“Hello, I’m looking for Comrade Su Jiaojiao.”
??? Upon hearing someone was looking for her, Su Jiaojiao immediately sat up straight and asked, “Hello Comrade, I am Su Jiaojiao, may I ask who you are…?”
When the old man heard it was the little girl they were looking for, he returned to his bedside and sat down, and the old cadre in the bunk above Su Jiaojiao also drew his head back.
That attendant looked to be just over twenty, tall and thin, smiling brightly. He was just standing at the door and didn't intend to come inside.
“Hello, at your father’s request, we are here to look after your safety during the journey. If you need anything along the way, you can come directly to us.”
Oh~ she remembered now, Comrade Old Su had mentioned this before getting off the train; she had forgotten.
“Ah? Okay, thank you Comrade, then I’ll trouble you for the journey. Wait a moment.”
Saying that, she got up and lifted the quilt, intending to get up and give some of the Jidan that Zhou Pangzi had given her to the attendant.
She quickly pulled out the sack from under the bed and placed it on the quilt. After reaching into the sack, her hand paused over the boiled eggs—there were ten Da Tuanjie notes and three ration coupons on top of them.
Su Jiaojiao didn't deal with that first. She grabbed three boiled eggs and quickly went to the door, stuffing them directly into his clothing pocket, saying, “Comrade, please have some eggs. You can fill your stomach if you get hungry later.”
The attendant wasn't hesitant either. He rested his hand on the small cart and smiled at Su Jiaojiao, “Then I won’t refuse, thank you Comrade. I have things to do, so I’ll be going now.”
Before leaving, he glanced inside several times, focusing his gaze on the old man and the old cadre for a few turns.
“Okay, you be busy!” Su Jiaojiao watched him leave before turning to close the door.
She raised her hand to check the time; it was almost eleven o’clock, no wonder she was a little hungry.
While thinking, she stuffed the Da Tuanjie notes and national ration coupons from the eggs into her clothing pocket.
Then she squatted down and pulled out her large Píxiāng from under the bed; it was full of food.
She took out the Beef Paste made by Grandmother. Her favorite, the spicy sauce, and took out two steamed buns. Beef Paste with steamed buns… delicious!
The aroma of the Beef Paste attracted the old cadre in the upper bunk, who stuck his head down to peek a few times.
Su Jiaojiao ignored them, quickly finished eating, tidied up, and lay back down on the bed.
Because she discovered an interesting Big Sister, about thirty years old and a bit plump, who had bought a hard seat ticket. She had quite a few belongings, filling an entire large Sack.
Since the items were too large to put up above, she had to place them near her seat. This meant that she and the person opposite her could only put their feet in the aisle.
And her seat was relatively far back, not far from the restroom, so every time someone needed to go to the restroom, they had to pass by her.
So every time someone passed, she had to pull her legs up onto her Sack and wait for them to leave before putting them down again.
It was fine at first, but later, she would curse at everyone who passed by her. Some hot-tempered people would curse back at her.
As soon as Su Jiaojiao extended her Divine Sense over, that Big Sister was indeed arguing with someone again.
“It’s you! How many times have you gone to the restroom this morning? Shameless, showing off your figure there?” The Big Sister was pointing at a woman about her age and cursing, spittle flying.
“What? Can’t I even use the restroom now?” That woman was not easy to provoke either and retorted.
“It’s not that you can’t go, but look how many times you’ve gone this morning? I recognize you here already.”
Then she nudged the girl sitting next to her with her elbow, pointed at the woman standing by the restroom door, and said loudly, “She has gone four times this morning including this time. I’ve been counting for her.”
The girl she nudged with her elbow looked awkwardly between the woman talking to her and the grim-faced woman standing by the restroom door, then continued burying her head in her food, clearly not wanting to get involved in the matter.
But this Big Sister acted as if she couldn't read people’s expressions and continued, “How much water did you drink to go four times in one morning?”
“How many times I go to the restroom is none of your business! Since when do you need permission to use the restroom on a Huoche?” Clearly, that woman was also provoked by her and started speaking sharply.
“Every time you pass by here, I have to lift my legs up for you. It’s not that I won’t let you use the restroom, but you going four times in one morning—if everyone were like you, with so many people in this Car Compartment, would I ever be able to put my legs down?” The Big Sister felt wronged saying this!
“Why shouldn’t I bring my things? Where else should I put them if not here? On your back?” Seeing the woman go into the restroom, the Big Sister became more animated, continuously pointing at the other person and cursing at the girl sitting next to her.
The girl sitting next to her only responded with “Mmm, mmm, mmm…” not daring to lift her head, perhaps fearing that if the woman cursed too many people, she might get beaten up too when the person she cursed fought back.
Su Jiaojiao hadn't interacted much with these two in the same Car Compartment for the past two days. She lived the life she dreamed of: eating and sleeping, and sleeping after waking up. When bored, she would extend her Divine Sense to check on the Big Sister… Very good~ Very good!
That Big Sister was safe so far.
This continued until the Huoche reached their destination. The noisy sounds and the clatter of luggage had long since filled this section of the car.
Su Jiaojiao wasn't in a hurry; her things were under the bed. Once the aisle was less crowded, she could just pull them out.
Then she watched as that old man and the old cadre walked out of the Car Compartment door with their own luggage.
As the old man left, he smiled and nodded at her.
Hey~ Really! A gentleman is distinguished regardless of age.
At this moment, the compartment door was pulled open. Su Jiaojiao turned her Head to see the attendant followed by a Man with an upright and righteous expression.
She recognized him too; he was Grandpa Zhong’s son, the Bureau Chief of Hongxing Town.
“We’ve come to help you with your luggage,” the attendant spoke first with a smile.
“Thank you, Comrade.” This Comrade attendant had a great sense of responsibility.
Every time he passed by here these past two days, he would stick his head in through the window on the door to take a look.
“Uncle Zhong, long time no see.” Su Jiaojiao smiled, her Eyebrows and eyes crinkling, at the Man behind the attendant.
The Man called Uncle Zhong also smiled upon hearing this. He stepped into the Car Compartment door in two strides and smiled at Su Jiaojiao, “It’s been a few years, I didn’t expect Jiaojiao to be this tall. Come~ Where is your stuff? Uncle will get it for you. The vehicle is waiting outside, and we’ll take you directly to the Educated Youth point.”
“Then I’ll thank you both.” Saying that, Su Jiaojiao Bended over and pulled out everything from under the bed.
This Big Sister is a real person! This year when I went home for the New Year, she sat next to me. I was that girl who was afraid of getting beaten.