Chapter 39 Departure, Touched

After Hua Wanqing accompanied Yunyi to get her ticket from the Educated Youth Office staff, they went directly to a friend at the station who exchanged her hard seat ticket for a sleeper berth ticket. The reason they hadn’t asked the office staff to buy a sleeper ticket in advance was to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from the other educated youths. He had already contacted his friend at the station, so everything went very smoothly. Instead of jostling with other passengers, they followed Hua Wanqing’s friend through a separate passage directly into the station. This train was making its first run and had already arrived for boarding. Yunyi quickly found her sleeper berth. After Yunyi arranged her bundles and suitcase, Hua Wanqing took a handbag from his friend. "Inside are some snacks and coupons; keep them safe." "I mentioned Uncle Li to you before. He used to be a soldier under my command and is now the Party Secretary of the commune where you’ll be settling. If you need anything, just go to him." Regardless, Yunyi accepted this kindness. "Uncle Hua, thank you. I’ll take good care of myself, don’t worry." By now, passengers were gradually boarding. Hua Wanqing offered a few more words of advice and then disembarked. He had a meeting that morning and couldn’t stay long. After exchanging a few pleasantries with his friend, he left the station promptly. Yunyi took advantage of the still-empty compartment to open the handbag Hua Wanqing had given her. Besides two boxes of Beijing Eight-Piece pastries on top, there were also bags of milk powder, canned meat, Malt Essence, milk candies, sponge cakes, and walnut crisps. Tucked into an inner pocket of the bag was an envelope containing various coupons and permits, including one for a bicycle, which warmed her heart. It was all because she had idly mentioned she couldn’t bring the family bicycle. After stowing the coupons safely, she resolved to find some local specialties to send back to them once she arrived. After all, she had to repay their kindness somehow. Just as she finished arranging her things, a middle-aged woman carrying luggage entered the compartment. Yunyi nodded to the woman, then took a bedsheet from her bag to spread over her berth. Ever since she transmigrated, she had been incredibly busy and planned to simply lie flat for the entire journey. The woman efficiently stowed her luggage and climbed onto the middle berth opposite Yunyi, clearly an experienced traveler. At that moment, another couple entered the compartment. The woman looked sickly and was being helped in by her husband. The husband was very considerate. He first helped his wife to lean back and lie down on the empty lower berth, saying, "You rest here for a bit while I go get the luggage." Seeing the woman nod, he hurried off the train again. He soon returned with two large bags. While stuffing them under the berth, he chided gently, "Look at you, in this state, and still wanting to travel back alone. If Mom hadn’t called me, you would have struggled just to get on the train." The woman, slightly embarrassed, tugged at the hem of his jacket, signaling him to stop. The man looked at her with an amused smile. "So you do know how to feel embarrassed? But honestly, if something had happened to you on the road, what would I have done?" The woman pouted. "You’ve been so busy lately; I was just afraid of interrupting your work." The man took out a water cup and placed it on the small table. "No matter how important work is, it can’t be more important than you," he said. "If anything really happened to you, how could I face our parents and your older brothers?" Listening to their conversation, Yunyi couldn’t help but feel a warmth towards the couple; they were both so considerate of each other. While the couple was talking, a mother and daughter entered the compartment. Seeing that the compartment was getting crowded and there wasn’t much room to stand, Yunyi took off her shoes, preparing to lie down on her berth. Just as she placed her shoes under the berth, she heard the girl complain unhappily, "How come all the lower berths are taken? Auntie Wang, didn’t we have a lower berth ticket?"