On the other side.
The bus driver arrived at the military barracks.
Bus drivers traveling from Haishi to the Northwest Military District had to pass a political review. Most of the drivers were former soldiers who had transitioned to civilian jobs.
In the 1980s, being a bus driver was a highly sought-after profession.
Although there weren’t many passengers traveling between the two locations, the Northwest Military District provided subsidies, making the salary comparable to that of bus drivers operating within the city.
They could earn around fifty to sixty yuan per month.
The military barracks’ entrance had a guard post, where several armed soldiers stood on duty. One of them asked, “Master Liu, what brings you to the barracks today?”
There were only a few bus drivers, and since they occasionally helped deliver items, the soldiers were familiar with them.
Master Liu spoke seriously, “Is there a regimental-level or higher officer available? I have an urgent matter to report.”
The soldier noticed Master Liu’s disheveled appearance and immediately used the landline in the guard post to contact a regimental-level officer. “Master Liu, please wait a moment.”
“Alright.”
Within a few minutes, Huo Jingyuan jogged over from the family quarters. His dark eyes fell on Liu Cheng as he asked calmly, “Master Liu, what’s the urgent matter?”
“My tires have been slashed, and it’s not the first time. This has happened three times in the past few days, always after driving from Haishi. At first, I thought it was just bad luck, but this morning, a young girl pointed it out, and I realized something was wrong. In all my years of driving, I’ve never encountered tire damage like this.”
The road from Haishi to the Northwest Military District was mostly small paths. After government repairs, except for the stretch through the Gobi Desert, the rest of the road had become smooth.
The area around the Gobi Desert was surrounded by yellow sand and could be described as desolate.
Huo Jingyuan frowned, his eyes narrowing as he pondered Master Liu’s words. After a moment, he asked, “Master Liu, can you pinpoint where the tires were punctured?”
Master Liu shook his head. “It’s strange. I didn’t feel any air leakage while driving. I only found out when I inspected the vehicle the next day.”
Huo Jingyuan continued, “What caused the punctures?”
“I don’t know. There were no sharp objects left in the tires, only small holes in the rims from something sharp.”
Huo Jingyuan asked, “Has this happened only to you, or to others as well?”
“I’d have to call the main station to check. Any vehicle damage is recorded, and I’ve reported three incidents this week.”
“I’ll take some people to inspect the road,” Huo Jingyuan said, pausing before adding, “Do you need any help, Master Liu? I can have the military vehicle team assist you.”
The soldiers in the military vehicle team were not only skilled drivers but also excellent mechanics. They handled all repairs themselves, and the warehouse was stocked with all kinds of tools.
“No need, I have spare rims.”
After Master Liu left, Huo Jingyuan used the landline to call the main station and inquire. He discovered that recently, several bus tires had been punctured.
After reporting to the regimental committee, he personally led a team of soldiers from the military vehicle unit and his own squad to investigate. They eventually found a row of sharp spikes about fifty kilometers from Li Village.
Huo Jingyuan’s expression was calm, his eyes slowly narrowing as he pondered for a moment. “Conduct a population survey in Li Village recently.”
To board the bus, passengers had to present their household registration or a military-issued permit. Only residents of Li Village or those approved by the military district were allowed to ride the bus.
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