9
Easily Committing Style Issues
Zhou Xiye shook his head, feeling it would be too abrupt to suddenly ask a female comrade’s name.
Wang Changkun thought it made sense. Their leader only had eyes for training, combat, firearms research, and tank range. Emotionally, he was as dense as a block of wood.
Fortunately, the captain was already married and still as thick-headed as ever. Otherwise, Wang would have wondered whether the captain’s unusual concern for that young woman might lead to lifestyle issues later on.
Jiang Zhizhi lay on the sleeper berth, enjoying a comfortable nap. When she woke up, she tried combing her hair with one hand. Forget braiding a pigtail—even tying a simple ponytail proved difficult. She ended up undoing the other braid too, gathering her hair forward and using her right hand to tie two small pigtails.
Washing up with one hand wasn’t a problem either, and having private space made her little journey quite pleasant.
At noon, the train chief cheerfully brought over a boxed meal—steamed rice with stir-fried cabbage and a bit of fatty pork.
Jiang Zhizhi looked surprised. “I didn’t order this meal.”
The train chief smiled. “Captain Zhou instructed before he got off that you should eat well since you’re injured.”
Jiang Zhizhi paused. Zhou Xiye?
Seeing her silent, the train chief chuckled, entered the compartment, placed the meal on the small table, and sat on the empty berth. “Is your injury alright?”
Jiang Zhizhi shook her head. “It’s fine. Did Captain Zhou and the others get off already?”
As she spoke, she sat opposite the train chief, sensing he might have more to say.
The train chief beamed. “They got off at the last station, probably for some urgent matter. Also, I’m quite curious—with skills like yours, have you studied martial arts? By the way, what’s your name?”
Noting his friendly demeanor, Jiang Zhizhi felt inclined to chat. “I’m Jiang Zhizhi. I grew up in an army compound, so I learned some self-defense.”
The train chief didn’t doubt her at all. Judging by her appearance, he could tell she came from a good family. “Comrade Jiang, you’ve been a great help to us. We were notified about two escaped convicts, but we were told they were two men, not a man and a woman. Besides, those two looked so refined—nothing like brutal murderers.”
Jiang Zhizhi was also curious. “They really didn’t seem the type. Since they were escaped convicts, why weren’t they lying low? If they’d just abandoned the stolen child and moved to another carriage, no one would have noticed. Even if you were conducting covert checks, it would’ve been hard to pinpoint them.”
The train chief nodded. “True, but we did ask briefly. They caused a scene targeting you, never expecting it would expose them.”
Jiang Zhizhi pointed at her own nose in shock. “Me? I don’t know them! I’ve been sleeping since I boarded and haven’t provoked anyone.”
The train chief’s expression turned serious. “Because you’re young and pretty. Their victims are all young, beautiful women. They use extremely cruel methods to kill their targets before fleeing, but they’ll still strike if they encounter a suitable victim on the road.”
Jiang Zhizhi was at a loss for words. So they were truly depraved killers—where simply being pretty became a crime.
After chatting a bit more, the train chief urged her to eat. “Finish your meal before it gets cold. If you need anything else, just let me know. Whatever’s available on this train, I’ll do my best to provide.”
Jiang Zhizhi repeatedly expressed her gratitude. After the train conductor left, she gazed at the white rice and cabbage in the lunchbox, unconsciously swallowing. She had finished the steamed buns yesterday afternoon and planned to endure hunger until the next stop to buy a mantou.
After all, when she hadn’t started earning money yet, saving was equivalent to earning—unable to increase income, she could only reduce expenses.
Picking up her chopsticks, she stuffed a mouthful of white rice. The fragrance of the rice instantly satisfied her taste buds; it was the most delicious white rice she had ever eaten.
Jiang Zhizhi knew very well that after arriving in Ganbei, rice and fine flour might become luxuries.
The cabbage seemed to have been cooked with a bit of fatty meat, yet Jiang Zhizhi still found it incredibly flavorful.
By evening, the train conductor brought her a bowl of clear noodle soup with a poached egg on top, making Jiang Zhizhi feel quite embarrassed: “This… this is too generous.”
The train conductor smiled: “Eat without worry. If not for the limited conditions on the train, I would’ve prepared a pig trotter to nourish you properly. Besides, these aren’t free—Team Leader Zhou left ten jin of Food Stamps and one jin of Meat coupons.”
Jiang Zhizhi was surprised that Zhou Xiye had left the coupons behind. She contemplated returning them to him when the opportunity arose.
Ten jin of Food Stamps and one jin of Meat coupons could sustain a family for half a month.
The last two days on the train were comfortable for Jiang Zhizhi—she ate well and slept soundly. Aside from slightly messy hair, her cheeks were rosy, showing no signs of travel fatigue.
Upon arriving in Ganbei, the train conductor helped carry her bag off the train, smiling as he said: “Comrade Jiang, I mainly operate on this route. If you return to Beijing, you can come find me on the train first. Even if I’m not here, just mention my name and they’ll arrange a spot for you. By the way, my name is Chen Daguo.”
Jiang Zhizhi thanked him profusely again. Only at the station exit did the conductor hand her the bag: “Alright, I’ll see you off here. Comrade Jiang, until we meet again.”
Carrying her bag, Jiang Zhizhi watched the conductor walk away before turning around. Just as she was about to step forward, an enthusiastic young man approached: “You must be the expert from the provincial capital, right?”
Jiang Zhizhi looked at the young man wearing a faded red work vest with holes and a straw hat, his smile simple and honest. She shook her head: “You’ve mistaken me for someone else…”
Before she could finish, the young man enthusiastically grabbed her bag: “Ah, I’ve finally found you! They said you’d arrive yesterday by train. I waited all day but no one came, so I came early to the station again today. A woman, wearing yellow clothes, with an injured hand—that’s you! Definitely not mistaken.”
While speaking, he pointed nearby: “Our tractor is right over there. Come take a look.”
Seeing the young man’s simple, honest enthusiasm and no ill intent, Jiang Zhizhi suppressed the urge to snatch her bag back and followed him, full of confusion.
The young man chattered incessantly: “Comrade, I’m Liang Dazhuang, the tractor driver for our commune. We only have two tractors in our commune, and the one I drive is the newest.”
Liang Dazhuang gestured while explaining: “That day, somehow, when I came to the city to deliver grain, the tractor stalled right after leaving the grain station. No matter what we tried, it wouldn’t start. Everyone here who knows how to repair vehicles came, but nothing worked. So we had to call for an expert from the provincial capital to take a look.”
Jiang Zhizhi was puzzled—how could a mere tractor require calling in an expert?
Not far from the train station, they saw a walking tractor parked by the roadside, its front carefully covered with a bedsheet.
Liang Dazhuang pointed at it: “This one. Not sure why it broke down halfway.”
Then, noticing Jiang Zhizhi’s injured arm, he belatedly grew concerned: “Comrade, in your condition, can you still fix it?”