Chapter 8: Taking the Train

The green-skinned train was exceptionally crowded. The aisles were piled with luggage and poultry, and people who bought standing tickets had nowhere to sit and could only squeeze in the aisles.

Zhou Wenfang covered her nose, "This is too crowded. It's a good thing we bought sleeper tickets."

The four tickets were not originally together; only Shen Xunbao and Su Qingyue were next to each other.

Zhou Wenfang's eyes darted around, "Qianqian, let's find someone to swap seats with so we can be together, and we can look after each other."

Su Qianqian secretly glanced at Shen Xunbao and nodded shyly.

They went to find someone to swap seats, making a lot of noise.

Su Qingyue looked at the scenery flying past the window, her head nodding like a chicken pecking at rice.

Shen Xunbao's voice was gentle, "If you're sleepy, lie down and sleep. I'm here, it's fine."

Su Qingyue yawned, "Then I'll swap with you later."

Su Qingyue lay down with her back to the inside and closed her eyes. Outsiders all said Shen Xunbao held her in the palm of his hand, but only Su Qingyue knew that he didn't love her at all.

Shen Xunbao was gentlemanly, polite, refined, and handsome—the object of many girls' dreams.

Once upon a time, Su Qingyue had thought so too, but she always felt that there was a veil over Shen Xunbao that she couldn't see or touch. Whenever she took the initiative to get close, she would be pushed away by Shen Xunbao's irritability.

After a few times, Su Qingyue realized that this man didn't like her. She prepared to find Shen Xunbao to make things clear; since there were no feelings between them, it would be better to call off the engagement.

That time, she was waiting for Shen Xunbao in his study and accidentally saw a letter.

Su Qingyue's pupils widened and she froze instantly, unable to say a word for a long time.

It wasn't until footsteps sounded outside that she adjusted her breathing and pretended to be her usual smiling self.

Only then did she understand that Shen Xunbao was using her as a front.

He needed this marriage; he needed an obedient wife.

But Su Qingyue wanted a pure and real love; she could never sacrifice her marriage for someone else's interests.

So she would never marry Shen Xunbao.

At that time, when Su Qianqian returned to the city, Su Qingyue said she was willing to call off the engagement and let Su Qianqian marry into the Shen family.

"I've discussed it with your father. Shen Xunbao is fond of you. Don't mention this again; it won't look good if it reaches the Shen family." Song Qingyan had refused at the time.

Su Qingyue thought that this trip to the countryside would be a good opportunity to talk to Shen Xunbao.

She thought and thought, and then drifted off to sleep.

Su Qianqian went to other carriages to swap seats. The carriage was too crowded, and she asked five or six people in a row, but they were unwilling to swap.

Su Qianqian thought of the scene where Shen Xunbao was alone with Su Qingyue, talking and laughing, and felt even more stifled.

Just then, she was stepped on by a girl standing in the aisle, and the accumulated anger instantly erupted. She roared in a shrill voice, "Hey! Why did you step on me?"

The girl with glasses looked apologetic, "I'm sorry, Comrade. Someone pulled my braid, and I looked back, accidentally stepping on you."

Su Qianqian scolded unpleasantly, "You're so ugly, who would pull your braid!"

"And, sorry is enough? These shoes cost sixty yuan! Can you afford to pay for them?"

Dai Xiaohong was stunned, her face turning the color of a pig's liver. She hadn't even seen what sixty yuan looked like. She stammered, "Are the shoes broken?"

The onlookers looked at Su Qianqian's feet. It was a pair of dark red small leather shoes, shiny and bright, and there was indeed a footprint on the instep.

"The shoes aren't even broken, and you want money for stepping on them?"

"Besides, people apologized, and you're still so arrogant."

Yuan Guang had executed a secret mission with Pei Huaiye yesterday. Pei Huaiye had blocked a knife for him, and with his new and old injuries combined, he was running a low fever.

He was going to get hot water for Pei Huaiye to take medicine when he happened to run into this.

Yuan Guang couldn't stand it and said a word for the girl with glasses, "Comrade, calm your temper. The train is crowded, there's no way around it. Let's be considerate of each other."

Su Qianqian was criticized by several people together and became even more angry. Her tone was sharp and mean, "Are you having an affair with her, which is why you're helping her speak?!"

Yuan Guang's anger flared up, "This comrade, you can eat food indiscriminately, but you can't speak indiscriminately!"

"Most of the people on this train are educated youth going to the countryside. I suppose you are one too?"

"Looking at your clothes and background, you must be well-off and have received cultural education. Why are the words coming out of your mouth so ugly?"

"What is your name? Which commune are you going to?"

Everyone was surrounding Su Qianqian and blaming her. She flushed with shame and anger, threw down a sentence, "My name is Su Qingyue, and I'm going to Shuangqiao Commune in Xichuan!" and ran away in a hurry.

Dai Xiaohong thanked the crowd and Yuan Guang, and Yuan Guang waved his hand.

He took the water back to the carriage and lowered his voice, angrily telling Pei Huaiye about this scene.

Pei Huaiye threw the medicine into his mouth, tilted his head, and drank the water, "Isn't Shuangqiao Commune our village?"

"I'm just angry. How could such an arrogant and unreasonable educated youth like Su Qingyue be assigned to our village? It's truly bad luck!"

Pei Huaiye smiled roguishly, "Go tell the village head and arrange the heaviest work for her."

Yuan Guang chuckled, "As expected of Pei-ge."

Su Qingyue, who was four or five carriages away, sneezed twice.

Dusk fell, and the train clattered forward.

It happened to be dinner time, and everyone took out their dry rations. Most people ate corn buns, but some with better conditions took out steamed buns, egg cakes, biscuits, and other side dishes.

Zhou Wenfang and Su Qianqian finally spent money to swap their sleeper tickets to be opposite Su Qingyue and Shen Xunbao.

Su Qianqian sat up and took out White Rabbit cream candies and pastries to share with Zhou Wenfang.

Shen Xunbao had just returned with hot water, and Zhou Wenfang asked boldly, "Shen Xunbao, do you want to eat an egg cake?"

Shen Xunbao shook his head, "I brought food. You guys eat."

Zhou Wenfang and Su Qianqian were whispering to each other, but their eyes couldn't help but glance at the lower bunk opposite them.

Su Qingyue had long woken up in the upper bunk. She was hooked by the sweet smell of bread and candy, and her stomach felt a bit hungry.

Just as she sat up, Shen Xunbao handed over a cup of brewed malted milk and a piece of bread, "Drink this, and eat the bread to cushion your stomach."

Su Qingyue took the things, a smile blooming at the corners of her mouth, "Thank you, have you eaten?"

"I just ate."

Shen Xunbao waited for Su Qingyue to finish eating and went to wash the cup.

Zhou Wenfang said sarcastically, "Su Qingyue, Shen Xunbao is really good to you."

Su Qianqian rolled her eyes, "That's Su Qingyue's fiancé. If he's not good to her, who would he be good to?"

Su Qingyue was untying her braids, and her black hair scattered like seaweed, making her tofu-like skin look even fairer and more tender.

She raised her eyes, her tone innocent and naive, "That's right, I'm so lucky to meet a good man like Shen Xunbao."

Zhou Wenfang choked, and Su Qianqian was even more furious. Neither of them answered, and they each turned over to sleep.

In a place they couldn't see, Su Qingyue curled the corners of her lips, a trace of mischief hidden in her clear eyes.

Shen Xunbao filled a cup with hot water, turned around, and bumped into a man wearing a hat. When he saw the man's face clearly, his face sank instantly.

Shen Xunbao growled, "What are you doing here?!"

Qiao Wang gave a sarcastic smile, "What else? Your mother is afraid that Young Master Shen won't get used to the countryside, so she sent me to be your beast of burden."

"I'm warning you..."

Qiao Wang pulled his collar out of Shen Xunbao's hand, "Are you angry now? I've done more than one thing for Young Master Shen."

"I don't want to come either, but can you weed or cut wheat with your refined look? Are you really going to lie down and not work every day? If Commander Shen finds out, can you still be Young Master Shen in the future?"

The series of questions left Shen Xunbao speechless, and he immediately deflated, "Then don't mess around."

Qiao Wang pulled the brim of his hat down, "I'll find you once I'm settled." ===== CHAPTER 9 =====