"Comrade, are there any sleeper berths left? One of my sisters-in-law is pregnant and another is with two children. We need to go to Capital City and it’s going to be a several-day train ride. I’m worried my nephews won’t be able to handle it?"
Zhao Tianhe had been selling goods in Capital City for half a year and had developed some eloquence.
The train attendant, seeing this man wanting sleeper tickets, not for himself, but for his two sisters-in-law—one pregnant and another with two children—had compassion.
"There are no sleeper tickets left at this platform; you’re in that carriage. If any become available, I’ll let you know immediately," the attendant said.
The conductor was also worried that some passengers might refuse to sit in regular seats and might feign weakness to secure sleeper berths instead.
"Thank you, comrade, that would be helpful. We are in XX carriage."
Zhao Tianhe didn’t persist with the issue and, after nodding a goodbye to the attendant, headed towards their carriage.
"Grandma Fang is doing well."
Er Dan and Fang Meiyun’s little ones were still watching the sky darken outside.
"Wife, would you lean on me and take a nap later?"
Yun Xiaoxiao felt a sudden urge to buy an air mattress to sleep on.
Without sleeper berths, they had no choice but to endure sitting in regular seats.
"Hold on, I’ll go and ask again," he said.
Nowadays, traveling long distances is quite inconvenient. Just getting anywhere requires several days by train, which is too troublesome, tiring out an entire person.
When will faster trains like ’Harmony’ appear?
Finally, when there was nothing left to see outside, the youngsters stopped looking.
"I’m going to fetch some hot water."
Although they had quickly eaten some steamed buns when they boarded the train.
Zhao Tianlei wasn’t just carrying an enamel cup; he also had Yun Xiaoxiao’s thermos. After fetching the water, Yun Xiaoxiao added milk powder, stirred it, and poured it out for everyone.
Er Dan was drinking milk powder for the first time.
Fang Meiyun, however, was not.
The aroma of the milk powder caused the children in that carriage section to start making noise; they also wanted the milk powder.
Even though things had opened up a bit, some rare items still required vouchers.
"Comrade, may I exchange something for some of your milk powder?" an elderly gentleman asked, seeing his grandson wistfully eyeing those drinking the milk. Although he wasn’t crying like the other children, his gaze lingered.
Yun Xiaoxiao was startled by the sudden voice but then saw an elderly man with a wrinkled face, looking somewhat embarrassed as he looked at her.
She also saw the man holding two eggs.
"I boiled these eggs this morning," he said.
Yun Xiaoxiao had Zhao Tianlei take the eggs and scooped two spoons of milk powder into the elderly man’s enamel cup, with some to spare.
The elderly man hurried to fetch water to mix the powdered milk for his grandson.
After taking a sip, the boy insisted that his grandfather have some too.
The grandfather and grandson shared the milk, taking turns sipping until it was gone.
Seeing Yun Xiaoxiao able to trade for milk powder, others also wanted to trade.
Zhao Tianlei directly refused them.
Nobody dared to curse, realizing that Zhao Tianlei and his group were not to be messed with.
The excitement on the train might have been partly because the lights were on, and the passengers had yet to rest.
The little boy came to thank Yun Xiaoxiao.
"Who are you? Where are you getting off?" Xiao Bao stared at the older boy, watching him closely.
"My grandpa is taking me to find my dad," the boy replied, skinny and somewhat timid.