Chapter 17: Reunion

“Lin Zheng, you really are too pampered. Once we’re back in our hometown, you can’t keep acting like this. Your second sister won’t coddle you—if you make her mad, you might not even get a bite to eat.”

Lin Qinglan knew Lin Qingmei all too well. She was a cold and ruthless devil. Family ties meant nothing to her.
What worried her was that Lin Zheng might provoke her best friend and get into trouble once they got home.

“Second Sister… is she really that scary? Big Sister, you have to protect me.”

After filling their stomachs, Lin Qinglan even packed two roast ducks to eat on the road.
Even though the weather was cooler now, the ducks wouldn’t last long.
She had originally wanted to bring one back to Guangdong for her bestie Lin Qingmei to try, but with such a long journey, the duck would spoil by the time they arrived.

Besides, time was too tight. She didn’t even have a moment to secretly stash one into her space.
It seemed her best friend wouldn’t be lucky enough to taste it. If she wanted roast duck, she’d have to come to the capital herself next time.

Around 3 PM, Lin Qinglan and the others began another round of train-squeezing.

This time, they also had hard sleeper tickets—thanks again to Wu Hao, who had pulled strings through an old comrade.

The capital’s train station was a major hub—far more crowded than the one in the northeast.
If they hadn’t tied themselves together with rope, they might’ve been separated by the crowd.

Their compartment this time included three other people—two girls and one boy, all educated youth.

They appeared to be about the same age as Lin Qinglan, and judging by their clothes, they came from good families.
After all, sleeper tickets weren’t something just anyone could get without connections.

“Hi, I’m Lin Ran, seventeen this year, from the capital.”

“Hello, I’m Lin Qinglan.”

Lin Qinglan found Lin Ran quite likable—her tone was cheerful and straightforward.

“What a coincidence—you two even have the same surname. Nice to meet you, Lin Qinglan. I’m Tan Yan, eighteen, also from the capital.”

“I’m Tan Hao, Tan Yan’s cousin.”

“Me next, me next! I’m Lin Zheng, Lin Qinglan’s younger brother.”

“I’m Wu Hao.”

After everyone introduced themselves, they went about their own business. Wu Hao lay on his bunk and closed his eyes to rest, while Lin Zheng was already fast asleep.

Lin Qinglan, still wide awake, pulled out a copy of One Hundred Thousand Whys to read.

Across from her, the three educated youth were arranging their things on their bunks. After a while, Lin Ran brought out a bag of pastries and placed it on the small table.

“Would you like some pastries? My grandma made them by hand. Lin Qinglan, would you like to try one?”

“Your grandma has great skills—those pastries look really delicate. But I’m still full from dinner, so I’m not hungry yet.”
Lin Qinglan didn’t like eating food from others when she was outside—it was a habit she developed in the apocalypse.
Back then, you never knew if the person offering food was human or something else.

“Lin Qinglan, you’re not going to the countryside, are you? Since you have your younger brother with you.”

“Mm, my brother and I are going back to our hometown. What about you three—where are you heading?”

“We’re going to Jiangcheng, Guangdong. I heard it’s by the sea—wonder if the seafood there is free to eat.”
Tan Yan blurted out their destination before Lin Ran could answer.

“Jiangcheng’s a big place. You might not get assigned to a seaside brigade.”
Lin Qinglan wasn’t too familiar with Jiangcheng either. The original host had only returned home a couple of times.

And each time, it wasn’t for long. After all, Lin Jianshe’s vacation days were limited, and the trip from the northeast to Guangdong was a long one.

“We know someone there, so we can choose which brigade to join.”

“Tan Yan, want a candy?”
Tan Hao quickly interrupted her—he was afraid she’d spill too much and expose their identities.

After all, there were still three unknown people in the compartment. The Tan family was already in deep trouble—he couldn’t risk creating more problems.

Moreover, their real goal in going to the countryside was to find a chance to flee to Hong Kong.
Before they made it out, they had to be extremely cautious. If anyone discovered their intentions, the consequences would be severe.

Seeing how nervous Tan Hao looked, Lin Qinglan didn’t press further.
They were all just fleeting passengers on this journey. Once off the train, they might never meet again.

What she didn’t know was that she and those three educated youth were tied by fate—when she saw them again, she would call it a cursed reunion!

Over the following week, only Lin Ran continued chatting with Lin Qinglan.
Tan Yan, after whatever her cousin told her, became noticeably withdrawn.

Wu Hao, having to take night shifts, either slept or ate during the day.
Lin Zheng became obsessed with picture books and stayed on the top bunk reading nonstop.

Finally, the day to get off the train arrived. Lin Ran clung to Lin Qinglan’s hand reluctantly.

“Sister Qinglan, who knows when we’ll meet again. Can you give me your address? I’ll write you a letter.”

Lin Qinglan gave her the address of Linjiawan. After all, it never hurt to have one more friend—especially someone as pleasant as Lin Ran.

As for Tan Yan and Tan Hao, she decided to stay away.
Their reason for going to the countryside clearly wasn’t simple, and she didn’t want any unnecessary trouble.

After getting off the train, Lin Ran left with the group of educated youth.
Lin Qinglan, meanwhile, had to walk to the nearby bus station.

From Yangcheng, they had to take a bus to Jiangcheng, then a city bus to Nancheng County, and finally a bullock cart into the village.

Wu Hao dropped Lin Qinglan and Lin Zheng off at Nancheng County before heading back—after all, it wouldn’t be appropriate for a grown man to escort her all the way into the village.

When Lin Qinglan arrived in Nancheng County, she spotted a girl who looked almost identical to her waiting on a bullock cart outside the station.

“Qingmei, I missed you so much.”
Lin Qinglan ran up and hugged her tightly.

“Chunlan, I missed you too.”
Lin Qingmei’s eyes were red. Seeing her best friend’s massive wound made her heart ache. It must’ve hurt terribly.

“Second Sister, me too! I’m here too!”
Lin Zheng bounced on his short legs, trying to jump high enough for Lin Qingmei to see him.

“Xiao Zheng, how did you get so chubby while your big sister is so skinny? Did you eat all the food at home and leave none for her?”
Lin Qingmei was heartbroken for her bestie. Seeing the plump Lin Zheng made her a little unhappy.

“Qingmei, what are you saying? Don’t make him cry.”
Lin Qinglan shot her best friend a glare—still as unreliable as ever, bullying even a little kid.

Lin Zheng glanced at his round body, realizing he really was fat.
But he hadn’t stolen his sister’s food! He felt so wronged!

“Sister, I’ll give you all my meat from now on, so you can be chubby too!”

“Lin Zheng, just give your meat to your second sister. Your big sister likes how she is now.
If I get too fat, my blood pressure might go up.”
Lin Qinglan gave Lin Qingmei a look, signaling her not to overdo it.
After all, Lin Zheng was still a child—no need to scold him like that.