The phone rang a few times and was quickly answered. The driver's voice came from the other end.
Qin Chuan simply said there was a slight unexpected situation and asked the driver to detour through the neighboring county tomorrow. As for the extra time and fuel costs, he would cover them.
Upon hearing that Qin Chuan, a big boss, would foot the bill, the driver immediately agreed, trusting that such a prominent figure would not be stingy.
"Done!"
After hanging up, Qin Chuan smiled at Li Ya.
Li Ya finally let out a sigh of relief, her heart settling back into place.
"Shall we go home now?"
"Of course, why else would we stay? It's almost twelve o'clock!"
Qin Chuan glanced at his watch, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Or do you want to experience something different in the car tonight, sister?"
"What are you talking about, you big pervert!"
Li Ya's pretty face instantly flushed red. "You're always thinking of bad things!"
Qin Chuan's voice was filled with temptation. Seizing an opportune moment when Li Ya wasn't paying attention, he quickly kissed her small lips, and then everything proceeded in the intended direction…
The next day, before dawn, Qin Chuan was still asleep when he received a call from the transport driver. The driver informed him that they were on the highway and expected to arrive around ten in the morning.
Qin Chuan cautioned him to be careful, to pay close attention to any activity along the road, and to call him if anything happened.
After ending the call, he realized it was only past four in the morning. Looking at Li Ya sleeping soundly beside him, Qin Chuan's lips curved into a gentle arc.
The hour was still early. After savoring the moment for a few minutes, Qin Chuan drifted back into a sweet sleep.
He slept until past seven, when Li Ya woke him. After breakfast, they drove to the supermarket again.
Upon arriving at the supermarket, all the employees were already present. His parents had also arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Qin, possessing the keys to the supermarket, had long since opened the roller shutter doors. Everyone was diligently continuing the work left unfinished from the previous day, full of energy.
"Good morning, Boss!"
"Good morning, Boss's wife!"
Seeing Qin Chuan and Li Ya appear, everyone greeted them respectfully.
Li Ya quite enjoyed being called 'Boss's wife'. Her exquisitely beautiful face lit up with a brilliant smile as she responded to each greeting.
"Boss, everything was peaceful last night!"
Yao Dong approached and said in a low voice to Qin Chuan.
"You've worked hard!"
Qin Chuan took out a pack of cigarettes and placed it in Yao Dong's hand. "You all worked hard last night, brothers. Take this and share it!"
"Boss, no, you really don't have to. You just gave us bonuses a couple of days ago…"
Yao Dong hesitated.
It was true that the boss was wealthy, but money was still money. One shouldn't be greedy, especially since Qin Chuan had also arranged for his parents and sister to work at the supermarket. Such kindness was enough to be remembered for a lifetime.
"Just take it if I tell you to. It's not just for you!"
Qin Chuan's face grew stern. "Tell the brothers that there will likely be many more shifts like this in the future, so bear with us!"
Yao Dong had no choice but to accept. He called over a group of brothers and divided the pack of cigarettes equally.
During this time, the security team members looked at Qin Chuan with gratitude. Following such an approachable and generous young boss was a tremendous blessing.
Every security guard had long been utterly devoted to him.
Just then, Qin Chuan's phone rang. He pulled it out to see it was the transport driver. A sense of unease inexplicably washed over him.
As expected, the moment the call connected, the driver's flustered voice came through quickly.
"Boss Qin, it's bad! Something has happened!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan immediately walked to a secluded area and said quickly, "Don't rush, tell me slowly! What happened?"
The driver, whose name was Feng Lei, quickly replied, "Boss Qin, didn't you tell me to take the road through Ning County after getting off the highway to enter your Yongnan County? I followed your instructions!"
"But as my truck entered the Ning County intersection, I encountered a group of people. They blocked my truck and insisted on inspecting it, otherwise, they wouldn't let me pass."
"Judging by their accents, they seem to be from your county. What should I do now?"
Feng Lei spoke with extreme urgency.
Qin Chuan's face instantly darkened like ink. At that moment, he heard shouting from the phone, seemingly telling the driver to get out of the truck quickly or they would smash the windows.
The accent was indeed from Yongnan County!
"Damn it!!"
Qin Chuan cursed inwardly. He had underestimated Han Shifei, that old fox. He hadn't expected him to have people stationed even in Ning County. Such meticulous planning, he had to admit, was indeed characteristic of Han Shifei.
"Feng Lei, don't panic. Since they want to inspect, cooperate with them. Do not confront those guys head-on. Your safety is the priority!"
Qin Chuan said quickly. "Oh, and have you called the police?"
"Called the police? Not yet!"
"Then call the police immediately. I'll arrange for people to come and assist you! Try to stall them as much as you can…"
Qin Chuan spoke decisively.
"Okay! Yes, yes, I understand, Boss Qin!"
Feng Lei nodded in agreement.
"Yao Dong, bring some men, we're going out!"
After ending the call, Qin Chuan immediately called out to Yao Dong, who was not far away.
The four security personnel led by Yao Dong, though unaware of what had happened, saw the boss's expression turn grim within minutes. It was clear something serious had occurred, and without a word, they followed.
"Xiao Chuan, where are you going?"
Li Ya, standing at the supermarket entrance, saw this and called out loudly.
"Just going out for a bit, don't worry!"
Qin Chuan waved his hand and got into the car. The Santana shot out like a cheetah.
Although Ning County was the neighboring county to Yongnan County, the journey between the two towns took a full hour and a half. In that hour and a half, many things could happen.
The more Qin Chuan thought about it, the more his expression soured. He believed he had been cautious enough, having reasoned through so many possibilities the previous night, yet he had overlooked one small detail.
This single oversight had immediately been seized by Han Shifei, who launched a sharp counterattack.
The cargo on the truck today consisted entirely of fruits and vegetables, the main items for the supermarket's grand opening tomorrow. If they couldn't arrive on time, the consequences would be dire.
Furthermore, there was the safety of the driver, Feng Lei. If anything were to happen to him, it would be a lifelong regret.
Qin Chuan could only hope that Han Shifei's men were not too maniacal, and that the police in Ning County would arrive in time. Only then could the situation be brought under control.
The Santana raced along the highway like a cheetah, its speed causing Yao Dong and the other four passengers to grip the handholds tightly, their faces pale.
Especially since Qin Chuan was driving with one hand while making a phone call with the other, everyone feared that even a slight mistake would lead to a catastrophic accident.