The other party gritted their teeth.
"I bought it. I'm going to Lianshan in Northwest China. I bought a ticket for the entire journey."
I ran into him not far after getting on the bus. There was also an old lady, who was probably with them. She immediately stopped me, afraid I would run away halfway. She took my ticket, money, letter of introduction, and all my belongings.
Lianshan?
Jian Dan glanced up at Cheng Chao, who nodded. "Oh, so you're going to the same destination as them."
The ticket checking process was slow, mainly because more than one person couldn't produce their ticket. They claimed it was lost, dropped, or stolen, and some even threw tantrums and made excuses. However, the train attendants were noticeably stern-faced today and showed no leniency. In the end, they all obediently issued replacement tickets.
The old lady who had just been easily rebuffed was quite smug; she had bought a ticket and wasn't afraid of being checked.
The flight attendant took it and looked at it.
Where are you going?
"I'm going back to my hometown because my mother is sick, and I need to go back to see her."
Even after clarifying the destination, the flight attendant still had a headache.
“Sir, your ticket is incorrect. It doesn’t cover the entire journey. This ticket only gets you off at the previous stop. If you want to get to this station, you’ll need to buy a separate ticket for half the journey.”
The old lady instantly recalled the simple words from earlier, and couldn't stop the conspiracy theories. Her son not only didn't buy her a seat ticket or a sleeper ticket, but he even bought her half a standing ticket? Did he really want her to collapse from exhaustion on the way?
She simply paid for the ticket; the old lady's mind was now filled with thoughts of how she would deal with her unfilial son when she got back.
"Flight attendant, I... I need to use the restroom, I... I can't hold it anymore..."
Unfortunately, today's flight attendants are all impartial; they simply extend their hands...
"Okay, let me see the ticket."
"......"
This train is a microcosm of human life.
The victim was taken away by the flight attendant to "buy a ticket," and Cheng Chao was finally able to sit down. It was simple and he was quite pleased with himself.
"Brother, am I smart?"
Cheng Chao agreed with this, but he really didn't want to praise it.
"Smart, no wonder she looks just like my sister."
But next time you encounter something like this, try to stay far away. You can call me back if you want. Do you know if he has accomplices, or if his accomplices are nearby? The dangers on the surface are actually not so bad, since you can see them and they are right under your nose. But you have to be more wary of the unknown dangers hidden in the shadows. No one knows when he will jump out and stab you.
You know what? Even if you're skilled, you can't be reckless; your own safety must always be the priority.
At times like these, Jian Dan is usually a good girl, agreeing readily and practically patting her chest in reassurance.
"Don't worry, brother, your sister isn't stupid. If there's danger, why wouldn't she hide?"
Cheng Chao didn't believe it; it would be strange if she didn't go and join the fun.
After a ticket check, based on the confession, the man's accomplices were all arrested. The flight attendant grabbed the people, holding a weapon, and shouted that he would take them to the front to buy tickets. It did not cause much panic. On the contrary, people who encountered them made way for them.
This kind of thing can't be done alone; the absence of accomplices on the bus doesn't mean the matter is over.
According to the man's confession, their original plan was to get off at the next stop, as they had already contacted a buyer who would take the person away, and then they would take the bus back without anyone noticing.
He had succeeded so many times before, using the same routine, and he still couldn't figure out where he had slipped up. In his anger, he kicked the wall next to him, and tears welled up in his eyes from the pain.
When the train started moving again, the journey was already halfway over. Jian Dan really couldn't sit still anymore. However, many more people had boarded at the previous station, so she couldn't move around. Jian Dan could only move her stiff arms and legs in a small area in place.
The scenery outside the window also changed. The further south you go, the larger the rice fields become. The second crop of rice is in the critical stage of grain filling, and hardworking farmers can be seen everywhere.
The second half of the journey went smoothly; some people got off, and some got on. However, Cheng Chao was getting a little exasperated by the persistent train attendant.
"Old Qin, you're at work, go ahead and get busy. We're fine, we just ate."
Old Qin chuckled. As they approached the final stop, the bus wasn't crowded, and he managed to snag a seat opposite Cheng Chao.
"And you say we'd stay in touch, but you've gone so far away without a single letter or phone call."
Girl, do you know what your brother used to be like?
Let me tell you something..."
Even after getting off the bus, Jian Dan could still hear Lao Qin's loud voice echoing in her ears as Cheng Chao protected her as they walked out.
"Can't you tell he's a chatterbox?"
He rubbed his ears briefly, then shook his head vigorously.
"That loud voice is terrifying."
"Haha, he's happy now. He's usually very tight-lipped, and his stern face can scare a child to tears. He only starts talking non-stop when he's happy."
The tone was filled with endless nostalgia and melancholy. The feelings of youth are the purest, but they are only meant to be kept in the heart.
"Brother, should we take a car there?"
This station is Lianshan Station, but generally speaking, military camps are located in relatively remote areas.
Cheng Chao also gathered his thoughts, looked around, and realized he was quite familiar with this area, having been here before.
"There's a noodle shop over here. Let's eat something and rest for a while."
The two sat down, and Cheng Chao went to order two bowls of noodles and poured her some water. He returned and said...
"I didn't tell my second uncle the exact date I'm coming, so I guess no one will come to pick me up. After we finish eating, I'll go see if I can find a horse-drawn carriage to take us there later."
I simply held the water glass and gulped down half of it before I felt the heat all over my body dissipate a little.
How far is it from here? Will it take half a day to walk?
If it were just Cheng Chao on his own, he wouldn't need the car; he could get there on foot. But with his younger sister along, he couldn't bear to leave her behind.
"About thirty miles."
If you want to come out and have a look around, just ask your second aunt. Her workplace isn't far from home, and other families in the camp also come here to buy things.
Perhaps he had used up all his luck on the way here. After finishing his noodles, he searched the neighborhood several times, wandering around for almost half an hour, but Cheng Chao still returned empty-handed. He shrugged.
"Brother, we're out of options. How about we rest here for the night and wait for their purchasing truck to arrive tomorrow before we hitch a ride together?"
I glanced up at the sky; the sun was just beginning to set, probably around 1 or 2 pm. It's still summer, and since we're in the west, the sun sets even later than in the northeast. It won't get dark until at least 8 pm.
There are still six or seven hours until dawn. Just waiting like this is equivalent to most of the day. It doesn't make sense, does it?
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