Chapter 88: The Odd Encounter on the Train

At the train station, Shen Yunhe was carrying a suitcase with one hand and holding one of the children with the other. Jiang Banyue was holding two of the kids, trailing behind him.

After they boarded the train, Shen Yunhe arranged for his wife and children to settle in their berths, one on the upper and the other on the lower bunk. He had bought four tickets, just enough for their family of five.

“I’m going to get some hot water. Watch the kids for me,” Shen Yunhe said, carrying a kettle as he headed out.

“Alright,” Jiang Banyue replied, looking up at him briefly while she was busy organizing their things.

This was the first time the three children had ever been on a train, and they were all very excited. They climbed onto the bed and looked out the window. Jiang Banyue didn’t stop them and continued organizing their things.

When Shen Yunhe came back with the hot water kettle, Jiang Huairou jumped from the upper bunk into her father’s arms, and Shen Yunhe caught her securely.

“Be careful! How come you’re so mischievous?” he scolded gently.

“Haha…” Jiang Huairou laughed joyfully.

“Dad, taking the train is so much fun! It goes so fast!” she exclaimed.

Shen Yunhe sat on the bed holding his daughter. “There’s cake in the bag. Do you want some?”

“Yes, I want cake!” she replied eagerly.

“I want cake too!” Jiang Huaijin and Jiang Huaiyu called out from the upper bunk, stretching their hands out.

“Alright.” Shen Yunhe handed cake to both of his sons, and then gave a piece to his daughter. The three children obediently sat on the bed, eating their cake, which finally quieted them down for a little while.

Jiang Banyue took out more food and placed it on the table before putting the luggage under the bed.

Shen Yunhe poured a glass of water and handed it to Jiang Banyue.

“Here, drink some water and sit down to rest for a while.”

“Thanks.” Jiang Banyue took the water and sat by the window, while Shen Yunhe sat across from her.

“It’s almost noon. What do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it later.”

“That’s alright, my mom packed us plenty of food. You can heat it up at the dining car later, the food on the train is both expensive and terrible.”

“Alright.”

A woman in her thirties came over, leading two children.

“Is there any space on your bed?”

Jiang Banyue turned around, stood up, and asked, “Is there something you need?”

The woman spoke up.

“My name is Wang Dajuan, I’m from a rural area. I only bought standing tickets, and the kids are tired from standing. I saw you have some space, could we sit here for a while?”

Jiang Banyue furrowed her brows and declined, “Sorry, we’re traveling with three kids, there isn’t enough space for us. You’ll have to find somewhere else.”

Wang Dajuan became upset, pointing at the empty bed.

“There’s no one on this bed. Could you let us three rest for a while?”

Shen Yunhe stood up and said in a deep voice, “If you knew it would be tiring to travel with children, why didn’t you buy seated tickets?”

“Seated tickets are too expensive!” Wang Dajuan replied matter-of-factly.

“If it’s too expensive, then stand,” Shen Yunhe said, sitting back down on the bed, ignoring her.

Wang Dajuan started arguing. “You’re being unreasonable! There’s an empty bed, but you refuse to let us sit. You city people are too mean!”

People nearby came over to watch the commotion. A middle-aged woman tried to mediate.

“She’s a woman with two kids, it’s so pitiful. Can’t you let her sit down for a bit?”

“Yeah, it’s empty anyway!” The onlookers were fanning the flames, enjoying the spectacle.

Jiang Banyue, enraged, stood up. “Whose bed is empty? I’m traveling with three kids, one kid per bed. I barely have enough space as it is!”

At the train station, Shen Yunhe carried the luggage with one hand and held one child with the other. Jiang Banyue was trailing behind, holding the hands of two more children.

After boarding the train, Shen Yunhe arranged for his wife and children to settle in their bunks. He bought four tickets, just enough for their family of five.

“I’m going to get some hot water, you watch the kids.”

Shen Yunhe left with the water kettle, and Jiang Banyue, who was busy tidying up, glanced up at him and nodded.

“Okay.”

It was the first time for the three kids to ride a train, and they were all excited. They climbed onto the beds and peered out of the windows. Jiang Banyue didn’t mind them and continued with her packing.

When Shen Yunhe returned with the kettle, Jiang Huairou jumped down from the top bunk straight into her father’s arms. Shen Yunhe steadied her, chuckling.

“Be careful, you’re so mischievous!”

“Haha…” Jiang Huairou laughed joyfully. “Daddy, the train is so fun! It’s so fast and goes whooshing!”

Shen Yunhe sat on the bed with his daughter in his arms. “There’s cake in the bag, do you want some?”

“Yes! I want cake!” she replied excitedly.

“I want some too!” Jiang Huaijin and Jiang Huaiyu, lying on the upper bunk, stretched out their hands.

“Alright.”

Shen Yunhe handed a piece to each of his sons and another one to his daughter. The three kids sat quietly on the bed, munching on the cake, and finally settled down. Jiang Banyue took out more food and placed it on the table while stowing their luggage under the bed.

Shen Yunhe poured a glass of water and handed it to Jiang Banyue.

“Wife, have some water. Sit and rest for a bit.”

“Okay.” Jiang Banyue accepted the water and sat by the window, while Shen Yunhe sat across from her.

“It’s almost noon. What would you like to eat? I’ll go get something.”

Wang Dajuan, a woman in her thirties, came over, carrying two children.

“Is there any space on your bed?”

Jiang Banyue turned around, stood up, and asked, “Is there something you need?”

The woman explained, “My name is Wang Dajuan, I’m from the countryside. I only bought standing tickets, and the kids are tired. I saw you have some space, could we sit here for a while?”

Jiang Banyue frowned and politely refused, “Sorry, we’re traveling with three kids, and there isn’t enough space. You’ll have to find somewhere else.”

Wang Dajuan, displeased, pointed at the empty bed. “There’s no one on this bed. Could we rest for a while?”

Shen Yunhe stood up and sternly said, “If you knew it would be tiring traveling with children, why didn’t you buy seat tickets?”

“The seats are too expensive!” Wang Dajuan retorted without hesitation.

“If it’s too expensive, then stand,” Shen Yunhe said coldly, sitting back down and ignoring her.

Wang Dajuan raised her voice, complaining, “You’re too unreasonable! There’s an empty bed, but you refuse to let us sit. City people are so bad!”

Other passengers gathered around to watch, and a middle-aged woman tried to intervene. “She’s a woman with two kids, that’s really pitiful. Can’t you let her rest for a while?”

“Yeah, it’s empty anyway!” the crowd encouraged, eager to watch the scene unfold.

Jiang Banyue, furious, stood up. “Whose bed is empty? I have three kids, each on their own bed. I barely have enough space!”