He had no objections, but the real issue was that An Yang, along with An Wen and An Wu, were still downstairs.

An Xin: “…”

Who asked you to start teasing me so early in the morning? But going downstairs in pajamas was indeed inappropriate.

Reluctantly, An Xin put on a blank expression, turned around, and under the smug grin of the man who looked ready to whistle in triumph, grabbed some clothes and went to the next room to change.

Once dressed, An Xin quickly prepared breakfast for the family: millet porridge with scallion pancakes and a side of cold vegetables. She also packed Bai Yichen’s lunch in an insulated lunchbox—scallion pancakes, cold vegetables, and millet porridge. Additionally, she included a thermos of pig’s trotters and peanut soup that had been simmering overnight and filled his water bottle with boiled water.

After all, working in the mountains doing exploration, water was essential.

When everyone had quickly finished breakfast, An Xin and Bai Yichen set off. Bai Yichen needed to return to his work, while An Xin was rushing to the dock to load cargo. Last night, to facilitate this morning’s loading schedule, Kaizi had deliberately parked An Xin’s truck at the gate.

As they reached the gate and prepared to part ways, An Xin handed Bai Yichen the insulated lunchbox and water bottle, reminding him:

“Alright, hurry to work. Drive carefully.”

The rain was pouring, and the country roads were tricky to navigate. Bai Yichen was driving a jeep, so caution was essential.

Bai Yichen took the lunchbox and water bottle, his heart warming at her care. With a slight smile, he replied:

“You too, drive safely. The rain doesn’t seem like it will stop anytime soon. Take it easy on the road and prioritize safety. Even if you’re pressed for time, it’s better to complete the transportation job a bit late than risk an accident.”

If the job wasn’t completed, he’d be on leave in a couple of days for the weekend. He could join her for a full day of deliveries then, ensuring the tasks got done.

With the reduced visibility from the rain, he didn’t want her rushing and potentially facing danger.

An Xin nodded, waving him off. “Alright, I will. I’m off now!”

She got into her truck, started it, and quickly disappeared into the rain.

Bai Yichen also got into his jeep. Even as he started driving, his gaze lingered on the direction she had gone, his arms still cradling the lunch and water bottle she had prepared for him. The smile on his face deepened.

Having a wife was truly different. Even when she was busy with her own career, she hadn’t forgotten to take care of his meals and needs, handling everything so thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, An Xin drove her truck quickly to the dock. Kaizi, along with San Mao and Xiao Zhong, had already arrived. However, the rain was hampering activities, and the workers’ loading pace was slow.

When An Xin arrived, the first truck was still being loaded. The group exchanged honks in greeting before she parked her truck in the designated spot and waited for the workers to finish loading.

Finally, after the truck was loaded, An Xin had the workers cover the cargo with tarps before driving out of the yard. The rain continued to pour, growing heavier. The relentless raindrops pelted the windshield, and despite using the wipers, visibility remained poor.

Slowing down her speed, An Xin kept her eyes fixed on the road, growing increasingly concerned about Kaizi, Xiao Zhong, and San Mao’s progress. At this rate, the day’s transportation volume would be far below expectations.

She couldn’t help but worry: if the rain continued for several days, what would happen to their transportation schedule?

As she approached a crossroads, she noticed someone waving frantically ahead. She hit the brakes, stopping the truck. The man waved again and ran toward the driver’s side of the truck.

Rolling down the window, a torrent of rain blew in, instantly soaking her hair and clothes. Raising her voice, she asked:

“Comrade, do you need help?”

Stopping a truck in the middle of the road—could something urgent have happened ahead?

This thought flashed through her mind as she studied the man. He was wearing a neatly pressed Zhongshan suit and holding a black umbrella. Despite the umbrella, he was soaked from head to toe, his leather shoes squelching with water. She could even see water dripping out of his shoes as he walked.

A sense of unease crept into her mind.

“Shouldn’t he be wearing a police uniform?”

In any era, those enforcing the law on roads should wear uniforms. An Xin knew this basic rule well.

Anyone intercepting vehicles on the road should be wearing a traffic officer’s uniform. If not, it might be a scam.

Realizing something was off, An Xin prepared to roll up the window and drive away. But just as she reached for the gear shift, the man arrived at her window. Raising his soaked face, he spoke politely:

“Comrade, I need to get to the train station urgently. Our unit’s car broke down, and the driver is still trying to fix it, but it might take a while. If I’m late, the train will be delayed. Could you give me a lift? I’m willing to pay.”

As he spoke, he pulled two ten-yuan notes from his pocket and waved them in front of her.

An Xin didn’t take the money or respond immediately. Instead, she surveyed the surroundings carefully.

Sure enough, not far away, she spotted a jeep. A man who looked like a driver was bent over the hood, working on the engine with a massive wrench, clearly trying to fix the vehicle in the heavy rain.

Returning her gaze to the expectant man in front of her truck, An Xin shook her head.

“Sorry, Comrade. You’ll have to find another vehicle. I’m not heading in the same direction as you.”

As for his money, she wouldn’t be so foolish as to risk trouble for such a small amount. Even if she was heading to the train station, she didn’t want to give a ride to a stranger in this downpour. It wasn’t worth the potential complications.

The man wasn’t surprised by her refusal. Instead, he continued in a gentle tone:

“Comrade, I saw your truck yesterday when I got off at the train station. Our unit’s car followed your truck all the way here. I know you’re heading to the train station today. Don’t worry—I’m from the provincial government and have urgent business there. If I’m late, I might miss an important meeting in another city.”