Chapter 57: Who Is the Adult, and Who Is the Child?

"Move aside, move aside, the train is about to be late... if you get hurt, it's not our responsibility!"

A bear of a man charged through the crowd, swinging his thick arms left and right, shoving people aside.

Many angry passengers turned around, mouths open to curse loudly,

but seeing Li Dayong’s massive frame and the piercing glares of Jin Peng and Li Ye, they swallowed their anger and stayed silent.

The old-fashioned martial arts stance prioritized a strong lower body; Li Ye and his two brothers had a clear advantage in such a packed crowd.

Li Ye and his two companions formed a triangular formation, shielding Professor Ke in the center, sweating profusely until they finally reached the platform just as the train arrived.

But when he saw the incoming train, even the usually calm Li Ye couldn’t help blurting out, “Holy shit.”

This was a through train from Shanghai to Beijing, stopping at countless stations along the way—by now it was packed like sardines in a can, and Li Ye felt adding even one more person might cause it to burst.

Experienced passengers on the platform were already scrambling for spots, turning their luggage into projectiles.

Professor Ke quickly said, “After we get there, we’ll throw our luggage in through the window, then I’ll climb in.”

Only then did Li Ye realize these people intended to climb into the train through the windows.

Each carriage had only one door, but a dozen windows—any entrance would do, as long as you could get inside.

But imagining Professor Ke climbing through a window, Li Ye found it utterly unbelievable.

“Professor Ke, could I see your ticket?”

“Oh, here... why do you need it?”

“Just give me a moment.”

Li Ye took Professor Ke’s ticket and pushed urgently toward the rear of the train, where the sleeper cars were located.

Dongshan’s provincial capital was a major city—even a passing train would have sleeper ticket quotas; Li Ye figured he might find a way.

Near the rear of the train, the platform was less crowded.

Li Ye began observing the waiting passengers.

Those who walked with steady, even strides and looked down slightly at others were used to giving orders—

No good.

Those with two pens stuck in their shirt pockets were high-level intellectuals—some easygoing, others stingy—

Not suitable.

Ah~ this old man has large hands and feet, calloused palms, and deep, weathered wrinkles—he’s clearly one of our beloved workers, maybe even a Level 8 technician.

Li Ye approached him, pulled out a cigarette first, then spoke.

“Uncle, could I ask you something—are you heading to Beijing?”

The old man was wary, glanced at Li Ye, and waved off the cigarette: “Just say what you want, no need for all this flattery!”

Li Ye was embarrassed, quickly holding up the ticket: “Old man, I’m not a bad guy—here’s the thing: my relative is also going to Beijing, but she only has a seated ticket...”

“But she’s a woman, traveling alone—she’ll suffer terribly on the journey. Could I pay you to swap tickets with you?”

“A woman?”

The old man frowned but didn’t refuse immediately.

In this kind of crowd, no one would willingly trade a sleeper ticket for a seated one!

Li Ye quickly pointed toward Professor Ke: “That one... that big guy is my brother, and the one beside him is my relative... her health is so poor, on the train...”

At that moment, Professor Ke’s hair was disheveled, looking quite disheveled.

The old man squinted and said, “Oh, your relative is a refined person!”

Li Ye replied, “She’s a teacher, but she’s always been in poor health. The journey to Beijing takes over ten hours—no one could endure standing in the front like this...”

The old man nodded: “That’s true. People with weak constitutions suffer terribly traveling like this.”

Seeing an opening, Li Ye pulled out fifty yuan from his pocket and shoved it into the old man’s, along with the ticket.

“Please help me, Uncle—unless we had no other choice, I’d never beg anyone...”

“Ah, kid, I...”

The old man frowned, reaching to pull the money out—but when he felt the amount, he felt embarrassed.

“Actually, you don’t need to give me so much—my hard sleeper is 23 yuan, your seat ticket is 12.5, just give me the 10.5 yuan difference.”

“No way!”

Li Ye grabbed the old man’s arm and pulled him toward Professor Ke, saying as they walked: “Sitting on a hard seat for ten hours is worse than working two extra days—if you gave it up for free, that’d be inhumane.”

“Hmph, working two extra days? No big deal—you kids just need more exercise.”

Hearing Li Ye’s words, the old man felt less uncomfortable.

When they reached Professor Ke, Li Ye stepped forward and said: “Professor Ke, I spoke with this uncle—he’s willing to generously give us his sleeper ticket.”

The old man immediately handed the ticket to Professor Ke, adding with pride: “We Dongshan men can’t stand seeing women suffer—it’s only right.”

“Th-this is too much! Let me pay you back!”

Professor Ke, deeply embarrassed, began rummaging through her small bag.

The old man waved his hand: “No need—your nephew already paid. Just hurry aboard!”

Li Ye quickly grabbed Professor Ke’s luggage and had Li Dayong and Jin Peng help the old man board the train.

“Ah, thank you so much! Thank you!”

Professor Ke thanked repeatedly as she followed Li Ye toward the sleeper car, while Li Dayong and Jin Peng helped the worker climb aboard.

The old man, a talkative fellow, asked: “Is that woman also your relative?”

“Relative?”

Jin Peng paused, then laughed: “Not yet—but who knows what the future holds?”

“Huh?”

Jin Peng explained: “That kid is my younger brother—he might one day call Professor Ke his mother-in-law.”

“Ah! So that’s it!” the old man realized. “No wonder he was so eager! Today, I might’ve just helped arrange a match!”

。。。。。

Because the sleeper car entrance had ticket inspectors, this area wasn’t crowded at all.

Li Ye escorted Professor Ke to the entrance, handed her the two bags of tobacco and alcohol, then leaned in and whispered:

“Professor Ke, when I asked Wen Leyu to proofread my manuscript, I promised to give her part of the royalties—but she never took it. This time, she told me to give it to you first—it’s at the bottom of the bag.”

“That won’t do.”

Professor Ke firmly refused, but Li Ye had already let go and stepped back.

“Professor Ke, if you don’t need it, bring it back—don’t suffer on the road.”

Professor Ke: “........”

“Stay safe on the journey. Once you arrive, if you can, send us a telegram.”

Professor Ke: “........”

“When you get to Beijing, don’t stay in small inns—stay at a proper hotel. Don’t be stingy with money.”

With those words spoken, Li Ye’s figure vanished into the crowd.

Professor Ke was urged aboard by the ticket inspector and didn’t calm down until she reached her berth.

【I was just given advice by a child.】

Professor Ke couldn’t help smiling—just now, it felt as if she were the inexperienced child, and Li Ye below was the one seeing her off.