In 2019, the Great Hall of the People in Beijing ushered in the high-profile All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) press conference. At this meaningful event, government officials, journalists and driver representatives from all over the country gathered to discuss the current state of the road transport industry and the way forward.
The meeting began with an affectionate announcement by the moderator, who first emphasized: "Ladies and gentlemen, as we all know, the mainland has such a large contingent of professional truck drivers, the number of which has reached an astonishing 30 million.
They are an important pillar of the country's economic development, but in recent years, due to a variety of complex factors, this group is facing increasing pressure to survive, so we have an obligation to speak up for them and give them the attention and protection they deserve."
As soon as these words came out, the audience immediately burst into warm applause. A weather-beaten veteran driver stood up, his hands clutching the conference table, his wrinkled face full of worry: "Our income levels continue to decline, but our expenses continue to rise.
The cost of vehicle insurance and repairs alone is overwhelming, not to mention tolls, fines, and so on, and all our hard-earned hard-earned money is gone, making it difficult to maintain even the most basic livelihoods."
Immediately afterwards, another young driver also stood up and said firmly: "Yes, in addition to the financial troubles, we also have to face increasingly stringent industry regulations."
For example, the strict limits on continuous driving time can lead to severe penalties for the slightest negligence, but the timeliness of cargo forces us to travel day and night, so it is a real challenge to find a balance between efficiency and safety."
The atmosphere of the venue instantly became solemn, and everyone present could deeply understand the dilemma of the industry described by the two drivers. At this moment, a gray-haired old man hesitated for a moment and slowly stood up.
His words were like a warm current, which quickly ignited the passion of the venue, and the applause surged like a tide. Everyone present was deeply moved by the words of this old man, and knew that the truck drivers were the heroes of our time, and they contributed their strength to the prosperity of our great motherland with their hard work and selfless dedication.
And now, we finally have the opportunity to pay attention to and improve their living environment, this clarion call for change has sounded, and a new chapter is about to begin!
A fresh scent of grass wafted from the depths of his deep memory, and Liu Laohan's eyes were instantly filled with crystal tears. This weathered septuagenarian has witnessed the most dazzling glorious years of the truck industry, and now he revisits those eventful years, and his inner emotion and admiration are difficult to suppress.
"That's really a glorious history!" Liu Laohan sighed with a smile on his face, and the wrinkles in the sunlight were particularly clear. He gently tightened the worn jacket on his body, held the cane in his hand, and looked into the distance, as if he had traveled through time and space, and returned to those days of burning passion.
Mr. Liu, a veteran truck driver in a small northern town, has embarked on a long and legendary driving journey since the '80s.
At that time, it coincided with the wave of reform and opening up in the mainland, and countless self-employed people sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, and the entrepreneurial atmosphere was unprecedentedly enthusiastic.
"Do you still remember? At that time, the trend of going to the sea to do business was just emerging, and the exchange of materials all over the country was very lively! Trucks instantly became hot and scarry-after goods, and a large amount of business was waiting for us to take over.
Liu Laohan talked about the past, full of interest, and the conversation changed: "However, before that, there was a figure who made a great contribution In 1986, a young man named Wu founded the first transportation information consulting service agency in China, which closely linked buyers and sellers, thus laying the foundation of today's freight industry."
Referring to that golden period, Liu Laohan's words were like a river rushing endlessly, and his pride was overflowing: "Life at that time was really comfortable! When you encounter goods on the road, you can negotiate prices at any time;
The business is booming, and the income even exceeds that of ordinary workers in the factory several times!" Speaking of this, Liu Laohan couldn't help but straighten his body and walk forward with firm steps, as if returning to the good old days.
"We are heroes and heroes who roam the rivers and lakes, no one is invincible, no one dares to disobey! Look at the present, these young people ......" Liu Laohan's voice changed suddenly, and his sigh revealed endless helplessness, "Alas, the more people live, the more embarrassed they become."
Speaking of this, he restrained his slightly sour tone, and instead sighed about the prosperous era of the 90s: "It was really a nostalgic good time! The roads have taken on a new look, the trucks carry more capacity, the cars and horses are endless, the magnificent rivers and mountains of the motherland are in full view, and the beautiful scenery along the way is breathtaking.
When Liu Laohan told that story like smoke, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and his eyes became eclipsed. However, he said with emotion: "Despite this, it is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous places...... Looking back, my former best friend Ni Wanhui and his wife used to work in the transportation industry there......" His words were full of deep nostalgia, and the corners of his eyes couldn't help but burst into tears, as if recalling a heartbreaking past.
A fresh scent of grass quietly dissipated, leaving Liu Laohan standing alone, staring at the distant sky and falling into thought. Those years that have gone away are like vivid pictures showing one by one in front of his eyes, and the pride and ambition of the year have now been ruthlessly baptized by time, leaving only a faint sadness.
At this moment, a large dilapidated truck was quietly parked on the side of the road, the body had long lost its luster, but its former majesty could still be felt.
Next to the car, two gray-haired old men were smiling at each other, their eyes revealing endless affection.
"It is this car that has accompanied my wife and me for dozens of years. The old man gently touched the door and said affectionately, this truck seemed to have become a haven for them in the storm.
The wife nodded knowingly in response, snuggling up to her husband's thin shoulder, with a happy smile on her face. Indeed, for this pair of old people, this old truck that has gone through the vicissitudes of life carries countless precious memories.
When they were young and strong, the cab was cramped and cramped, but they cleverly created a comfortable cot, a cosy kitchen, and even plenty of room for future children to grow.
What's even more rare is that the wife is not only good at housework and quick with her hands and feet, but also assists her husband in driving the car at critical moments. She also holds a driver's license, and she and her husband share the heavy responsibility of "Sister Ka", carrying a full load of goods through the splendid mountains and rivers of the motherland.
"Without her, I'm afraid I'd be exhausted. The old man said gratefully, clasping his wife's hands, "Life is too difficult, but as long as she is by my side, I have the strength to keep going."
It is true that in the long and arduous journey of freight, they perfectly interpreted the true meaning of "sharing weal and woe with each other" with practical actions. Whether it's a storm or a hot summer, one of them always has someone outside the car to check the condition of the vehicle and make sure they can sleep peacefully.
Even the "gas guzzler" who steals the fuel tanks of trucks for a living can hardly shake the firm belief of this loving couple. In the middle of the night, the bitter cold wind pierced through the body, but the partner curled up outside the car without complaining, using her own heat to protect her lover's peaceful sleep.
"If it weren't for her by my side, I would have been defeated by the hardships of this world. The old man said with emotion, tears in his eyes could not help but well-appear, but his face was filled with an extremely happy smile.
In their wandering, they interpreted the most sincere love with the perseverance of mutual support.
"Dad, why were you always not at home when I was a child?" a young voice asked curiously, revealing a strong desire to learn at a young age.
The father did not respond immediately, but silently hid his face and cried bitterly, his heavy expression revealing endless helplessness and regret. This is the most painful scene for truck drivers – they have to live away from home, separated from their loved ones, and endure endless hardship for the sake of their families' livelihoods.
Years later, the retired veteran driver finally had the opportunity to return to his homeland, but when he opened the essay that his son had written during his childhood, called "My Father", tears broke out again.
He choked up and read out the first sentence of the article: "I grew up rarely seeing my father."
Another middle-aged truck driver laughed self-deprecatingly: "My sons are about to become grandfathers, and we father and son have never really gotten along for decades, and we are not even sure if he remembers me."
He shook his head bitterly, "In the end, it's because this job is too tiring."
From a father's point of view, truck drivers are undoubtedly the most helpless people in the world. They work hard year after year to create a stable living environment for their families.
However, when the children gradually grow up and begin to understand the efforts behind their fathers, the youth of their parents has quietly passed, and how much time can they spend with their parents?
An elderly truck driver was full of emotion: "My son's last memory of me is probably that he was always busy." He pulled out a worn-out wallet with an old, yellowed photograph of his son with his wife when he was still young.
In that era of economic hardship, we felt endless joy and happiness.
The old man's eyes were deep and dark, as if he was reminiscing about the moment of history, and he was also deeply reflecting on whether his career choice was wise.
The heart is full of helplessness and loss, and those men who were top guns back then can only choose to bear it silently, devote themselves wholeheartedly to the livelihood in front of them, and look forward to even if it is just a short time of reunion.