Chapter 858: Journeying Out
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
As Gu Zi prepared for the long journey ahead, she packed her belongings with a simple yet efficient approach.
The majority of her luggage was neatly tucked into a twenty-inch imported roller suitcase, which she would pull along. Her primary concern was the temperature difference between the north and south, and the chill of the train at night. Therefore, she packed a selection of warm clothing to ward off the cold.
The meals for the journey were stored in a cloth bag, carried by Su Bing, while Su Li carried a backpack containing his textbooks and his brother’s exercise books.
In addition to her luggage, Gu Zi also carried a substantial amount of money. To prevent theft on the train, she had taken the precaution of sewing the money into the lining of her clothing, keeping it close to her body. This way, if they needed anything else upon reaching their destination, they could simply purchase it. This was the advantage of having money at hand.
Before leaving, Gu Zi also put away her wristwatch, tucking it into a compartment of the cloth bag. As for the boys’ watches, she instructed them to leave them at home. When traveling, it was safer not to flaunt wealth.
Jin Long admired his sister-in-law’s thoroughness. He was surprised that someone who had never traveled far from home knew so much. Despite his frequent travels, he had never been as meticulous. On his most disastrous trip, he had been pickpocketed, nearly ending up arrested as a vagrant.
Gu Zi said, “I’ve heard stories about the chaos on trains. There are all sorts of people, so it’s best to be cautious. Jin Long, I remember you get motion sickness. Will you be okay with motion sickness medicine for the journey?”
In the eighties, Gu Zi had firsthand experience of the disorder on trains. When she was eight, she had traveled by train with her parents to their hometown. Even in the presence of soldiers maintaining order, people disregarded decorum during ticket checks, rushing forward in a frenzy, often causing stampedes. Boarding the train was no different, with everyone pushing and shoving to get through the carriage doors.
Outside the train station, there were various unlicensed taxis and brokers for illegal shops, aggressively soliciting customers. If you refused their services, they would follow you menacingly. If things were this chaotic in the early 2000s, one could only imagine the state of affairs in the eighties.
As a child, Gu Zi had heard her mother recount stories from the eighties. It was common for mothers and daughters to be separated by the crowd at train stations. Fights over seats on the train were frequent, sometimes even resulting in fatalities. It was a terrifying time. Now that Gu Zi found herself in that era, preparing for a long journey, she naturally took every precaution.
Jin Long spoke, “This is peculiar, I am one to get carsick and trainsick, but not seasick. Sister-in-law, there’s no need to worry. I will ensure a smooth journey to the capital. Once we arrive, you need not fret about accommodations. You are a family member of Su Shen, and Su Shen is a battalion commander. There’s a dedicated reception house there with a pleasant environment. I’ve already made arrangements. As for me, I can make do with a hotel.”
Upon reaching the train station, Jin Long cradled Su Le in his arms while Gu Zi pulled the luggage. Behind them, two guards each held onto a boy. With such a formidable group, no one dared to mess with them. Even the most suspicious-looking individuals gave them a wide berth.
However, the crowd was still overwhelming. Gu Zi’s heart was in her throat. One moment she was checking on Su Le in Jin Long’s arms, the next she was looking back at her two sons.
Seeing Su Li’s excitement about his first long-distance trip, she sternly warned him after he had wriggled free from the guard’s grasp a few times, “You must not let go of the guard’s hand again!”
Rarely seeing his mother so stern, Su Li quickly grabbed the guard’s hand, refraining from bouncing around. As they were about to board the train, they reached the platform. Su Li watched the crowd jostling to squeeze through the narrow train door, pushing and shoving. He finally became scared and clung tightly to the guard’s hand.
Seeing that he had calmed down, Gu Zi felt somewhat relieved. Of course, she had no intention of scolding Su Li. After all, he was just a child, filled with enthusiasm for his first new experience. His desire to actively explore was not a mistake, and she had no reason to blame him for her own worries.
Once they were inside the carriage and everyone had found their seats, Gu Zi finally let out a sigh of relief. Su Li, excited, climbed up and exclaimed, “Oh! I didn’t know we can sleep on a train! If Gao Ming were here, I would share a small bed with him!”
Jin Long had arranged everything thoughtfully, even utilizing his financial resources to purchase sleeper berths for everyone, all located close to each other.
Gu Zi and Su Le were on the lower berth, Su Bing in the middle, and Su Li on the upper berth. Jin Long and the two guards were opposite them.
Grateful for Jin Long’s careful arrangements, Gu Zi took out the lunch boxes from her bag when it was mealtime, allowing everyone to enjoy a hearty meal on the train.