Chapter 9 Heading to the Island

The aunt noticed Jiang Qingzhou’s expression change and quickly waved her hands, speaking rapidly to explain: “Oh no, I really am not a bad person! I’m going to the troops to find my daughter. I’m unfamiliar with this place and don’t know the route well, so I thought I’d boldly ask you. Looking at the two of you, you just seem like good people!”

Seeing her earnest tone and anxious expression, Jiang Qingzhou felt somewhat reassured, and his own expression softened a little.

“My son-in-law is the regiment commander there. My daughter doesn’t have a mother-in-law, and since she’s pregnant, someone has to help take care of her. So I’m just rushing over to lend a hand.”

“What’s your son-in-law’s name?”

“My son-in-law is Xu Shiming.”

A smile appeared on Jiang Qingzhou’s face, and his tone became warmer. “Aunt, I know your son-in-law.”

Hearing this, the aunt’s face lit up even more, her wrinkles deepening with delight. “Oh, what a coincidence! We’re all connected then. Let’s look out for each other along the way. Just call me Aunt Huang—don’t be so formal!”

Time quietly passed, and before long, it was lunchtime. Fang Yingyue sat by the window, gazing absentmindedly at the changing scenery, when her stomach suddenly “grumbled,” loud enough to echo in the otherwise quiet space. Jiang Qingzhou had been watching her closely, so he immediately knew she was hungry.

He bent down and pulled out a tightly packed lunch box from his bag, prepared carefully by Jiang’s mother early that morning. Concerned about the tiring journey and fearing they wouldn’t eat properly, she had gotten up before dawn to steam a basket of piping-hot buns and make dumplings with thin skins and generous fillings.

Jiang Qingzhou carefully placed the lunch box on the small foldable table and opened it. Steam rose from the buns, and the dumplings looked plump and perfect, carrying the warmth of home. He then took a thermos from his backpack, twisted open the lid, and inside was red sugar water, specially prepared by Jiang’s mother, warming both body and heart.

“Eat more, don’t let yourself go hungry,” he said.

Fang Yingyue’s gaze fell on the neatly arranged buns and dumplings and the thermos, pausing for a moment. “I’ll go wash my hands and then eat,” she said, opening the slightly heavy door of the sleeper and stepping out.

In the narrow corridor, passengers moved back and forth. Fang Yingyue carefully navigated the crowd, planning to stop by the restroom. But when she arrived, it was occupied. She had no choice but to walk to the next carriage. Passing through, surrounded by the clamor of voices and the clattering of luggage, she finally finished and washed her hands at the sink.

On her way back, her steps slowed as her gaze was caught by a scene not far ahead. Two women sat on the beds, each holding a child. The children looked about four or five years old, with fair, delicate faces and very similar features. Fang Yingyue guessed they were likely twins.

The children slept soundly, completely undisturbed by the surrounding noise. Fang Yingyue watched for a moment, then, thinking nothing more of it, quickened her pace back to her own carriage.

Seeing her return, Jiang Qingzhou reopened the lunch box lid, letting the steam and aroma spread once more. They sat opposite each other, ready to enjoy this heartfelt meal.

As they ate, Aunt Huang, sleeping in the upper bunk, seemed drawn by the smell and peeked down.

Fang Yingyue looked up and warmly called, “Aunt Huang, come down and eat with us!”

“Oh dear, I’ve already eaten, I’m still full. You two go ahead,” Aunt Huang replied.

“Nonsense, Aunt Huang, just try one. This is homemade, and it tastes great,” Fang Yingyue coaxed. Unable to refuse, Aunt Huang climbed down the ladder, sat down, and took a bun. After one bite, her eyes lit up.

“Oh, this bun is amazing! Such skill—you can really taste the freshness!”

After finishing the bun, Aunt Huang was in high spirits, chatting with Jiang Qingzhou—sometimes about where to catch chickens, sometimes about where to buy vegetables, and curiously, about seafood by the coast.

Fang Yingyue sat beside them, chewing her food, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the two sleeping children she had seen earlier. Initially, it was just a passing thought, but the more she considered it, the more uneasy she felt.

She wondered how these children could sleep so soundly in such a noisy environment. Moreover, the adults nearby didn’t seem to be their guardians. Her suspicions began to mount. After thinking it over, she decided she would fetch a cup of hot water and take a closer look.

“I’ll go get a cup of hot water and be right back,” she said.

“I’ll go, these hot water taps can be tricky. I don’t want you to burn yourself,” Jiang Qingzhou said.

Fang Yingyue gently patted his arm. “I can do it. I’ll be careful, don’t worry.” With that, she stepped out of the carriage, heading toward the hot water supply, her eyes full of curiosity and caution.

Holding a full cup of hot water, Fang Yingyue walked back steadily, her mind entirely on the two aunts with children she had seen. As she neared them, a glint of determination flashed in her eyes. Suddenly, she stumbled slightly, as if tripped by something. The thermos tipped sharply, spilling hot water onto the legs of the aunt wearing blue.

The scalding water hit her skin, and the blue-clothed aunt jumped up like a firecracker, shouting a string of “ahh!”s. Surprisingly, the child in her arms remained fast asleep.

Burned and angry, the aunt glared at Fang Yingyue, pointing and yelling, “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you see where you were going? You spilled scalding water on my leg! Was that on purpose?”

People around began pointing and murmuring.

“I’m so sorry, aunt! I really didn’t stand firm, that’s why the hot water spilled on you,” Fang Yingyue apologized repeatedly.

But the blue-clothed aunt wasn’t appeased. “Hmph, sorry won’t cut it! You need to compensate me. My leg got burned—this isn’t over without at least ten yuan!”

“All right, all right, I’ll pay. It’s my fault.” Fang Yingyue quickly reached into her pocket, fumbled a bit, and pulled out a crumpled ten-yuan note, handing it to the aunt.

The blue-clothed aunt snatched the money, her anger immediately melting away, replaced by a satisfied and triumphant smile.

“That’s fine now, all good.”

Fang Yingyue nodded repeatedly in apology, though her eyes remained on the child, still watching closely.