Seeing that everyone's attention was finally on him, Battalion Commander Cao continued:

"Due to some unforeseen circumstances, they will be crammed into the same carriage as us for the remaining dozen or so hours. Once we arrive at Beijing Railway Station, we will be arranged to stay at a guesthouse."

Battalion Commander Cao knew that most of the people here were not simple, and it was indeed a bit unfair that so many people were crammed together.

But the gunshots from next door were real, and it's also true that these people need to be given special protection.

Battalion Commander Cao couldn't guarantee that some of these people might have been bribed by other forces, but on the surface, they were all people they were supposed to protect.

He only hoped that he could reach his destination safely and smoothly, so that his burden could be lightened considerably.

Zhao Youcai poked half his head out from the upper bunk and carefully scanned the strangers brought by Battalion Commander Cao. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes.

It's no wonder Zhao Youcai is suspicious; these people either have pale faces or their fingers are trembling slightly, clearly indicating they've been greatly frightened.

Even factory directors like Ma and Niu, who grew up in the military compound in Beijing and had never been on the battlefield, had expressions of relief and lingering fear on their faces.

And that woman, as aloof as a plum blossom, stood calmly, composed, and elegantly not far behind Battalion Commander Cao; it was hard not to notice her.

Noticing a gaze fixed on her, the woman looked in the direction of the gaze and met Zhao Youcai's eyes. She nodded slightly, somewhat lost in thought.

Before Zhao Youcai could even look away from staring intently at the woman, he noticed that her ears had inexplicably turned red.

Unbeknownst to Zhao Youcai, the woman with the red ears was experiencing an abnormally rapid heartbeat.

Boom, boom, boom…

"Comrade He, are you feeling unwell? Should I call the doctor who is with you?"

He Xiaojuan, whose face, neck, and ears were all as red, hurriedly waved her hand with a smile. Her voice and demeanor were completely out of sync, carrying the boldness unique to Northeastern women.

"You're welcome. It's just that the carriage is a bit hot, so I wore something a bit too warm this time."

Zhao Youcai's slightly romantic thoughts vanished instantly.

No wonder people often say that girls from Northeast China are all incredibly beautiful, it's just a pity about their mouths.

She had the looks and figure of an angel, but the voice and volume of a devil.

It felt like a pot of boiling hot oil being poured onto a thick layer of ice—an indescribable discomfort and strangeness.

"That man lying on the top bunk looks unfamiliar. I've never seen him before."

Battalion Commander Cao immediately knew who He Xiaojuan was asking about, and introduced her with a smile.

"That's Comrade Zhao Youcai, the factory director of the instant noodle factory specially approved by the military region. He's also the squad leader of one of the teams sent by our Jilin Province."

He Xiaojuan looked surprised.

The last time she attended the Chiho Festival, she was as the assistant to the previous cannery director; this time, she is here as the cannery director.

When I first saw Zhao Youcai, I thought he was the son or nephew of some factory director who had taken the place of the accompanying personnel. I never expected that he was also a factory director at such a young age.

wrong!

He Xiaojuan suddenly remembered the rumors she had heard before, and her face, which had just been flushed, instantly lost a lot of color.

"I heard that the factory manager Zhao at the instant noodle factory is sixty years old this year?"

He looks no more than forty. If he dressed a little more stylishly, you could easily mistake him for someone in his thirties.

Battalion Commander Cao laughed heartily and gently patted He Xiaojuan's shoulder.

"Don't even mention you, I was also taken aback when I first met him. Perhaps some people are born with an advantage, not only do they not look old, but their mental state and physical strength are also exceptionally good."

Seeing the disappointment in He Xiaojuan's eyes, Battalion Commander Cao, being an experienced man, naturally understood why she was feeling down.

"Xiaojuan, I heard from your third uncle that you went on a blind date the other day and made the guy run away again? If you ask me, just find someone with good character. Feelings can be cultivated slowly."

He Xiaojuan is ambitious and has very discerning taste.

Her family worried a lot about her love life. They started observing the people around her when she was sixteen and introduced her to various promising young men as soon as she turned eighteen.

Eighteen years have passed in the blink of an eye, and He Xiaojuan is now thirty-six years old.

Other girls her age would have already hastily married someone. But she took a different path, winning the position of cannery manager through sheer ability.

He Xiaojuan's parents were both overjoyed and desperate to have such a daughter.

After all, any family would be happy to have such a daughter who is so presentable and worthy of being shown off. However, the fact that she has remained single and has not married or had children is truly a headache.

She had finally fallen for him, only to find out he was older than her father, leaving her completely stunned.

Seeing that Battalion Commander Cao and she seemed to have a good relationship, Zhao Youcai stopped observing her.

Anyway, the carriage returned to calm, and he had nothing to do, so he closed his eyes again and pretended to sleep, but in reality, he went back to work in the Golden Finger Town.

The little incident on the train passed quickly, and a train attendant came over to explain the situation to them and reassure them not to panic.

Zhao Youcai wasn't nervous at all, after all, he had so many bodyguards with him. These were all veterans who had fought on the battlefield, carried guns, and braved hail of bullets. If something really happened, who knew who would panic more?

"We have now entered Liaoning Province and will stop at this station for about half an hour. If anyone wants to get off the train to get some fresh air or do some shopping, you can come and let me know, and I will send someone to accompany you off the train and protect your safety. But I also hope that you will not get off the train unless absolutely necessary."

If they encounter any major trouble that delays their return, the train won't stop specifically to wait for them.

Everyone understood the meaning behind Battalion Commander Cao's words, and that after this stop, their next departure would be a direct route to the capital.

If you're short of food or drink, you can buy it directly on the train. There's no need to get off now, buy something, carry it to Beijing, and then bring it back after the Thousand Harvest Festival.

Zhao Youcai was lying down as flat as he could have been.

After all, he had a warehouse full of things, and just taking out a few things to eat would make these guys drool.

Moreover, he is the factory manager of an instant noodle factory; when it comes to fast food, he's always in demand.

Zhao Youcai specially prepared two extra boxes of instant noodles for this trip. One box was so that he could find hot water on the train and have a hot meal.

As for the other box...