Chapter 11

If that man was truly hypocritical, he shouldn’t even think about seeing the child. She would just take the kids and run her business.

After thinking about a bunch of chaotic things, Lu Zhiyao also fell asleep.

Thanks to last night’s incident catching the thief, even if there were still some people with bad intentions on the train, no one dared to act for now.

So she managed to sleep reasonably well.

The next morning.

The train stopped at one of the stations. There were people on the platform selling all kinds of food. The conductor told everyone that the stop would last five minutes and to quickly buy whatever they needed.

Many people rushed out in a hurry. Lu Zhiyao wanted to take the two kids with her, but they were too young to walk properly, and she couldn’t carry both of them on her own.

The food outside looked delicious.

Boiled eggs bubbling in hot water, steaming hot meat buns, and corn releasing warm steam beside them.

Just the sight made her mouth water.

But it wasn’t ideal to leave the children behind while she went to buy food. What if something happened to them…

Lu Zhiyao was feeling anxious when a man shouted from behind, “Make way, make way, I’m starving and going to buy something to eat!”

As she stepped aside, she grabbed the man and took some money out of her pocket. “Big brother, could you help me buy some meat buns and peanuts? I’ll give you ten cents as a delivery fee!”

The man looked at Lu Zhiyao, then at the two children beside her, and took the money.

After confirming what she needed, he squeezed his way out of the train.

There really were a lot of people outside. Both passengers getting on and off were frantically running around the platform.

Missing the train would be a big problem.

The train crew had already started blowing whistles, indicating that the train was about to depart. The man finally squeezed back on board.

He shoved everything Lu Zhiyao asked for into her hands, including the change. Lu Zhiyao glanced at it and said, “Here’s your delivery fee!”

The middle-aged man waved his hand. “Forget it. It’s not easy for you, traveling with kids. You even got bullied last night. I had to go out to buy food anyway—it was no trouble!”

“Hurry and eat.”

After speaking, the man slipped into one of the sleeper compartments up front.

Lu Zhiyao nodded. No matter the era, there are always good people in the world.

That man was genuinely kind.

Lu Zhiyao took the steaming hot meat buns and said, “Let’s eat one bun each first, and then an egg each.”

The eggs the village chief’s wife had given them were already eaten when they boarded the train. The two little ones had even shared some with Lu Zhiyao.

The three of them ate happily together.

Today, each had a meat bun and an egg. Since both were hot, eating them warmed their whole bodies.

“This egg is so tasty!”

“The meat bun smells so good too!”

Dabao and Xiaobao sat together, happily commenting on the food. Lu Zhiyao took a bite of her bun—though the taste was average, meat was meat, and it smelled delicious regardless.

After breakfast, the three chatted together. When Lu Zhiyao went to the bathroom, she saw Bai Shui Shui again.

Their eyes met. Bai Shui Shui glared at her like a cow with big eyes.

Lu Zhiyao merely glanced at her coldly, then returned with a cup of hot water for the kids.

As the children drank the hot water, Lu Zhiyao recalled what had happened the day before.

Bai Shui Shui clearly still had a few days of vacation left, but she had abruptly ended it and boarded the same train. She even conspired with someone to steal her money so she would be left penniless.

If she had no money and couldn’t find the military unit once she reached the capital, wouldn’t she starve to death?

That was exactly Bai Shui Shui’s plan!

She must have done something shady in the military unit and was trying to stop Lu Zhiyao from uncovering it. Lu Zhiyao’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

They had a two-day journey ahead and wouldn’t arrive until the morning of the third day.

Once they arrived, she would go straight to the military with the kids!

She wasn’t going to let Bai Shui Shui continue to deceive people.

She wanted to see what secrets were hidden in the life of the original character—who had only been briefly mentioned in the book.

And also expose this troublemaker, Bai Shui Shui!

Bai Shui Shui was furious as she watched Lu Zhiyao walk away. At lunchtime, she deliberately passed by Lu Zhiyao’s area.

She planned to show off, having just bought a meal with some meat in it.

She especially wanted those two little brats to see it.

She wanted them to envy her and wish they could eat like her—but not be able to.

She had spent extra money on the train, but once she got back to the military hospital, she could cut back a bit. She’d send money home again next month.

But when she passed by proudly holding her meal, she saw Lu Zhiyao and the kids already eating.

Three people, two portions of food, two meat dishes, a vegetable, and soup—practically a deluxe set. Train food was expensive, and this meal must have cost around two yuan.

How could they afford that?

Bai Shui Shui’s eyes widened. Lu Zhiyao noticed and turned to look at her.

“What do you want?”

From the look on Bai Shui Shui’s face, Lu Zhiyao could guess what she was thinking—wondering how she could still eat well if she had no money for the capital?

She must be suspicious!

But Lu Zhiyao didn’t care what she thought. She had sold the ginseng for thirty yuan, specifically so they could eat well on the way.

And if she ran out of money in the capital, she could sell other things.

She had plenty stored in her space; she wasn’t lacking.

“You…”

Bai Shui Shui opened her mouth, but Lu Zhiyao cut her off with a cold look. “Haven’t seen enough? What, you want to share your food with us?”

Bai Shui Shui instantly pulled her meal back and sulked back to her seat.

When she bought her food, she had been thinking about showing off. That’s why she impulsively bought some meat.

But seeing Lu Zhiyao’s luxurious spread, she felt like her food was garbage in comparison.

How could a poor woman with two kids afford to eat so well? Where had she gotten that ginseng?

Hadn’t she always claimed they were close? Why didn’t she say anything about finding the ginseng?

If she had known, she would’ve taken it from her and sold it herself!

After all, Lu Zhiyao was so dumb—just a few vague words about Mu Qingyuan, and she’d give everything away.

What a pity!

Bai Shui Shui was extremely annoyed.

Next month, she’d have to save even harder, because she still had to send money back home.

Bai Dahai and Wang Guihua had once said that if she didn’t send money, they’d take the train all the way to the capital and shout in front of the military base that their daughter had no conscience, abandoning her parents after getting a good job.

If they didn’t benefit from her, they’d ruin her.

So, she had agreed to send half her salary home every month.

That was the only way to keep them from causing trouble.

Why had she stupidly spent extra today?

Now what?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, blaming it all on Lu Zhiyao.

It was her fault—if she hadn’t made her so mad, she wouldn’t have impulsively spent so much money.

She had to be more rational going forward. This couldn’t happen again!

Bai Shui Shui ate her meal with tears in her eyes, cleaning every last grain.

The rest of the journey was smooth. Because of the events from the previous night, people were still gossiping, and Bai Shui Shui didn’t dare stir up trouble again.

She decided to wait until they got off the train.

Once off, she would follow Lu Zhiyao. After all, they wouldn’t know which military base to go to, and if she could return first, she might still have a chance to fix things.

After all, Mu Qingyuan wasn’t there right now!

Bai Shui Shui’s scheme was calculated well, but Lu Zhiyao ignored the nonsense. After piecing everything together in her mind, she was convinced the woman was hiding something.

She became even more determined to get to the military.

During the two-day journey, she made sure every meal for the kids was hearty, occasionally taking out homemade pancakes from home.

Even cold, they still tasted good.

On the evening of the third day, the train arrived in the capital. It was already late, so Lu Zhiyao decided to find a place to rest with the kids.

She’d go to the military base the next day.

While on the train, she had asked around—everyone said the capital had several military zones, but no one knew which one specifically.

If they went to the wrong one, they’d have to keep looking.

Just the thought of it gave her a headache.