Amid the low rumble, the train slowly began to move, its wheels gliding over the tracks with a rhythmic “clack-clack” sound.
As the platform gradually blurred into the distance, Wen Mingyao turned her face away and finally couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. Leaning her back against the hard seat, she slowly closed her eyes.
It had been two years since she married Zhou Zhuo.
On their wedding day, shortly after the banquet ended, Zhou Zhuo received a phone call and rushed back to the Yuncheng district overnight.
Since then, the two of them had never seen each other again—not even a phone call or a letter.
This time, if it weren’t for her mother-in-law urging her, she wouldn’t have had the courage to board this train to join her husband in the army.
And… had her mother-in-law really contacted Zhou Zhuo?
What if her mother-in-law had acted first and informed him later?
What if Zhou Zhuo didn’t come to pick her up?
What if Zhou Zhuo didn’t agree to let her stay?
How should she handle it then…
At this thought, she felt a throbbing headache.
After pondering for a long while, she slowly opened her eyes, straightened her back, and let out a long, heavy breath: When soldiers come, they will be blocked; when water rises, earth will hold it back. She refused to believe Zhou Zhuo’s heart was truly made of stone.
Just as Wen Mingyao was lost in thought, a cheerful voice suddenly reached her ears.
“Sister, is this your first time traveling far from home?”
Was this directed at her?
Wen Mingyao’s fingers, resting on her satchel, paused slightly. Her gaze lingered on the woman’s round face for a moment before she softly replied, “Mm-hmm.”
Beside the woman sat another woman with a prominently swollen belly, slightly younger, perhaps in her early twenties, but looking rather gaunt and frail.
One hand rested on her stomach, while the other lightly held the woman’s arm, clearly showing a familiar and comfortable rapport.
Sun Mai immediately laughed. “Traveling alone for the first time is always like this. You’ll get used to it after a few more trips.”
After saying this, she seemed to remember something and was about to speak when her wrist was suddenly gripped and shaken by the person beside her.
Wang Xiaoqin covered her mouth and nose with her hand, her brows slightly furrowed, and her head resting weakly on Sun Mai’s shoulder. Her voice was hoarse as she whispered, “Sis… sister-in-law, I feel a bit nauseous.”
The train car was already packed with people, and now the air was thick with a mix of various smells, making it stifling and unsettling.
Wang Xiaoqin’s face grew increasingly pale, and she felt a churning in her stomach as sour bile and nausea surged up from deep in her throat.
Seeing this, Sun Mai quickly helped her stand up and turned to Wen Mingyao. “Sister, I’m taking her to the restroom. Could you please watch our luggage for us?”
Wen Mingyao’s gaze fell on the tears welling up at the corners of Wang Xiaoqin’s eyes and nodded. “Alright.”
Sun Mai thanked her hurriedly, then carefully supported Wang Xiaoqin with one hand while shielding her with the other, gently navigating through the bustling crowd as they slowly moved forward. “Excuse us, excuse us.”
About ten minutes later, when the two of them returned, Wen Mingyao glanced at Wang Xiaoqin’s pale, almost bloodless face and asked, “Feeling better?”
“Much better,” Wang Xiaoqin replied, her eyes tightly shut, her lips pale, as she slumped weakly into her seat, seemingly too exhausted to speak.
Seeing this, Wen Mingyao seemed to recall something and quickly reached for the military-green canvas satchel her father-in-law had handed her before she boarded the train.
Inside the satchel were several green tangerines and two bright red apples.
She took out the green tangerines and placed them on the small table, pushing them all toward the opposite side. “These were prepared by the elders at home before I boarded the train. I don’t get motion sickness, so I don’t need them. They should help ease your morning sickness a bit.”
Seeing Wang Xiaoqin close her eyes without speaking, Sun Mai immediately waved her hand. “No, no, sister, this is too generous.”
Wen Mingyao simply gave her a faint smile and patted the canvas bag on her lap. “I still have more here.”
Sun Mai lowered her gaze at the sound and, upon seeing the canvas bag, couldn’t help but widen her eyes. She pointed at the characters “Yuncheng” beneath the red five-pointed star on the bag. “Sister, are you also going to the Yuncheng division?”
Earlier, because she had been distracted looking after Wang Xiaoqin, she hadn’t noticed this detail.
Also?
Wen Mingyao was surprised for a moment but quickly understood and nodded with a smile. “Yes, so take them.”
“What a coincidence!” Sun Mai slapped her thigh and, without further hesitation, quickly peeled a green tangerine and handed a few segments to Wang Xiaoqin.
Although this sister was generous, these days, fruits like this were never cheap.
Otherwise, Wang Xiaoqin wouldn’t have refrained from buying them despite knowing she’d suffer from morning sickness.
But since they were both heading to the Yuncheng division, she could repay the favor later.
Seeing Wang Xiaoqin’s complexion improve slightly, Sun Mai turned to the side and continued asking, “So, are you visiting family this time?”
Wen Mingyao opened her mouth slightly, her fingertips curling almost imperceptibly. A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, though her expression remained calm. “My husband is in the Yuncheng division. I’m going to join him as a military dependent.”
Join him as a military dependent?
Sun Mai was stunned upon hearing this. She hadn’t remembered wrong—when boarding the train, this sister had only carried a small suitcase and a canvas bag.
So, was she planning to bring just these few things to join her husband?
Beside her, Wang Xiaoqin was also momentarily speechless with surprise.
After a moment, Sun Mai finally snapped back to reality but couldn’t help swallowing hard. “Didn’t you bring anything from home? Don’t listen to how casually our menfolk talk about it. Buying everything one by one, even pots, pans, bowls, and dishes, costs a lot of money.”
Wen Mingyao’s lips curved into a perfectly measured smile. “The clothes I usually wear and the small items I use were mailed out several days ago. As for the rest, I’ll add them gradually later.”
Sun Mai and Wang Xiaoqin exchanged a glance: Wow! So she’s well-off!
Wang Xiaoqin was the first to regain her composure. Looking at Wen Mingyao with a hint of gratitude in her eyes, she quickly changed the subject. “Really, why didn’t your husband come to pick you up? How could you manage so many things alone?”
She stared at Wen Mingyao’s bright and beautiful face, momentarily lost in thought, and couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt: She had been in the Yuncheng division for three whole years and hadn’t heard of anyone getting married recently.
Wen Mingyao lowered her gaze slightly, just enough to conceal the momentary tremor in her pupils. Her tone remained steady and gentle. “He’s quite busy with work.”
After hearing this, Sun Mai looked at her with a mix of frustration and concern. Unconsciously, her voice rose a little. “Sister, you seem to have just gotten married not long ago. Honestly, wouldn’t it have been better if you had gone with your husband right after the wedding?”
Hearing this, Wen Mingyao knew she had been misunderstood and smiled helplessly. “Sister-in-law, actually, my husband and I have been married for two years now. He really is busy and hasn’t returned to our hometown much before.”
Sun Mai and Wang Xiaoqin were both taken aback for a moment, then quickly exchanged glances.
After a long pause, Wang Xiaoqin glanced at Wen Mingyao with a smile and asked tentatively, “What’s your husband’s name?”
But that smile, no matter how you looked at it, carried a hint of strain and stiffness.