Qin Anning bought the lower bunk bed. After getting on the bus, she took out a single bed sheet, folded it and spread it on the window side.
Then he sat down, took out a book from his travel bag, and stuffed the bag under the bunk.
It takes more than 20 hours to get to Beijing. It’s too boring to go alone, so I can only read books to pass the time.
As the train slowly started moving, a man and a woman also came into the private room.
Both of them were probably in their twenties. The woman had short hair and was wearing a Lenin suit that was almost new. The man wore gold-rimmed glasses and a cadre uniform.
The two compared their ticket numbers. One was for the middle bunk on her side, and the other was for the upper bunk.
"Can I sit?"
The woman put her luggage away and pointed to the lower bunk and asked Qin An Ning politely.
She is not very pretty, but her eyes are watery and seem to be able to speak, adding a lot of brilliance to her whole person.
"Okay, sit down."
"Thanks!"
The woman was polite and reasonable, and Qin An Ning had a good impression of her.
Many people don't even ask, and assume that the lower bunk is where everyone sits.
Qin Anning was reading a book and the man didn't disturb her. He sat aside and chatted quietly with the man, all about work.
At noon, a sweet voice sounded over the radio, "This train provides a rich lunch for all passengers. Passengers who want to eat, please go to the dining car, which is in carriage 9."
In fact, on long-distance trains nowadays, in addition to eating in the dining car, there are also attendants pushing carts selling boxed lunches.
The lunch box is an aluminum lunch box that is filled with two-thirds of rice and the top layer is the dishes served today.
This kind of boxed lunch is much cheaper than eating in the dining car, and the crew will collect the lunch box after you finish eating.
Qin Anning was not short of money, so she went directly to the dining car to eat.
"Comrade, do you want to go to the dining car to eat too? Let's go together." The female comrade took the initiative to speak.
Qin An Ning nodded and walked ahead.
"Are you also on a business trip to Chunjiang County?"
"No, I'm an educated youth who went to the countryside."
"Are you returning to the city?"
"I'm visiting relatives."
The man sighed, "That's right, jobs are tight everywhere now, and it's not easy for educated youth to return to the city.
My name is Zhang Shuang, I work at the Jingshi Machinery Factory, nice to meet you."
Out of politeness, Qin Anning replied, "I am Qin Anning."
She had previously reported her identity as an educated youth and didn't say anything else.
Although most people nowadays are simple and honest, one should still be on guard against others. She doesn't intend to make close friends with people she meets by chance, so there's no need to say everything.
Qin An Ning and Zhang Shuang finished their dishes one after another and found a place to sit.
Suddenly, a child of six or seven years old rushed out and bumped into Zhang Shuang. Zhang Shuang lost his grip on the plate and spilled the food all over Qin An Ning.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." Zhang Shuang quickly apologized.
Qin Anning was very upset after being splashed all over, but Zhang Shuang was indeed also implicated, so she could only say that it was okay.
The little boy's parents also apologized and offered to compensate Zhang Shuang for the food.
"My food is fine. Look, Comrade Qin's clothes are all dirty. This..."
"Comrade, why don't you take it off and I'll help you wash it." The boy's mother was a little nervous.
The dress didn't look cheap, and she was afraid that Qin An Ning would ask them for compensation.
Qin An Ning took off her clothes and frowned when she saw a large spot on her back stained with vegetable juice.
What was spilled on her was twice-cooked pork, and I don’t know if the oil stain can be washed off.
She had plenty of clothes, but this one was specially brought back for her by her second brother from Guangzhou, and Qin An Ning felt very distressed.
"Comrade, I promise to wash your clothes." The boy's mother looked at Qin An Ning nervously.
"No need, just keep an eye on the child and don't let him run around and bump into others."
Qin An Ning's inner shirt was also stained, but she had already prepared the meal, so she couldn't go back without eating a single bite.
"Comrade Qin, I'm sorry. If I had held it steady, I wouldn't have soiled your clothes."
Zhang Shuang apologized sincerely again.
Qin An Ning pursed her lips and said, "It was just an accident, you don't have to mind it."
The boy's mother bought a plate of twice-cooked pork and a plate of braised fish as an apology.
Qin An Ning didn't blame them in the first place, so now it was even harder for him to say anything.
After finishing his meal and returning to the sleeper car, Qin Anning pulled out his travel bag, found two pieces of clothes, and planned to go to the bathroom to change.
Anyone who has ridden a green train knows that the toilet smells really sour.
Qin An Ning held her breath and changed her clothes quickly. When she came out, she met Zhang Shuang who was waiting at the door.
"I have soap here, wash it quickly, or it won't come out if you wait too long."
After Zhang Shuang finished speaking, he took the coat Qin An Ning had changed out of and went to the sink to wash it.
The place was too small, and Qin Anning had no place to stand when Zhang Shuang stood there. She could only say behind her, "I'll wash it myself."
"Just let me wash it, otherwise I will feel bad."
Zhang Shuang was very skillful. He wet the dirty part with water, applied soap, rubbed it vigorously with both hands, and then rinsed it with water. He repeated this two or three times before wringing it dry.
"I don't know if it can be washed clean, let's wait until it dries and see."
Zhang Shuang wanted to wash the shirt as well, but this time Qin Anning dodged it quickly, "I'll do it myself."
When the two came back from washing clothes, the man with glasses who was with Zhang Shuang handed them two clothes hangers.
"I heard Zhang Shuang talk about getting Comrade Qin's clothes dirty. This is the clothes hanger I borrowed from the flight attendant."
Qin An Ning thanked him and hung the clothes in the aisle to dry.
According to Zhang Shuang's introduction, the man's name is Qin Guoqiang, which is quite coincidental as he has the same surname as her.
After this laundry incident, Zhang Shuang became noticeably more talkative, chatting about what happened on her last train ride and interesting things at work.
I would also ask about Qin Anning's experience of going to the countryside to work in the fields and about the educated youth.
Anyway, she is quite talkative, but she always keeps the topics within a certain range and won't ask too many questions that would be offensive.
There was nothing to do on the train, so Qin An Ning chatted with her casually.
We went to the dining car for dinner again in the evening, and luckily nothing unexpected happened this time.
I spent the night peacefully, and the next day after breakfast, it took another two or three hours to reach Beijing.
When the salesperson came over with a cart to sell goods, Zhang Shuang bought three bottles of orange-flavored soda.
"Comrade Qin, I'm sorry there's still a stain on your clothes that won't come out. This bottle of soda is my apology, and you absolutely cannot refuse it."
As he said that, he handed over an opened bottle of soda.
Then he gave Qin Guoqiang another bottle.
In this situation, Qin An Ning couldn't refuse and had to take it.
"I told you it was an accident. You don't have to keep it in mind."
"Thank you for your tolerance and understanding." Zhang Shuang smiled brightly and raised the soda bottle in a toast gesture.
Qin An Ning clinked the bottle with her, then when he put it to his lips to drink, he suddenly smelled a different scent.
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