"I'll go report to the leadership. I'll handle this matter."
Pei Zhengnian had just stood up when Shen Nanchu also rose to her feet.
"Take me back with you."
"No! Your body can't take it."
Pei Zhengnian's brow instantly furrowed into a deep knot. His gaze fell on Shen Nanchu's protruding abdomen, his voice full of concern.
The mountain road was rugged, and they had to make haste. Pei Zhengnian really wasn't comfortable with the pregnant Shen Nanchu enduring such a bumpy journey.
"I'm fine, and the baby's fine too."
Shen Nanchu's eyes held an unwavering determination.
"I have to go back and handle this. We need to solve this problem once and for all. What if there's another aftershock next time and we're not there?"
She patted her belly.
"Besides, your son is tough."
"If you don't take me, I'll sneak off on my own."
Pei Zhengnian: "..."
In the end, when the convoy set off, Shen Nanchu was among them, and Pei Yunzhou also squeezed into the vehicle.
Shen Nanchu rolled up her sleeves and headed for the driver's seat, only to be pulled back by Pei Zhengnian.
"You sit quietly in the passenger seat. Don't touch the steering wheel."
Pei Zhengnian said sternly.
"I'll drive. I'm a good driver, really. If you don't believe me, ask Xiong Lei."
Shen Nanchu truly didn't want to ride in a slowpoke car.
They were in a hurry right now.
"No."
Pei Zhengnian insisted.
Shen Nanchu couldn't be bothered to argue. She walked directly to the passenger side door, then climbed over and sat in the driver's seat.
The baby in her belly had a system; she wasn't worried at all.
Moreover, even without the system, her physical fitness was top-notch.
Pei Zhengnian was rendered speechless by Shen Nanchu's actions.
Finally, with no other option, Pei Zhengnian resorted to a drastic move. He scooped Shen Nanchu up in one swift motion and unceremoniously deposited her into the passenger seat.
Despite the speed, his movements were gentle, as if handling fragile porcelain.
Shen Nanchu fumed, her cheeks puffing out.
Xiong Lei, Sun Xuelin, and the others stood nearby, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter. A sharp glance from Pei Zhengnian instantly made them snap to attention, though the corners of their mouths still twitched uncontrollably.
For the rest of the journey, Shen Nanchu couldn't be bothered to speak to Pei Zhengnian.
Anyway, this man would have to swap places with her sooner or later.
Just as the vehicle descended from the hollow, a dull thud was heard, and the wheels suddenly sank into a mud pit.
Yesterday's heavy rain had turned the dirt road into a soft, soggy mess. The ruts were filled with muddy water, and as the wheels spun, they churned up great splashes of mire, coating the front of the jeep like a plow just pulled from a field.
Frowning, Pei Zhengnian pushed the door open and stepped out. His shoes sank half an inch into the mud, instantly splattering his trouser cuffs with flecks of dirt.
"The rear wheels are in too deep, not enough traction..."
Pei Zhengnian tried many methods, but nothing worked.
Well, this was awkward.
"Regiment Commander Pei, how's it going?"
Shen Nanchu leaned back in her seat, looking perfectly relaxed.
See? She knew her turn would come soon!
And wasn't it just about time?
"Let me give it a try!"
Shen Nanchu agilely climbed over into the driver's seat.
With no other choice, Pei Zhengnian relented.
"Alright. Once we're out of the pit, I'll take over."
Take over?
Now that the steering wheel was in her hands, was there any logic in swapping?
Shen Nanchu flashed a sly smile at Pei Zhengnian.
A vague sense of foreboding rose in Pei Zhengnian's heart.
Xiong Lei had already instinctively gripped the handhold tightly.
He had personally witnessed Shen Nanchu's "heroic driving style" before. The memory of being tossed around at breakneck speed was still vivid.
Pei Yunzhou, completely unaware of what was about to happen, was all excitement.
Sister-in-law driving?
So cool!
Shen Nanchu deftly placed her left hand on the steering wheel, her right hand lightly holding the gear shift. The silver bracelet on her wrist jingled with her movements.
She alternately tapped the accelerator and brake with her foot. The jeep's engine roared with a putt-putt sound, and the vehicle wriggled left and right in the mud pit like a nimble loach.
Suddenly, with a loud rev, the jeep lurched forward and actually twisted its way out of the pit.
The flung mud droplets, like precision-guided missiles,
splatted right onto Pei Zhengnian's face.
"Get in."
Shen Nanchu rolled down the window and let out a sharp whistle at the mud-splattered Pei Zhengnian.
The stray hairs at her temples fluttered in the wind, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Sis will take you for a ride."
"You can't handle this stretch of road. Don't want to get stuck in another mud pit."
Pei Zhengnian wiped the mud from his face and helplessly pulled open the passenger door.
Before he could even fasten his seatbelt, the jeep shot forward with a whoosh, tracing a graceful arc on the road.
The trees outside the window sped past, becoming a blur of green.
In the rearview mirror, the second vehicle carrying Sun Xuelin and the others quickly shrank to a tiny black dot.
"Slow down! Be careful of the baby..."
Pei Zhengnian gripped the overhead handhold tightly, his knuckles turning white. His stomach churned, feeling as if all his internal organs were swaying with the vehicle.
"Relax. Your son takes after me, steady as a rock."
As Shen Nanchu spoke, she swiftly turned the steering wheel to avoid a pothole, and the speed picked up once more.
Pei Yunzhou in the back seat squealed with excitement,
"Sister-in-law, you're amazing! Way better than my second brother!"
Pei Zhengnian looked out the window, the wind roaring in his ears. This wasn't tractor-driving skill; it was clearly tank-driving prowess!
The tire tracks drew winding curves on the bumpy dirt road, as if leaving a trail for the following vehicle.
This, however, was misery for Sun Xuelin and his group. Forget the exhaust fumes, they couldn't even see the jeep's shadow anymore.
...
It had to be said, Shen Nanchu's driving skills were truly impressive.
Not only was the ride incredibly smooth the whole way, it was also very steady.
Xiong Lei seriously suspected that the person driving last time wasn't Shen Nanchu herself, but must have been her twin sister.
Otherwise, why didn't he feel like throwing up today?
Even Pei Zhengnian's perception of Shen Nanchu's driving ability was completely refreshed.
Her skills were even better than his.
Noticing the admiration in Pei Zhengnian's eyes, Shen Nanchu couldn't help feeling a little smug.
It wasn't for nothing that she drove properly today.
From now on,
Pei Zhengnian probably wouldn't stop her from driving anymore, right?
...
Shen Nanchu's jeep, trailing a cloud of dust, performed a perfect drift and slide-to-stop on the threshing ground.
That final move directly made Xiong Lei dizzy.
Well, this was definitely his real sister-in-law, no doubt about it.
Dizzily, Xiong Lei pushed the car door open. His foot had barely touched the ground when he almost lost his balance. He leaned against the vehicle, steadying himself for a good while before his head cleared.
...
Meanwhile, Yu Zhen and his group had only just reached the foot of the mountain. Looking into the distance, their procession resembled a long snake slowly inching its way along the mountain path.
Their speed was slower than a snail's.
Leaning against the jeep, Shen Nanchu watched the distant figures and couldn't help shaking her head.
Zheng Tongwei, having received the news, had already rushed over.
He handed his small notebook of records to Shen Nanchu.
After reading the entries, Shen Nanchu was utterly speechless.
Good grief!
Calling these people foolish would be an insult to foolishness.
...
