Super Soldier in the City
Chapter 34 Inspection

Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Inspection

"By the way, how are you so skilled? Three people couldn’t handle you, and you did it with such ease?" Michelle asked Li Yifei curiously as they walked to the main road, waiting for a taxi.

Li Yifei blinked and said, "You forget I used to be a security guard. I was in the army before, trained and all. These three little punks drank too much, they couldn’t even stand straight, of course they couldn’t beat me."

"Oh, thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, I’d have been in real trouble this time." Michelle shivered at the thought of being surrounded by three thugs.

"Well, maybe it’s just my bad luck. Normally, you wouldn’t run into these kinds of punks. It just happened when you had a meal with me."

Michelle burst out laughing again and said, "It really seems like it, you’re really something else with your words."

Li Yifei laughed heartily and said, "Good thing you’re not annoyed with me, otherwise I couldn’t follow the master to learn."

"Then you’re the second disciple," Michelle laughed out loud again after saying that.

Michelle’s smile was beautiful, her eyes curving into crescents, eyelashes fluttering lightly, combined with the soft laughter. Even someone like Li Yifei, who had seen many women in the world, couldn’t help but praise her inwardly.

"I’m so simple and honest, I should be the third disciple, right?"

Michelle was amused by Li Yifei’s simple and honest demeanor, laughing even louder. If a taxi hadn’t come by, she might have laughed so hard she’d squat on the ground.

The second warehouse wasn’t far from there; they arrived at the starting fare, where the person in charge was already waiting for them. They were quite polite to Michelle and Li Yifei, and even prepared fruits and drinks for the two, almost like they were welcoming higher-ups.

Technically speaking, the warehouse manager had a higher rank than Michelle, and was sort of a big boss managing ten or so people in each warehouse. But since Michelle and Li Yifei were there for inspection, both of them were considered lower-level staff, and the manager didn’t dare to be careless.

Even though the army had a strict hierarchy, some special departments were quite prestigious. The inspectors might be similar to regular soldiers, but they dared to arrest anyone, even regimental commanders. It was not unlike a company, so Li Yifei understood easily.

After the inspection, it was already past four, and Li Yifei and Michelle rushed back to the company. Michelle organized the day’s inspection results before clocking off.

Working with Michelle for the first day, Li Yifei was impressed not only by her gentle and shy demeanor but also by her diligence and meticulousness in work, similar to Xu Yingying.

After work, Li Yifei went out drinking with his old pals from the security department in a small restaurant. The drink was cheap bulk white spirit. Their salaries weren’t high, only over two thousand yuan a month, so they usually pooled money for meals. Although Li Yifei had become a white-collar worker, the others didn’t take advantage of him, knowing he had just joined Huayang Company and hadn’t received a paycheck yet, so he was short on cash.

Everyone enjoyed the gathering. Being with those security guards reminded Li Yifei of his times with comrades in the army. But since he had returned to the city, he couldn’t help but seek a more rewarding job.

The reason was simple—he needed to make money. Despite earning a lot over the years, he had spent most of it and had no savings. Previously, the army provided food and shelter, so spending recklessly presented no hardship. But now, expenses couldn’t be avoided, though luckily, he recently earned a decent amount from Xu Yingying, so he wasn’t under immediate financial pressure.

By past ten, Li Yifei left with everyone, walking home. The restaurant wasn’t far from his rented apartment; it took just over ten minutes on foot.

The phone’s music rang, and Li Yifei glanced at the caller ID. It was Xu Shanshan. He was a bit puzzled; Xu Yingying hadn’t given him a heads-up, so Xu Shanshan must have called directly, probably checking on him. Still, Li Yifei answered with a smile, "Shanshan."

"Brother-in-law!" came Xu Shanshan’s clear voice, followed by a giggle. "I bet you’re not with my sister right now."

"How do you know? Didn’t you hear the car noise outside?" Li Yifei smiled back.

"Do I need to hear anything? I knew you and my sister weren’t a real couple. How could you be together?"

"Shanshan, I’m out drinking with colleagues tonight, just finished and heading back."

"I don’t believe it. Would my sister let you go drinking with colleagues?"

"Don’t think your sister’s so scary. We’re quite equals in the relationship; we have personal space."

"Really? I still don’t believe it. Sooner or later, I’ll catch you two in the act."

Li Yifei could almost picture Xu Shanshan waving her little fists with confidence. He laughed and said, "Fine, I’ll wait for you to expose us."

Sensing Li Yifei was about to hang up, Xu Shanshan quickly shouted, "Hey, don’t hang up! I’m bored—keep me company for a while."

Li Yifei belched and said, "All right, what do you want to chat about? Anyway, I’m sobering up on the street, so I’ll talk while walking."

"What did you drink? Don’t tell me it was your Nine-colored Rainbow?"

"No, it was just with a bunch of guys. We can’t afford fancy drinks like that."

"You could’ve brought some from home, but you didn’t."

Li Yifei felt a bit frustrated. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to bring it, but he’d already charged Xu Shanshan’s wages—how could he exploit Xu Zhenguo for more? He laughed, "That’d be embarrassing. So, did you start working today?"

Li Yifei changed the topic, and Xu Shanshan was equally spirited, "Started, but this job is boring. Teaching kids to dance every day, no future in it."

"Being a teacher has a bright future! You have students to instruct, and they must do whatever you tell them."

Xu Shanshan immediately giggled, "Brother-in-law, who looks at teaching like that?"

"Okay, then you’re a soul engineer, burning yourself to light the path for others..."

"Haha... Brother-in-law, stop it, you’re killing me, my stomach hurts from laughing."

They chatted and laughed, and just as Li Yifei was about to say he was home, he hesitated. If Xu Shanshan asked Xu Yingying to answer, he’d be busted. So even though he was at the apartment gate, Li Yifei didn’t go inside.

"Shanshan, I’ve got to go now. It’s pretty cold out here. If I keep talking to you, I’ll turn into a popsicle."

"Oh, I forgot you’re outside. Sorry, brother-in-law, thanks for chatting with me for so long in the cold. Hurry and get home."

"Okay, I’ll hang up then."

After hanging up, Li Yifei walked into the apartment complex while calling Xu Yingying.

The call connected quickly, and before Xu Yingying could speak, Li Yifei said, "Shanshan just called me. I told her I was walking home from drinking. I’ll turn off my phone now. If she calls you, say I drank too much and fell asleep."

"This girl never stops," Xu Yingying said with some displeasure, then cautiously asked, "What did she say to you?"

"Not much, just small talk. Clearly trying to gauge if we’re genuinely in a relationship. You should be careful." Li Yifei couldn’t admit how much he enjoyed chatting with Xu Shanshan. Otherwise, Xu Yingying might act like a protective mother hen, raising a big fuss.

"All right, from now on, that’s the plan. If she calls you, let me know, then turn off your phone. Wait, that’s inconvenient for us; your phone has dual SIM cards, right? Buy another SIM card tomorrow, keep one card on at all times so I can reach you."

Li Yifei agreed, though he felt this would never end. Still, having a sister-in-law like Xu Shanshan who he got along with, he didn’t really mind.

After hanging up, Li Yifei took the elevator upstairs. As he was about to open his door, he heard voices from the apartment on the left, piquing his curiosity.

The building Li Yifei lived in had small units, with three apartments per section. He lived in the middle, and the other two units had been empty. Now someone had moved in on the left, meaning he had a new neighbor.

The building had good soundproofing, so he couldn’t tell how many people were inside or if they were male or female, but he was sure someone was there.

Li Yifei hoped a beautiful housewife had moved in, so maybe something interesting could happen. Even if not, at least it’d be pleasing to the eye, especially when waiting for the elevator, where they could chat a bit and life wouldn’t be so dull.

Such thoughts might not be appropriate, but for Li Yifei, who had faced life and death multiple times, he took many things lightly. These thoughts weren’t ones ordinary people could easily understand. For instance, with women, no matter how good they were, he didn’t plan on making one his wife.

However, Li Yifei was disappointed when he got up the next morning and didn’t meet his neighbor while waiting for the elevator, so he went down alone.