Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Chufeng glanced sideways at Zhou Jinhui, his expression immediately darkening.
The Zhao and Zhou families had always been on good terms, and the two had played together since they were snot-nosed kids.
As a child, Zhou Jinhui was a tomboy, while he was skinny and short.
He was often pinned down and beaten by Zhou Jinhui in the courtyard, until one day she publicly pulled down his pants, and the grudge was born just like that.
The two became sworn enemies.
Zhao Chufeng glared at Zhou Jinhui, the two locked in a silent standoff.
Lin Qiao’er’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum, “You two know each other.”
Both turned their heads away, surprisingly in sync, and spoke in unison, “No, we don’t!”
Zhou Jinhui snapped, “Copycat.”
Zhao Chufeng fumed, “You’re the copycat!”
Lin Qiao’er looked at the two, “…”
Zhao Chufeng took two large meat buns from his lunchbox and handed them to Lin Qiao’er. The buns were still steaming, clearly fresh out of the pot. “Comrade Lin, these are freshly baked meat buns. Try them. Thank you for providing us with clues about the human traffickers. This is a token of gratitude.”
Lin Qiao’er quickly waved her hands, “No need, it was just a small effort.”
In this era, everyone lacked oil and meat in their diet.
Ignoring Lin Qiao’er’s refusal, Zhao Chufeng directly placed the aluminum lunchbox on her bunk. “Don’t be polite with me. Can I call you Qiao’er from now on?”
Lin Qiao’er pursed her lips into a smile, “Yes.”
Zhao Chufeng beamed with joy, “Qiao’er, eat the buns while they’re hot. I have to continue my patrol.”
Lin Qiao’er wanted to call out to Zhao Chufeng, “Officer…”
Before she could finish, Zhao Chufeng’s figure had already disappeared from the compartment.
Lin Qiao’er stared at the warm meat buns in her hands, momentarily lost in thought.
A soft, milky voice echoed in her mind, “Mommy, I want meat, delicious meat.”
A small smile slowly curved at the corner of Lin Qiao’er’s lips as she brought a bun to her mouth and took a bite.
The meat juices burst on her tongue—it was delicious.
Suisui’s satisfied voice chimed in, “Yummy, yummy.”
Zhou Jinhui looked at Lin Qiao’er and said sourly, “Like a starving ghost reincarnated. Never eaten a meat bun in your life.”
Lin Qiao’er was sensitive and felt a bit uncomfortable hearing this, slowing down her pace of eating the bun.
She could tell Zhou Jinhui came from a well-off family. Since she still had to make a living in Shanghai, she didn’t want to clash with her directly.
“My family’s situation isn’t good, so we rarely eat meat.”
This left Zhou Jinhui speechless, a lump of frustration stuck in her throat.
As soon as Zhao Chufeng entered the carriage, he saw Zhao Moting engrossed in a book, looking utterly focused.
No wonder he was the most educated in their family.
Zhao Moting was naturally gifted and had excelled in his studies since childhood. By middle school, he had already self-studied the high school curriculum. After five years of studying in the Soviet Union, he was now the chief engineer at an automobile factory—truly accomplished at a young age.
The only downside was that he had been sent down to the countryside as an educated youth, spending four years in the northeast, which delayed his marriage until he was twenty-eight.
A shadow fell across the pages of Zhao Moting’s book. He looked up slightly to see Zhao Chufeng’s grinning face.
Catching a whiff of meat buns, he asked, “Did you bring me meat buns?”
Zhao Chufeng’s smile froze, and he awkwardly rubbed his nose. “No, I gave them to your future sister-in-law.”
Hearing this, Zhao Moting realized his brother was serious. He set down his book and asked, “Where is she from? Are her parents still around?”
Zhao Chufeng sat down on the edge of Zhao Moting’s bunk, causing it to sink noticeably under his weight.
“She’s from Harbin, lost both parents when she was young and lived with her uncle’s family. Now that she’s older, her uncle is afraid she’ll claim her parents’ house back, so he tried to sell her to human traffickers. She’s heading to Shanghai to seek refuge with relatives.”
Zhao Moting pondered for a moment before bluntly pouring cold water on his brother’s enthusiasm, “Mom values social status and matching backgrounds the most. She won’t agree to this.”
Zhao Chufeng jumped to his feet, “I’ve made up my mind about her. Whenever I see her, my heart races like crazy. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt this way about a girl. She’s in the compartment next to yours. I’ll introduce you when I get the chance.”
As he spoke, Zhao Chufeng placed a hand over his heart.
Zhao Moting glanced at his brother, as if to say he had no ambition, “Nothing’s settled yet. Talk to me after you’ve made it official.”
Zhao Chufeng nudged Zhao Moting with his shoulder, “Brother, don’t just talk about me. When are you and Xiaowen getting married? She’s been waiting for you all four years you were in the countryside. Didn’t you say before you left that you’d marry her as soon as you returned?”
“Adult matters are none of your business,” Zhao Moting brushed him off.
“Brother, I’m already twenty. Lots of people my age are already fathers.”
Zhao Chufeng stared intently at Zhao Moting’s flawlessly handsome face for a while, “Brother, are you hiding something from the family?”
“No, don’t overthink it. I’m hungry, going to buy some food.”
Zhao Moting abruptly stood up, leaving Zhao Chufeng bewildered.
His brother definitely had something on his mind.
Zhao Moting bought a portion of braised pork belly. Along the way, many people couldn’t help but stare at him.
He was used to it.
An elderly woman suddenly rose from her seat nearby. Whether she tripped over something or not, she stumbled. Zhao Moting swiftly reached out to steady her.
The old woman wore a coarse blue-patterned blouse and had a severely hunched back, “Thank you, comrade. You’re such a good person. If it weren’t for you, this old granny would’ve surely broken a bone.”
Zhao Moting gave a slight nod.
Lin Qiao’er had just fetched hot water when she spotted Zhao Moting.
Zhao Moting was tall, with a face as handsome as carved jade, sharp and cold features, and an extraordinary aura that seemed to keep others at a distance. In the train compartment, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
It was impossible for Lin Qiao’er not to notice him.
Zhao Moting was undoubtedly the most handsome man she had ever seen.
A hand slipped silently into Zhao Moting’s trouser pocket.
Lin Qiao’er gasped.
That person was stealing!
The old woman and the thief were likely accomplices—one distracting Zhao Moting while the other picked his pocket.
They weren’t far apart, only about ten steps away.
Lin Qiao’er quickly shouted to Zhao Moting, “Watch out for pickpockets!”
Zhao Moting narrowed his sharp, long eyes and looked down. A thin, hat-wearing young man beside him immediately took off running.
Chaos erupted in the compartment as people were shoved aside.
Zhao Moting couldn’t get through.
The young man was now right in front of Lin Qiao’er.
He was too busy looking back at Zhao Moting to watch his step.
Lin Qiao’er stuck out her leg and tripped him, sending him stumbling forward.
Zhao Moting had already caught up, placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder.
Seeing no escape, the hat-wearing youth pulled a knife from his sleeve.
A cold glint flashed.
It stung Lin Qiao’er’s eyes, and she warned Zhao Moting, “Be careful, he has a knife!”
The young man slashed through half of Zhao Moting’s sleeve, revealing skin as fair as white jade beneath.
Zhao Moting was no pushover either. After several rounds of struggle with the assailant, he kicked the man’s wrist hard, knocking the dagger from his hand, then twisted both of the young man’s arms together.
With such a commotion in the carriage, the police arrived promptly.
“Stay still,” Zhao Chufeng growled, delivering a fierce kick that sent the assailant kneeling to the ground.
Zhao Chufeng handcuffed the young man with silver handcuffs and returned the wallet to Zhao Moting.
Zhao Moting tucked the wallet back into his trouser pocket and looked up at Zhao Chufeng. “Take him back for a thorough interrogation. There are likely accomplices on the train.”
Zhao Chufeng nodded, then looked Zhao Moting over with concern. “Brother, are you hurt?”
Zhao Moting shook his head.
Only then did Zhao Chufeng feel relieved.
After Zhao Chufeng led the man away, Zhao Moting spotted Lin Qiao’er in the crowd.
Zhao Moting pushed through the crowd and walked toward Lin Qiao’er.