Chapter 17: Setting Out for the City

The morning light was faint as they took the bus from the county town to the provincial capital, a journey of an hour and a half. By the time they arrived at the provincial train station, it was nearly eight o’clock.

After placing their luggage in the waiting room, Yan Rushan turned and said, “Comrade Zhong, you watch the luggage while I go get the train tickets.”

“Don’t we need to go together?”

“No need, I know everyone here.” Yan Rushan’s face was calm, his eyes steady. Zhong Yuxiu nodded slightly. “Then be quick, I’ll wait for you here.”

She watched him leave and sat down in the waiting room, her luggage at her feet. Her gaze swept over the plain room—white and blue walls, several wide wooden benches stretched across the floor, a few tables in the corners. Compared to what would come in later years, it was truly simple and bare.

The furnishings were straightforward; Zhong Yuxiu soon lost interest and withdrew her gaze. She opened her suitcase, which held a few sets of clothes. She hadn’t packed things like bedding, and as for the grain, she’d found an opportunity to store half of it in her storage ring, leaving the rest for Sun Ruhong and the others.

She didn’t have much food left anyway—perhaps about fifty pounds. Storing half meant she had only about twenty-five pounds remaining. All winter she’d barely left the house, and after learning she’d been admitted to university, she hadn’t bothered to scrimp on food. After all, she couldn’t take it with her when she left; she might as well eat her fill.

She waited for more than half an hour before Yan Rushan returned. She quickly stood to greet him. “Brother Yan, was it smooth?”

“I got them. The train is at eleven sharp. Let’s eat first.” He pulled a train ticket from his pocket and handed it to her.

She took it, surprised to find it was a sleeper ticket. Yan Rushan’s connections really were extensive—he’d even managed to get sleeper tickets. She slipped the ticket into her pocket.

“Let’s go, then. We haven’t eaten anything all morning, I’m starving. But what about our luggage?”

“We’ll leave it at the cloakroom.” Yan Rushan picked up their luggage and left the waiting room. Beside the ticket window was a storage counter; for thirty cents, they could leave their things there.

Zhong Yuxiu glanced over but didn’t follow. Instead, she walked to the exit and waited for him. When he joined her, they left the station together. At that time, private eateries weren’t allowed yet; all meals had to be taken at state-run restaurants.

Unfamiliar with the provincial capital, she followed Yan Rushan through several twists and turns into a narrow alley. The lane was gloomy, and if not for the daylight, it would have seemed even darker.

“What is this place?” she asked.

“I’m taking you to eat,” Yan Rushan replied without turning his head, striding ahead.

“Is it privately run?” Her eyes brightened. “Is it good?”

Yan Rushan paused, turning to see her lively gaze, and a trace of softness flickered in his heart. “You’ll know when we arrive.”

She didn’t ask further, simply followed him to the end of the alley, where a small window was open and the faint aroma of food drifted out. Zhong Yuxiu rubbed her stomach—before, she hadn’t felt hungry, but now the smell made it worse.

Yan Rushan caught her movement with a sidelong glance, a smile flickering in his eyes, and he knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Who is it?” came a voice from inside.

“Auntie, my parents asked me to bring you some mountain goods,” Yan Rushan answered smoothly.

“What did you bring?” The door remained closed as the questioning continued.

“Wild mushrooms.”

“Oh, mushrooms! That’s wonderful, I was just thinking of those.” With a creak, the courtyard door swung open and a short, middle-aged woman appeared. “Come in, both of you. We’re just having lunch—stay and eat with us.”

“Thank you, Auntie.” As they spoke, the woman shut the door behind them and led them inside. Once in the main room, the atmosphere relaxed. The woman smiled and asked, “Xiao Yan, it’s been a while. What brings you here for a meal today?”

“Passing through the city and brought someone to eat,” Yan Rushan replied, glancing at Zhong Yuxiu. “This is Miss Zhong—I’m treating her today. We’ll have two meat dishes, one vegetable, and two bowls of rice—big bowls.”

The woman beamed. “Of course! We have braised pork trotters today, I’ll bring you some. Sit down, I’ll go get your food.”

As she left, Yan Rushan gestured to a bench on the left. “Sit.”

“Alright,” Zhong Yuxiu replied obediently, taking a seat.

Yan Rushan couldn’t help but glance at her again. Her docile manner was rather endearing. He sat down across from her.

A few minutes later, the woman returned with a wooden tray laden with dishes, setting each one on the table and placing the rice before them.

“Enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need more.”

Yan Rushan nodded, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and handed them to Zhong Yuxiu. He asked, “Do you have county eggs?”

“Yes—braised eggs and pancakes. Want some?”

“Yes, twenty braised eggs and five pancakes, please.”

The woman smiled broadly and nodded, hurrying off to pack their order.

On the table were three dishes: a large earthenware bowl brimming with pork trotters, a bowl of chicken stewed with taro, and a plate of stir-fried greens. Fragrant and appetizing, the food silenced them both as they ate heartily. By the time they put down their chopsticks, they were both full to bursting.

“It’s been ages since I’ve had a meal this good.”

The food in the educated youth compound was edible, but compared to this meal, it was worlds apart.

“It’s nearly time—we should go.” Yan Rushan tucked the money and food coupons under the bowl and stood to leave, Zhong Yuxiu following contentedly.

As they exited the hall, their hostess hurried over with a gray cloth bag in her arms. Yan Rushan took it, saying, “The money and coupons are on the table. Thank you for the meal.” With that, his long strides carried him out the gate.

Zhong Yuxiu smiled, following close behind. They hurried back to the train station. It was 10:40—time to board.

“You carry this, I’ll get the luggage.” Yan Rushan handed her the bag and quickly retrieved their things from the cloakroom. “Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

The station platform was teeming with people, packed shoulder to shoulder. Yan Rushan found their carriage number and shielded Zhong Yuxiu as they squeezed forward. Since they had sleeper tickets, their carriage was less crowded; most people nearby were heading for the hard seats in adjacent cars.

“Take out your ticket and show it to the staff,” Yan Rushan said, shifting both sets of luggage to one hand and retrieving his own ticket from his pocket.

Zhong Yuxiu handed both tickets to the inspector, who checked them and let them through. “Find your berths and don’t wander,” he instructed.

“Alright.”

They climbed aboard, found their bunks, and stowed their luggage underneath. Zhong Yuxiu let out a sigh of relief, sitting on the bed. “There are so many people!”

“This is the season when many educated youth return to the city, and many people are visiting family,” he replied, taking the seat beside her with his usual calm. “This isn’t even the busiest time—during the New Year, it gets so crowded you can barely move. People are pushed along by the crowd.”

“Doesn’t that cause stampedes?” She only knew the crowds of the Spring Festival rush in later years, and even then, despite the difficulty of getting tickets, whether by plane or train, everything was orderly.