Chapter Seventy-One

With Lei Tingjun present, there seemed to be an invisible aura emanating from him, spreading outwards within a three-meter radius, with very low air pressure.

Ji Wanmei immediately felt refreshed. There were fewer of those furtive glances around her, and even the air felt cleaner.

The train was crowded and packed, and the weather in July was already hot.

Even the wind blowing in from outside the window carried a sweltering heat, and it would get even hotter as the sun rose higher.

Ji Wanmei's hoodie, which she always carried with her, was not unwearable, but it would definitely be too hot.

With Lei Tingjun present, Ji Wanmei loosely draped her coat over her shoulders to slightly cover her chest and abdomen.

The old-fashioned green train seats are particularly hard. They have a cloth cover on the outside and palm fiber cushions and wooden boards on the inside. You don't feel it if you sit for a while, but if you sit for a long time, your butt will hurt.

However, compared to the migrant workers in the aisle who had no seats, those with seats were still more comfortable.

Luo Chunyan whispered to Ji Wanmei, "Why did the Thunder Army come along too?"

"I don't know either." Ji Wanmei said she didn't know, but she certainly knew why Lei Tingjun had come along.

He was worried about himself and about that clerk, so even if he had to buy a standing ticket, he was determined to escort her safely to Zhejiang.

He did these things without the slightest hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

His passion and sincerity were fully displayed at this moment.

Ji Wanmei smiled gently, her eyes softening, and she felt an indescribable sense of security and peace of mind—something she had never experienced in either of her lives.

Luo Chunyan, however, was not impressed. She glared at Lei Tingjun with wide eyes and thought to herself, "This guy is like a piece of chewing gum, I can't shake him off. He even chased me onto the train. Is he planning something bad on Meimei?"

Fortunately, Director Ji had the foresight to send Officer Li along, so Lei Tingjun wouldn't dare to do anything.

Ji Wanmei glanced over discreetly and saw that Officer Li was looking down at his book and had not noticed Lei Tingjun, so she breathed a sigh of relief.

Lei Tingjun was tall and strong. Standing on the back of the chair behind Li, he didn't need to hold onto the armrests. He could stand as steady as a pine tree with his feet firmly planted.

He remained expressionless, occasionally glancing at Ji Wanmei, and was quite quiet.

Two hours into the journey, around noon, train attendants began selling boxed meals and fast food from their dining carts.

"Anyone want a boxed lunch? Fast food boxed lunch, 80 cents a serving; instant noodles, 80 cents a serving; hot water provided!"

A boxed meal on the train costs 80 cents, and instant noodles cost the same.

In these ordinary train carriages, most of the passengers are ordinary farmers who go out to work. They are unwilling to spend that extra money to buy a boxed meal for 80 cents. They just stuff a few steamed buns or cornbread into their bags to fill their stomachs.

Around lunchtime, many passengers started taking out their snacks from their bags to eat.

Luo Chunyan quickly took out the steamed buns and eggs from her bag and shared them with Ji Wanmei and Officer Li.

Officer Li originally wanted to offer to buy them boxed lunches, but Ji Wanmei and Luo Chunyan both said it wasn't necessary, as the boxed lunches on the train were neither tasty nor expensive.

Besides, they brought eggs, and it would be a waste not to eat them, plus they're quite heavy to carry in their bags.

Eggs are always tastier than dry steamed buns. Ji Wanmei was thoughtful and worried that boiled eggs would be bland, so she also brought a jar of pickled vegetable sauce. It was leftover from making braised pork with preserved mustard greens that day. She stir-fried it with minced meat sauce and oil and put it in a glass jar.

It's perfect for cooking steamed buns and eggs now.

After Ji Wanmei opened the bag of food, she turned around and looked at Lei Tingjun. He didn't have any luggage or bags on him, so he definitely didn't bring any food.

Moreover, when Ji Wanmei looked at him, she noticed that his gaze had glanced at the flight attendant pushing the food cart toward them.

However, when he saw the food in the food cart, which was completely bland and didn't look very appealing, his eyes lost interest.

A tall man who is 1.85 meters tall can't skip lunch. Even if it's expensive or not tasty, he has to eat something first.

While Officer Li was peeling the eggs, Ji Wanmei reached out and took two eggs, secretly slipped them behind her, and handed them to Lei Tingjun.

When Lei Tingjun saw Ji Wanmei hand him the egg, he paused slightly, glanced at her, and silently accepted it without saying a word.

Although Secretary Li didn't notice, Luo Chunyan, who was sitting next to Ji Wanmei, could see it clearly.

Luo Chunyan frowned and said, "Meimei, why are you giving it to him? Can't he buy his own food?"

Fearing that Officer Li might hear, Ji Wanmei lowered her voice and whispered, "We both brought enough eggs for three people. If we can't finish them, it's okay to give him two."

Luo Chunyan sighed, "Never mind, Meimei is kind-hearted."

Ke Ji Wanmei not only gave two of her eggs to Lei Tingjun, but she also cut a white steamed bun in half like a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), spread two spoonfuls of pickled vegetable and meat sauce inside, and quietly handed it to Lei Tingjun behind her.

Luo Chunyan was speechless. Why was Meimei so nice to a good-for-nothing factory worker?

Could it be that Meimei has really fallen for him?

Aside from being taller and having a more rugged and fierce appearance, what about Lei Tingjun can compare to Deputy Factory Director Yang's son?

Luo Chunyan really couldn't understand it.

Lei Tingjun took the egg and meat sauce bun that Ji Wanmei had secretly given him, his eyes flickered slightly, and ate them silently.

Lei Tingjun remembered every kindness Ji Wanmei showed him.

Earlier, after tasting the minced meat sauce made with preserved mustard greens and braised pork, Secretary Li kept exclaiming, "Miss Ji, this minced meat sauce you made is so delicious, it smells so good!"

Luo Chunyan also praised, "Meimei, your cooking skills are really good. How did you make this meat sauce? It smells so good. When we get back, you can teach me too."

The group of them were eating delicious minced meat buns and eggs, and some passengers nearby also came over after smelling the aroma.

Everyone was holding the same cornbread and steamed buns, but they just didn't taste as good as the ones with pickled vegetables, minced meat, and sauce.

After Lei Tingjun finished eating his steamed buns and eggs, he wanted to drink some water. He looked around and saw a hot water area in the passageway connecting the vehicles ahead. Everyone was having lunch, so he figured no one would dare to make a move. He walked towards the hot water area.

Seeing Lei Tingjun walk towards the back, heading towards the restroom and hot water area, Ji Wanmei assumed he was going to use the restroom.

Lei Tingjun went to the hot water station, turned on the room temperature water tap, scooped up some water with his hands, drank a few mouthfuls, and then prepared to pour it back.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a thin man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face not far away, who was vigilantly watching his surroundings and secretly using a small knife to cut open the briefcase of a passenger in a seat.

Lei Tingjun's dark eyes flashed sharply, and he shouted, "What are you doing!"