Except for the fare-evading old woman, nothing else happened until dawn. Shūxīn’s first night shift passed quietly.
By noon, the train wasn’t stopping at any intermediate stations, so no passengers were getting on or off. Zhōu Làméi told her to go buy some breakfast in the dining car and then rest in the staff lounge for a bit.
Shūxīn didn’t delay. She took her lunchbox to the dining car. The menu looked good today: millet porridge, steamed buns, and bread buns. She handed her ticket to the cook and requested a portion of porridge, along with two buns and two bread rolls. Shūxīn wasn’t going to skimp on her meals—now that she had the means, she wanted to eat well.
Finding a place to sit, she spread some homemade meat sauce on a bun. It was just as good as a meat-filled bun—perhaps even better, because she had made it herself. Anyone nearby smelling it could see how delicious it was.
After quickly finishing her meal and washing her lunchbox, she returned to the carriage and fell into a deep sleep, waking up just before the train reached the station. She chatted briefly with Zhōu Làméi before the train slowly entered. This was a major station, stopping for thirty minutes. Shūxīn and Zhōu Làméi divided their duties: one checked tickets at the doors, the other attended to passengers inside.
A few days later, the train would reach the terminal. There were temporary dorms for staff, although those who could afford it could stay in local guesthouses. Most, however, preferred the dorms—no point in spending extra when accommodation was available.
For Shūxīn, life on the train was comfortable; the only annoyance was having no place to bathe. She had been sneaking into her private space to wash, but now that the terminal was near, she could finally bathe properly.
Zhōu Làméi had worked the night shift last night, and after handing over her duties, she went straight to sleep. Shūxīn, with her extra abilities, didn’t find the night shift tiring, though for a normal person like Zhōu Làméi, it was tough.
They agreed to alternate: one would take the first half of the night, the other the second half, splitting night shift allowances evenly. Shūxīn didn’t mind—it was just slightly inconvenient.
After dropping her luggage at the temporary dorm, Shūxīn planned to explore. The terminal was in the famous Hù City, destined to become a prominent city in the future. Even now, it was bustling—far livelier than her county, comparable perhaps only to the capital.
The streets were crowded, and unlike in her county, bright-colored clothes were common. Stylish girls had curled hair and applied mousse.
Passing Hù City’s dock, she saw a busy scene of cargo ships, passenger vessels, and fishing boats. The bustling harbor didn’t hint at the turbulence Hù City had endured during the 1960s.
On the train, she had passed through many cities, some thriving, some backward. But what remained constant was the spark of life in the people’s eyes.
She began to understand why the country had weathered such storms. While disruptive, the upheavals had benefits. Wealthy and powerful people may have suffered, but ordinary citizens were largely unaffected—or even advantaged. Some unscrupulous people exploited the chaos, but the government also used it to eliminate some sources of harm. For common folk, as long as they acted cautiously, life went on.
Some people only saw the surface impact, never pondering the deeper significance, expressing silent awe without outward display.
Wandering into the fish market, she saw riverside and seafood everywhere, in abundant varieties. Shūxīn, though not eating seafood herself due to allergies, picked some to bring home for her family and to give some to the Huáng family. Eating it would cause hives, but for others, it was a treat. Since there were few lakes near Xīnyáng County, these catches were valuable—so she bought extra and, when unobserved, stored them in her private space.
After leaving the docks, she strolled the streets, exploring pastry shops and fabric stores. She recalled a saying: “The best goods are hidden in alleys; the tastiest food is in dingy little shops.” In the post-apocalyptic era, such things were scarce, but now in a big city like Hù City, she could indulge.
Satisfied with her finds, she carried a few packages herself and stored the rest in her private space. Luckily, there was no surveillance, or using her private space would have been difficult.
She visited the most famous local department store, the First Department Store, a ten-story building with clearly divided sections. The lower floors sold affordable daily necessities; the upper floors featured bicycles, watches, jewelry, imported goods, and luxury items.
After walking through, she held her wallet in the corner, sighing. Compared to Xīnyáng County, she had thought herself wealthy with over six hundred yuan saved. But in this store, she immediately felt poor.
She could only browse the lower floors without emptying her pockets. She could afford the upper floors too, but her wallet would be nearly empty. On the bright side, Hù City was full of wealthy people, so earning money here would be easier. With her private space as a backup and her physical strength, she had little to fear from theft or scams.
For now, she decided to take it slow—learn the city, understand the market, and then make targeted purchases. This was her first job, and she hadn’t even received her salary yet; no need to go overboard.
She picked useful items for herself, gifts for her family, presents for her boyfriend, and for her best friend. After all that, she had spent just over a hundred yuan. Exiting the store, she marveled at how quickly money disappeared.
She thought of her delicate boyfriend, wondering if he would suit rural life. On leaving, she had her two brothers and cousin help with him, so there shouldn’t be problems—except for the female lead, Zhào Lì, who was like a ticking time bomb. Next time, she’d make sure Luó Yuè kept an eye on her, so Zhào Lì couldn’t cause trouble. With his cunning, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Returning to the dorm that evening, Zhōu Làméi was awake. Seeing Shūxīn return with so many packages, she asked where she had been. Shūxīn didn’t hide anything.
“What? Really? Seafood that cheap? And that department store is as good as you said?” Zhōu Làméi exclaimed, insisting that Shūxīn take her there. Shūxīn agreed—they could check for black market goods tomorrow while exploring.
After washing up, Shūxīn went to bed. It had been seven or eight days since starting work; her body wasn’t tired, but her mind had been busy. She resolved to sleep well tonight. The dorm sheets had been used by many people and carried odors, so next time she would bring her own—and mentally block out the smell.