Chapter 11: On the Train

Chen Xiaohui pondered for a moment before organizing her thoughts: “You’re not what I imagined, but that’s a good thing. You said that even without me, you would have left the supply and marketing cooperative, but you didn’t say that Geng Zhiqin could handle it. Anyway, when it comes to work, I owe you. I don’t like owing others. Let me tell you something you might not know.”

“Did you hear that from the intellectuals you were on the train with?”

Chen Xiaohui nodded. “There were more than one intellectuals from the capital on that train. One of them said that Geng Zhiye once had someone he liked, but since there was no future with that person, he reluctantly agreed to arranged marriages. Don’t open your heart to him too much. We women need to take care of ourselves. I noticed you served him noodles, and I wanted to tell you to eat less, he won’t starve. You still said you were the Geng family’s daughter-in-law. First, you are yourself, then the mother of Dabao and Erbao, and only then the Geng family’s daughter-in-law.” Seeing that Ye Fan was staring at her in shock, as if her words had stunned her, she asked, “Are you listening?”

Ye Fan was taken aback by her words. She snapped back to reality, her face full of complicated emotions.

“I know you don’t believe me, but it’s the truth.” In the previous life, Geng Zhiye was already in his thirties and still unmarried. It was rumored that it wasn’t just because Yu Wentao was picky, he himself didn’t want to marry either. In this life, he married early, probably because Ye Fan was beautiful and smart, and her father had a higher position than Geng’s father.

“I know you don’t believe it, but it’s the truth.” In the previous life, Geng Zhiye was over thirty and still unmarried. It was said that it wasn’t just because Yu Wentao was picky, he also didn’t want to get married. This life, he married early, certainly because Ye Fan was beautiful and smart, and her father held a higher position than Geng’s father.

Men are just that realistic—when they meet someone who is suitable in every way, all their past attachments like white moonlight or red cinnabar moles get pushed aside. But when they don’t need anyone anymore, they go back to seeking their white moonlight. When the white moonlight grows old and becomes leftover rice, they look for a younger version of it.

Ye Fan was certain that Chen Xiaohui had never heard of “superficial relationships” and was a bit naive. No wonder she was so tightly controlled by the two toxic elders in the Chen family.

With the awkward relationship between them now, anyone else would suspect she was trying to stir up trouble. Even if we take it a step further and assume Geng Zhiye has someone he truly cares for, when a man is in front of you, pays his salary to you, and fulfills his duties as a husband, does it even matter who he has in his heart?

She wasn’t the main character in a Qiong Yao drama, where people just love and forget about everything else.

Ye Fan suspected that every year during the farming off-season in the countryside, Chen Xiaohui had too much time on her hands, so she analyzed this and that with the other educated youths who went to the countryside. With a few more years of complicated rural life experience than her, Chen Xiaohui probably felt she was more insightful and knowledgeable about life.

“Don’t take it lightly. When the time comes, you won’t even have tears to cry.” Chen Xiaohui couldn’t help but add, “Besides your parents, anyone can betray you.”

She spoke in a set pattern, yet didn’t know how to sever ties with the Chen family. She couldn’t possibly be naive enough to think that Chen Kuanren and Zhao Rujing had raised her out of deep affection. But even if she thought so, she still wouldn’t give Zhao Rujing any money. The fact that Chen Xiaohui thought about giving money meant she knew exactly what kind of person Zhao Rujing was.

Ye Fan was getting a headache, feeling like her brain was turning into mush.

“I’ll ask Geng Zhiyé when I turn around.”

“Are you stupid?” Chen Xiaohui stepped forward, agitated. “How could he tell the truth? He might even say I’m stirring up trouble.”

Ye Fan thought to herself, At least you know what ‘stirring up trouble’ means. I thought you only knew how to make assumptions!

“Fanfan, the car’s here.” As soon as Geng Zhiyé saw a white figure in the distance, he called out to Ye Fan.

Chen Xiaohui couldn’t help but remind her, “Don’t ask him. Otherwise, I won’t tell you anything in the future.”

Ye Fan thought to herself, Do you think I care?

“Got it.”

Seeing her impatience, Chen Xiaohui helplessly shook her head. “We can ask his comrades when we get to the island.”

Am I really that bored? Ye Fan thought, very much speechless. She really wanted to ask how the Chen family educates their children. “You shouldn’t open up to everyone,” she thought. Otherwise, if you get sold out, I’ll be the one who has to rescue you.

Chen Xiaohui nodded. “I’m not stupid. I haven’t told anyone anything other than our own people.”

Ye Fan thought, I really should thank you for Xiaoqin. You actually treat her like family. “Go to work now.”

“There’s still time.” Chen Xiaohui placed the packages from the car onto the vehicle, then watched as Ye Fan and Tao Chunlan each helped the older and younger children settle down before she rode off to work.

Geng Zhiyé asked, “What are you talking about? She looked really excited.”

Tao Chunlan also wanted to know. “Yeah. Ye Fan, it doesn’t look like you’re talking about work.”

“Mom, you should be glad I taught you well. Anyone else would take the opportunity to say that Chen Xiaohui scolded me. Since I’ve brought her back, don’t be suspicious. If you don’t want your hard-earned money to go to someone else, then from now on, tell her to buy her own clothes and shoes. She can stay and eat here, but her part-time job’s pay is low, so it’s enough for her to use on her own. If she wants to use her salary to support anyone, that’s up to her.” Ye Fan said all this but still wasn’t at ease. “If that couple comes to see you, send me a telegram. I’m closer to there, and I’ll go take care of it.”

Tao Chunlan said, “Your dad, your brother, and your sister-in-law are at home.”

“My dad and brother are doing okay at work, but when it comes to dealing with scoundrels, even together they’re no match for Grandma Dabao.”

Dabao said, “Grandma is no match for Mom.”

“…” Hearing that Geng Zhiyé had a beloved in his heart, Ye Fan didn’t lose her composure, but couldn’t help but change her expression. “Aren’t you tired anymore?”

Tao Chunlan suppressed a laugh and said, “Dabao is right, in our family, your mom is the strongest.”

Dabao nodded. “Mom, I’m praising you.”

“I don’t care.” Ye Fan raised her hand and tossed him aside.

Geng Zhiyé hurriedly caught him. “Is he alright?”

“Dad, Mom was just scaring me. Mom wouldn’t let me fall on the floor.” Dabao clung to his dad’s shoulder, kneeling on his leg.

She turned to look behind her. “Mom, you’re the best mom.”

The early bus was sparsely populated, with only a few people on board. The aunt sitting in front of Geng Zhiyé turned around and asked, “How old is Dabao? Look at that little mouth, so good at talking.”

Erbao woke up and raised a finger. “Dabao is four years old.”

The aunt stood up to take a look. The little girl was as sharp as her brother, and the mother was also pretty, making her instantly likable. “Where are you going with all these bags?”

Ye Fan replied, “My husband works in another province. They’ve allocated housing for us, and we’re moving there.”

“Is he in the military?” The aunt asked, looking at Geng Zhiyé.

Geng Zhiyé instinctively straightened up, his sharp eyes locking onto the aunt like a hawk. The aunt laughed heartily. “Young man, don’t be nervous. I’ve dealt with soldiers before.”

Ye Fan took over the conversation, “You look about the same age as my mom. You haven’t retired yet?”

“I’m retired. I’m sending my eldest grandson to the countryside,” the aunt said, pointing at the boy in front of her, who was leaning against the seat, drowsy.

Tao Chunlan leaned her head to look. “He doesn’t seem very old.”

“Just turned sixteen,” the aunt replied, her eyes flashing with a hint of tenderness. “Luckily, he doesn’t have to leave the capital. I can still visit him from time to time.”

Ye Fan asked, “So they don’t have to go to other provinces to join the work teams anymore?”

Tao Chunlan answered, “Places like the Northeast have too many people in the construction corps. Other places are short of people and food. In recent years, young people from the city are sent to the surrounding rural areas for training.” She comforted the aunt, “It’s no use being idle in the city. It’s better to learn something in the countryside.”

“We think the same. If they’re just sitting around playing cards and drinking, it won’t be long before they turn bad. I heard that if you don’t get married in the countryside, you can still come back to the city.”

Tao Chunlan nodded. “One of my relatives came back this year.”

Geng Zhiyé couldn’t help but glance over. It seemed his mother-in-law really wasn’t satisfied with Chen Xiaohui’s way of handling things.

“Fanfan, pack up, we’re almost there.” Geng Zhiyé handed Dabao to her.

The aunt looked outside. In the distance was the train station. She said to Geng Zhiyé, “Comrade, you go first. I’ll pass the things down to you.”

Tao Chunlan, holding Erbao, and Geng Zhiyé, carrying a big bag, got off first. Ye Fan took Dabao’s hand and received the bag from the aunt. “Thank you.”

The aunt smiled as if it were no big deal and said, “Be careful on the road. Watch the children.”

Dabao, small but sharp, was hard to keep an eye on. Luckily, Ye Fan was prepared. Once on the train, she tied a cloth strip around her wrist, with the other end tied to Dabao’s hand. Dabao furrowed his brows and complained, “Mom, it’s like you’re tying up a dog.”

Tao Chunlan didn’t want to get off, feeling reluctant. As soon as she heard this.

The momentary sadness of parting vanished: “Are you a little dog?”

“Mom treats me like a little dog.” Dabao pouted as he tried to untie the cloth strip.

Ye Fan said, “There are a lot of people on the train. If you’re not afraid of someone covering your mouth and carrying you off, go ahead and untie it.”

Although fewer people were traveling these days, there were even fewer trains. This was the only one with sleeper cars.

Dabao leaned against the train window, looking down and then glancing up again. “There are so many people.”

“Come here!” Ye Fan picked up her son. “Mom, let’s go back.”

Tao Chunlan took a handkerchief out of her pocket, but before she could unfold it, Ye Fan shoved it back in. “What are you doing? Your salary and your sister-in-law’s combined still don’t match what your son-in-law makes.”

“You don’t have a job on the island.” Tao Chunlan called inside, “Dabao, your mom doesn’t want you to take it.”

Dabao asked, “Money? I don’t want it. Grandma can buy me some good food.”

“I’ll buy you candy.”

Dabao shook his head. “Mom doesn’t let me eat candy every day. If you give me money, I can’t buy candy. It’s better if you don’t give it to me.”

“If you don’t take it now, it’ll be gone later.”

Dabao said, “Grandma, hurry up and get off, we’re leaving.”

“All this time, and you’re still so spoiled.”

Dabao laughed and said, “Grandma, you’re doing this on purpose, I know. Grandma asked Auntie to help her, but Auntie didn’t, so Grandma said it like that.”

“You shouldn’t have gone to your grandparents’ house. You should learn the good things, not these.”

Geng Zhiyé sighed, “Mom, I’m still here. It’s not like you won’t see us again.”

“You—”

Ye Fan interrupted, pushing her mom down the stairs. “Alright. We’re going to Jiangnan, it’s not like we’re going to the ends of the earth. If your son-in-law can send me, I’ll bring the two kids back when Dabao has winter break.”

“You said it.”

Ye Fan nodded. “Hurry back home. If it’s too late, we’ll miss the rush hour and won’t be able to catch the bus.”

Tao Chunlan wanted to say something else, but when she saw the train conductor coming down with a whistle, urging everyone who hadn’t boarded to get on, she said, “If Zhiyé dares to bully you, send me a telegram. I’ll talk to Old Geng.”

Ye Fan raised her hand and nodded to acknowledge she understood.

Tao Chunlan kept turning back as she left. Geng Zhiyé, seeing the scene through the train window, couldn’t help but say, “Your grandma’s getting more and more talkative as she gets older.”

Ye Fan walked over. “Stop talking nonsense. Erbao didn’t sleep well. Let’s put her on the bed so she can sleep a bit longer.”

Geng Zhiyé bought three sleeper tickets—one for him, one for Ye Fan, and one for the kids. The conductor said two were enough, but Geng Zhiyé said his son slept like Nezha causing chaos in the sea, which was just an excuse to avoid holding the child.

Dabao reached out, “Dad, give me my sister.”

Ye Fan pulled his hand back.

“You go with Mom.” Ye Fan said to Geng Zhiyé, “Put the bag on the sleeper. It’s all food, so if it gets lost, it’s not a big deal.”

Dabao tried to untie the string again, but someone came in. The person was in his forties, his work clothes faded from washing, looking like a technician. Ye Fan moved inside, and Geng Zhiyé placed their daughter on the bed before stepping outside to clear the way.

The person nodded at Geng Zhiyé and asked which one was his. Ye Fan explained that all three beds in this row were for her family, and the row opposite was empty, so they could sleep anywhere.

The sleeper car was probably expensive, as only one person had entered until the train was about to depart.

Geng Zhiyé told Ye Fan that they would take a train to Hangzhou, transfer to another train to Yongcheng, then take a bus to the pier and finally a boat. Ye Fan calculated and realized that they would arrive on the island by tomorrow night at the latest.

The carriage was hot, and Ye Fan worried that the roast duck and braised chicken wouldn’t last until tomorrow. At noon, she woke the kids up and had them eat the roast duck and braised chicken. Both of these dishes would be cold if left overnight, so in the morning, when Ye Fan cooked, she took the chicken and duck apart, placed them on the grill to heat up, and packed them into lunch boxes.

The family of four’s opposite passenger took out some whole wheat buns. Seeing Dabao looking at him, he broke one in half and handed it over. “Kid, eat—” Ye Fan opened the lunch box, and it was full of meat. The man looked awkward. “Is it ready to eat?”

Geng Zhiyé asked, “Want to eat together?”

The man shook his head.

Geng Zhiyé patted his son’s little head and glanced at the man. Dabao, holding the large chicken leg, looked reluctant. “Dad—”

“You eat this.” Geng Zhiyé said, feeling speechless. “Nothing else.”

Dabao bit into the chicken leg, holding a chicken foot in one hand, and stuffed it into the man’s lap.

The man instinctively reached out to catch it. “Hey—”

“Grandma said eating chicken feet helps you write.” Dabao took a bite of the chicken leg. “Eating meat helps you grow, but Auntie said being chubby doesn’t look good, like a nesting doll.”