Jiang Yan almost laughed.
She wanted to avoid trouble, but trouble seemed determined to find her. She could run away once, but could she run away forever?
She walked straight forward, ignoring their shocked stares.
After she passed by and disappeared into the corridor, Su Zhenzhen looked at the two men beside her. “Hey… was that the wretched girl who just walked past?”
Yao Qingsong thought carefully. “Facial features look similar, but it can’t be her. I saw her get on at the hard-seat carriages. How could she possibly be here in the sleeper cars?”
Zhu Kaimo stroked his chin. “Possible though. Maybe sitting in hard seats was too uncomfortable, so she snuck over here hoping to find a friend or relative to beg a bed from.”
Su Zhenzhen’s eyes widened. She punched Yao Qingsong and kicked Zhu Kaimo. “If you’re not sure, then go follow her and check! If it really is her, daring to sneak into the sleeper cars… I’ll skin her alive!”
Jiang Yan found her compartment. It was a middle bunk. She put down her luggage and was about to lie down when the door slid open.
Zhu Kaimo and Yao Qingsong entered first, holding the doors open on either side. Su Zhenzhen walked in like a princess entering her palace, looking down on everyone.
There were six bunks in the room, all already occupied. The two lackeys ignored Jiang Yan and immediately approached the passengers in the upper and lower bunks.
“Comrade, we have tickets for another carriage. Would you be willing to switch with us? We’ll give you five yuan.”
Who would say no? Switching bunks and getting paid five yuan for it?
Quickly, the bunks above, below, and opposite Jiang Yan were vacated. The two men didn’t dare sit, waiting for their mistress.
Su Zhenzhen hadn’t even looked at Jiang Yan since entering. She lifted her chin. “Help me up to the top bunk.”
They supported her as if she were their own grandmother. As she climbed past the middle bunk, if Jiang Yan hadn’t pulled back quickly, Su Zhenzhen’s shod foot would have stepped right on her head.
Seeing the dirty footprint left on her bunk and Jiang Yan shrinking into the corner, Su Zhenzhen finally felt a little better. But it was far from enough.
Once on top, she didn’t lie down. She sat on the edge, swinging her legs back and forth right above Jiang Yan’s face.
Jiang Yan remained silent.
Hmph, Su Zhenzhen thought. Where did that fierce temper go when you were arguing with me downstairs?
If you’re not going to fight back, then I’ll just have to amuse myself.
She waved a hand. “Pour me some water to drink.”
Why ask for water in a cup when she has her own canteen bottle?
Yao Qingsong understood instantly. “Wait a moment, Zhenzhen! Coming right up!”
He left and returned quickly, holding an enamel mug. He poured steaming hot water from his own bottle so hot you could see the steam rising.
He filled it almost to the brim and held it up.
Zhu Kaimo scratched his head, looking worried. “Zhenzhen, maybe you should come down to drink? It’s so hot, if you spill…”
Yao Qingsong shot him a look as if he were an idiot. Zhu Kaimo suddenly realized.
Oh right! The hot water isn’t for drinking. It’s for throwing on that girl!
If Miss Su wants to mess with you, hiding in a corner won’t save you!
Yao Qingsong held it up high. Su Zhenzhen leaned down to take it. Just as their hands were about to meet, Jiang Yan suddenly shouted:
“RAT!”
“AHH!”
Su Zhenzhen screamed in terror and lost her balance, falling backwards.
In the chaos, the entire mug of scalding water tipped over directly onto Yao Qingsong’s head, face, and arms. He jumped around screaming in agony.
Zhu Kaimo jumped away instinctively to avoid being scalded.
Nobody had time to catch their Miss!
The shrill cries quickly attracted the police and other passengers. When they opened the door, they saw Zhu Kaimo helping a dazed Su Zhenzhen up. Her forehead was cut, her nose was bleeding, and she wailed that her leg was broken.
Yao Qingsong was covered in blisters, rolling in pain.
Zhu Kaimo saw his chance. He stepped forward angrily.
“Officer! Qingsong was handing water up to Zhenzhen, and this woman suddenly shouted ‘rat’ to scare her! That’s why Zhenzhen fell, and why Qingsong got burned! She did this on purpose! She must take full responsibility!”
“Responsibility isn’t enough!” Su Zhenzhen shrieked. “She should be charged with a crime!”
The police turned to the other two passengers in the compartment for testimony.
“It happened so fast…” one said. “I heard her speak, but I can’t be sure if she said ‘rat’ or not.”
Jiang Yan looked perfectly innocent. “I was just trying to warn them to be careful.”
“Liar!” Su Zhenzhen screamed. “If you wanted to warn me, why scare me like that? You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Arrest her! Interrogate her! Beat her until she tells the truth!”
Jiang Yan frowned slightly. “Why would I want to hurt you?”
Su Zhenzhen was too furious to speak. Zhu Kaimo jumped in: “Officer, earlier when the train stopped, she accused Zhenzhen of hitting her with a bottle! She was just trying to extort money! When she failed, now she’s taking revenge!”
Chief Zhu hadn’t told his son about the earlier incident, but since the police had asked for names just now, Zhu Kaimo knew who she was.
There were no witnesses left from that other carriage anyway. With the three of them saying the same thing, it has to be true, right?
Jiang Yan spoke calmly. “Besides the three of you, did anyone else see me trying to extort money? But… everyone here heard you say it yourself just now: Yao Qingsong was holding a mug, handing hot water up to Su Zhenzhen on the top bunk.”
“So what?” Zhu Kaimo asked. “It’s the truth!”
“Then explain this,” Jiang Yan continued. “Su Zhenzhen is carrying her own canteen bottle. She is sitting right there. Why would she need someone to pour water into a mug and pass it up to her? And why does it have to be boiling hot water?”
As she pointed, everyone looked. Sure enough, Su Zhenzhen still had the brand-new military canteen slung over her shoulder.
Zhu Kaimo was speechless.
“So what?!” Su Zhenzhen yelled. “I like drinking from mugs! Is that a crime? And how do you know it was hot?”
Nobody needed to answer. They just looked at Yao Qingsong, who was still screaming in pain. If the water wasn’t boiling hot, would he look like that?
Jiang Yan turned to the officer. “Comrade Policeman, they weren’t in this carriage originally. They paid five yuan each to the original passengers to switch seats. You can go check.”
The police verified it quickly. The crowd murmured in shock.
“Five yuan each? That’s fifteen yuan total! Almost a whole month’s salary for an ordinary worker! Spending that much just to switch rooms… it’s obvious who is lying and who is looking for trouble!”
“It’s her! She’s the liar! She wants revenge!” Su Zhenzhen pounded the floor in rage.
“Officer, ask everyone! Did you see her here before just now? Look at how poor she dresses! How could she afford a sleeper ticket?!”
“I bet she either snuck in here illegally, or she stole someone else’s ticket! Check her! Investigate her background!”