Chapter 116

Even in later generations, taking an overnight train wasn’t particularly pleasant or comfortable. And that was the era when disposable bedding for travel was available.

Qiao Wei led Yan Xiang, and Yan Lei saw them off at the train.

Fortunately, since it was a sleeper carriage, the sanitation conditions were much better. Even the attitudes of the attendants were much better.

Especially when they saw they were military affiliates.

Yan Lei collected their bedding with the sleeper ticket and together they found their compartment.

As they opened the door, Yan Xiang exclaimed, “Wow!”

Children always greeted unfamiliar things they hadn’t seen before with such joy and satisfaction.

Even adults would feel as if the world they were accustomed to, and had grown weary of, suddenly became beautiful.

Qiao Wei first let Yan Xiang sit on the bed on the other side, holding him, while Yan Lei made their bedding, and then she took off Yan Xiang’s shoes and put him on their bed.

Yan Xiang rolled around and exclaimed, “Dad, dad! Sleeper beds are so much fun!”

The attendant came to check tickets.

Yan Lei stood up, holding onto the frame of the compartment door because it was too high, he had to lower his head, and asked, “Comrade, are the sleeper beds crowded?”

The tall and handsome military officer’s question made the attendant’s service attitude particularly good. “Not many, just a few compartments with people today, all empty.”

On regular days without holidays, there weren’t as many people traveling by train.

And some cadres on business trips, if they were entitled to buy sleeper tickets but only bought hard seats, the unit would still reimburse them according to the sleeper standard. The difference in price would be their own expense.

So many cadres would choose to buy hard seats.

That’s how the times were. Saving some money for the family was more worthwhile than one’s own comfort. Even cadres were like this.

After all, there were many children to support in each family, and the characteristic of the times was that when one person in a large family became successful, they had to support the whole family, not just their own small family.

Yan Lei looked at the young girl with tender eyes and gently requested, “My wife and child are traveling alone. If more people come, please don’t arrange for them to share the same compartment. Try to give them their own room, okay?”

Seeing such a handsome man being so caring towards his wife and child, the young girl’s heart melted, and she immediately agreed, “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of the lady and the child.”

Yan Lei gently made another request, “I’d like to buy another sleeper ticket for the child and another set of bedding.”

The attendant girl said, “We can’t sell sleeper tickets separately. But I’ll give you another set of bedding.”

Only cadres at or above the division level and officers at or above the regiment level could buy sleeper tickets. But because there were no restrictions on the passenger, one could use someone else’s credentials to buy. The sleeper ticket couldn’t be easily compensated.

But when the attendant said she would provide them with another set of bedding, it meant they would get a bed without paying for the sleeper ticket.

Yan Lei smiled gently and praised her, “Comrade, you are truly kind-hearted and beautiful. Railway units should have more young comrades like you, energetic and responsible.”

The young girl blushed from the praise. “You flatter me. This is what we should do, to serve the people.”

The young girl took him to get the bedding.

Yan Lei gave Qiao Wei a meaningful look and followed.

Qiao Wei: “…”

Qiao Wei opened her eyes.

Therefore, in this world, there are simply no men who are handsome and unaware of it, and women who are beautiful and unaware of it!

Her elderly cadre at home usually didn’t even glance at young girls, not because they lacked physical instincts, but because they were highly disciplined!

They never flirted with young girls, not because they lacked the skill to do so, but because they didn’t need to do such “shameless” things.

Now, for the sake of his wife and son, what did a little bit of face matter? It was just saying a few nice words to the young girls with a smile.

Captain Yan could handle anything!

At this point, the train stopped for a long time, enough for Captain Yan to fuss around and arrange a bed for the child as well.

Yan Xiang was ecstatic. “I have a bed too!”

Yan Lei repeatedly admonished Qiao Wei about various precautions before getting off the train.

Still, he remained on the platform, peering anxiously through the window, looking like a statue of longing. Qiao Wei found it hilarious but managed to suppress her laughter, maintaining a serious expression. “I got it. Don’t worry, go back, go back.”

Of course, Yan Lei refused to leave. Before the train started moving again, his final instructions to Qiao Wei were, “Remember, no one at home should make you suffer. Not even my mother.”

Yan Lei, having grown up in the countryside, had seen plenty of mother-in-law tormenting daughters-in-law.

Clearly, his mother was a kind-hearted woman with a benevolent appearance, kind to everyone, and couldn’t bear to see others suffer a bit of hardship, except when it came to her daughter-in-law, whom she treated like a demon.

As a man, Yan Lei couldn’t understand it, but he acknowledged this fact.

Qiao Wei’s trip back was to fulfill her filial duty for him.

No one, damn it, should make his wife suffer!

Captain Yan had worked hard and persevered throughout his life to attain his current status, and he was never one to be pushed around, nor was he a softy without any opinions.

He leaned against the window and said to her, “You’re not someone who gets bullied easily. If there’s anything wrong, just speak up. Only right and wrong matter, not status.”

Qiao Wei held his hand and felt his strength.

“I’m not going to the gallows; I’m going to your home.” She smiled faintly. “I’m not even afraid of the X-Dou Association. Don’t worry.”

Yan Lei held her hand and squeezed it. When the train started moving, he finally let go of her hand, watching the green train gradually move away.

“Mom, don’t be afraid.” Yan Xiang solemnly declared to Qiao Wei, “Dad isn’t here, but I’ll protect you.”

Qiao Wei smiled with her eyes curved. “Okay.”

The train rattled and accelerated.

At mealtime, Qiao Wei said, “Let’s go to the dining car for a meal.”

Sister Yang’s idea was to bring food with her, similar to the concept of bringing instant noodles when traveling in the future. But Qiao Wei was someone who enjoyed life, and it was Yan Xiang’s first time on a train, so they should experience the dining car.

Qiao Wei decided to save the pancakes Sister Yang made for a late-night snack and go to the dining car for the main meal.

There was even a special car on the train called the dining car. Yan Xiang exclaimed, “Wow~”

The dining car on the train was almost equivalent to a state-owned restaurant.

Qiao Wei and Yan Xiang enjoyed a delicious meal. As Qiao Wei had expected, in this environment, it was difficult for children to fall asleep. The two of them kept talking, and whenever they felt hungry again, they ate the meat pies Sister Yang made until they were full, then fell asleep.

The next day, after a night of rest, Qiao Wei and Yan Xiang got off the train, looking refreshed. Among the weary faces of passengers who had spent the night in hard seats, they stood out.

Village Branch Secretary Yan Zhuang nudged Yan’s eldest brother with his elbow. “Is that her? Is that her?”

The secretary remembered seeing Yan Lei’s wife before, and he didn’t think he was so old that he couldn’t remember people’s faces, but he couldn’t confirm whether this comrade with the child was Yan Lei’s wife.

Yan Lei’s eldest brother was named Yan Zhu.

Yan Zhu was as puzzled as the secretary.

Was this woman in the white shirt and green army pants, with bright eyes and clean appearance, Yan Lei’s wife, who always wore a gloomy expression?

It seemed a bit like…

But it’s also quite similar…

However, it’s getting dark, and there aren’t any other female comrades walking alone with their children.

Just then, the female comrade suddenly spotted them and walked straight over.

“Eldest brother?” She greeted Yan Zhu with a smile and then turned to the village branch secretary. “Uncle, right? Do you remember me? We met a few years ago. I’m Yan Lei’s wife, Qiao Wei.”

She reached out her hand to the village branch secretary in a straightforward manner, nodding with a smile.

Her demeanor was reminiscent of that of a leader coming to inspect the village.