He Xuewen bought sleeper tickets, four tickets for four people, they boarded the train at 3:50 in the afternoon, requiring a stay of one and a half nights and one daytime on the train, arriving in Beijing at midnight.
The trains now are still those green carriages, the engine burns coal, speed is only about forty to fifty kilometers per hour, the carriages are also quite dilapidated, coupled with it being summer now, it’s crowded, dirty, messy, smelly, and hot. That’s Tian Sisi’s feeling about the current trains.
Their sleeper carriage is slightly better, usually inhabited by unit cadres or military officers, who are of better quality. The carriage looks more spacious and tidy, making Tian Sisi feel a lot more comfortable. She was truly terrified by the condition of the carriage when she first boarded.
The sleeper room now has exactly four beds, perfect for their group. He Xuewen put the luggage on the rack, tidied up the berths, took the tea jar and kettle to get water. He travels by train frequently and knows the ropes—with hot water provided now, none would be available by night.
He Xuewen took a full jar and kettle back, set them on the tea table to cool, and took out the tea eggs specifically cooked by Tian Manxing as well as scallion pancake. Tian Manxing was very thoughtful, cooking thirty eggs, baking over thirty pancakes, and also made soy sauce pickles for them.
The pancakes and tea eggs were still warm. Tian Xinhua and He Chengsi, both hungry, started eating the tea eggs. After two eggs, still not satisfied, each grabbed a pancake with pickles, devouring eagerly.
Tian Sisi wasn’t hungry initially, but seeing these two devour, she couldn’t help but tear half a pancake. The size of Tian Manxing’s pancakes was as big as a small basin; one pancake could fill one up to the throat, half was enough for her especially since her appetite had improved. Previously, she wouldn’t have been able to eat even a quarter of it.
The fragrance of the egg pancakes filled the entire passage, drawing continuous glances from other passengers toward them. Tian Xinhua and He Chengsi had their fill after six eggs and five pancakes, with He Chengsi eating the most—four eggs and three pancakes; truly a big eater.
He Xuewen was initially thinking about dining in the dining car, but seeing the three kids had their fill, he ate some pancakes and eggs, taking advantage of the warmth. This was all Tian Manxing’s thoughtful gesture.
The train slowly began its journey, moving towards the distance, "clang clang", listening to this long-lost sound, Tian Sisi felt an intimate affection. In her childhood, she had taken a green train when Zhong Juying first made a considerable amount of money and was in a great mood, so she and her friends took their children on a trip, riding this kind of slow coal-burning train.
However, that was the only time, so this "clang clang" sound made Tian Sisi feel very warm. But even the most pleasant sounds, when heard for too long, become dull and uninspiring, let alone the senseless noise of a train starting.
Soon Tian Sisi was dozing off, struggling to keep her eyes open. She lay down on the bed and fell asleep, and He Xuewen affectionately carried his daughter to the upper bunk and covered her with a blanket.
The journey that followed was even more tedious. Not only are the current trains slow, but they also stop at many stations for long durations. At every minor or major station, they stop to replenish water, enabling railway workers pushing carts to sell local snacks or specialties.
Once the train passed Anhui Province, the scenery outside noticeably changed, no longer the beautiful classical paintings, but turned into rough modern paintings—vast wheat fields, endless, the horizon out of sight.
The rural houses were also no longer tightly connected, instead separated by a mile or half a mile, extremely spacious. Even the snacks sold on the platforms had mostly turned into wheat-based food: solid buns, tough flatbreads, leaving Tian Sisi who is really not fond of wheat products completely uninterested in eating.
However, He Chengsi was enjoying it greatly; those adult fist-sized buns, he ate five in one go with pickles and even asked He Xuewen to buy some more to keep for dinner.
Tian Sisi’s heart stirred. He Chengsi was found initially in Shandong, and seeing his love for noodles, he might be a northerner. What really is his background? Are his parents still alive? Perhaps one day, it would be good to search for his family on behalf of this silly brother!
After nearly thirty hours of a lengthy journey, the train finally arrived at Beijing Station around eleven at night. Tian Sisi donned a coat and exited the station with He Xuewen. Although Beijing Station wasn’t as bustling and grand as it would be later, the atmosphere was still magnificent.
Upon reaching the inn, Tian Sisi rushed into the bathroom to take a shower, feeling sticky and uncomfortable after two days without bathing, while He Xuewen shook his head, smiling; Ah Nan really couldn’t stand any dirt.
He and Tian Xinhua tidied up the luggage. This time, the primary luggage consisted of about ten jars of wine, and other items were just a few changes of clothes; it was fortunate that Tian Xinhua came along, otherwise, both he and Chengsi carrying all these wines would have been quite a struggle.
During the night, a little episode occurred. Tian Xinhua was a light sleeper, and around two or three o’clock in the morning, he caught sight of a sneaky shadow, bending over trying to take away a bag of wine jars. Tian Xinhua stood up and subdued the thief with a hold.
The burglar was a young man of sixteen or seventeen. He tried to escape upon realizing the situation was adverse, but Tian Xinhua had a firm grip on him; the thief couldn’t escape.
He Xuewen and the others were also awakened, quickly dressed, and got out of bed. Tian Xinhua exerted a little force on the thief’s hand, making him sweat profusely from pain. Initially, the thief was quite tough, refusing to say a word, but panic set in when he heard He Xuewen mention taking him to the Police Station.
"Comrade, this is my first time doing this, I was just blinded by greed. I have a seventy-year-old grandmother and younger siblings to take care of, I beg you, please spare me, I will definitely reform and be a better man," the thief pleaded on his knees and kowtowing vigorously.
Tian Sisi chuckled, wondering why the dialogues of those who commit bad deeds were all the same. However, if he were really taken away by the Police Station now, this young man’s fate would surely be very grim!
Seeing the pale-faced, skinny young man before her, Tian Sisi felt a surge of compassion. After all, the thief was also driven to this by poverty!
She discreetly tugged on He Xuewen’s sleeve. He Xuewen, understanding her sentiments, scolded the thief briefly and let him go home.
The thief did not expect to be allowed to go home so easily. He stared at them in disbelief for a while before finally realizing it, gratefully kowtowed several times, whispered "thank you," and then turned to leave.
As the man approached the window, about to climb out, Tian Sisi stopped him, startling him as he thought the family had changed their mind. She took out a bag of twisty doughnuts they had bought in Tianjin and handed him five yuan as well.
"Don’t turn to theft again in the future."
The man’s lips quivered, he took the twisty doughnuts, but left the money, then climbed out of the window. What Tian Sisi didn’t know was that the man met a much younger boy outside and handed the twisty doughnuts to him to eat.
The next morning, He Xuewen did not ask Yang Wenbin to pick them up; instead, he took public transport, changing three buses which left Tian Sisi feeling dizzy and longing for the taxis and motorcycle taxis from her past life. (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, we welcome you to recommend and vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)