Chapter 32: On the Train

Seeing Qin Xueqiong, Song Fangde called out, “Sister Xueqiong! Come in and sit.”

Qin Xueqiong and the children entered.

Yang Siji looked at the children. “You’re Little Liang and Little Yan, right?  Here’s some candy.”

Little Liang didn’t react, but Little Yan smiled. “Thank you, Candy, eat.”

Yang Siji’s heart melted. “Yes, eat, eat quickly.” She peeled a Da Bai Tu (a popular milk candy) for Little Yan.

“Good… eat…”

Little Yan’s eyes lit up eating the candy.

Little Liang swallowed. He was a child who loved candy.

Tang Xiaorou gave Little Liang a Da Bai Tu. “Little Liang, eat too.”

Little Liang peeled the candy and ate it, his eyes closing in enjoyment.

Song Fangde looked at Qin Xueqiong. “Sister Xueqiong, Xiaorou became a mother right after getting married. That’s hard work.”

Qin Xueqiong smiled. “Little Liang and Little Yan are well-behaved. It’s not hard.  Little Shen is also good, so Xiaorou married well.”

Song Fangde said nothing more.

Even he felt regretful; Tang Xiaorou would have been a great daughter-in-law.  His son had missed out.

“Xiaorou, Sister Xueqiong, sit. I have two more dishes to prepare.”

Qin Xueqiong wanted to help, but Yang Siji stopped her. “Sister Xueqiong, no need.  Just sit and enjoy the food.”

Yang Siji served the last two dishes and asked everyone to sit.

Song Fangde had some alcohol and talked about Qin Zhe with Qin Xueqiong. “A Zhe often talked about you and your childhood.”

Qin Xueqiong’s eyes were filled with memories.

Song Fangde felt the same. He promised Qin Xueqiong, “Sister Xueqiong, if I hear from A Zhe, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, I’ll do the same.”

They then praised Tang Xiaorou’s medical skills. “Sister Xueqiong, Xiaorou’s medical skills are amazing.  So many doctors couldn’t help Xuejun, but Xiaorou cured him. She’s incredible!”

Qin Xueqiong smiled proudly.

Yang Siji kept serving Tang Xiaorou and the children food.

Song Xuejun ate quietly, occasionally serving Little Liang, who wasn’t eating much, perhaps feeling shy.

After the meal, Tang Xiaorou and Qin Xueqiong helped clean up and prepared to leave with the children.

Song Fangde’s family saw them out, asking Tang Xiaorou to keep in touch after they arrived in Jiangsu Province.

Tang Xiaorou smiled and agreed.

The meal was enjoyable.

The next morning, Tang Xiaorou, Grandma Yao, and Qin Xueqiong went to the train station.  After checking their tickets, they squeezed onto the train and finally relaxed.

“Grandma Yao, I’ll take you and the children to the sleeper berth first.”

Qin Xueqiong said, “Bingcheng and I will go to our seats.” Their seats were in the same carriage.

Tang Xiaorou found the sleeper berth and helped Grandma Yao and the children settle their luggage. “Grandma Yao, the food is in this bag. I’ve put the luggage under the bed. Please look after Little Liang and Little Yan. I’ll come back later.”

“Okay, you should go to your seats.”

Little Yan clung to Tang Xiaorou.  Seeing her leave, she hugged her leg.

Tang Xiaorou patted Little Yan’s head. “Mom will come back later. Be good and listen to Grandma Yao. Tell her if you’re hungry or thirsty.”

Little Yan nodded and let go of Tang Xiaorou.

The train started moving. Tang Xiaorou squeezed to her seat.

“Xiaorou, here.”

Qin Xueqiong waved.

Tang Xiaorou sat down and checked the time seven or eight hours until arrival. “Mom, are you hungry? Want something to eat?” They had only eaten a little for breakfast.

Tang Xiaorou gave Qin Xueqiong and Yao Bingcheng steamed buns and pickled mustard greens. They ate.

Halfway through, Yao Bingcheng thought of Grandma Yao. “I wonder if Grandma is hungry.”

Tang Xiaorou smiled. “Don’t worry. I gave Grandma Yao the food in a separate bag. They’ll eat if they’re hungry.”

Qin Xueqiong smiled at Yao Bingcheng. “Bingcheng is worried about Grandma.”

A middle-aged man next to them asked, “Do you have extra buns and pickled vegetables? Can I trade something?” He took out a box of chocolates. “Is this okay?”

Tang Xiaorou looked at the chocolates.  Chocolates were only available in the Overseas Chinese store; some were imported. This man was trading chocolates for buns.

Before Tang Xiaorou could speak, Qin Xueqiong gave him the remaining buns and vegetables. “No need, take them. No need to trade.” She thought everyone struggled while traveling and wanted to help. She didn’t know the value of chocolates, thinking they were ordinary candy.

Yue Yuan looked at the buns and gave the chocolates to Yao Bingcheng.

“We agreed to trade.”

Yao Bingcheng wanted to return them.

“Keep them. I don’t like sweets. Someone gave them to me; they’re wasted with me.”

Tang Xiaorou looked at Yao Bingcheng. “Keep them.”

Yao Bingcheng didn’t refuse.

Yue Yuan looked at Tang Xiaorou, realizing she was the one in charge.