Chapter 3 Taking the Train

Haishi Train Station

At this time, people seeing off passengers were still allowed onto the platform. Meng Zhongyan carried two leather suitcases and passed them through the train window to Meng Yufei inside.

Father Meng and mother stood outside the train, with Mother Meng repeatedly reminding her, “Feifei, you have to keep a close eye on Qinqin. Even when going to the bathroom, don’t look away for a second. Be extra alert at night when you sleep.”

Meng Yufei sat on the sleeper bunk, holding Xia Qinqin in her arms, nodding as she listened to her mother’s instructions.

Father Meng added, “I’ve already spoken with your Uncle Zhou at the station. If anything happens, just find the train’s security officer.”

“Got it. The train is about to leave, you should go back now.” Meng Yufei nodded.

Meng Zhongyan turned to Father Meng and said, “Dad, are we really letting just Sis and Qinqin go by themselves? This train ride is more than twenty hours long. Maybe I should go with them.”

Hearing this, Meng Yufei quickly said, “Forget it. You just started your new job, don’t stir up trouble. I already called your brother-in-law with the train details and schedule—he’ll pick us up when we arrive.”

Mother Meng added, “Your books and some clothes, I’ll have your brother send them over in a couple of days. Remember to pick them up at the post office.”

The two suitcases Meng Yufei brought on board only contained a few light necessities. The heavier items would be sent by mail later.

Xia Qinqin leaned against the window. Right now, she still thought she was just going on a trip and couldn’t understand why the adults seemed so emotional. She stretched out her little hands and grabbed onto Mother Meng’s hand, saying earnestly, “Grandma, after I see Daddy, I’ll come back and stay with you, okay?”

Mother Meng smiled, lovingly stroking the little girl’s soft hair. “Once the train starts, don’t lean your body out the window, alright? Close it—the wind outside is strong.”

Honk!!!

The train station’s whistle blared. Staff members on the platform urged the remaining passengers to board and reminded those seeing off loved ones that the train was about to depart.

Clank, clank.

The green train began to move.

Through the train window, Meng Yufei watched as her family on the platform grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared from view.

“Miss, where are you headed?”

A middle-aged woman’s voice interrupted Meng Yufei’s moment of farewell sorrow.

The woman, who occupied the opposite sleeper bunk, had an eight- or nine-year-old boy with her. Seeing that Meng Yufei also had a child with her, she started a conversation.

“To Qiongzhou,” Meng Yufei replied.

“Oh, that’s pretty far! How long is the ride?”

“More than twenty hours.”

“Wow,” the woman clicked her tongue. “I thought my trip to Nanshi—seven or eight hours—was already long. That’s why I booked a sleeper ticket. But you’re traveling for more than twenty hours! Are you going to visit relatives? My family’s from Nanshi, and I’m taking my son back to celebrate my mother’s birthday.”

The woman chatted on and on, obviously quite talkative.

As Meng Yufei listened, she helped Xia Qinqin take off her shoes and placed her onto the sleeper bunk. Xia Qinqin had never been on a train before and curiously looked around.

“I’m going to join my husband’s military unit.”

The woman was surprised. “Oh, you’re a military spouse?”

Her attitude immediately became much more enthusiastic. People had great respect and trust for military families.

The woman’s name was Zhang Qiaofen, a worker at Haishi Textile Factory. Since both of them had children, they kept an eye on each other’s kids during the journey.

Xia Qinqin was playing with an iron nine-ring puzzle while listening to her mother chat with the auntie across from them. But mostly, it was the auntie doing all the talking. Xia Qinqin didn’t understand a lot of what was being said, yet she still listened with great interest.

“What are you playing with?”

A child’s voice suddenly came from above. Xia Qinqin looked up and saw the seven- or eight-year-old boy from across the bunk approaching, his eyes fixed on the nine-ring puzzle in her hands.

“Xiao Jie, what are you doing? You’re not allowed to bully your little sister,” Zhang Qiaofen quickly called out to her son.

Xiao Jie pointed at the nine-ring puzzle and said, “I want to play with that too.”

Zhang Qiaofen said, “You have to ask your little sister if she’s willing to share.”

Xiao Jie nodded, turned to the pretty little girl in front of him, and politely asked, “Little sister, can I play with this for a bit?”

Xia Qinqin nodded and generously handed it over. “Sure.”

The two kids sat side by side and started playing. Xia Qinqin had been playing with this puzzle since she was three, often sitting on her grandpa’s lap while figuring it out. In just a few quick moves, she effortlessly solved the puzzle, making Xiao Jie look at her in admiration.

Feeling proud, Xia Qinqin grinned and enthusiastically taught Xiao Jie how to play, almost as if she, the younger one, was guiding an older child.

By evening, Zhang Qiaofen and her son reached their stop. However, Xiao Jie didn’t want to get off the train. “I still want to play with little sister. Let’s take her home with us.”

Saying this, he even tried to pull Xia Qinqin along, refusing to let go, until Zhang Qiaofen dragged him away.

After they left, Xia Qinqin quietly leaned close to Meng Yufei’s ear and whispered, “I don’t want to go with them. I want to stay with Mommy.”

Meng Yufei smiled and patted her head. Xia Qinqin grinned and made a request. “Mommy, I was so well-behaved today. Can I have a candy as a reward?”

“Alright, since you were such a good girl today.” Meng Yufei took out a White Rabbit milk candy from her bag.

“Thank you, Mommy!” Xia Qinqin eagerly cupped her little hands to receive it, skillfully unwrapped the paper, and popped it into her mouth.

The train stopped in Nanshi for five minutes before slowly and steadily starting up again.

The compartment had four bunks, two on the upper level and two on the lower. The upper bunk across from them was now occupied by a man in his thirties who had boarded at the last stop. He carried a briefcase, probably on a business trip.

After getting settled, he went straight up to his bunk and began reading a book without saying a word. But now, he suddenly leaned forward and spoke. “Comrade, from your accent, you’re from Haishi, right? I went on a business trip there two years ago.”

Meng Yufei didn’t respond. She simply took out a military-green canteen from her bag and helped Xia Qinqin drink some water.

The man continued, “Hey, comrade, where are you heading? Let’s see if we’re going in the same direction.”

Xia Qinqin tilted her head back, trying to see the man on the upper bunk, but she couldn’t. Still, her instincts told her she didn’t like this strange uncle. In a bright and clear voice, she declared, “I’m going with my mommy to find my daddy. My daddy is a great hero, super amazing!”

The man said, “Oh, you’re going to find your dad?”

Meng Yufei frowned, ignoring him, and bent down to ask her daughter, “Are you hungry?”

Xia Qinqin touched her stomach and said, “Mhm, I’m hungry.”

Meng Yufei picked up her daughter, ready to go buy a boxed meal, but before she could step out, she saw a train officer knocking at the door. He said, “Sister Meng, you must be hungry. I got two boxed meals from the dining car for you. Eat them while they’re still hot.”

The train officer was a young man in his early twenties, carrying two meal boxes with a smile as he walked in.

Meng Yufei quickly said, “Thank you, comrade. We were just about to go to the dining car. But one portion is enough for the two of us.”

“Sister Meng, just call me Xiao Zhou. You eat first, I’ll go get you some hot water.” He placed the meal boxes on the small table beside them, picked up the kettle on the table, and headed out.

The man in the upper bunk across from them had fallen silent the moment the train officer entered. Now, with an awkward expression, he muttered under his breath, “Comrade, you know the train officer on this train?”

Meng Yufei replied coldly, “Why? Do you need to talk to him? Just wait until he comes back and speak to him yourself.”

“N-no, it’s nothing, just asking.” The man chuckled awkwardly and quickly lowered his head, pretending to focus on his book.

Meng Yufei opened the meal box. It was a small aluminum container, but it was packed full. Half of it had braised cabbage with pork, while the other half had stir-fried shredded potatoes, with a layer of rice underneath.

“Wow, it smells so good!”

Xia Qinqin leaned over the small table and sniffed the air excitedly. She had never eaten a boxed meal like this before. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends in kindergarten about it—this train trip was truly an eye-opener for her!

Meng Yufei took out a pair of metal chopsticks from her bag. Traveling with your own utensils was essential in those days.

The meal box was still steaming. Meng Yufei said, “Qinqin, come sit properly and eat while it’s hot.” She picked up the chopsticks and started feeding her daughter.

Before long, Xiao Zhou returned with the hot water and placed it on the table. “Sister Meng, I’m heading out to patrol the train. I’m on night duty tonight. The train officers’ resting area is right next door—just call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Comrade Xiao Zhou.” Meng Yufei smiled and got up to see him out.

At first, Xia Qinqin had been excited to try the boxed meal out of curiosity. But after just two bites, she shook her head and refused to eat any more.

Meng Yufei didn’t force her. Instead, she took out some biscuits and let her eat them with hot water to at least fill her stomach.

She then finished the rest of the meal herself and used the hot water to wash the meal box clean.

At night, the train compartment fell quiet. Apart from the rhythmic clattering of the train, only the faint sound of snoring could be heard from the opposite bunk.

Xia Qinqin had no trouble sleeping in a new place and was already sound asleep inside the bunk. But Meng Yufei couldn’t sleep. She lay there staring at her wristwatch in a daze, watching the second hand tick away.

This watch had been a wedding gift from Xia Junshan—a silver Rolex with a date display. It had cost over 800 yuan back then, which was an entire year’s salary for him.

Xia Junshan was a rural man who had grown up in hardship. After joining the army, his food, clothing, and other necessities were all taken care of by the military, so he had no personal expenses.

But when it came to spending money on Meng Yufei, he was incredibly generous. If he could spend a full yuan, he wouldn’t settle for ninety cents. Before they got married, he had already handed over all his wages to Meng Yufei.

It was Meng Yufei who insisted that he keep at least ten yuan for himself every month—after all, it was inconvenient to have no money on hand. Even so, he still managed to save up every year to buy things and send them to his wife and daughter.

Meng Yufei thought to herself: As a husband and a father, Xia Junshan had done a great job. That was what she had seen in him when she chose him back then. So far, her judgment hadn’t been wrong.

But… people change. Could he remain the same forever?

As her thoughts wandered, the quiet train compartment was suddenly interrupted by a faint creaking sound.

It was very light and brief—so soft that if one wasn’t paying attention, they wouldn’t have heard it at all.

Meng Yufei’s eyes sharpened as she glanced toward the compartment door, where she vaguely saw a shadowy figure standing.

It had already been an hour since the last stop, so the chances of this being a passenger from this compartment were slim. Without making any sudden movements, Meng Yufei remained lying on her bed, observing what this person intended to do.

The figure tiptoed inside, moving so quietly that barely a sound could be heard. If it weren’t for Meng Yufei’s keen hearing and the fact that she was still awake, she wouldn’t have noticed anything at all.

In sleeper compartments, luggage was usually stored under the small table at the head of the bed. The intruder seemed very familiar with the layout, heading straight for the luggage and skillfully grabbing a leather suitcase.

Feeling the smooth leather beneath his fingertips, excitement flickered in his eyes. People who could afford such a suitcase in this era were certainly not ordinary.

This was a golden opportunity to make a big score!

Just as a sly smile crept onto his lips, a sharp pain shot through his wrist—his hand had been grabbed in a firm, unyielding grip. Instinctively, he let go of the suitcase.

With a loud thud, the suitcase hit the floor, startling the man in the upper bunk across from them. He groggily opened his eyes, only to see a stranger standing below, caught by the cold-faced beauty from the lower bunk. A fallen suitcase lay in the aisle.

“Huh? What’s going on?” he asked in confusion.

Meng Yufei glanced at him and replied calmly, “Catching a thief.”

“A thief?!” The man jolted upright in shock.

The intruder struggled desperately, suddenly pulling out a small knife with his other hand and stabbing toward Meng Yufei. She swiftly dodged to the side and kicked his right leg. As he bent over in pain, she seized the moment to snatch the knife away.

Seeing that he was about to flee, Meng Yufei quickly flipped him over and pinned him to the ground, pressing her right foot firmly against his back. Frustrated and furious, the thief shouted, “Let me go! I just walked into the wrong compartment! Why are you attacking me?!”

The commotion soon drew Xiao Zhou, the train officer, who rushed over. As soon as he entered, he saw the same soft-spoken Sister Meng from a few hours ago now holding a man down with an icy expression.

“Sister Meng, what happened?” Xiao Zhou asked urgently.

“This man broke in during the middle of the night to steal,” Meng Yufei explained, her gaze shifting to the small knife on the floor. “And he brought a weapon on board.”

Xiao Zhou’s expression immediately darkened. He pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his belt and cuffed the thief, then turned to Meng Yufei and asked, “Sister Meng, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.” She shook her head.

Xiao Zhou remarked, “I didn’t expect you to be so skilled.”

Meng Yufei tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. “I was weak as a child, so my father hired someone to teach me a few martial arts routines to build my strength. I never thought I’d actually need to use them.”

The thief was a scrawny young man who kept making excuses even after being handcuffed. Xiao Zhou picked up the knife and said coldly, “You can save your explanations for the police station.”

“Sister Meng, I’ll lock him up in the resting area for now and hand him over to the police at the next station.”

Meng Yufei nodded. “Alright.”

Once the thief was taken away, the man in the upper bunk finally processed what had happened. In a stiff voice, he said, “Comrade, we really owe you—otherwise, our things would’ve been stolen.”

Meng Yufei cast him a brief, and indifferent glance. The man seemed to recall how effortlessly she had subdued the thief and instinctively shrank back.

With that, the unexpected incident came to a quick end, and the compartment returned to silence.

Meng Yufei turned to look at the little girl in the bunk—completely unaffected by the commotion, she was still fast asleep, and lost in her dreams.