South City Train Station.
Song Yuntang held one child in each hand, carrying a simple bundle on her back. As she looked at the bustling crowd in the square and the slogan banners filled with the atmosphere of the era, she reminded Niannian and An’an:
“Niannian, An’an, there are a lot of people here. You must hold onto Mom tightly and never let go. If any bad person dares to touch you, scream immediately, and let Mom deal with them!”
Niannian and An’an nodded seriously with their small faces.
After seeing Song Yuntang fight the day before, they already fully believed their mother was as powerful as Sun Wukong in stories, capable of beating away all the bad people.
It was An’an’s first time seeing so many people, and she asked timidly, “Mom, what place is this?”
“This is the train station. We’re going to take a train next.”
Niannian had heard of trains before. He knew they were much faster than donkey carts and could take people very, very far away.
He looked up at Song Yuntang and asked, “Mom, are we really not going back to the village? Where are we going?”
“Mm, that place isn’t good. We’re not going back. Next, we’re going to the capital—Beijing!”
Song Yuntang said firmly.
The night before, while emptying out Song Mingde’s house, she had found the household registration booklet and marriage certificate.
On them were clearly written her name and Fu Weicheng’s.
So when they had married back then, the village had actually processed official documents. Not only was there a marriage certificate, but even their household registrations had been merged.
In the household booklet, Fu Weicheng’s original registered residence and military unit were clearly recorded.
It was the Beijing Military District, Unit 560.
So the rumors were true—Fu Weicheng really was from the capital.
Song Yuntang had no good feelings toward this man who had abandoned his wife and children. While he rose to prominence in Beijing, the original host and her two children had struggled miserably. Such a marriage was better off ended.
She was going to Beijing to get a divorce!
At the same time, she would reclaim the Beijing household registration for the two children.
That was the capital—the city with the best development prospects in the future. Countless people would exhaust their entire lives trying to obtain a Beijing household registration.
Since she had this opportunity, Song Yuntang wanted to give Niannian and An’an the best.
So at dawn, while Song Mingde’s family was still fast asleep, she took Niannian and An’an and left.
When the two children woke up that morning, their first instinct was not to eat breakfast, but to carry their little baskets to the mountains to dig wild vegetables and cut pig grass. If they didn’t bring anything back by noon, they wouldn’t even get a single coarse bun to eat.
Hearing that made Song Yuntang’s eyes redden. She immediately threw the baskets aside and stuffed a bun into each of their mouths.
Eat!
Eat boldly—no need to work to eat anymore!
She fed them buns and also gave them water from the spirit spring stream.
The two children felt drowsy, only sensing that their stomachs were full, the water was sweet, and their bodies suddenly felt stronger and more comfortable.
The three of them left the village quietly. Because they had always been unnoticed, no one paid attention. Besides, everyone was busy gossiping about Ding Yuzhen and Lame Wang’s scandal.
Originally, Song Yuntang planned to walk all the way to the city. But luckily, a tractor from the village was heading there to deliver grain.
She immediately stopped it, held An’an, and with reddened eyes pretended to sob, “Comrade, my daughter has a fever. I need to take her to the city hospital. Please, be kind and give us a ride.”
The tractor driver recognized Song Yuntang and knew her situation. Feeling pity for her and the children, he nodded and agreed.
Before Niannian and An’an even understood what was happening, they were already sitting on the tractor, marveling at their mother’s acting skills as the engine roared all the way to the city.
As soon as they arrived, Song Yuntang went straight to the train station.
She didn’t have an introduction letter, but with the loosening of social restrictions in recent years—and with her household booklet and marriage certificate—she successfully bought train tickets to Beijing.
The mother and children squeezed through the crowd and boarded the train.
At the same time, in Song Mingde’s home in Wang Family Village—
Song Mingde and Ding Yuzhen woke up in the cold, only to find themselves lying on the ground. There were no blankets, no sheets, no bed—there weren’t even clothes on them.
One covered his lower body awkwardly, the other covered her chest, and they hurried out of the room.
“Empty! Why is everything empty? My radio! My clock!”
“We’ve been robbed! The house has been robbed! Everything’s gone—my cabinet, my money, my gold bars! I hid the gold bars in the cabinet’s secret compartment!”
“Ah—why is everything in my room gone—Dad! Mom! Why aren’t you wearing clothes?!”
Song Jiaojiao ran out of her room, only to see her parents in disarray—and she herself wasn’t much better off, wearing only her undergarments.
“Ah—!”
Terrified screams echoed through the now completely bare house.
The train sped toward Beijing.
Niannian and An’an were five years old. Since birth, they had never left Wang Family Village and had never seen the outside world.
The rumbling train, the spinning wheels, the scenery flashing past the window, and the many different kinds of people on board—even the small food carts passing through the aisle—captured their attention. Their bright black eyes were filled with curiosity.
At first, the two children were timid, their gazes cautious. But children were naturally adaptable, and with Song Yuntang’s good genes, they were very clever. As they watched, they quickly learned and gradually became bolder.
Especially with Song Yuntang by their side, with fragrant meat buns bought at the station in front of them, and bright red apples—crisp, sweet, and juicy—taken from the space.
Their water bottle was filled with sweet, refreshing spirit spring water.
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
The bell rang as the food cart came again. It was lunchtime, and the cart carried steaming boxed meals that filled the air with aroma.
Niannian and An’an leaned forward, their little heads peeking out curiously.
Seeing this, Song Yuntang’s heart softened. She patted their heads and asked, “Niannian, An’an, do you want to eat boxed meals?”
Niannian immediately sat up straight and shook his head. “Niannian won’t eat. Mom, it’s expensive. Don’t spend money.”
He had heard earlier that one box cost fifty cents—it was very expensive.
An’an followed her brother, sitting upright and taking a bite of her apple. “Mom, An’an eats apples and buns! They’re all delicious!”
She smiled sweetly at Song Yuntang, small dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth.
Song Yuntang knew they were being sensible. Their curiosity wasn’t necessarily hunger, but interest in unfamiliar food.
She was willing to indulge them. It was only money—nothing too important.
When the cart arrived, Song Yuntang raised her hand. “Comrade, one boxed meal, please.”
“Vegetarian is fifty cents, meat is one yuan. Which one?”
“Meat.”
She handed over one yuan and received the meal.
Nearby passengers cast surprised glances—seeing her shabby clothes and the thin children, yet she was willing to spend one yuan on food.
The fragrant boxed meal was placed in front of Niannian and An’an. Song Yuntang opened it, revealing a large chicken drumstick.
“Wow…”
The two children exclaimed in unison.
A chicken drumstick!
Just the smell alone made them feel happiness. They swallowed hard, feeling like they could eat an entire bun just from the aroma.
Song Yuntang handed them chopsticks. “Niannian, An’an, you can eat now.”
But neither of them moved. Their dark eyes looked at her instead.
An’an said softly, “Mom should eat! Mom worked hard and was sick yesterday. Mom eats first.”
Niannian also pushed the meal toward her stubbornly.
Song Yuntang smiled, not refusing at all. She picked up the drumstick and took a big bite.
Then she held it to Niannian’s mouth. “Niannian, eat. Take a big bite.”
Still in shock, Niannian took a bite. Then it was An’an’s turn—she took a small bite with her tiny mouth.
The tender meat, coated in sauce, spread rich flavor in their mouths.
In their impoverished lives, this was the ultimate luxury.