Chapter 10: Taking the Train to the Countryside

Over the next period of time, Jiang Yuman made a few more rounds, but still didn’t spot anyone selling seeds.

She wanted to buy some seeds to try planting in her space, but there was simply nothing available.

Looking at the sun, it was already noon. If she didn’t head back soon, her family would start to worry.

Thinking it over, she realized there was no need to rush. After they moved to the countryside, there would definitely be many opportunities to get seeds. With that in mind, she made her way back home.

When she reached the gate, she ran into Fu Jingchen, who was about to leave.

Today, Fu Jingchen was dressed in a light gray short-sleeve shirt, and his figure beneath it was exceptionally tall and straight, radiating a cold and sharp presence.

Jiang Yuman couldn’t help but glance at him a few times before asking, “It’s late. Are you still going out?”

“It’s not that. I saw you hadn’t returned, so I came out to check,” Fu Jingchen explained.

He knew she had gone out today to buy some oil and snow cream.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuman smiled as she handed the basket over, winking at Fu Jingchen, “Are you really worried I might run off?”

Fu Jingchen’s gaze landed on her face, and his tone softened slightly, “Not worried.”

If she had wanted to leave, she could have done so earlier this morning. Now that she had returned, it was clear that she hadn’t planned on leaving at all.

Jiang Yuman gave him a smile, her eyes curving as she followed him into the house.

“By the way, why did you go out for this morning?” she casually asked once they were inside.

Fu Jingchen answered, “I went to get the train tickets.”

At his words, Jiang Yuman’s attention was immediately caught. “What time does the train leave today? Let me see the ticket.”

At this time, they were still using the old-fashioned green trains, which were slower than the modern ones, and the ride would take a long time.

She wondered if their seats were next to each other; that way, they could look out for each other.

“The train leaves at seven in the morning,” Fu Jingchen replied, handing her the train ticket.

It was a hard rectangular card, with no name on it, only the departure and destination points, as well as the seat type marked as a hard seat, with the seat number written on it.

Jiang Yuman took a careful look, and saw that the destination on the ticket was Luochuan.

She was surprised, “Where is Luochuan? How long will we be on the train?”

Fu Jingchen answered, “It’s in the north. We’ll be on the train for two days and one night.”

“Two days?” Even though she had mentally prepared herself, Jiang Yuman was still a little shocked. She could already feel her backside starting to ache at the thought.

Normally, no one could endure such a long journey, let alone a pregnant woman like herself with a large belly.

“The seats will be together. You can lie on me during the ride,” Fu Jingchen said, pursing his lips.

It didn’t sit well with him that his wife, pregnant with his child, had to endure such hardship.

“Okay.” Jiang Yuman didn’t hesitate to agree.

After all, he was the father of the baby, and there was no such thing as an easy ride for a father-to-be.

As they were talking, Fu’s mother brought the meal to the table. The family quickly finished eating, then went to their rooms to pack their things.

…

The next day, as the sky began to turn pale, the family was already up, carrying large and small bundles of luggage as they made their way to the train station.

The train they were going to board was already parked on the tracks. Looking at the long green train, Jiang Yuman finally felt the reality of going to the countryside.

Once the arrow was loosed, there is no turning back. As soon as they boarded this train, they would be spending the next two years in a remote, impoverished village.

But deep down, she didn’t feel any hesitation or resistance.

Jiang Yuman observed the Fu family’s care for her, and she could see their sincerity.

Such a conscientious family, and after Fu Jingchen’s position is restored, their lives would only get better from here on.

Thinking of this, she didn’t hesitate and followed everyone onto the train.

There were quite a few people taking this train, and it took them quite some time to find the seats listed on the tickets.

They had a two-person seat. Fu Jingchen made sure Jiang Yuman sat by the window, so she wouldn’t be disturbed.

He was busy moving around, putting their luggage on the overhead rack, while Jiang Yuman sat in her seat, watching him. She couldn’t help but admire his broad and sturdy shoulders; they were quite charming.

Not long after the luggage was stored, the train started with a loud clanking noise.

The train was crowded and noisy, and the air was unpleasant, but Jiang Yuman had woken up so early that she started feeling drowsy soon after the train began moving.

Seeing her nodding off, Fu Jingchen gently helped her lie down on his lap.

Half-awake and half-asleep, Jiang Yuman felt like she was lying in a safe place and soon fell into a deep sleep.

She slept for a full hour, only waking when she was disturbed by the sounds of children playing nearby.

“Are you awake? Are you hungry?” Fu Jingchen immediately noticed she had woken up and asked.

“I’m not hungry, I just want to sit up.” Jiang Yuman felt like she had been curled up between the two seats for so long, her back was starting to hurt.

Fu Jingchen immediately helped Jiang Yuman sit up straight.

At that moment, a voice came from across the aisle.

“Honestly, Fu Zhi, even if your wife is pregnant, there’s no need for her to act so delicate, right? Everyone is watching on this train. You can cuddle her when you get off the train, can’t you?”

Jiang Yuman glanced up and saw a woman sitting directly across from her. The woman was holding a child in her arms.

The woman appeared to be in her thirties, with a thick black braid, wearing a gray collarless coat and a pair of khaki pants. She was giving them a look of disdain.

The little boy in her arms was staring at Jiang Yuman and laughing loudly, continuously slapping the seat with his palm—the same sound that had woken her up earlier.

“Since you have time to mind other people’s business, you might as well take care of your own child,” Jiang Yuman retorted coldly.

The woman’s face immediately darkened upon hearing Jiang Yuman’s words. “Take care of my child? What’s wrong with my child? Did my child offend you? I said something to you, and now you’re attacking my child!”

“Enough, enough. Zhou Yun, keep your mouth shut for a bit!” The man sitting next to the woman saw Fu Jingchen’s imposing figure and his cold gaze, and he quickly pushed her away.

The man shrank back, clearly not wanting to get involved. Though Zhou Yun was angry, she reluctantly closed her mouth, unwilling to continue the argument.s

Jiang Yuman secretly rolled her eyes, not wanting to argue with such a person.

There was no point in getting into a dispute with someone like that; it would only make her more upset.

For the rest of the journey, Jiang Yuman could constantly feel Zhou Yun’s eyes on them. Whenever she and Fu Jingchen showed any sign of intimacy, Zhou Yun would look at them as if she had seen something disgusting, making the situation even more unpleasant.

Having already dealt with this woman’s unreasonable behavior, Jiang Yuman didn’t want to argue. She could only silently hope that they would reach their destination soon.

Time passed quickly on the train, and finally, on the afternoon of the second day, the train pulled into Luochuan Station.