Chapter 257 Parting Ways

Around six o'clock, the state-run canteen at the train station opened for business.

They bought tickets for the 7 o'clock train, so instead of leaving the station to find food as before, they planned to eat inside the train station.

Fortunately, although the breakfast options at the state-run canteen here weren't as plentiful as in Shashi and Guangzhou, they still had the usual steamed buns, mantou, and huajuan. They also offered various local specialties like sour soup noodles and sour soup rice noodles, as well as "laosu fen" (a type of dry rice noodle dish made with chili oil, peanuts, soybeans, pickled vegetables, and pickled radishes), which perfectly suited Qin Suisui's taste.

In order to try more flavors, Qin Suisui had Pei Jiuyan, Jia Zhenzhen, and Liang Qi each order a different one, and then they shared it so that everyone could taste each flavor.

The more Qin Suisui ate, the happier she became. After taking a sip of the sour and spicy soup, she couldn't help but squint her eyes and exclaim, "I've finally found my third hometown!"

Jia Zhenzhen chuckled: "Then where is your second hometown?"

"Sichuan Province! Is that even a question?"

At this point, she suddenly turned her gaze to Liang Qi, who was focused on slurping his noodles: "Brother Ruwen, do you have any ideas about expanding your business?"

As soon as she said that, Liang Qi immediately understood what she meant. He put down his bowl and chuckled, "What? You want me to take these sour soup ingredients to Qiongtan Island?"

Qin Suisui nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Da Liu chimed in from the side: "Boss, Sui Sui's idea is great! This stuff is delicious and goes well with rice, and it'll give you energy to work! Who knows, the market might actually be pretty good."

Liang Qi narrowed his eyes and scoffed, "Do you need to tell me?"

This means that you have agreed.

Da Liu and Qin Suisui exchanged a glance, both revealing a triumphant look.

After finishing their meal, they bought some steamed buns and mantou as provisions, and the group boarded the train to Kunming.

Because most of the journey was along mountain roads, the train traveled very slowly, taking more than twenty hours to arrive. Moreover, because everyone had been chatting happily and eating too much on the way, all the snacks and melon seeds were gone, leaving only the oranges and sweet potatoes for Qin Suisui to "stay alive," as well as... Qin Suisui's small half-packet of tea.

They also bought steamed buns and dumplings at the Guiyang Railway Station.

Bored out of nowhere, Liu somehow got hold of a homemade deck of cards, and the group started playing cards while drinking tea.

Fortunately, the large number of people made it lively and reduced many safety hazards. The group ate, drank, and played cards all the way to Kunming.

We arrived in Kunming on the morning of the third day.

The weather was sunny and clear, with a gentle breeze and warm, bright sunshine that seemed to have washed away everyone's fatigue and exhaustion from the journey.

After having breakfast together, the three groups of people separated.

Qin Suisui, Jia Zhenzhen, and Hu Jue are going to Wenzhou City, which is an important production area for lamprose.

Pei Jiuyan and Zhou Jianguo are going to Li City; their mission location is there.

Liang Qi and Da Liu were both from Kunming.

So everyone agreed to meet in Pucha City a week later.

Before parting, Pei Jiuyan looked at Qin Suisui with some concern: "It's far from home, there are many mountains, and in some places we don't speak the language. Please be careful."

Qin Suisui nodded: "Don't worry, the organization has already contacted Wenzhou City. Someone will take us to trace the source. We won't run around on our own. Besides, aren't there Zhenzhen and Brother Jue?" After the incident in Shashi, Hu Jue's relationship with everyone had become more harmonious.

Pei Jiuyan's expression was still not good, but because they had been delayed in Shashi for a night, his and Comrade Zhou Jianguo's mission was already a day later than scheduled. With military duties to attend to, no matter how worried he was, he could not disregard the organization's mission and accompany Qin Suisui.

Liang Qi frowned: "How about I go with you first? Da Liu can handle things in Kunming by himself."

Big Liu stared wide-eyed at Liang Qi: "Huh? Boss, I...can I?"

Liang Qi gave him a cold look, and Da Liu immediately stood at attention: "That's right, Sui Sui, we have other brothers here, I can do it!"

Qin Suisui chuckled: "Really, there's no need. Wenzhou City has already made arrangements. It's not like I'm doing it alone. You guys go ahead with your work. Didn't I leave you the phone number for Wenzhou City? I also gave you the phone number for Pucha City. You can call them in advance to let me know when you're done."

Qin Suisui was getting impatient with the chatter of the group. Jia Zhenzhen practically patted her chest and promised not to let Qin Suisui lose a single hair. Even Hu Jue was forced to swear that he would rather lose himself than lose Qin Suisui. Finally, the three groups of people successfully parted ways.

Pei Jiuyan saw Qin Suisui and the other two off onto the bus. Pei Jiuyan and Liang Qi treated them like their own children going to school, one helping with the luggage and the other helping to find seats. After settling them in, they each gave her a bag of food, saying a few words of advice:

"These are fruits and snacks. You can eat them whenever you're hungry. There's sour papaya in them. If you get carsick, you can take them out and put them in your mouth to feel better."

"Take this coat out and tie it around your waist. Put it on if you're cold, and take it off if you're hot, so you don't catch a cold. Make sure your small bag is ready, and keep your documents and money safe. It doesn't matter if your luggage is lost, your safety is the most important thing."

Qin Suisui: ...

"I know! I really remember! You guys hurry up and go find your cars! Don't delay us!"

After the two of them finally left, turning back every few steps, she breathed a sigh of relief. It felt like she had returned to her student days, when her parents took her to school.

It takes another six or seven hours by car from Kunming to Wenshan, and the journey is full of steep hills, sharp bends, and bumpy roads, making the ride extremely uncomfortable.

At first, Jia Zhenzhen could still complain with Qin Suisui about Pei Jiuyan and Liang Qi being so fussy, but after the car went over a few slopes and bends, she became listless.

"Quick, Sui Sui, give me one of your sour papayas!"

Seeing her complexion, Qin Suisui immediately realized that she was also carsick. She quickly stuffed the peeled and sliced ​​papaya strips into Jia Zhenzhen's mouth, and with her other hand, she held the orange peel that she had been smelling to Jia Zhenzhen's nose, asking with concern, "How are you, Zhenzhen? Are you feeling any better?"

Jia Zhenzhen chewed the sour papaya strip hard and swallowed it, then took a deep breath of the refreshing aroma of orange peel, trying her best to suppress the overwhelming nausea and vomiting. She then waved to Qin Suisui and said, "Suisui, I now know how hard you've suffered on this journey. You've really endured a lot."

It wasn't just them; along this winding mountain road, there were frequent bumps, sharp turns, and sudden brakes, and the entire carriage was filled with vomiting.

The two of them made it past another sharp turn and breathed a sigh of relief—thank goodness, they almost threw up.

Just as they were feeling relieved, a pale hand suddenly reached out from behind, startling them so much that the hairs on their bodies stood on end.