“This money is so easy to make,” Zhang Hongyan couldn’t help but exclaim. “You really have to study. Otherwise, even if you have a skill, you won’t know how to make money.”

Xia Qingqing didn't argue when she heard her words, she just smiled and said, "Mom, have you packed all your things? Our train leaves the day after tomorrow morning."

"It's almost packed, but there's a lot of stuff. I'm planning to have your dad send some of it to the county tomorrow."

Xia Qingqing looked puzzled: "It's just some clothes and stuff, can't the four of us carry that little bit of stuff?"

"What clothes, blankets, grain, vegetables and eggs from home... these things would fill several large bags," Zhang Hongyan began counting on her fingers.

After deciding to go to Beijing, Zhang Hongyan picked all the vegetables in her garden and dried them into dried vegetables, and she also ate all the chickens she raised at home.

To be honest, if she weren't so overwhelmed with carrying everything, she would have liked to take all her belongings with her. City life is nothing like the countryside; you have to pay for even a single scallion. Every little bit helps.

“Really, we don’t need to. We have all these things in Beijing. Besides, we’ll need them when we come back. It’s too much trouble to bring the blankets back next time we go home,” Xia Qingqing quickly interrupted Zhang Hongyan.

After listening to her daughter's words, Zhang Hongyan could only pick out some more items, but she was determined to take the grains and dried vegetables with her.

Xia Qingqing could see Zhang Hongyan's reluctance, so she could only come up with a compromise: "Sending these grains would be a waste of postage. If you really want to take them, why don't you change them to fine grains instead?"

“Okay, Mom will go find someone to exchange it later,” Zhang Hongyan immediately agreed when she heard that she could take the grain with her. It would indeed be easier to carry the finer grains.

Xia Qingqing hugged Zhang Hongyan's arm affectionately: "Mom, I'll be able to eat your cooking every day after school. Just thinking about it makes me so happy."

Zhang Hongyan was overjoyed by her words, and she was also happy that she didn't have to be separated from her daughter.

The day before his departure, Gou Dan took the candy he had bought with his own money to say goodbye to his friends. Each of his friends generously gave him five candies as a farewell gift.

Da Niu got his favorite candy but wasn't happy at all: "Gou Dan, will you come back for the New Year?"

Gou Dan fell silent. He had heard his parents say a couple of days ago that train tickets were too expensive, so they might not be planning to come back for the Chinese New Year this year.

Seeing his reaction, his friends immediately became anxious:

"Dog Egg, does this mean we'll never see you again?"

"Why go to Beijing? Isn't it better to stay at home? We can go to school and play together."

"Brother Gou Dan, I don't want you to leave."

Dog Egg was also a little sad, but he pretended to be indifferent: "Oh, I will definitely come back in the future. Don't forget about me when you make new friends."

"Definitely not, Gou Dan, you'll always be my best brother," Da Niu said firmly.

The other children chimed in, echoing Da Niu's words.

After everyone had left, Gou Dan secretly called Da Niu aside, took a tin frog out of his pocket and handed it to him: "Da Niu, this is my favorite toy, I'm giving it to you now."

Da Niu was both surprised and touched. It wasn't that he really wanted the tin frog, but he was happy that Gou Dan treated him differently.

Although they are all friends, there are different kinds of friends. He is Dog Egg's best friend.

Da Niu then solemnly accepted the green tin frog: "I will definitely keep it safe for you, and we can play together again when you come back next time."

"Okay, I'll come back and play with you guys," Gou Dan said with a smile.

......

The day of departure arrived quickly, and because they needed to catch the train, the Xia family of four got up very early that day.

Zhang Hongyan cooked the dumplings she had made the night before in the dark to make breakfast.

Then I boiled 20 eggs and made a huge stack of egg pancakes to eat on the train.

Even this was only because Xia Qingqing stopped her; Zhang Hongyan originally planned to make more, not worried about it spoiling in such hot weather.

At 6 o'clock sharp, Uncle Ding appeared at the Xia family's door. Xia Heping quickly loaded all the luggage onto the oxcart.

Even a ruined home is worth a fortune. Zhang Hongyan and her husband were indeed worried about their meager possessions, so they asked several families they were on good terms with to help look after them.

After the family got on the oxcart, Zhang Hongyan handed two eggs and three egg pancakes that she had prepared in advance to Uncle Ding: "Uncle Ding, thank you for coming to see us off so early. These egg pancakes are for your breakfast."

Uncle Ding squinted his eyes into slits and said with a smile, "You're too kind, it's no trouble at all. I've already received the money."

The oxcart slowly made its way along the country dirt road. Uncle Ding couldn't help but sigh, "It feels like only yesterday that I took your family to the train station. I didn't expect you to be moving to Beijing so soon. Remember to come back and visit more often when you have time."

"Uncle Ding, don't worry, we will definitely come back." Xia Heping still vividly remembers his last trip to Beijing. He thought he would never be able to go to such a big city again in his life, but he never expected that one day he would live in Beijing with his daughter.

Uncle Ding squinted and nodded: "Yes, you and your husband just finished building your new house."

Xia Qingqing was already feeling sleepy because she got up too early, and the swaying of the oxcart made her even sleepier. She leaned on Zhang Hongyan's shoulder and fell asleep in no time.

"Qingqing, wake up! We're at the train station!" Zhang Hongyan called out, patting Xia Qingqing's cheek.

Xia Qingqing woke up groggily and immediately jumped off the oxcart. She looked at Zhang Hongyan with concern and said, "Mom, does your shoulder hurt? Why didn't you wake me up?"

She only intended to take a short nap, but unexpectedly, she fell asleep with her head on Zhang Hongyan's shoulder.

Zhang Hongyan waved her hand dismissively and said with a smile, "It's nothing, don't worry, your little body won't hurt your old lady."

Having had the experience of taking the train last time, Zhang Hongyan and her two companions appeared much more relaxed after entering the train station this time, carrying large and small bags and following behind Xia Qingqing.

It was neither the Lunar New Year nor the start of the school year, so there were noticeably fewer people at the train station than last time, and the group easily found their carriage.

When Xia Qingqing and her friends boarded the train, there were no passengers in the sleeper car yet, so the four of them didn't have to worry about disturbing others. They chatted and laughed as they unpacked their luggage.

Next came the bed assignment: "Mom, Gou Dan and I will sleep on the top bunk, and you and Dad will sleep on the bottom bunk."

“Okay, we’ll do it your way,” Zhang Hongyan said without objection.

Gou Dan was clearly excited. He remembered that the last time he took the train, he slept with his father because he had bought a child's ticket and didn't have a separate bed. This time, he could finally sleep in a bed by himself.