“Comrade, I need a ticket to Ji Province!” Lin Yinyin clutched her money and said urgently.
Ever since the bed collapsed, she had scrambled out in a frenzy.
She had been drugged and needed an antidote, not a beating!
That man’s strength was ridiculously terrifying.
The gap in their abilities was astronomical easily ten thousand miles apart, figuratively speaking.
At first, she had fought back with sheer willpower, but later she was completely overpowered he was on top the whole time!
Fortunately, the bed collapsed, and she managed to crawl or rather, run out in the chaos!
Waaah!
Why was she so unlucky?!
If only she had gone to that “Snow Leopard,” or even the limping Jiang Feng would have been better!
The ticket clerk looked up at the tearful young girl and asked, “Which day do you want?”
“Today or tomorrow, either works! The sooner the better,” Lin Yinyin replied quickly.
She had to get away fast!
If that man caught up to her, she’d be done for!
“Do you want a sleeper or a hard seat?”
“A sleeper!” Lin Yinyin didn’t even hesitate.
It took over thirty hours to get from here to Ji Province, and her current frail body couldn’t take any more strain.
“There aren’t any.”
“What about a hard seat?”
“None either.”
Lin Yinyin: “……” So much for that.
The clerk looked a little embarrassed. “Tickets to Ji Province for today and tomorrow are sold out. You’ll have to come back the day after tomorrow to get one.”
“What?” Lin Yinyin’s heart skipped a beat.
How could she wait until the day after tomorrow?
In the past two days, she had encountered that man in the village, at the hospital, even in the black market once, twice, three… seven times!
He was like a relentless ghost!
If she stayed here another day, who knew if he would corner her?
Not to mention he had eight men under him. Her chances of being found were nearly 100%!
She had to leave today, no delay!
Immediately, she put on a pitiful look. “Comrade, please, have mercy! My brother-in-law is a battalion commander in the Ji Province Military District. He was injured on a mission a few days ago and is lying in the hospital with no one to care for him.
My sister is alone taking care of a two-month-old baby, and at home there’s a seventy-year-old grandmother-in-law and a limping grandfather-in-law. She just can’t handle it, so I have to rush over to help.
Could you make an exception?
I don’t mind an upper or lower bunk, a hard seat, or even the aisle just give me a ticket.
Once I get to the military district, I’ll write you a thank-you letter and praise you as a comrade who serves the people and cares for military families!”
Hearing “military family” and “thank-you letter,” the clerk was touched.
Seeing this, Lin Yinyin added fuel to the fire: “Comrade, do you have a pen? I can write the thank-you letter now, then refine it on the train and mail it once I get to the military post office.”
With the military postmark, the letter would carry more credibility!
“I… I can’t decide that,” the clerk said. “Wait here, I’ll report to my superior.” He then went toward the office behind the window.
A moment later, a slightly pot-bellied man came out.
He sized up the dark-skinned Lin Yinyin and politely said, “Hello, comrade. I’m Zhu Jianguo, the station director. I just heard from Xiao Wang about your situation. Soldiers risk their lives to defend the country, and it’s our duty to take care of their families. Serving the people is our responsibility!”
Lin Yinyin quickly nodded. “Director Zhu is right! Soldiers fight on the front lines, and we in the rear must take good care of their families!”
Zhu Jianguo smiled, slowing his tone: “What luck! There’s a special train to Ji Province tonight, with an upper bunk available. It’s near the engine, so it might be a little noisy. Is that okay?”
“That’s perfect! Great!”
Lin Yinyin didn’t hold back her praise. “Lianhua Station provides such thorough service thanks to a leader like you! Your attention to detail rivals Zhuge Kongming himself, and you genuinely care for the difficulties of military families you’re truly a friend of the people!”
Zhu Jianguo laughed heartily. “Comrade Lin, you’re too kind! It’s our duty!”
Though humble in words, the smile in his eyes couldn’t be hidden. These days, everyone wanted to be praised for integrity and care for the people, and praise linked to “military families” was especially gratifying.
Next to him, the ticket clerk Xiao Wang quickly pulled out a stack of stationery and a pen. “Comrade Lin, here’s paper and pen for you!”
Lin Yinyin took them and quickly wrote over five hundred words.
Zhu Jianguo took it, eyes crinkling with a smile. “Such talent in writing!”
He turned to the clerk: “Give her a ticket tonight’s special train, upper bunk.”
The clerk printed the ticket and handed it over.
Lin Yinyin reached for her money, but Zhu Jianguo waved it off. “Normally a sleeper to Ji Province costs seven or eight yuan, but you’re practically family. Military families are our concern this one’s on the house!”
“Thank you so much, Director Zhu! And thank you too, Comrade Wang! I’ll refine it properly on the road!”
“Hahaha! Good, good, good.”
And just like that, Lin Yinyin had a ticket for the special train.
With an hour to departure, Lin Yinyin planned to find a guesthouse to freshen up. Her current outfit was beyond saving.
Near the station was a state-run guesthouse. She booked a room and headed straight for the bathroom.
Half an hour later, Lin Yinyin stood in front of the mirror, stunned.
After washing away the grime, a delicately featured face appeared.
Slender almond-shaped eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, full of liveliness.
A straight nose added depth, and small lips curved slightly with two faint dimples at the corners.
“Oh my! What a exquisite face!”
She couldn’t help touching her cheeks.
No wonder people had stared at her before it wasn’t just her dark skin, it was that this face beneath the dirt was so striking.
Fortunately, she had always been dirty before, or she might not have survived in a place like Linjia Village.
Next, tears welled up instantly as she squinted at the mirror.
My goodness, this face, delicate and tearful, is too pitiful! Even she couldn’t bear to let it suffer.
She pulled a brand-new bright red top from her space and paired it with black pants the only two new clothes she had, swiped from Widow Liu.
After quickly changing, she braided her hair into two twists over her shoulders, making her face look even smaller and cuter a lively little girl look.
Lin Yinyin happily went to check out.
But as she reached the lobby, she saw two men at the front desk checking out.
Both stood straight and clearly had military experience.
Lin Yinyin wasn’t in a hurry; there was still time.
But the next moment, she felt a tight grip on her collar. A pair of strong, warm hands lifted her off the ground by her clothing!