Chapter 44
The scenery outside the window passed by quickly, and the clanging sound lingered in my ears. The blue-covered seat had been weathered, and the backrest and the seat had turned white. The sponge underneath was pressed tightly, making it a solid hard seat.
The carriage was packed, and the upper shelves were filled with snakeskin bags. Pei Xingzhi put large items like bedding on top, and valuables were placed in boxes, which were stepped on by Meng Wanqiu.
There was no need to be polite at this time. There was never a moment of silence in the carriage, and all kinds of noises came one after another.
The two of them had specially bought a row of seats next to each other. Meng Wanqiu sat by the window, her eyes slightly red and puffy, her chin propped up to watch the scenery outside. As they passed through a tunnel, she would cover her mouth and let out a soft cry of surprise, then take advantage of the darkness to hide in Pei Xingzhi's arms, leaving just before the tunnel's exit.
Pei Xingzhi felt relieved when he saw that she was in good condition.
The place they were going to was Province Y, which was four provinces away from Province G. They would get off at one of the county towns in Province Y and then head to the 715 Machinery Factory.
Although they are separated by three provinces, the distance is not very far. They took the train at around five o'clock this morning and will arrive at their destination around eight or nine o'clock tonight.
Opposite Pei Xingzhi and his companions sat a mother and her child. The mother was probably in her early thirties, dressed simply, but with a watch on her wrist and only one suitcase. When she saw that the people sitting opposite her were a young couple, the vigilance in her eyes faded a little, but she still held the child's hand tightly.
The child was dressed neatly and cleanly, wearing a pair of striped cloth shoes. He stayed obediently in his mother's arms and looked about seven or eight years old.
He glanced at Meng Wanqiu from time to time, with undisguised curiosity in his eyes.
Meng Wanqiu really wanted to tease him, but when she thought about the fact that the other person's mother hadn't said anything and obviously didn't want to communicate with a stranger, she gave up the idea.
Pei Xingzhi always kept Meng Wanqiu's pregnancy in mind, and every few minutes he would ask Meng Wanqiu about her physical condition, whether she was feeling uncomfortable, whether she was hungry or thirsty, and whether she wanted to go to the bathroom.
At first, Meng Wanqiu answered in a friendly tone, but after being asked more questions, she didn't want to talk anymore and just shook her head and waved her hands perfunctorily.
Because she had to sit for the whole day, Pei Xingzhi specially took out soft clothes for Meng Wanqiu to use as a cushion, fearing that she would not be comfortable.
When it was time for dinner, people in the carriage took out dry food from their bags one after another. They were all dry coarse flour buns, steamed buns and the like, and they ate them with cold water.
The Meng family prepared soft white flour buns for Pei Xingzhi and Meng Wanqiu, and also brought a few bottles of sauce, including delicious mushroom sauce and spicy chili sauce. The chili sauce contained minced meat, while the mushroom sauce contained small pieces of bacon.
The steamed buns were steamed early in the morning and kept in the bundle, still soft by noon. Meng Wanqiu couldn't wait to open a bottle of mushroom sauce, and the fresh aroma of mushrooms and the smoky aroma of bacon instantly filled her mouth.
The snow-white steamed bun was split in the middle and coated with the fragrant and tempting mushroom sauce. Meng Wanqiu's eyes widened as she took it from Pei Xingzhi impatiently, shouting, "Give it to me, give it to me."
Pei Xingzhi curled his lips and whispered, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
Meng Wanqiu took a big bite. The sweetness of the steamed bun, the unique aroma of the mushrooms, and the smoky aroma of the bacon mixed in her mouth, then appeared one after another, layer by layer. Meng Wanqiu whimpered with satisfaction.
There was no need to say anything more. The little boy opposite subconsciously swallowed his saliva and looked at the steamed bun in Meng Wanqiu's hand with desire in his eyes.
Pei Xingzhi rested his elbows on the small table, supporting his face to look at Meng Wanqiu, his eyes so soft that they seemed to be about to shed tears.
Meng Wanqiu put the other half of the steamed bun in front of him.
Pei Xingzhi smiled and shook his head, pushing it back, "I'm not hungry yet, you eat first."
Meng Wanqiu raised one eyebrow and then lowered the other, obviously unhappy. They had eaten breakfast together, so there was no reason for her to be hungry while Pei Xingzhi was not.
She knew Pei Xingzhi wanted to take care of her, but Meng Wanqiu didn't want him to go hungry. Since there was nothing to do now, why not eat together?
Seeing this, Pei Xingzhi had no choice but to take the half bun, but he couldn't suppress the upturned corners of his mouth.
During this time, the children next to them kept looking at them, and out of politeness, Pei Xingzhi said he would give some food to the mother and child opposite.
But the little boy's mother refused, saying that she had to wait for the dining car on the train to arrive.
Since the other party said so, they certainly didn't force it. At this time, people who could afford to eat the boxed lunch on the train certainly didn't care about their simple steamed buns.
Not long after, the dining car arrived at their compartment, and the boy's mother bought two boxes of lunch without blinking. With food, the little boy opposite finally stopped looking at the couple.
Pei Xingzhi and Meng Wanqiu exchanged a glance and finally breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't mind strangers, but since Meng Wanqiu became pregnant, Pei Xingzhi had become more patient with children.
Moreover, the little boy opposite was very well-behaved. Although he wanted to eat very much, he didn't ask for it. He kept secretly casting longing glances at the two of them. The couple who were being stared at felt a lot of psychological pressure.
After dinner, Pei Xingzhi gave Meng Wanqiu a waist massage. Because pregnant women cannot sit for long periods of time, he gave Meng Wanqiu a massage from time to time after getting on the train. Although Meng Wanqiu kept saying she was fine, Pei Xingzhi was still worried.
Pei Xingzhi felt guilty for having him travel such a long distance with them so soon after discovering the child. He was also worried that Meng Wanqiu's health would be burdened, so he kept doing this.
Not long after, Meng Wanqiu fell asleep.
Pei Xingzhi carefully placed her head on his shoulder and helped her tuck the loose hair behind her ears. Feeling the warm and gentle breath on her neck, Pei Xingzhi's breathing slowed down.
Pei Xingzhi held Meng Wanqiu's hand, lowering his eyes to look at her furry head, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes. Although Meng Wanqiu always said she was fine, the pregnancy still took its toll on her body. Normally, she would never fall asleep in a noisy place, but now she fell asleep so easily.
The other hand was placed on Meng Wanqiu's abdomen, which was still very flat. You couldn't tell that a little life was already growing inside. It would come out to meet them in ten months.
Thinking that this was Wanwan and his child, Pei Xingzhi's eyes couldn't help but soften.
Whether it is a boy or a girl, he will give them the best and let them grow up happily and safely under the care of their parents.
Pei Xingzhi promised that he would never let his children experience the same childhood as he did.
Meng Wanqiu woke up after sleeping for two hours. During this time, Pei Xingzhi had not moved at all, and her entire arm was numb and numb. Meng Wanqiu was angry and distressed. She massaged him while scolding him.
Pei Xingzhi's face was frozen, and he didn't speak, fearing that if he spoke, his expression would become distorted and hideous.
Meng Wanqiu noticed that something was wrong with him, and secretly criticized Pei Xingzhi for caring so much about his reputation in front of outsiders, and laughed at him for being so obsessed with face that he suffered.
In the words of the future, Pei Xingzhi has an idol burden.
The train passed through one station after another, with some people getting off and some getting on. It is worth mentioning that the two people sitting opposite each other were actually the mother and son from the beginning.
Because of this fate, they started talking, and they found out that they had the same destination.
They exchanged names and found out that the boy's mother was Li Ying. Because she was older than them, they called each other Sister Li, and the boy was called Tongtong.
When the two people behind went to the bathroom, they asked Sister Li to help look after their luggage, and she readily agreed.
When they arrived at their destination, none of them were in a hurry to get off the bus. Instead, they chose to wait until most of the people had left before packing up and leaving.
Sister Li and Tongtong only had one suitcase of luggage. After saying goodbye to Meng Wanqiu, she left with the little boy.
Tongtong was held by her mother, smiling slightly and waving gently to Meng Wanqiu.
Meng Wanqiu also smiled and waved. Little Tongtong is really cute. I wonder if I will have the chance to see him again in the future.
After the people disappeared from her sight, Meng Wanqiu looked at Pei Xingzhi, her tone full of anticipation. "Tongtong is so well behaved. Will the baby in my belly be like him?"
Pei Xingzhi took the snakeskin bag off the shelf. The bag was very large. It contained not only bedding but also clothes for two people. It was quite heavy.
"Yes, our child will definitely look like you."
Like her?
Meng Wanqiu was initially delighted to hear this; of course, her child would look like her. However, she recalled how, as a child, despite her slow physical reactions, she was still very noisy and often sneaked out, causing her second brother, Meng Mingxia, to be scolded more than once.
In the past, Meng Wanqiu didn’t remember anything wrong with herself, but when she thought about it, a child with a personality as noisy as her and a healthier body than when she was a child was torturing her like she had tormented her second brother Meng Mingxia when she was a child, Meng Wanqiu suddenly became scared.
Meng Wanqiu stole a glance at Pei Xingzhi who was packing his luggage and felt that he would definitely not be able to withstand her as a child.
Somehow, I suddenly felt guilty. I touched my nose and looked up at the sky. "Hmm... I'd rather be like you."
For the sake of your future self and yourself, please don't be like me.
Pei Xingzhi was stunned after hearing this, then he smiled and his mood became very good.
Loved ones want their children to be like them. Isn’t this a manifestation of love and care for him?
"I'm carrying the luggage and I don't have your hand to hold. You hold my clothes and don't let go?"
After getting off the train, the platform outside was crowded with people. Pei Xingzhi turned around and instructed Meng Wanqiu.
Meng Wanqiu nodded, grabbed the corner of Pei Xingzhi's clothes, and followed him quietly.
Looking at the unfamiliar environment around her, Meng Wanqiu inevitably felt anxious.
She had left Qinghe Village, her parents and family, and followed Pei Xingzhi to live in a strange place. Here, except Pei Xingzhi, she didn't know anyone, and it seemed that she could only rely on him.
Meng Wanqiu felt mixed emotions. She didn't like the feeling of being powerless, nor did she like herself being afraid of the new environment.
She looked up at Pei Xingzhi's back. He was carrying heavy snakeskin bags and boxes, not making her tired at all, and took care of everything himself.
Pei Xingzhi looked at the road ahead while paying attention to the surrounding environment. Whenever someone approached, he would raise his hand holding the luggage, and the muscles on his arms would bulge tensely, using the large and small bags of luggage as a barrier to prevent anyone from bumping into Meng Wanqiu.
Noticing Pei Xingzhi's actions, Meng Wanqiu was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at him using his upright body to shield her from danger.
Pei Xingzhi caught every chance to hit Meng Wanqiu and protected her in time, preventing her from getting hit at all.
In an instant, Meng Wanqiu's resistance disappeared, and she tightly grasped Pei Xingzhi's clothes. The warmth in her eyes spread to the end of her eyes along with her long curled eyelashes.
Like a peach blossom in bud, it slowly blooms in the spring breeze, leaving behind its beautiful traces in this season when all things bloom.
She thought that trying to rely on Pei Xingzhi occasionally might not be a bad thing.
After two years of marriage, he has always loved her as always and has never let her suffer or get hurt.
If she got caught in the rain, he would take off his coat to shelter her from the rain; if she was hungry, he would patiently wait for her to eat before taking his turn; if it was cold in winter, he would put her feet, which were as cold as ice, in his arms and warm them with the warmth of his belly skin...
The noisy and crowded station seemed to suddenly become silent and turned into a black and white silent film. In Meng Wanqiu's sight, only two people were in color.
Pei Xingzhi cleared the way for her and used his body to build a small world for her that could shelter her from the wind and rain, eliminating her anxiety and hesitation.
This can't go on any longer. There are no parents here, but with Pei Xingzhi, he will still give her a home like her parents.
So, even if she gets beaten up outside, as long as she returns home, she can recuperate, recover, and start over again.
The confusion and panic in his eyes disappeared, replaced by determination and assertiveness.
The world suddenly returned to its hustle and bustle. Meng Wanqiu cheered up, held his head high and chest out, and cast a fearless look around.
The behavioral rules of the previous life are that when you arrive in an unfamiliar place, you should first observe the surrounding environment.
People, things, and objects are all carriers of information. Capturing and utilizing this information can help Meng Wanqiu integrate into the environment faster and live a better life.
"Hey, Auntie, your child's belly is exposed when he sleeps. Hurry up and take a bowel movement, or he'll catch a cold."
"Oh, thank you, young man. I was so tired after sitting all this way that I didn't notice."
A young man said to a middle-aged woman holding a child.
Meng Wanqiu didn't care at first and was about to look away after a casual glance, until she saw the familiar pair of striped cloth shoes.
Eh——
Meng Wanqiu suddenly grabbed Pei Xingzhi and pointed at the middle-aged woman with her back to them. "That person, the child in her arms, is that Tongtong?"
Pei Xingzhi looked over, his brows furrowed. "You stay here, I'll go over and take a look."
Meng Wanqiu did not try to be stubborn and stayed where she was to watch the luggage, hoping that it was just a coincidence and that the shoes were just the same style. The little boy had already left with his mother.
Pei Xingzhi walked up to the middle-aged woman calmly, and when he saw the child in her arms, his eyes instantly turned cold.
The child's face was hidden by the middle-aged woman's chest, but the child's clothes were exactly the same as Tongtong, who had been separated from the couple not long ago.
No doubt, this is Tongtong.
Pei Xingzhi stepped forward, showing a gentle look, "Hey, isn't this Zhuangzhuang?"
Seeing the middle-aged woman, she pretended to be embarrassed and said, "Look at me, you are Grandma Zhuangzhuang, right? I am a colleague of Brother Sun and Sister Sun. I visited your home last time, but you were not there at that time?"
The middle-aged woman was obviously startled, her eyes panicked for a moment, then she calmed down in an instant and said with a smile: "Oh, I am, I am Zhuangzhuang's grandmother. What's the boy's name? I haven't heard my son mention it yet?"
The passersby who were not in a hurry also noticed the two of them. They thought it was just an ordinary greeting, so they glanced at them a few times and then stopped caring.
Until I saw that the man who had a gentle and handsome expression in the last second suddenly turned cold when he heard the middle-aged aunt.
The speed at which his expression changed made passersby stunned.
Before I could even sigh, my jaw dropped in shock at what the handsome man said.
"Of course you haven't heard of it, because the child in your arms is not your grandson at all. You are just a human trafficker who stole someone else's child."
“Human traffickers!”
Where are the human traffickers?"
"Where is that damn human trafficker? I'm going to beat him to death!"
Word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, until almost the entire station hall knew that human traffickers had infiltrated the crowd.
The person with the child became alert instantly, ignoring the tiredness of the journey, and quickly perked up to keep an eye on his child, looking vigilantly at everyone who approached.
The middle-aged woman's pupils trembled, and her arms around the child tightened unconsciously. Even though her identity was exposed, she remained calm and even smiled. "Young man, you are such a joke. How could I be a human trafficker—"
Pei Xingzhi didn't waste any time talking to her. Wanwan was still waiting for him. There were so many people here, so he didn't want to squeeze her. He turned his head and looked at the person next to him: "Please contact the staff at the station. I know this child. His mother is with us. As for whether this person is a human trafficker, go and argue with the police."
The middle-aged woman's face couldn't help but darken, and she forced a smile, "Young man, you really misunderstood me——"
“Where are the traffickers?”
"Get out of the way, the police are coming."
"Everyone, please keep an eye on your children."
When she heard the police were coming, the middle-aged woman's eyes turned fierce. She threw the child in her arms to Pei Xingzhi and ran towards the gap in the crowd.
Pei Xingzhi could only catch the child quickly, but he failed to stop the middle-aged woman for a moment. The other party rushed around recklessly and knocked down several adults.
“The traffickers ran away!!”
"Where, where?"
"Everyone, don't move. Don't let anyone escape during the chaos."
Pei Xingzhi looked at the direction the human traffickers fled, which was exactly where Meng Wanqiu was, and he suddenly felt something was wrong.
Meng Wanqiu had been paying attention to the situation here. Feeling that there were more and more people around him, he deliberately found an open space with fewer people.
As a result, it is now used as an escape route by human traffickers.
Seeing the human trafficker rushing towards her and apparently wanting to push her, Meng Wanqiu dodged nimbly and kicked him the moment he passed by her.
thump--
Following the human trafficker's scream, Meng Wanqiu slowly retracted her legs and turned around to see Pei Xingzhi holding Tongtong and looking at her expressionlessly.
Meng Wanqiu: ...It's over.
She quietly moved the foot she had used to commit the crime behind her luggage, trying to cover up her behavior.
On the second floor of the station, a young man in green military uniform watched everything happening below through the glass.
After seeing Meng Wanqiu kick the human trafficker away, the corners of his lips couldn't help but rise.
"Still as noisy as ever, little sister."
"Captain, that girl is your sister. She looks exactly like you."
At the same time, in Qinghe Village, thousands of miles away, after seeing off his daughter and son-in-law, Meng Aiguo went to the post office to mail the letter that Pei Xingzhi had given him.
I was used to helping the villagers collect letters, but I didn't expect to receive a letter from myself.
Seeing the sender on the envelope, Meng Aiguo snorted and laughed, "Stinky boy, after a few months, you finally decided to send a letter back."
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