Chapter 32: Being Schemed Against by a Shameless Girl and Her Plea to Be Adopted

“What are you even saying? How could a mother abandon her own child?”

“Listen, comrade, it’s easy for you to talk while standing there. Do you know how high the ticket prices are? My husband’s away, I’m the one managing the fields alone. Where would I get the money? I don’t want this child anymore.”

Xu Jiaojiao was utterly stunned by the sheer audacity of the woman. Furious, she grabbed Xie Zhi’s hand and stormed away, worried that staying any longer would get her involved in the mess.

The two of them carried their large bags into their compartment—well, mostly Xie Zhi carried them since Xu Jiaojiao firmly believed in never pampering men. “Pamper a man, and you’ll invite trouble,” she always thought.

The sleeper compartments of this era were double bunks, which were relatively better than those of later generations. Xie Zhi placed their luggage under the bed and quickly took out Jiaojiao’s essentials—mostly snacks and toiletries.

Jiaojiao was exhausted. The moment she sat down, she leaned straight into Xie Zhi, rubbing her head against him before realizing it wasn’t comfortable because he was too firm.

Her pale cheeks lacked color, and she softly murmured, “Husband, I want to sleep for a bit.”

Xie Zhi nodded. He had bought two lower bunks, and as he sat next to Jiaojiao, his gaze remained fixed on her. The love in his heart grew like vines, filling him completely.

His coarse, sandpaper-like hand gently brushed across Jiaojiao’s soft lips, and his Adam’s apple moved up and down with satisfaction. Taking out a book he had prepared, he settled next to her and began to read while keeping her company.

…

When Jiaojiao woke up again, it was already 9 p.m. Her vision was blurry, and the passage of time felt unusually long. Still groggy, she was suddenly pulled out of the covers by Xie Zhi, who scooped her up into his arms.

He placed her on his lap. “Jiaojiao, eat something. I bought us some food.”

He opened the warm meal containers, and under the bright incandescent light, the room remained well-lit. Back then, people were frugal, and sleeper carriages rarely sold out unless it was a festival or a special occasion.

In their small, four-person compartment, only Xu Jiaojiao and Xie Zhi were present. A bit of intimacy wasn’t a big deal.

The meal was simple—cabbage and a plate of minced eggplant with barely visible bits of meat. Jiaojiao ate while gazing out at the pitch-black window.

In this era, many homes didn’t even have electric lights. Darkness was nothing out of the ordinary.

The train came to a stop at another station, slowly pulling in.

Hurried footsteps echoed through the carriage. Suddenly, the little girl from the train station earlier burst into their room. Spotting Xu Jiaojiao, she immediately broke down in tears and fell to her knees without hesitation.

“Sister, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to steal your biscuits earlier. I’m really sorry.”

Tears streamed down her face as she pulled out a handful of crumpled money and tried to hand it to Jiaojiao. She hesitated for a moment, then timidly placed it next to Jiaojiao’s meal box.

Jiaojiao glanced at the money—roughly fifty cents. For a child, it was already a significant amount.

Thinking of the girl’s earlier ungrateful behavior, Jiaojiao couldn’t help but feel annoyed. Smirking, she asked, “What’s the meaning of this?”

The shameless girl looked up pitifully. Her frail body trembled, and her voice quivered. “Sister, this is all the money I’ve saved over the years. I’m truly sorry. I know it’s not enough to pay for the biscuits, but if I didn’t act that way earlier, my mom would’ve beaten me to death. I’m really scared of pain.”

Noticing the scars all over the girl’s body, Jiaojiao’s heart softened despite herself. She guiltily glanced at Xie Zhi. “You can stop kneeling now. Keep your money. I’m not angry anymore.”

Xie Zhi observed the little girl with narrowed, sharp eyes. Their compartment was close to the dining car. Patting Jiaojiao’s arm, he got up and disappeared out the door.

Not long after, he returned, carrying a steaming meal box, which he handed to the girl. “Eat this. Then go back.”

The shameless girl stared at the meal, drooling visibly. Though she appeared as a child, in that moment, Jiaojiao felt she had the demeanor of an adult.

Unable to suppress her hunger any longer, the girl devoured the food. She ate so quickly that even the soup was mopped up with a piece of bread.

After finishing, she suddenly broke down into sobs. “Sister, please take me in. I can work hard. Please let me stay. You can be my mom.”

Jiaojiao’s face turned pale with shock. Alarmed, she looked at Xie Zhi, who immediately stepped forward, restraining the girl by the wrist. “Stop it.”

“Daddy, you can be my dad! Please, I’m begging you. You’re so rich—why not take me in?”

Hearing this, Jiaojiao felt like her kindness had been fed to the dogs. How did this turn into another version of Shen Yun? She admitted the girl had it rough, but emotional manipulation was out of line.

“Go back. The train staff will come to check tickets soon. You’ll be sent back eventually. Take your money with you.”

Seeing her plan fail, the girl began hyperventilating. Her chest heaved as she cried out desperately, “Mom! Dad! Don’t leave me! Don’t abandon me!”

Her piercing cries soon attracted a crowd. Passengers from nearby compartments gathered to watch the commotion. All they saw was a little girl kneeling on the ground, wailing miserably, while a couple sat stoically nearby.

An elderly man frowned deeply. “It’s so late. Why is she crying? Can’t you control your child?”

“Yeah, some of us need to sleep. I have to get up early tomorrow. How can anyone rest like this?”

Jiaojiao felt thoroughly disheartened. Trying to help had backfired so spectacularly. She glanced apologetically at Xie Zhi, only to find him sitting calmly with his arm resting behind her, almost as if shielding her. He smiled lightly, signaling her not to worry.

The complaints and insults from the crowd grew louder, mixing with the girl’s shrill cries, creating a cacophony. Yet, throughout the ordeal, neither Jiaojiao nor Xie Zhi said a word.

The commotion eventually drew the attention of the train staff. A tall man in uniform pushed through the crowd. Upon seeing the wounds on the girl’s face, he immediately questioned, “Did you hit this child?”

“Exactly! They look decent, but who knows? They could be child abusers.”

“Ugh, pretty faces don’t mean much if their hearts are rotten.”

Jiaojiao’s cold gaze swept across the crowd, her lips curling into a sarcastic smile. She found it laughable. Did they think she and Xie Zhi were so easily bullied?

Earlier, no one had stepped in when the woman at the station was kicking and beating the girl. But now, suddenly, they were all overflowing with righteous indignation.

“Little girl, are these two your parents?”

The shameless girl sniffled pitifully. “Yes, but they don’t want me. They said they’d leave me on the train after this meal.”

Xie Zhi’s sharp eyes locked onto the girl, making her flinch. Calmly, he asked, “What’s my name? What’s her name? Which village are we from?”

“Stop trying to sound smart. Who knows if you’re just making this up to ditch the kid?” someone chimed in, and the crowd murmured in agreement.

The girl conveniently burst into tears again, her frail figure trembling as she pleaded, “Daddy, Mommy, don’t leave me. I promise to be good. Please don’t hit me anymore.”

Xie Zhi’s deep, still gaze landed on the girl, silencing her cries. For the first time, she seemed genuinely afraid.