Chapter 532: Children Found

This return train is a Youth Special Train; aside from these knowledgeable youths, there are no other passengers, let alone any children.

"What's the matter, He Juzhang? I don't see any children here."

When He Juzhang asked, his eyes scanned the station, but all he saw were heads.

"Oh, it's like this, Lu Jingzhang: two children are missing, their family is quite anxious, worried they might have come to the station…"

Lu Cheng didn't pay much attention, assuming the children were being mischievous, running around, or playing hide‑and‑seek with friends, so a brief disappearance was normal.

But seeing He Juzhang's anxious expression, Lu Cheng felt a bit puzzled.

"He Juzhang, whose child is lost that you care so much!"

He Juzhang sighed, "Well, I'm not entirely sure; our bureau chief notified me on short notice. It seems to be a child from a Metallurgical Department unit, likely the leader's child. The Public Security Bureau has mobilized, saying the whole city has searched but still hasn't found them, so they're quite anxious."

"Metallurgical Department?"

Lu Cheng muttered, thinking that indeed it must not be an ordinary family's child; otherwise the bureau chief wouldn't issue an order and the Deputy Bureau Chief wouldn't come personally to look for them.

"What's the matter, Lu Jingzhang?"

"Oh, nothing, just suddenly thought of someone."

The person Lu Cheng thought of was Lin Zhenfeng, who works at the Metallurgical Department.

"Alright then, He Juzhang, don't worry; if I encounter them, I'll inform our Railway Bureau."

He Juzhang nodded, "Then it's up to you, Lu Jingzhang; you handle your duties, and I'll go ask around elsewhere."

After seeing He Juzhang leave, Lu Cheng still didn't take it seriously, holding the megaphone and continuing to maintain order.

About an hour later, the train set off.

As the wheels turned, many Educated Youth stuck their heads out of the windows; some waved goodbye to friends on the platform, others took one last look at this place that had carried ten years of youth.

The train accelerated, and from experience Lu Cheng knew that during the first few hours, these Educated Youth, driven by the eagerness to return home, would get along harmoniously.

These hours were also the most relaxed for the Train Staff and Train Police on board.

As for whether chaos would break out later, no one could say; each time these Educated Youth ride the train, the situation differs.

So everyone takes this time to rest, gathering enough energy to handle any sudden incident.

Because of the peak of Educated Youth returning to the city, this stop at the terminal left little time to rest, and Lu Cheng fell asleep as soon as he entered the Bunk Car.

He was awakened by a burst of noisy voices.

"Hey, why are there two kids? You scared me; I thought someone had stolen the commune's piglets and brought them onto the train."

"Oh dear, not at all. Whose children are they? Where are the adults?"

"Why aren't you speaking? Stop hiding, come out and let sister hug you. Look at these two kids; they look just like twins, so precious."

"What do you mean 'look like twins' when they're clearly twins? Where are the adults?"

"Hey, who are the kids' parents?"

When Lu Cheng vaguely heard the chatter, he sprang up from the bed.

Two children? Could they be the two He Juzhang mentioned?

How did they end up on the train?

With questions, Lu Cheng hurried to the adjacent carriage.

When he arrived, two Educated Youth were there discussing the children's parents.

"Hey, since this is a Youth Special Train, could the kids be from some Educated Youth?"

"Probably not; the current policy says married people can't return to the city. Back at our Youth Commune, there was a comrade who abandoned his wife and child, got a divorce, and then could return."

Such cases seem common; everyone had heard about them from various channels, so the discussion wasn't particularly surprised.

An Educated Youth stepped forward and said, "I think this possibility exists..."

The others looked on, eager to hear what the possibility was.

Seeing so many eyes on him, the Youth felt a surge of pride and cleared his throat.

"I think there's only one possibility: it must be that a fellow Educated Youth, pressured to return to the city, had to leave the child behind, but the child missed the mother and secretly hopped onto the train to look for her..."

A female Educated Youth immediately retorted, "What you say makes some sense, but I don't accept that the child is looking for its mother; how do you know it's not looking for its father!"

Other female Educated Youth echoed, "Yes, we women would rather not return to the city and would never abandon a child; this must be something a male comrade did."

"Exactly, it must be the men, fearing conscience's blame, now they don't dare to come forward and acknowledge the child."

Hearing the women turn the issue into a gender clash, the male Educated Youth became displeased.

"What are you saying? So you claim none of you women have divorced and abandoned a child to return to the city!"

"Exactly, we know you're thin‑skinned and reluctant to speak, but on this train there are certainly women like that among the Educated Youth."

"Right, I think these two kids might be yours, deliberately shouting 'catch the thief' on a thief."

The female Youth, her face flushed with shame and anger, said, "You're talking nonsense! I've never dated anyone, where would the kids come from?"

The male Youth crossed his arms and laughed, "That's not certain; you say you've never dated anyone, how would we know? As for whether anyone has had children, we know even less."

The female Youth, angry, shouted, "You're spouting nonsense, you hooligan! If I have or haven't had a child, I would know myself!"

"Just because you know, doesn't mean we do; we can't verify it."

Hearing that, the female Youths rose together and attacked, "Are you being lecherous? How do you intend to verify, make us take off our pants for verification?"

"Hey, we never said that. Of course, if you want to be verified that way, we have no objection..."

"They're being lecherous, sisters, fight with me! Let them know we women aren't easy to bully!"

Lu Cheng finally squeezed in, only to be hit in the face by a shoe that seemed to fly from nowhere.

He knew these Educated Youth wouldn't last many stations; each verbal clash would give him a headache.

"I'll see who dares to strike! Whoever makes the first move will be sent back, so you can't go home for the New Year!"

Lu Cheng covered his face and shouted in anger.

When the Educated Youth saw the Train Police arrive and intend to send them back, each fell silent.

The hard‑won Hui Cheng quota makes everyone want to get home before the New Year, reunite with their families, and no one wants to go back.

When he saw that everyone had settled down, Lu Cheng finally asked, "And those two children?"

Having been busy arguing earlier, the Educated Youth only now recalled the two children, and one of them promptly pointed to a particular seat.

"They're hiding under that seat, unwilling to come out. Comrade Police Officer, let me make it clear: these aren't my children."

Because of He Juzhang's earlier remarks, Lu Cheng was confident that these two children were probably the very ones He Juzhang was searching for.

Following the seat the Educated Youth indicated, Lu Cheng crouched down and looked.