb hot pot meal at his place for free every week.”
At this moment, the three members of the Qin family were stunned, unable to believe that Zhang Yuanlin could be so versatile.
They were even more astonished by the generosity of wealthy city dwellers—items worth hundreds of yuan given away casually, and the mouthwatering lamb hot pot available for free every week.
But upon second thought, while others had to pay for these things, Zhang Yuanlin could enjoy them without spending a dime. This made his skills appear truly unfathomable!