Chapter 6: Guo Jingyi Boards the Train

“Shuning, I heard the educated youth dormitories in the countryside are all large communal sleeping quarters. When we get there, can we sleep next to each other?”

“It’s still forty hours until we get off. What a long time.”

“I’m a little stiff. Should we walk around the carriage to stretch?”

“Shuning, your parents clearly spoil you. Your pancakes smell delicious.”

Zhang Meili was not only cheerful but also talkative.

Since Lü Beichu and Zhao Heping were both male, she mainly talked to Wang Shuning.

As dusk fell, the carriage lights dimmed. Insects flew in through the windows, so Wang Shuning wanted to close them. This time, Zhao Heping helped.

Everyone’s arms were crossed, as if they were hiding something important under their clothes.

When she opened her eyes again, it was the next morning. The sun had just risen, its rays shining on Wang Shuning’s face.

Soon, everyone woke up.

They took turns brushing their teeth and washing their faces at the restroom between carriages.

When the train attendant came to sell breakfast, Wang Shuning asked for another jar of hot water.

She put the peeled tea eggs in to warm them; the pancakes and buns had to be eaten cold.

“City H is approaching. Passengers getting off in City H, please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark.”

“City H is approaching. Passengers getting off in City H, please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark.”

“City H is approaching. Passengers getting off in City H, please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark.”

…

The train attendant announced through a loudspeaker. Wang Shuning turned sharply. “Sister, isn’t this train supposed to skip City H?” She had checked before boarding.

The attendant looked at Wang Shuning in surprise. “Little girl, this train is an added one, a standby train. It always stops at City H. Did you see wrong?”

Wang Shuning quickly showed her ticket. There were indeed faint words, “standby,” at the end, the ink barely visible.

“I made a mistake. Thank you, sister.” She smiled and nodded; the attendant moved on.

Lü Beichu curiously asked, “Do you have relatives in City H?” Otherwise, why would she care so much about whether the train stopped there?

Wang Shuning’s forced smile was stiff. It wasn’t her relatives; it was her future husband’s family. “I heard relatives mention City H during a New Year’s visit, so I remembered.”

Looking at the empty seats to Lü Beichu’s left and Zhao Heping’s right, Wang Shuning felt she couldn’t escape.

Guo Jingyi’s seat would be between them, most likely next to Lü Bei Chu.

A few minutes later, a pretty girl with short hair and two large bags approached.

Wang Shuning watched her carefully check her seat number before sitting down next to Zhao Heping.

There was no space on the rack, so she stuffed her bags under the seat.

She was fair and beautiful. Could this be Guo Jingyi?

Before Wang Shuning could probe, Zhang Meili asked, “Are you going to the countryside in City D?”

Guo Jingyi was surprised. “How did you know?”

Zhang Meili smiled warmly. “Because the four of us are, and we’re all going to the same place—Dafeng Village?”

Guo Jingyi smiled and nodded. “Yes, Dafeng Village. Nice to meet you. I’m Guo Jingyi.”

Wang Shuning’s hand under the table clenched. It was her.

Zhang Meili became excited. “I’m Zhang Meili. She’s Wang Shuning. He’s Zhao Heping. He’s—”

She was interrupted by Lü Beichu, who smiled and nodded at Guo Jingyi. “I’m Lü Bei Chu. I’m also going to Dafeng Village.”

It was love at first sight. From the moment Guo Jingyi appeared, Lü Beichu hadn’t taken his eyes off her.

Guo Jingyi nodded to them, a smile on her lips.

“Could you open the window a little?” Guo Jingyi soon asked Wang Shuning.

They had closed it last night and hadn’t opened it this morning.

Wang Shuning glanced at Guo Jingyi, then at an older woman opposite. The woman had her shoes off, her feet on the seat. There was a distinct smell.

Wang Shuning looked away, leaning back, gesturing for Zhao Heping to help.

The window was pulled open wide.

The morning air was cool.

“Hey! Why open it so wide? You’ll freeze me to death!” the older woman shouted, pointing at the window and glaring at Zhao Heping, cursing.

Wang Shuning said nothing, looking at Guo Jingyi, who was biting her lip, conflicted.

Her expression changed, and she finally spoke. “Auntie, the carriage smells a bit strong. Let’s air it out.”

“Girl, it doesn’t smell. I have rheumatism and can’t be in the cold wind for long. Close the window!”

Zhang Meili spoke directly. “Auntie, if you’re cold, put your shoes on. Someone else will sit here later, and your feet stink. The smell is overpowering.”

The older woman’s face darkened. She put her bare feet on her shoes but didn’t put them on, pointing at Zhang Meili. “Who do you call smelly? You’re a girl, all dressed improperly.”

Zhang Meili, in her reddish-grey clothes, glared. Only her neck and face were exposed.

She slammed her hand on the table, shaking the tea jar. “Auntie, don’t slander me! What’s improper about my clothes?”

Lü Beichu and Zhao Heping were startled. She was not only cheerful but also fiery; her loud voice was perfect for arguing.

Everyone in the carriage fell silent, craning their necks to watch, some even standing.

The woman stood on her seat, hands on her hips. “You young people are ganging up on an old woman! How rude!”

Wang Shuning nudged Zhao Heping, gesturing for him to move his legs.

Zhao Heping didn’t know why but moved his legs under the seat.

A long leg swept across two seats, reaching under the older woman’s seat. A swift kick sent her smelly shoes sliding across the floor.

“My shoes!” the woman cried.

“Ugh, they stink!” a middle-aged man covered his nose and kicked the shoes away.

Complaints erupted from the passengers.

The woman, fearing her shoes would be ruined, ran barefoot to retrieve them. Seeing the dirty footprints, she shouted, “You heartless people! You ruined my shoes! You must pay!”

A woman with a child looked at her disdainfully. “Auntie, put your shoes on. There are so many people here; it’s not proper to be barefoot.”