After Grandma Li's matter was over, Ruan Ruan and Huo Haocheng packed their things and prepared to take the children to Beijing to see their grandparents.
Since it was just the two of them traveling together, Ruan Ruan packed the things the children would need first, and then packed two sets of clothes for themselves. Each of them carried one child and a bag.
On the day the two went out, Fu Mingyi picked them up in his car. Huo Yue came with him. It was a busy time in the fields, and Li Huan was a little worried about being home alone, so she asked Huo Yue to come back and keep her company, and maybe even help her cook.
Seeing them board the train with the child, the old lady followed behind them, repeatedly urging them to be careful of the child and to be extra cautious on the train. She said that even though the train journey was short, they should not let their guard down, and that if anything happened between the child and Ruan Ruan, she would break Huo Haocheng's legs.
Huo Haocheng was already immune to the old man and woman's obsession with breaking his legs.
Just like before he returned, Fu Mingyi saw them off on the train before returning himself.
The train journey from Shenyang to Beijing takes only one day, so Huo Haocheng bought a ticket for 6 p.m. and ate lunch at home before leaving the city.
They had bought sleeper tickets with their child, both for lower berths. Shortly after they boarded, two men, one old and one young, got on the train. The old man was wearing a faded Zhongshan suit, and the young man's clothes were patched. Both were rather thin and looked somewhat malnourished.
They came in and were taken aback to see Huo Haocheng and Ruan Ruan, looking a little awkward. Seeing their reaction, Ruan Ruan, holding the child, sat down on Huo Haocheng's berth. "Grandpa, you're in this carriage too, right? Come in and sit down, the train will be leaving soon."
"Oh, okay, thank you, young comrade." After hearing Ruan Ruan's words, the old man thanked her, patted his grandson's hand that was supporting his arm, and then the two of them walked into the carriage and sat on the bed that Ruan Ruan had been sitting on.
When they came in, Huo Haocheng glanced at them, but after seeing his wife's actions, he didn't say anything and started packing his things on his own.
"Wife, watch the children, I'm going to get some hot water," Huo Haocheng said, taking the water bottle and going out.
The young man relaxed a little after he left.
Ruan Ruan simply observed their actions without saying anything.
Seeing Huo Haocheng leave, the old man thought about how the family had gone to great lengths to buy them two sleeper tickets for this trip, both upper berths. Now they were using the young man's berth, and he felt rather embarrassed. "Young man," he said, "we had to rush out this time, so we could only get upper berth tickets. You can give me your lower berth now, and I'll make up the difference."
Ruan Ruan didn't expect the old man to say that. She had encountered similar situations before, and the other party always looked like it was perfectly normal. People who could afford to buy tickets to travel were not short of a few dollars. Ruan Ruan just thought that such people were too rude, but she had never commented on them. However, looking at the old man in front of her now, although he lived a frugal life, he did not take advantage of his old age. It was only right for Ruan Ruan to give up her berth for him.
"Grandpa, no need. When you're traveling, you're bound to need help sometimes." It's just one night. Whether it's the upper or lower bunk, Ruanruan doesn't care. It's quite dangerous for an elderly person to climb up and down.
"It's because of the help of young comrades like you that we old men dare to come out and see the world. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't dare to leave the house even if we died."
The old man thought about his life. He'd been a child, fleeing with his parents during a time of hardship. After a long and winding journey, things had finally settled down, and he'd never left home again. Now he was old, and his children were filial, knowing his lifelong wish was to see Tiananmen Square. With the help of a fellow villager, they'd managed to buy him two sleeper tickets. Now, on the train, he'd even met a young man who'd given up his berth for him. The stability of the motherland was more important than anything else!
"Grandpa, where are you going?" Hearing the old man's words, Ruan Ruan thought of her grandparents. This time when she came back, the villagers would gather around her grandmother whenever they had time to tell them about what was happening outside.
Actually, she hadn't had time to properly show her grandmother and mother around Yuncheng for the past year; they had simply moved their affairs from their hometown to Yuncheng. However, after seeing her grandmother's proud expression as she told them about her experiences in Yuncheng, Ruanruan thought that when she returned to Yuncheng this time, she would definitely find an opportunity to take her grandmother and mother around.
"I just want to see what Tiananmen Square looks like before I die!" the old man said casually, but the young man next to him didn't think so.
"Grandpa, don't talk nonsense about dying. If my parents find out, I'll get a beating again." Over the past year, the old man often said such things to them. Sometimes he would hold his hand and say that his grandmother was coming to pick him up, and that they shouldn't be sad after he left, because he was just going to find his old woman.
Ruan Ruan understood what the old man meant. Some people can sense that their time is coming to an end, so they tell their families in advance so that they can get used to it and won't be so sad when that day comes.
"You child, I can't explain it to you. Just remember what I told you and do it." The old man couldn't stand seeing his grandson, a grown man, crying all the time.
Just as the grandfather and grandson were about to start arguing, Huo Haocheng returned with water. Seeing that it was almost time, he also went to buy some food.
Seeing that they were about to eat, the grandfather and grandson felt embarrassed to watch them, so the old man made an excuse and asked the young man to help him to the toilet, and then went outside.
Huo Haocheng merely glanced at their retreating figures and said, "Let's eat."
If the old man and the others had stayed, Huo Haocheng wouldn't have minded sharing his food with them, but the old man went out on his own, which surprised Huo Haocheng.
"Don't overthink it, eat quickly. The children will wake up soon, and you'll have a lot to do." Ruan Ruan knew what Huo Haocheng was thinking. There are plenty of people who like to take advantage of others, especially when traveling. She was just not used to seeing the old man's behavior.
However, Ruan Ruan believed that a child raised by such an old man would definitely be of good character. However, judging from the young man's timid appearance and his words, she could also deduce that his mother's personality was not cowardly.
I wonder which girl will marry into his family. Ruan Ruan is wondering whether her daughter-in-law will marry him or his mother. I think life will be better if she marries his mother.
Thinking this, they finished their meal, fed the children, and didn't return until Huo Haocheng took the children's diapers to wash. It's obvious the young man was afraid of Huo Haocheng and waited outside until he left before coming back.
But no matter what, Ruan Ruan felt it didn't matter. After all, they were just strangers who had met by chance, and after getting off the bus, they probably wouldn't have another chance to meet.
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