Xia Lan smiled back, and Bai Xiao understood.
"My name is Bai Xiao. If you need anything, just call me."
Bai Xiao nodded to the two of them.
"My name is Xia Lan, and this is Sudan. Thank you for your concern, Comrade Bai Xiao."
Xia Lan pointed to herself and Sudan, introducing them to Bai Xiao.
Bai Xiao grinned at them.
Hello.
Bai Xiao smiled at her, stopped bothering them, and turned back to work.
"Lanlan, why did he look at me? Was he about to curse me?" Su Dan felt that Bai Xiao's last glance had a hint of provocation.
He thought he had offended Bai Xiao somehow.
Xia Lan, seeing Sudan's bewildered expression, explained.
"I think it's because you're so beautiful that I glanced at you twice."
Sudan looked at Xia Lan in astonishment; her words sounded like those of a rogue.
"Hahaha...you're so cute."
Seeing the expression on Sultan's face, Xia Lan knew what she was thinking and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Oh, Lanlan!" Sudan blushed as Xia Lan teased him, realizing she was joking.
"Hahahaha..." Xia Lan looked at Sudan's flushed face and laughed even harder.
With the lovely Sultan by their side, the time didn't seem so hard to pass.
After a day and a night on the train, they finally arrived in the capital. Xia Lan and Sudan were able to travel together, so Xia Lan, who had almost been pulled away by the enthusiasm, took Sudan directly onto a tricycle outside the Beijing Railway Station.
"Comrades, where are you going?" The tricycle driver looked very thin, but you could tell how strong he was just by looking at his exposed arms.
Seeing that Xia Lan and Sudan were carrying a lot of luggage, the tricycle driver said warmly.
"Driver, could you please take us to the nearest bus station where we can catch a bus to Beijing University?" Xia Lan said to the driver with a smile.
"Are you college students?" The tricycle driver's eyes lit up. The college entrance examination had just been reinstated, and everyone was still caught up in the excitement of it.
I felt proud and honored to be able to bring along college students.
"Hey, old man Li, look, these two ladies are college students who just got into university!"
The master craftsman was very proud and boasted to his colleagues next door.
"You're really lucky, kid! Don't drop it!"
Upon hearing that Xia Lan and Su Dan were university students, many people peeked over. Su Dan was embarrassed, but Xia Lan smiled calmly.
"Thank you everyone, you are the most amazing people because you are creating value for society with your hard work."
"Women who have received an education are different; just a few words from them can make you feel comfortable all over."
Those present were all tricycle drivers. They worked hard every day, but no one ever said a good word about them. They were all looked down upon as just laborers.
With just a few words, Xia Lan elevated their status, giving them a unique sense of affirmation, which made them, who were somewhat insecure, feel valued.
They weren't particularly good at studying, but they worked hard in the big city, toiling away every day to earn money.
They also want to gain everyone's approval.
All they ever get in return are disdainful looks.
"This achievement is the result of your hard work! Everyone in this city has a job. No job is too lowly, and everyone has their own value. You have also contributed to this city."
Xia Lan's words startled everyone.
"Just because of what you said, I won't take your money today!" The master looked at Xia Lan with burning eyes.
Xia Lan shook her head.
"That won't do. This is the pay you deserve for your work, it's what you're entitled to."
“That’s right, Master. This is what you deserve. You can’t refuse it. If you don’t accept it, neither of us will sit here.”
Sultan agreed with Xia Lan. It was already tiring enough to carry two people, so how could he not charge them!
We can't let people work for free.
"Then sit tight, I'll make sure you get to school safely!"
The driver was very touched, and as soon as he got on the bike, he started pedaling hard.
The driver avoided any potholes along the way, ensuring that Xia Lan and Sudan were not jostled.
As the tricycle passed by, Sudan saw that the driver was expressionless, ignoring the large pothole in front of him, and kept driving over it, causing the old woman on the tricycle to grumble and curse.
"Look at the other tricycle drivers, they avoid crossing potholes even when they have two people with them, but you're carrying only me, and you just keep going straight into that pothole!! Are you doing this on purpose?!"
The old woman's curses were so offensive that Xia Lan and Su Dan both felt sorry for the master after hearing them.
Sultan was about to speak when Xia Lan quickly stopped her.
"Lanlan, why are you pulling me and preventing me from speaking up for that man? That old man went too far..."
Sudan looked at Xia Lan with a puzzled expression.
Xia Lan explained.
"You may feel good about your cursing, but the driver will suffer. If that older colleague complains, the driver might have his pay docked and might even have to apologize to her..."
"Comrade, how did you know we'd be fined?"
The tricycle driver perked up when he heard Xia Lan's words; this seemingly delicate woman probably knew these things.
"Will I really get fined?" Sudan looked at the tricycle driver in surprise, seeking confirmation.
"Yes, it will. If it gets out of hand, it will be ugly, and in the end we will have to admit our mistake and we will be fined."
The driver nodded, a towel draped around his neck, wiping the fine sweat from his brow with one hand, and replied.
They attract customers like this all day long, and no matter how angry they are, they don't dare to curse back; they can only pretend to be deaf and dumb.
They've said their piece, and that's it.
But if they talk back, and things get out of hand and reach higher-ups, someone will still scold them, fine them, and prevent them from driving for several days.
They rely on this to make a living, so they can't stop working.
"That must have been tough." Sudan covered his mouth and looked at Xia Lan.
"It's a good thing you stopped me just now, otherwise I really wanted to say something to that comrade, her attitude was just too awful."
"Life is tough, so it's best to avoid trouble if possible," Xia Lan said softly.
The master glanced at Xia Lan. If he didn't know she was a college student, he would have thought she had been working for many years and could think so clearly.
The driver kindly gave Xia Lan and Sudan instructions as he took them to the bus station.
"Wait here for bus number 18, that goes directly to your school!"
"Thank you, driver," Xia Lan said, paying the fare.
"Don't go with anyone else, be careful!" the master whispered to the two of them.
"Okay." Xia Lan nodded.
"Hey, a tricycle! Hurry, hurry, take me to the train station." A man carrying a bag got directly onto the driver's tricycle.
Seeing that there were customers, the driver waved to Xia Lan and Sudan, and pedaled his tricycle back towards the train station.
Xia Lan and Sudan waited for the No. 18 bus that the driver had mentioned. When the bus arrived, Xia Lan let Sudan get on first. After Sudan got on, Xia Lan carried her own bicycle onto the bus.
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