The three of them sat on the same side, and across from them was a young couple who had been sitting there when Chen Chunhua and the others boarded the bus. They were accompanied by a little girl, about five or six years old, with two neatly braided pigtails and clothes washed white, looking worn but very clean.
The child is not fair, but his face does not have the high altitude red that most children have nowadays, which shows that his parents take good care of him and love him.
The little girl kept her eyes on the oranges in Chen Chunhua and the others' hands, but she didn't make any sound or reach out for them. She just swallowed her saliva unconsciously from time to time. She probably thought no one would notice.
Chen Chunhua was so absorbed in listening to Lin Guoqing's nonsense that she didn't really notice the child, but Liu Ni saw it.
The little girl looked two years younger than Jiu Ni, and instantly reminded her of Liu Ni's sister. She cut the freshly peeled orange in half and handed half to the other side.
"for you."
The little girl was stunned for a moment, and instead of reaching out to take it immediately, she turned to look at her mother.
The young woman was also taken aback by Liu Ni's sudden action. She quickly waved her hands and said in a heavily accented Mandarin, "No, no, thank you... We brought some food."
As she said that, she took out a corn from her bag and stuffed it into the child's hand, "Are you hungry? Why didn't you tell the queen if you were hungry?"
The little girl pursed her lips, stuffed the corn back in, and whispered, "I'm not hungry."
Chen Chunhua and Lin Guoqing both noticed the opposite side, including Liu Ni's hand and half an orange still placed in the middle of the small table.
She took out two more oranges from her backpack and placed them on the table opposite. "You're welcome, eat them! I brought plenty."
The woman was still embarrassed to accept it and refused for a long time. Finally, Lin Guoqing started a conversation with the man and after chatting for a while, the man accepted it with a silly smile and even peeled it for his daughter before handing it to her.
The women still felt it was not right to accept other people's oranges for no reason. Unfortunately, there was only corn in their bags, which they had cooked before getting on the bus yesterday. It was hard and they were too embarrassed to take it out.
Chen Chunhua didn't care about the money for the oranges, but she could see the woman's embarrassment and nervousness, so she sat there and chatted with her while eating to pass the time and ease the embarrassment of the other person.
Their family all came from Yucheng. Lin Guoqing had also been to Yucheng twice. Although the business deal was not concluded, he had some understanding of the place. With his jokes, the atmosphere was very relaxed.
"Some people from our area went to Shanghai to work two years ago, leaving their parents and wives at home to farm. Every time they come back for the New Year, they bring lots of things, and their wives and children can wear new clothes.
He said that people in Shanghai are all rich, and that working as a waiter or dishwasher in a restaurant can earn more than in our country! We thought we'd try our luck, and if we could really make money, we'd stay there."
The man looked at his daughter's puffy little face, her eyes narrowed with jealousy, and he was happy.
"Originally, I wanted to go take a look first, but my youngest kept crying and wouldn't let me go. My wife wasn't happy either, so after some thought, I brought them all out. We're happy together as a family, even if we have to beg for food. If we really can't make ends meet, the worst that can happen is we'll just beg all the way back home, hehe..."
The woman glared at the man angrily and cursed him in dialect, but the man was not angry and smiled innocently. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that his wife was not angry at all. Beating is love and scolding is love. She was just acting coquettishly!
Lin Guoqing nodded vigorously, "Yes! Brother, you are right. If a family begs together, we can get more!"
Every time he stepped on the train, he was already looking forward to going home.
Whether it is farming, doing business, or begging, isn't it all for the sake of having food to eat for himself and his family? But if they are separated by huge distances, even if he makes money, he will feel that it is not worth it.
But Yucheng is a good place, and the customs and habits there are very different from theirs. After saving some more money, or when his eldest daughter is admitted to university, he is thinking about whether he can take his family there for a trip.
The food there is all spicy. The last time he went there, he felt that the Pi Yan Zi was very hot for several days. He didn't know if his mother and wife could get used to it.
Two and a half hours was neither long nor short. Chen Chunhua went to the toilet once in the middle. Liu Ni shyly studied what was on the cart pushed by the conductor. Lin Guoqing was chatting happily with the man and even handed him a cigarette.
After I finished eating the few oranges in my bag, I heard the broadcast saying that we were about to arrive at the station. This was the terminal and everyone would get off at this station.
In the carriage, which was already noisy, as the broadcast sounded, everyone stood up, scrambled to pack their things, picked up their packages, and rushed to the door to line up.
Lin Guoqing probably didn't have anyone to complain to in the past, but today, with his wife finally sitting next to him, he started complaining more. "It's going to take at least five minutes! Why are they in such a hurry? It's not like they're going to stop you from getting off after you're the last one!"
Although he said this, he did not slow down and rushed into the aisle, calling out to Chen Chunhua and Liu Ni to come out quickly.
Chen Chunhua looked at him speechlessly, stood in front of him, and then pulled Liu Ni in front of her to protect her. In front of them was the family of three from Yucheng, who couldn't move before they had taken a few steps.
Although the car slowed down, it didn't stop and the doors didn't open, so everyone was just standing there squeezed together.
Lin Guoqing said that it’s a good thing that it’s not too hot now. In two months, everyone will be crowded together, your sweat will rub against me, and my sweat will rub against your clothes, which will be even more smelly!
Chen Chunhua: "...Please stop talking."
The car finally stopped, and the door opened, like a can of sardines finally opening. No one got on the car at the terminal yet, and the people on the car poured out like river water without any obstruction.
Chen Chunhua clearly felt the push coming from behind, and this was with Lin Guoqing blocking her way. Without Lin Guoqing, she didn't know how she would be squeezed.
"What are you pushing? You're in a hurry to be reborn!"
Lin Guoqing held the backrests of the chairs on both sides with his hands, and managed to withstand the strong force that came from behind. He was so scared that he turned around and started cursing.
This curse was not out of place in the carriage. There were curses even dirtier than his, and it could be said to be a collection of curses in dialects from all over the country.
"Who the hell are you kidding! Stay away from me!"
"Don't be angry with your mother! She's at a funeral!"
…
When getting off the bus, she didn't walk normally, but almost ran forward. After finally getting off the bus and standing on the platform, Chen Chunhua finally experienced what Lin Guoqing called the victory of life.
Finally breathed some fresh air!
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