Chapter 333 Professor Su

The old lady was about sixty years old, with her hair combed meticulously. She was wearing a navy blue Dacron shirt with a knitted cardigan on the outside. Although the style was ordinary, it was washed clean and ironed very flat.

She wore an old-fashioned watch on her wrist, had a calm and gentle temperament, and her eyes were clear, revealing the calmness of someone who had experienced many ups and downs.

In this era when most people still squeeze into hard seats or even have no seats at all, being able to own a sleeper ticket is itself unusual.

Therefore, Jiang Haitang did not dare to show any disrespect to the old lady.

The old lady also looked at them with a kind smile. She spoke softly, her voice gentle and clear: "Comrades, where are you going?"

"Yes, mother-in-law, we are going back to the capital from the northwest." Jiang Haitang responded with a smile, feeling that the old lady looked very familiar.

"The Northwest is great, with vast land and sparse population, but the wind and sand have been a bit strong in recent years." The old lady said with some emotion, "I also lived there for a few years in my early years."

Jiang Haitang's heart moved, and she asked tentatively, "Grandma, did you work in the northwest before?"

The old lady smiled slightly and did not answer directly. Instead, she said, "I guess so. I travel a lot, doing geological surveys, and I've been to a lot of wild mountains and wildernesses."

Her tone was flat, but the four words "geological exploration" made Jiang Haitang stand in awe.

This is absolutely top-notch technical work, and it is extremely difficult and requires great dedication.

"You're an exploration expert!" Jiang Haitang's tone was filled with respect. "Then you've discovered a lot of mineral deposits for the country, right?"

The old lady waved her hand and smiled modestly, "That's all in the past. I just followed the team around and did my duty. I can't compare to you young people. Now is the time for you to show your talents."

Her eyes fell on the technical notes and drawings that Jiang Haitang had placed on the small table. "Are you a technician?"

"Well, do some research on mechanics." Jiang Haitang replied.

The old lady nodded, her eyes full of appreciation. "Great, great! Our country needs young people like you who are tech-savvy right now. When I was out in the field, what I longed for most was good equipment. It would save me so much effort!"

"Unfortunately, at that time, many things had to be imported or made by ourselves using primitive methods. It was difficult..." There was no complaint in her words, only an earnest expectation.

"Everything will be fine in the future, mother-in-law. I believe that one day, our motherland will develop to a level that we dare not imagine."

During the chat, the old lady learned that Jiang Haitang grew up in the northwest, so she asked some questions about the local customs and industrial development there. Her questions were very knowledgeable and it was obvious that she had a good understanding of the actual situation there and was not just talking in general terms.

Jiang Haitang cautiously shared some non-confidential experiences, but most of them were about the customs and human stories of the Northwest.

One old and one young, the two were chatting very enthusiastically.

"It seems that local comrades are still working very hard. Although the conditions are difficult, they are constantly making progress." The old lady said with satisfaction, "It's like this train. Although it's a little slow, it always keeps moving forward. The country is the same. It will always get better and better. Just like you said, one day it will develop to a level we dare not imagine."

There was a sense of conviction in her words.

After chatting for a while, the old lady took out a thick book and began to read. Jiang Haitang saw that it was a geology monograph. Jiang Haitang did not disturb the old lady, but gently coaxed Xiao Chengzi to play.

The entire box was very quiet, with only Little Orange occasionally making babbling sounds.

The train clanged along across the vast plains, its rhythm steady and hypnotic.

Soon, Little Orange got tired of playing, and his eyelids started to droop while he was chewing on the teething biscuits.

Xiao He skillfully held him in his arms, patted him gently, and hummed a tuneless lullaby. The little guy soon fell asleep with the regular rocking, his long eyelashes casting a light shadow on his pink cheeks.

Xiao He placed the sleeping little guy on the bed.

Jiang Haitang poured a glass of water for Xiao He: "Sister Vanilla, you should lie down and rest for a while. You must have worked hard on this journey."

"I'm fine. But you shouldn't work too hard. When it's time to rest, you should have a good rest." Xiao He smiled in a low voice.

Jiang Haitang was indeed a little tired, but she didn't want to sleep.

She leaned against the berth partition and looked out the window.

Occasionally, there are villages and towns along the railway. Compared with the desolation of the northwest, the fields here seem more regular, and the colors of people's clothes are also subtly more varied.

Jiang Haitang took out the yellowed notebook that Gu Yundi gave her again and opened it carefully.

It can be seen that this notebook has been around for many years. The paper is a bit brittle, but the penmanship is still clear and powerful.

It contains not only written records, but also some detailed hand-drawn sketches. Although simple, they show the ingenuity of the structure.

Gu Yundi's notes are well-organized, recording not only what he saw and heard, but also his own thoughts and doubts, and even some bold assumptions.

Jiang Haitang was mesmerized by what she saw, completely immersed in the ocean of knowledge.

She found that some technological concepts from decades ago are not outdated even today. Some ideas that could not be realized due to limitations of materials or processes at the time may be possible to try with current technological conditions.

This notebook is a treasure trove for her.

Xiao He looked at Jiang Haitang's focused profile. Her eyes were bright and full of curiosity, and he couldn't help but admire her.

She quietly got up and refilled Jiang Haitang's cup with hot water.

Perhaps Haitang was right. No matter what time, one should never give up studying. She should also learn to read and write when she returns to the capital.

Time passes quietly in quiet reading and thinking.

The conductor came to change the ticket and the names of several major stations were announced on the radio.

In the evening, Little Orange woke up and whimpered for milk.

Xiao He quickly prepared milk powder and fed him.

The old lady opposite had also put down her book and stood up to stretch her body.

A few people chatted casually, and the simple communication diluted the monotony of the journey.

Jiang Haitang took out the food she brought from Jincheng, and went to the dining car to buy some rice and stir-fried vegetables, and had a simple meal with Xiao He.

The old lady next to them also ate the food she brought with her. The two talked for a while after the meal, and the old lady lay on the bed to rest.

The lights in the car came on.

Some of the passengers in other berths were chatting, some were playing cards, and some had already gone to bed.

Little Orange was in good spirits at the moment, giggling at Xiao He's teasing.

Jiang Haitang was afraid of disturbing others, so she picked up Xiao Chengzi and pointed at the lights outside the window and the occasional flashing lights of the village and town, and taught him softly: "Light up... light up..."

The little guy opened his big black eyes, followed his mother's finger, and made "hmm" and "ahh" sounds with his mouth, as if he was really learning to talk.

At night, after the lights in the carriage were turned off, Xiao Chengzi fell asleep under Xiao He's gentle coaxing.

Jiang Haitang couldn't sleep. She was lost in thought in the faint light from the window.

This trip back to Jincheng seems to be a perfect ending to a past period of my life.

She bid farewell to her old friends, paid tribute to her parents, and fulfilled her wish.

In the future, her stage will be in Beijing, where she has her career, her family, and her new life that is about to begin.

Although I still feel reluctant to leave the Northwest, I feel more relieved that I have unloaded the burden and can move forward with a light heart.

However, this new life also made her feel uneasy and uneasy.

However, Jiang Haitang believes that there is no road in the world that cannot be traveled!

The train rocked rhythmically like a huge cradle. She listened to the "clicking" sound of the wheels rolling over the rails and the soft snoring in the carriage. Her thoughts gradually became blurred and she fell into a dream.

She slept very soundly that night.

Occasionally I would half wake up to the announcement of the train stop, but would soon fall asleep again to the cradle-like rocking of the train.

Fortunately, the little guy, Little Orange, had a good night's sleep after eating.

The next morning, she was awakened by the increasingly dense villages and factories outside the window.

The sun shines through the car window, heralding another day of good weather.

They were getting closer and closer to the capital.

Xiao He has already gotten up and is changing Xiao Chengzi's diaper.

"Sister Vanilla, why didn't you get more sleep?"

"I slept well. I've already washed up, you should go and wash up."

"Okay, Sister Vanilla, after we wash up, I'll go to the dining car and get us some breakfast."

"There are also malted milk and pancakes. We can just eat these. There is no need to buy breakfast specifically." Xiao He quickly refused.

I don’t know how much money I’ve spent along the way, but I can’t spend any more.

Jiang Haitang thought about it and didn't force it.

After washing up, I made two cups of malted milk.

"Mother-in-law, do you want me to make you a cup of malted milk?" Jiang Haitang asked the old lady who had just finished washing up.

"No, I'll just go to the dining car to buy some food. I just want to trouble you to keep an eye on my luggage." The old lady refused with a smile.

Jiang Haitang drank the sweet and warm malted milk and ate breakfast with the remaining pancakes.

She looked at the scenery rapidly receding outside the window and began to feel excited.

She will be able to see Xiao Taozi soon. Thinking of her daughter's sweet smile and soft hug, her heart becomes extremely soft.

After breakfast, the old lady continued to read seriously, while Jiang Haitang played with Xiao Chengzi for a while.

There was no way. The little guy seemed to have lost the patience to continue riding in the car and began to get impatient.

Time passed quickly and it was soon noon. After having lunch and packing her luggage, Jiang Haitang estimated that the train would arrive soon.

Sure enough, not long after, the train broadcast sounded again, announcing that they were about to arrive at the terminal.

"Dear passengers, please note that the next stop is Beijing Station, the final stop of this train. Please pack your belongings and prepare to get off..."

The carriage suddenly became busy, people began to pack their luggage, and familiar people talked.

At this time, the conductor came over to exchange the ticket, and his attitude was particularly respectful: "Professor Su, we will arrive in Beijing soon. Please take your things."

"Thank you, comrade." The old lady, or Professor Su as the conductor called her, thanked her kindly.

Jiang Haitang suddenly realized that this old lady was no ordinary person. No wonder she had such an extraordinary temperament.

Seeing Jiang Haitang looking at her, the old lady smiled and took out a pen and paper, wrote a line of words and handed it to Jiang Haitang: "Little girl, I think you are a good seedling who is down-to-earth and hardworking. If you encounter any difficulties when working and living in Beijing in the future, or have any technical ideas that you need to discuss, you can call me on this number. Although I am retired, I still have some old connections in several research institutes."