Chapter Sixteen: Encountering an Old Acquaintance
The train rattled along towards Heilongjiang Province. Almost all the passengers in the carriages were educated youth who were going to the countryside. Everyone's face showed reluctance, confusion, and helplessness. Of course, there were also a very few people whose faces were full of joy.
The person in charge of sending the educated youth to the countryside said a lot of inspiring words. After they finished speaking, they selected a few active representatives to take the lead in igniting the atmosphere, while they themselves quietly returned to the dining car.
The carriage instantly became noisy, with people chatting, striking up conversations, introducing themselves, and even putting on shows to keep the journey from being boring. The young people had boundless energy and quickly pulled themselves out of their initial reluctance to part with their families, joining in the fun.
Shen Yuzhu put away her handbag, leaned against the carriage, and closed her eyes to rest. The whip marks on her body were still throbbing slightly, but her thoughts had already flown to Heilongjiang Province. Once she reached the production team, she had to find her sister as soon as possible.
"Excuse me, are you from Haicheng? Where are you trying to cut in line?"
Shen Yuzhu was shaken awake by the person next to her, whose hand happened to be pinching her wound.
"Hiss!"
"What are you doing? I didn't use any force! Don't try to scam me!"
"You're such a big, burly guy, and she's so sweet and gentle. Do you think you're any different from her? I told you not to be so talkative, why did you have to pull her like that?"
Shen Yuzhu opened her eyes and looked at the two people talking.
What a coincidence! I ran into an old acquaintance as soon as I got on the bus.
In her previous life, she went to the countryside quite late, and it was only after arriving in Heilongjiang Province that she met these two. The darker and fatter one was named Zhang Shujuan. She was honest and kind, but she didn't know her own strength and wasn't very bright. Whenever someone provoked her, she would fall into their trap, and she had been taught a lesson by her several times.
The thinner, fair-skinned one is named Wang Yanhong. She is somewhat cunning and likes to speak in a sarcastic tone. She looks gentle and weak, as if she needs to be protected, but in reality, she has the darkest heart.
"Sorry, I didn't sleep well last night because I knew I was going to the countryside. I was just dreaming about eating a big meat bun, so I didn't notice someone calling me."
She spoke softly and gently, with a smile on her face, which startled Zhang Shujuan.
"You're so beautiful. I've never seen a more beautiful girl than you."
"You are very beautiful, and you look like a blessed person."
Zhang Shujuan looked at Shen Yuzhu and chuckled a few times. It was the first time someone had praised her like that, especially such a beautiful woman. The two, who were expected to argue, ended up chatting instead, which made Wang Yanhong feel a little uncomfortable.
She noticed the beautiful girl as soon as she got on the bus. Even though she was sleeping, she was still so attractive that people couldn't help but stop and look at her.
Zhang Shujuan is a brainless idiot. She always manages to get herself into fights with others. She never expected to meet her match. Look at her now, she's almost been fooled into becoming an idiot.
"What? You're also from Xiangyang Production Team, Ningyang County, Heilongjiang Province? Oh my god, what a coincidence! I'm also Comrade Chen."
"What a coincidence! I thought I wouldn't run into anyone on this trip!"
"Me too, me too!"
Wang Yanhong: "......."
You're nothing, you think I'm dead?
"Oh, we're from the same place! What a coincidence! We'll have to take care of each other from now on!"
"That's for sure. Comrade Shen, where in Haicheng are you from? Yan Hong and I are from the south of the city. What about you?"
"North of the city, at the non-staple food factory."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Shujuan and Wang Yanhong stared at her with wide eyes. The area in the north of the city was full of wealthy and influential people, and most of them were dual-income families. The two of them thought to themselves that this Comrade Shen must come from a well-off family.
However, they were sent to the countryside to work in the fields, and they had to do farm work every day. With Comrade Chen's small frame, he definitely couldn't endure the hardship. If he ended up getting entangled with them, they would be the ones who suffered.
Zhang Shujuan, who had just been chatting enthusiastically with Shen Yuzhu, stopped talking and began to speak to others.
The women sitting together exchanged glances, smiled knowingly, and then their conversation grew louder and their laughter increased.
Shen Yuzhu didn't dress up at all today. She even changed into cotton clothes she bought at the supply and marketing cooperative. All her little dresses and suits were in her space. The shoes she wore were common liberation shoes. But she had a smug look on her face, and you could tell at a glance that she was used to a life of luxury.
However, she didn't care about their little tricks at all. She wasn't going to Heilongjiang Province to make friends, so it was good that no one came up to talk to her.
It wasn't until around noon that the carriage quieted down a bit. The young people, who had spent the morning on their enthusiasm, began to take out their lunch from their bags. Some took out dry biscuits, some took out lunchboxes, and some secretly lowered their heads to hide their munching on cornbread.
Shen Yuzhu opened her handbag, took out the lunchbox that Chu Lian had prepared for her, and immediately slammed the lid shut.
Shen Yuzhu: "........."
Good heavens! How can this mother-in-law still have such a childlike heart?!
Wang Yanhong and the others looked at her, winking and grinning maliciously.
"What's wrong, Comrade Chen? It's lunchtime, why aren't you eating? What delicious food did your family prepare for you?"
"It's alright. There are all kinds of people in our carriage, including poor and lower-middle peasants. Even if the food isn't good, don't feel embarrassed. We're all good comrades who are making progress together."
"Yes, what is it that makes Comrade Shen so embarrassed? It's quite intriguing."
.........
"Mind your own business. Let them eat what they want. What does it have to do with you? You're all eyeing their lunchboxes instead of eating what's in your own bowls and giving it to other comrades who need it."
Qiao Wangshu took big bites of her steamed bun with an egg, her words sharp and sarcastic. She had long suspected those women were no good; they kept belittling the young girl. What kind of people were they?!
Shen Yuzhu turned her head and glanced at Qiao Wangshu, then paused for a moment when their eyes met. This person still had the same temper.
"It's nothing. You're just curious. If you want to see, come and take a look."
Shen Yuzhu opened the lunchbox and saw that inside the aluminum lunchbox were fish, meat, and eggs. There were four small smiley faces drawn on the rice with sauce. Because it was wrapped in a towel, it was still warm. The aroma of the food quickly spread throughout the carriage, making people swallow their saliva.
The women who had just harbored ill intentions froze upon seeing her food.
"I'm a little embarrassed, my mom always likes to do these childish things, please excuse me."
Everyone: "........."
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