How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 124

You Have a Fugitive in Your Car (Officially Available Chapters)

While eating breakfast, Yang Chen handed his ID card and other documents to Yu Shishi.

Her task for the day was to register the company for influencer training and business operations.

After breakfast, Yang Chen drove out to pick up passengers.

After dropping off two customers, Yang Chen considered taking a break, as he didn’t need to work so hard anymore.

However, a man wearing a baseball cap got into the car.

Yang Chen quickly said, “Sir, what’s this about?”

Baseball Cap: “Brother, I’m in a hurry. Please take me to the high-speed train station. Please. One hundred yuan, is that enough?”

Yang Chen: “Brother, we’re not allowed to charge offline [outside the app].”

Baseball Cap: “Then just log out of the system and treat it as a private job. I’m really in a hurry. It’s rush hour, and it’s hard to get a taxi. Please, please.”

Seeing him with so many bags, he must be catching a train to another city.

Based on the principle of helping others, Yang Chen nodded in agreement.

However, for safety, Yang Chen logged out of the platform system and treated it as a private job, essentially driving an unlicensed taxi.

After driving for about ten minutes, Yang Chen’s phone rang.

Yang Chen glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number.

Without thinking much, Yang Chen answered the call.

“Hello, who is this?” Yang Chen asked.

“Hello, this is the Criminal Investigation Division of the Municipal Bureau [city police department]. I am Wang Aihua, the division chief. Are you carrying a middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap in your car?”

Yang Chen felt a sense of foreboding and subconsciously turned his head. The man in the baseball cap was glaring at him fiercely.

Damn it, is this guy a fugitive?

A fugitive isn’t scary, but a murderer is.

He would do anything to save his life.

Yang Chen had a flash of inspiration and immediately cursed, “Get lost! I’ve downloaded an anti-fraud app. You still want to scam me? I’m just a ride-hailing driver, earning hard-earned money. You even want to scam that? Are you even human? Don’t call again, or I’ll call the police and arrest you! Bastard!”

After saying that, Yang Chen hung up the phone.

Yang Chen adjusted his mood and turned to the male passenger in the back, who looked serious, and said, “These scammers are really arrogant these days. A few days ago, I got a call from someone claiming to be from customs, saying they found a problem with my package and asked me to transfer money to them. I mean, wouldn’t I know if I had a package at customs? Instead of doing honest work with their own hands, why do they have to scam people? What do you think, sir?”

The man in the baseball cap couldn’t tell if Yang Chen was being genuine or trying to trick him.

“Ah… um, yes, you’re right. If all else fails, they could drive a ride-hailing car like you and still support their families,” the baseball cap replied.

Yang Chen nodded and said, “Sir, what you said makes a lot of sense. Driving a ride-hailing car isn’t the best job, but it’s easy and pays enough to support a family.”

Then, Yang Chen deliberately burped and said, “Excuse me, sir, my girlfriend made too much food this morning, and I ate a bit too much. I’m going to loosen my seatbelt. Are you going to another city to work, sir?”

While speaking, Yang Chen unbuckled his seatbelt.

Although the car made a warning sound, the baseball cap in the back didn’t think there was a problem.

Baseball Cap: “Yes! Going to another city to work. The cost of living in Hai City is too high. A month’s salary all goes to the landlord.”

At that moment, there were traffic police at the intersection ahead, catching citizens riding electric bikes without helmets.

Yang Chen saw an opportunity and deliberately drove in the right lane.

“It’s a bit crowded during rush hour, so I have to take a detour on a smaller road,” Yang Chen said.

The baseball cap didn’t say anything; his attention was on the traffic police.

Yang Chen turned on his hazard lights to warn the cars behind him of the danger. If anyone was foolish enough to get close, then that was their bad luck.

The traffic police who were catching electric bikes also saw Yang Chen’s hazard lights, and everyone became alert.

Yang Chen seized the opportunity, locked the doors and windows, immediately braked, opened the car door, and rushed out.

“I have the person you’re looking for in my car!” Yang Chen shouted.

The baseball cap tried to push open both doors, but couldn’t open them.

Then he gave up and sat quietly in the car, waiting for the traffic police to come over.

The traffic police rushed over and signaled all vehicles to avoid the area.

“What’s going on?” the traffic police asked.

Yang Chen explained, “Just now, I received a call from the Municipal Bureau, asking if there was a man wearing a baseball cap in my car. Damn, I almost got scared to death because I had the hands-free on. I don’t know what’s going on; you can ask him yourselves.”

The traffic police quickly perked up and surrounded all four doors of Yang Chen’s car.

They quickly contacted the Municipal Bureau and confirmed that the man in the car was a fraud and had seriously injured someone in a mahjong game last night before fleeing.

The Municipal Bureau quickly sent people over, and Wang Aihua, who had called Yang Chen, also arrived.

Wang Aihua: “Comrade, I’m really sorry about what happened just now. I didn’t consider it thoroughly. I should have considered that it might not be convenient for you to answer the phone. It was my mistake. I apologize to you, and please forgive me.”

Originally, Yang Chen wanted to complain, but since the other party’s attitude was so good, he was too embarrassed to complain anymore.

“It’s okay, just don’t do it like that again,” Yang Chen replied.

Wang Aihua: “Okay, okay. I will definitely pay more attention in the future. I’m sorry this time. Please don’t file a complaint against me. Hehe…”

Good grief, he was afraid of being complained about by Yang Chen.

Yang Chen smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t complain. I know what it feels like to be complained about.”

Wang Aihua: “Haha…”

The police pulled the man in the baseball cap out of the car and took out his bags.

The man in the baseball cap looked at Yang Chen and said with a smile, “You’re quite the actor. When I get out, I’ll definitely have a good chat with you.”

Yang Chen smiled and replied, “Brother, go in and reform yourself properly. As long as you sincerely repent, I’ll arrange a job for you when you get out.”

“Haha… Arrange what job? Drive a ride-hailing car with you? Wait, I’ll remember your face for the rest of my life,” the baseball cap said.

“No, I’m not interested in men, so please don’t remember my face,” Yang Chen joked.

With his crimes of fraud and serious injury, he wouldn’t be out for more than ten years.

And he still wanted to threaten Yang Chen.

The police put the baseball cap in the car and took him away.

Yang Chen also had to go to the Municipal Bureau.

After taking a statement, the bureau chief came over.

Wang Aihua introduced Yang Chen to the bureau chief.

The bureau chief shook hands with Yang Chen with a smile and said, “Young comrade, well done. We need good young people like you. Here, this is the ‘Bravery Award’ banner from our Municipal Bureau. I hope you can continue to maintain this awareness in the future.”

Oh, this trip wasn’t in vain; he even got a banner.

Yang Chen took the banner and replied with a smile, “Of course, it’s a collaboration between the police and the people.”

The bureau chief laughed heartily.

Wang Aimin quickly said, “Director Li, take a pose with Yang Chen, and we’ll take a photo for publicity.”

Yang Chen and Director Li cooperated and took several photos.

After taking the photos, Yang Chen left with the banner.

To be honest, he was definitely happy to receive the banner.

But Yang Chen didn’t think it was a big deal.

However, the BEEP platform didn’t think so.

Wasn’t this a good opportunity to promote the platform?

Soon, BEEP CEO Li Changqi called Yang Chen and asked him to take the banner to headquarters as soon as possible.

Yang Chen replied, “I’m not going; I still have to pick up passengers.”

Li Changqi: “Are you kidding me? I’m definitely giving you benefits for coming to headquarters. And you’re telling me you still have to pick up passengers?”

Yang Chen: “What else? If I don’t pick up passengers, will the platform give me money for nothing?”

Li Changqi: “Hey, you’re right. Come here now, and the platform will reward you with 10,000 yuan. You just need to cooperate and take a few photos and make a three-minute video.”

In short, BEEP wanted to use Yang Chen’s heroic deeds for advertising and promotion.

Yang Chen: “I’m not going. I just grabbed an order and have to pick up a customer now.”

After saying that, Yang Chen hung up the phone.

It wasn’t that Yang Chen didn’t want to help the platform promote, but he didn’t want to be too high-profile.

If Yang Chen became a celebrity influencer, passengers might not give him bad reviews out of favoritism, and that would be a big loss for him.

However, BEEP would definitely not miss such a good promotional opportunity.

It didn’t matter if Yang Chen didn’t come; they directly used the promotional photos released by the police for promotion.

On the BEEP platform, Li Changqi and other executives posted promotional photos of Yang Chen on Weibo [Chinese social media platform].

Soon, the topic “Brave BEEP Driver” trended on Weibo’s hot search list.

Yang Chen was already handsome, and after his body was modified by the system, not only did his figure look good, but his temperament was also outstanding. Combined with the positive energy topic of bravery, he immediately became the subject of everyone’s discussion.

“Wow, are BEEP drivers so handsome now? Not just anyone can be a BEEP driver anymore; no one will ride in the car of someone who’s ugly.”

“Love it, love it. Who wouldn’t like a BEEP driver who’s so handsome and has such a good temperament? This level of looks could debut on the spot. It’s a waste to be a ride-hailing driver.”

“Isn’t he wearing Louis Vuitton? So tasteful. Who says drivers have to be sloppy, pot-bellied uncles? Look at how tasteful this BEEP guy is.”

“Sorry, T4 and Hua Xiaoniu [rival ride-hailing apps], I have to cancel your accounts. I’ll only use BEEP to call a car from now on, hoping to get this guy’s car. So handsome and manly, he even dares to catch fugitives. It would be great if I could be his girlfriend, looking at his god-like face every day. The key is that he’s so strong and brave, definitely a sense of security.”

…

What’s that saying?

Competitors are enemies.

Right?

It wouldn’t matter if Yang Chen was just outstanding on his own, but the key was that he made the BEEP platform even more popular, which was unacceptable to other platforms.

BEEP already had a relatively high market share, and if they used Yang Chen’s bravery to show off, the survival pressure on other platforms would be even greater.

So what should other platforms do?

Of course, they had to follow suit!

Wasn’t it just bravery?

If they couldn’t get the real thing, couldn’t they fake it?

If they couldn’t get official police recognition, wouldn’t it be easy to do it without police recognition?

So, at this moment, by a certain river.

A T4 platform ride-hailing driver “happened” to pass by, and a 360-month-old child [30 years old, implying not a child at all] “accidentally” fell into the river.

The driver immediately stopped the car and jumped into the river at a speed of 100 meters, and the two of them “hand in hand” swam ashore together.

This scene was “happened” to be filmed by a “passerby” who had been waiting for a long time.

On the other side, a “couple” was arguing, and the man put the woman on the ground and “violently beat” her.

People around didn’t dare to step forward to dissuade them.

Just then, a Hua Xiaoniu driver drove by and fearlessly rushed up to pin the man who was beating her to the ground.

Even more coincidentally, a reporter passed by at this time and filmed this brave scene.

At this moment, Cao Cao platform, Shenzhou platform…

All were staging similar positive energy stories.

Subsequently, the major platforms couldn’t wait to post promotional photos of their drivers’ bravery on the Internet.

What if they didn’t have a “Bravery Award” banner issued by the police?

It didn’t matter!

The platform issued it themselves.

As long as they deliberately photographed the words “Bravery Award” when taking pictures and didn’t photograph the issuing unit, wouldn’t that be fine?

Each platform was full of confidence, relying on their carefully crafted positive energy stories, they would definitely be able to gain a wave of points for their platform.

However, reality is always so cruel.

“What the hell? Did bravery poke a hornet’s nest of ride-hailing platforms?”

“Wow, isn’t that too deliberate? The BEEP guy’s bravery just became popular, and other platforms can’t wait to follow up and launch their own brave drivers. It’s a bit difficult to understand that this kind of popularity can also be 蹭 [ceng, meaning to freeload or sponge off].”

“Well, your stories are good, but the drivers are too ugly to compare with the BEEP guy. Bad review!”

“No way, no way, these platforms don’t really think that everyone is chasing bravery, do they? We’re looking at the BEEP guy’s looks, okay? It’s so ridiculous, they don’t even understand the point of following the trend.”

…

Seeing the netizens’ comments, all the major platforms were heartbroken.

So what everyone was promoting wasn’t bravery, but that the BEEP driver was handsome!

Wasn’t this a waste of posing?

…

Yang Chen was also speechless. He didn’t want to be in the limelight, but the BEEP platform insisted on putting him in the limelight.

Damn it, what if he couldn’t get bad reviews in the future?

However, Yang Chen didn’t really need to worry so much.

As everyone knows, Weibo has now become a “women’s restroom,” and it’s a gathering place for some feminists.

Genuine ordinary people generally don’t play with that stuff.

So, there are indeed quite a few people who know him, but there are still many people who don’t know him.

Moreover, in the Internet age, popularity is fleeting. As long as the popularity passes, or there is new popularity, everyone will no longer pay attention to old topics.

However, Yang Chen has indeed been very comfortable these past few days.

Because he has become the “spokesperson” of the BEEP platform, the platform has consciously assigned him many more orders.

As soon as a passenger gets out of the car, the system immediately assigns him a new order, and the locations are all very good, belonging to the kind with good road conditions, long distances, and relatively high fares.

And recently, Yang Chen has received more than a hundred orders with good reviews. Indeed, many customers give good reviews as soon as they see it’s him.

Soon, there was no longer any popularity for Yang Chen on Weibo.

His life gradually returned to normal.

After not encountering strange passengers for a long time, Yang Chen missed them a little.

Near six o’clock in the evening, Yu Shishi called Yang Chen to come home for dinner.

Yang Chen was about to go back when the system assigned him another order.

Originally, he didn’t want to accept it, but this order was on the way.

It was estimated that the platform system had calculated that it was time for him to go home for dinner and specially assigned him an order that was on the way.

Since he was going home anyway, he would just pick up this order on the way.

Yang Chen picked up a female passenger in her thirties.

Soon, Yang Chen took her to the destination of the location.

“Hello, we’ve arrived. Please take your belongings with you and welcome to choose BEEP ride-hailing next time,” Yang Chen said.

The female passenger immediately said, “Driver, please go to the North Gate. My home is in the North Gate; I set the wrong location.”

But Yang Chen had already taken her to the destination, and the platform had already settled the fare.

If Yang Chen detoured to the North Gate, this part of the journey would be for nothing.

That wasn’t anything, just a little gas money.

The key was that the road was under construction here. If he detoured to the North Gate, he would need to back up onto the overpass and detour about 3 kilometers to get to the North Gate.

If she took a taxi, the starting price of 3 kilometers would almost be used up.

Damn it, wasn’t this clearly playing tricks on Yang Chen?

She lived here, so it was impossible not to know how far it was to detour from the South Gate to the North Gate.

She deliberately located the nearest South Gate and then asked the driver to take her to the North Gate so she could save some money.

Again, this little bit of gas money wasn’t important, but the key was that she was playing tricks, which was wrong.

Moreover, Yang Chen was rushing home for dinner and didn’t want to detour 3 kilometers to send her there for free.

“I’m sorry, beauty, I’ve already taken you to the destination of the order location. If you need to go to the North Gate, please place a new order,” Yang Chen refused directly.

The female passenger replied, “Oh, it’s too much trouble for me to call another car. Can’t you just take me there on the way? It’s not far, just a detour, it’ll take two minutes at most.”

“Your home is in the North Gate, so why did you locate the South Gate? If you had located the North Gate directly, I could have taken another road, which might have been closer. The road is under construction next to it, so it’s too much trouble for me to detour. I’m rushing home for dinner, sorry, please change to another car,” Yang Chen replied.

The female passenger revealed a ferocious look and said, “Driver, don’t be so stubborn. Be a repeat customer, and I’ll take your car again when I get off.”

“No, no, no, I don’t want to detour to take you to the North Gate every time. Please get out of the car, I really have to go home for dinner,” Yang Chen replied.

The female passenger sneered and said, “Isn’t it just about money? Okay, I’ll give you two more yuan, is that okay? Hurry up, I’m also rushing home to cook.”

Yang Chen stopped the car, turned off the engine, shook his head, and said, “I’m sorry, this is a matter of principle. If you really need help, I will definitely help you, it’s not about the gas money. But you deliberately played tricks on me, so I will definitely not indulge you.”

After Yang Chen said her true thoughts, the female passenger immediately roared, “Who are you saying is playing tricks? I just set the wrong location, who is playing tricks on you? It’s as if I can’t afford a car. Do you still want good reviews? I heard that ratings affect order priority, you don’t want this order to cause you to have trouble getting orders in the future, do you?”

Damn!

It looked like she knew a lot!

Judging from her smooth response, she was definitely not doing this for the first time, she must have done it often.

Other drivers might have rating pressure, so they really compromised.

Yang Chen didn’t bother with her. He had just run more than two hundred good reviews, and with Liu Xueqing as an inside agent, why would he be afraid of this low-life woman’s bad review threat?