Chapter 158: Da Kui

Being able to hold a dance, thanks to the Department Committee's proposal, can be called a grand event that hasn't been seen in many years.

There will definitely be many big‑shot level figures attending.

Lu Cheng, of course, will not miss such a lively affair.

In casual chat, learning that Lu Cheng can actually do Social Dance made Jiang Mengmeng extremely excited.

"If we have time, let's go to the Underground Dance Hall; I know a place where we can do Social Dance without anyone checking."

Social Dance is a decadent bourgeois product and is not permitted in public venues.

And the Celebration Banquet organized by the Department Committee only features the Loyalty Dance.

In this era, many forms of entertainment are explicitly banned, but Jiang Mengmeng is clearly repressed; she has always yearned for a modest‑style romance.

Lu Cheng bent down and said, "If you dance Social Dance with me, aren't you afraid your lover will read too much into it?"

That kind of dance requires the man and woman to hold each other and sway gently on the dance floor.

Jiang Mengmeng pursed her lips with a hint of disdain, but she was not targeting Lu Cheng; she simply looked down on her own husband.

"He never overthinks, and never cares about me; all he sees are those pigs and sheep. Things that cultivate sentiment, he has zero interest in."

Hearing that, Lu Cheng became even more interested.

Jiang Mengmeng loves gossip so much that she can chat half a day with anyone on the train, yet she has never spoken of her own husband.

"Hey, which unit does your lover work for?"

Jiang Mengmeng's family background is still decent, and becoming a one‑in‑ten‑thousand Broadcaster proves her own qualifications are excellent.

A woman like that will only look for high‑ranking offspring; she won't worry about marriage.

Yet Jiang Mengmeng, with her little cherry mouth, hesitated and said, "Oh, just a regular unit; don't ask."

Seeing her like that, she seemed unwilling and embarrassed to speak.

It only made Lu Cheng more curious, but since she didn't want to say, he couldn't force it.

Back in the Bunk Car, Lin Qingyan was sorting her parcels, and Lu Cheng noticed her red scarf had been removed.

"Why did you take off the scarf? It looked good on you."

Lin Qingyan didn't even lift her head and replied, "It's a bit hot in the carriage, so I took it off."

The answer was a normal sentence, yet Lu Cheng sensed something off in her tone.

When he shifted his gaze to the nearby teacup, he found it already filled with hot water.

"Did you just go out?"

"Hmm, I thought after you're done you could come back and have some water."

Lu Cheng handed over the teacup, "Then you saw everything just now."

Lin Qingyan finally turned her head, "Seen what?"

Lu Cheng leaned his face close, "I was just chatting with that Broadcaster; you shouldn't have any thoughts about it, right?"

"I…" Lin Qingyan's words stopped at her mouth.

Earlier, she had told Lu Cheng that if there were a girl she liked, she wouldn't hold him back.

She had no love for Lu Cheng, only gratitude—gratitude that Lu Cheng could give her a piece of rubble to shelter from wind

and rain.

But today, why does seeing Lu Cheng chatting intimately with another girl make her feel a hint of sadness in her heart?

But today, why did seeing Lu Cheng laughing intimately with another girl give her a hint of sadness?

How strange!

She shouldn't have such a feeling.

"I have no thoughts about it; it's your freedom."

Lu Cheng nodded slightly, about to speak, when Chang Jinbu walked over, saw the two faces close together, and Lu Cheng immediately stepped back.

He also stopped Liu Jian'an and the others, "Don't come in; our Group Leader is kissing the Master's Wife right now."

Hearing the words outside, Lin Qingyan hurried up, pretending to continue tidying her clothes.

Lu Cheng went to the corridor, saw a few people snickering, tapped Chang Jinbu and said, "What nonsense are you spouting! Not doing your duty properly—who let you all wander over here?"

This train departed at five p. m., and soon reached the meal time.

"Got it, you go ahead."

Lu Cheng went back, called Lin Qingyan, and they headed to the Dining Car.

The few Big Aunts serving dishes saw Lu Cheng bring such a beautiful girl to eat and were extremely curious.

"Group Leader Lu, who is this? You didn't even introduce us."

Lu Cheng let Lin Qingyan find a seat first, then placed the lunchbox at the small window, "My lover, pretty, right?"

"Very pretty, just like stepping out of a painting," the Big Aunt smiled, "What are we eating today?"

"One meat dish, one vegetable dish, two servings of rice, and a bowl of seaweed egg‑flower soup."

"No problem, since your lover is here today, Big Aunt will serve you extra."

"Thank you, Big Aunt."

After the food was ready, Lin Qingyan came over to take it to the table.

Seeing that there was also a stir‑fried shredded pork with hot peppers, she thought Lu Cheng usually ate well, and then Lu Cheng said.

"Since you're here today, I'll make you a meat dish."

Usually Lu Cheng eats the same as Da Kui and the others: a vegetable dish and two mixed‑noodle buns.

Since the monthly allotted Meat Tickets are few, when they're craving meat badly, only a few will pool their tickets together for two meat dishes, sharing them among everyone.

Lin Qingyan scooped a mouthful of rice and ate it; the previously chattering few instantly fell silent at mealtime.

Fearing the aroma would escape, they all hurriedly buried their heads in their food.

Da Kui ate differently from everyone else; he first filled a basin with clear water, then soaked the corn‑meal dumplings in it, drinking and eating at the same time.

Seeing Lin Qingyan's confusion, Lu Cheng explained, "Da Kui never gets full. He says that soaking the dumplings makes them swell, so he can feel satisfied."

It's merely an illusion for the stomach; drinking and eating together makes the belly instantly expand.

But in reality it can't hold for long, because whatever goes into the stomach remains the same stuff.

Lin Qingyan even saw that Da Kui's tea cup contained blackened sorghum pancakes, likely soaked at home before boarding, now turned into a mush.

Lin Qingyan was utterly astonished; while others sip water to steep tea leaves, Da Kui uses water to soak pancakes and dumplings.

Watching Da Kui eat evoked both pity and amusement, and Lin Qingyan handed over a serving of red‑braised pork, placing it before the group.

She also split half of the rice from the lunch box for Da Kui.

The others' eating motions froze; they glanced at the red‑braised pork, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, then glanced at Lin Qingyan, their throats rolling a bit.

Lu Cheng tapped the lunch box and said, "Stop staring; your Master's Wife bought this, it's perfect for you, eat up."

As his words fell, a few said "Thank you, Master's Wife," and could no longer resist the meat aroma; the chopsticks clacked together, clack—clack—.

Lu Cheng shook his head helplessly, then, with a sudden burst, slammed the table: "Can you eat with any civility? If Master's Wife hasn't seen you, she'd laugh at you. Can you at least learn from her? Eat in small bites, and don't smack your lips."

Da Kui and the others were very obedient; while eating, they kept their mouths closed, sipping small bites.

Lin Qingyan stopped laughing: "It's fine, it's fine, you don't have to worry about me; eat however you like."

But everyone still feared embarrassing Master's Wife, so each ate cautiously.

After the meal, Lu Cheng escorted Lin Qingyan back to the Carriage.

"Will you be okay without resting?"

Seeing Lu Cheng about to go on duty without a pause, Lin Qingyan asked.

"We have to take turns on duty; you sleep first. I've spoken with the Train Captain, and no one will come into this Bunk Car."

Lin Qingyan nodded: "Okay, then be careful."

When Lu Cheng closed the door, Lin Qingyan stood there, looking through the glass window on the door at the pitch‑black outside.