Chapter 49: Set Off
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Zhou Chao contacted Qin Fen and Qin Lang one after another, but both of them said they currently didn’t have time. He then called Big Bro Li, and Li Yang complained to him over the phone, “I’m stuck in meetings all day long. Forget about going out to play, I don’t even have time to sleep.”
Zhou Chao hung up the phone helplessly. It seemed that only he and Lin Wu were available. Without dwelling on it, he called Lin Wu over. “You can head home first. Tomorrow, we’ll set off early, driving from Modu directly to Shudu. We’ll spend a few days in Rongcheng.”
“Alright, boss,” Lin Wu replied and then left. Zhou Chao lay back on the sofa, thinking about giving his fourth brother a call. But then he changed his mind, deciding to surprise him by visiting directly since his fourth brother was near the 318 National Road.
Checking the system, Zhou Chao noticed he had accumulated more than ten days. After a brief contemplation, he decided to wait until they reached Rongcheng to check-in and see if there were any unexpected surprises.
With the day still early, Zhou Chao headed to the study to research the travel guides. He wanted to see what interesting places or scenic spots were along the way so they could make some detours to explore.
The next day, Zhou Chao got up early, packed his belongings, and awaited Lin Wu’s arrival. Just as he finished arranging spare clothes, he heard the sound of the door opening. Zhou Chao emerged from the bedroom, carrying his bag with the packed clothes.
“Boss, I brought breakfast for you,” Lin Wu said. He had a small travel bag slung over his back and was holding some breakfast items as he spoke to Zhou Chao, who was descending the stairs.
“Have you settled everything at home?” Zhou Chao took the breakfast from Lin Wu’s hand and started eating.
“It’s all settled.”
“Then let’s set off.” Zhou Chao quickly finished the breakfast in his hand, then led the way outside, heading straight to the underground parking.
The distance between Modu and Rongcheng was nearly 2,000 kilometers, which would take about 22 hours to drive. Even if they alternated driving, each person would still have to drive for about 11 hours. Zhou Chao thought it would be too exhausting, but Lin Wu claimed he could handle it. Zhou Chao, prioritizing safety, thought they should take it easy. They could rest in service areas when they got tired. Moreover, the interior of the Karlmann King was well-equipped, making it comfortable to sleep in.
Zhou Chao took the driver’s seat directly, after all, he hadn’t driven the car since he got it, and he wasn’t going to let someone else have this chance. The roar of the engine as Zhou Chao started it made his blood boil. He stepped on the gas pedal, and the black behemoth rolled out of the garage.
The design of the Karlmann King drew inspiration from the stealth fighter jet Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk. Its exterior resembled the F-117 Nighthawk, using a mirror-cutting design technique that gave it a sharp and angular appearance. The length of the vehicle reached 5,990mm, the width reached 2,480mm, and the wheelbase reached 3,691mm. Coupled with the black metallic finish, it looked like an armored vehicle charging onto the battlefield.
The interior’s luxury surpassed that of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and it featured the same starry sky ceiling as the Rolls-Royce, along with two aviation-grade seats in the rear. The seats were upholstered in a combination of alligator leather and Alcantara, giving them an exquisite and noble appearance. The seats also offered various massage functions, ensuring an enjoyable experience. Even sleeping on them was as comfortable as lying on a bed.
As Zhou Chao drove the Karlmann King on the road, its futuristic appearance attracted the attention of everyone. Pedestrians and drivers alike took out their phones to take pictures, although they couldn’t see inside. Soon, Zhou Chao entered the highway. Due to the heavy weight of the vehicle, its top speed was only 140 km/h.
The plush seats and easy-to-handle steering wheel made Zhou Chao feel extremely comfortable. However, he had no idea that his car had attracted the attention of numerous internet users and off-road enthusiasts.
They drove for nine hours straight. At this point, they had just exited the highway at the Jiangcheng junction. Zhou Chao considered that they weren’t in a hurry anyway; they were just here for enjoyment. There was no need to make themselves suffer. Mainly, after driving for several hours, he felt quite uncomfortable. He wanted to take a shower. Zhou Chao decided to let Lin Wu exit at Jiangcheng, rest for the night, and continue their journey the next day.
Exiting the highway at Jiangcheng, it was still early in the day. Zhou Chao booked two rooms at a large hotel, took a refreshing shower, and then headed out with Lin Wu. After all, as a historical city, Jiangcheng boasted not only the renowned Yellow Crane Tower but also a plethora of delicious local snacks. Being a food enthusiast, Zhou Chao couldn’t afford to miss them.
Jiangcheng was most famous for its jumbo shrimp, re gan mian (hot dry noodles), and duck neck among other things. Therefore, Zhou Chao’s first destination was the jumbo shrimp. He found a well-reviewed restaurant serving Qianjiang Wuxi Oil-Braised Jumbo Shrimp online and went there with Lin Wu straight away.
“Burp!” Zhou Chao let out a satisfied belch. They had eaten too much – 8 catties of jumbo shrimp. Both of them felt their stomachs bloated, unable to eat anything else. Helplessly, they had to return to the hotel to rest.
The next morning, they set off early again. Of course, they couldn’t miss out on duck neck this time. Zhou Chao drove around the city to find a place selling duck necks, bought 10 catties, and hit the highway. By this time, Zhou Chao was wearing gloves as he sat in the driver’s seat, munching on the duck necks. Lin Wu, who was driving, couldn’t help but salivate.
Helplessly, Lin Wu endured his craving to eat and focused on driving. Zhou Chao knew how tempting the aroma was, so when they passed by a rest area, he switched with Lin Wu. Zhou Chao continued driving towards Rongcheng.
By the time they finished all 10 catties of duck necks, they were almost at Rongcheng. The sky had already turned dark. When they exited the highway in Rongcheng, it was already past 9 PM. Zhou Chao, now in the passenger seat, rolled down the window, gazing at the bustling streets of Rongcheng. What a prosperous city it was.
Lin Wu parked the car in the parking lot of a large hotel. This was a suite Zhou Chao had booked online earlier. They checked in, retired to their respective rooms, and rested.
Zhou Chao slept until 10 in the morning before waking up. This was mostly because he had been puzzled by the skill he had gained from the accumulated check-ins the night before. The skill was called “Animal Affinity Max”, and he had been researching it until late before finally falling asleep.
When Zhou Chao stepped out of the bedroom, he saw Lin Wu sitting on the sofa playing a game. As Zhou Chao emerged, Lin Wu quickly put his phone away. “Boss, you’re awake.”
“Good morning,” Zhou Chao yawned.
Lin Wu glanced at the sun outside. Indeed, it was still quite early; it was almost time for lunch, at least in his own perspective.
“I’ll take a shower first. Later, we can explore the nearby snack street. You can look online for good places or recommended restaurants nearby. We’ll head there directly.” Zhou Chao said, heading towards the bathroom in the room. Meanwhile, Lin Wu began searching online for nearby delicacies and restaurant recommendations..