After completing the work transfer, Qiao Yuewei went to the post office.
She needed to send those large items. She wanted to be efficient, but suddenly making them appear from her space was too startling.
After packing and mailing all the large items and daily necessities, Qiao Yuewei bought two bouquets of flowers and some nut cookies, then took the bus to the cemetery.
“Grandpa, Mom, I brought your favorite cookies and flowers.”
She placed the sunflowers in front of Qiao Zhiyu’s grave and arranged some cookies.
Roses and walnut pastries went in front of Qiao Ruofeng’s grave.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to find Qin Xingye. You remember him, the grandson of your old friend. Don’t worry—I’m not the type to suffer unnecessarily.”
“I know about my little uncle. I’ll do my best.” Qiao Yuewei lifted her head, holding back tears. “I won’t be able to visit you often anymore. From now on, I’ll bring Qin Xingye to see you.”
The setting sun stretched Qiao Yuewei’s silhouette as she turned to leave.
A breeze passed, and the roses and sunflowers swayed, as if nodding in agreement.
Back at the old Qiao residence, Qiao Yuewei called Uncle Ren. “Uncle Ren, I plan to leave for Haicheng tomorrow. The ticket is already bought.”
Uncle Ren sighed reluctantly. If it weren’t for guarding the old Qiao house for her foster father, he would have wanted to accompany her.
Seeing his concern, Qiao Yuewei smiled. “Don’t worry, Uncle Ren. I’ll take good care of myself.”
He nodded. Over the past few days, he had no idea how Qiao Yuewei had managed to deal with that whole family of bloodsuckers without leaving a trace.
He went to the bedside table and took out a box. “Yuewei, I don’t have much to give you. Take this money for your safety.”
Qiao Yuewei pushed it back and, taking the opportunity, slipped in the bankbooks she had found in Hu Xiumei’s and He Chuchu’s rooms. “Uncle Ren, I’m not short of money now, and even less so when I reach the Southern District.”
But Uncle Ren was persistent. With no choice, Qiao Yuewei finally took it, and he smiled.
Early the next morning, Uncle Ren accompanied Qiao Yuewei to the train station.
She could have placed all her items in her space, but to avoid suspicion, she carried a small suitcase.
“Yuewei, take these to eat on the train.”
Uncle Ren handed her two bags filled with food and drinks.
He carefully instructed, “Don’t eat anything from strangers on the train. If anything happens, contact the train police. Call me when you arrive.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded obediently, taking the bags. “Don’t worry, Uncle Ren. I’ll be careful.”
“Passengers for T188 to Yangcheng, please board promptly.”
Hearing the announcement, Qiao Yuewei hugged Uncle Ren. “Take care of yourself!”
Watching her board, Uncle Ren stayed until the train departed, then wiped his tears and left the station.
Qiao Yuewei had booked a sleeper berth, lower hard sleeper. Fewer people meant fewer smells.
When she arrived, someone occupied the lower berth across from hers, completely covered. Glancing at the upper berth across and then her own, she confirmed no one would notice her and looked away.
She placed the food Uncle Ren gave her on the small table by the bed, put her suitcase under the bed, then took a sheet from her space to cover the mattress and added a quilt.
Satisfied, she sat on the bed.
The train would run for a day and a night; she couldn’t skip sleeping.
Tidying her large braid, she leaned against the wall and dozed. Noisy chatter woke her.
Opening her eyes, she saw two young girls—one covering her mouth laughing, the other blushing.
“Yuanyuan, here, our seats are here,” Qi Danfeng said, pointing to Qiao Yuewei’s upper berth.
Fang Yuanyuan tapped her. “No more joking with me!”
Qi Danfeng stuck out her tongue. “Got it, got it. I wonder if he’ll be overjoyed knowing you’re back.”
Fang Yuanyuan blushed further and pretended to pinch Qi Danfeng.
“Oh, big sister, I won’t say anything more. Let’s put our things away.”
Their lively, cheerful demeanor caught Qiao Yuewei’s attention. Both wore floral dresses with cardigans over them and had their hair in two braids.
While Qiao Yuewei studied them, Fang Yuanyuan noticed her and was momentarily struck by her beauty.
Both girls were from the cultural troupe. Fang Yuanyuan considered herself attractive, but she hadn’t expected to meet someone on the train who could rival her.
One braid fell casually over her shoulder. Her skin looked impossibly white, almost translucent. Most striking were her eyes—so captivating, and the shape of her chest…
Qi Danfeng nudged Fang Yuanyuan’s shoulder, smirking.
“See that? That’s a real vixen.”
Fang Yuanyuan didn’t respond. As another beauty, she secretly admired Qiao Yuewei’s looks.
“Stop talking nonsense!” Fang Yuanyuan tapped Qi Danfeng’s forehead.
Qi Danfeng pouted silently.
Both climbed onto their bunks.
Qiao Yuewei squinted and dozed off, sleeping until mid-afternoon, waking from hunger.
She checked the provisions Uncle Ren had given her: cookies and milk. Collecting them, she went to the restroom.
Afterward, she visited the dining car, bought a meal with meat, and rested briefly before planning to return.
The dining car was in the middle, and she had to pass through two hard-seat carriages. When the train stopped to pick up and drop off passengers, she waited aside for the crowd to pass.
Casually, her gaze swept the carriage. Hard-seat carriages had all sorts of people and smells mixed together—chickens, ducks, crying children, parents scolding…
Children? Her eyes landed on a middle-aged woman.
Her shirt was yellowed from washing, her pants patched in several places, and the cloth shoes had holes revealing mended socks. She held a child wrapped in gray cloth, with part of the child’s outfit visible: overalls and cotton clothes.
The child cried loudly, calling “Mama! Mama!”
The woman cooed, “Shh, we’ll go find Mommy.”
The child continued wailing. The train’s boarding and alighting barely drew attention.
The woman fed the child from a bottle, and the child immediately went quiet, as if asleep.
Qiao Yuewei’s instincts were immediately alert.
This didn’t look like sleep—it seemed like the child had been drugged.
Frowning, she waited until the train resumed movement and approached a train attendant, explaining what she had seen and suspected.
The attendant’s face immediately changed.
“Comrade, I’ll go check. If she’s a criminal, we won’t let her get away.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded and followed the attendant back to the carriage.
The attendant took a deep breath, smiled warmly, and approached the middle-aged woman.
“Comrade, we have a special carriage for women and children. Please take your child there.”
The woman shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ll stay here with my child.”
The attendant tried again, “It’s more spacious, and your child can lie down comfortably. Don’t be shy.”
Someone nearby added, “Yes, why not enjoy it? Why squeeze like us?”
The woman smiled sheepishly. “Thank you, little sister. Really, we can’t afford it.”
“It’s free!” the attendant insisted.
Normally, people would be overjoyed, but the woman continued refusing, clutching her child tightly.
The attendant noticed the child’s eyes were closed but no breathing indicated sleep.
Seeing the woman’s insistence, the attendant stopped and walked over to Qiao Yuewei.
“Comrade, I’m going to find the train police. Please keep an eye on her for me.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded in agreement.