The long whistle of the Green-Skin Train sounded, carrying Qin Yao alone toward an unknown distant place.
In the hard-seat carriage, people crowded together, shoulder to shoulder, with the air thick with the smells of sweat, smoke, and instant noodles—noisy and chaotic.
Qin Yao sat by the window. She had placed her suitcase on the overhead luggage rack, and with the money and ration tickets her family had given her tucked in her bag, she felt much more at ease.
The train rocked and swayed as it moved forward, the scenery outside the window rapidly receding. Qin Yao gazed out the window, her thoughts a whirlwind.
She took out the lunchbox Wang Xiulan had prepared for her, filled with steaming pork and cabbage stewed with glass noodles, along with several large white flour steamed buns.
The aroma of the food instantly drew sidelong glances from some people in the carriage.
Diagonally across from Qin Yao sat a mother and son.
The mother looked sallow and emaciated, holding a frail little boy in her arms. The boy’s face was waxen yellow, his eyes filled with hunger.
From time to time, he would look up, stealing glances at the lunchbox in Qin Yao’s hands, then quickly lower his head and press tightly against his mother’s chest.
Qin Yao saw this and felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.
She picked up one of the large white flour steamed buns, added two chopstickfuls of the pork and cabbage stewed with glass noodles, and placed them in another lunchbox.
Softly, she said to the mother and son, “Elder sister, little brother, please have some.”
“My mother prepared too much for me; I can’t finish it all by myself.”
Hearing Qin Yao’s words, the mother and son abruptly looked up.
The mother seemed uneasy. She glanced at the lunchbox in Qin Yao’s hands, then at her eager son in her arms.
“This… this is too much to accept.”
“It’s fine. When we’re away from home, we should help each other out.”
Qin Yao smiled and handed over the lunchbox.
The little boy, smelling the food, could no longer resist. He cautiously peeked out from his mother’s embrace, his eyes fixed intently on the lunchbox.
Seeing her son like this, the mother finally gave in. With trembling hands, she accepted the lunchbox.
“Thank you… thank you, young lady!”
Her voice choked, tears instantly streaming down her face.
The little boy began devouring the food ravenously, while the mother ate small, careful bites, her eyes filled with gratitude.
This scene was observed by a plump woman sitting next to Qin Yao.
The plump woman had a bloated figure and a shiny, oily face. She wore a floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket and held sunflower seeds in her hand, cracking them loudly.
Seeing Qin Yao share her food with others, her eyes rolled, and she immediately perked up.
She spat out a sunflower seed shell with a “pfft,” cleared her throat, and said to Qin Yao:
“Oh, young lady, you’re truly kind-hearted!”
“Since you’re so charitable, why not give me some too?”
As she spoke, the plump woman shamelessly extended a greasy hand, pointing directly at Qin Yao’s lunchbox.
Hearing this, Qin Yao’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
She looked up at the plump woman and replied in a calm tone, “Elder sister, I only gave it to that mother and son. I never said I’d give any to you.”
Hearing this, the plump woman immediately became displeased.
She withdrew her hand, tossed the sunflower seeds aside, crossed her arms, and assumed an accusatory posture.
“Oh my, what you’re saying is just wrong!”
“We’re all in the same carriage; who doesn’t have their own difficulties?”
“You, young lady, look so pretty, but how can you be so narrow-minded?”
“They’re a pitiful mother and child, you gave it to them. I’m pitiful too, can’t you give me some?”
Her voice was shrill, her tone carrying a hint of moral coercion, instantly drawing the attention of the surrounding passengers.
Some of the passengers looked curiously at Qin Yao, while others disapprovingly eyed the plump woman.
Listening to the plump woman’s words, Qin Yao sneered inwardly.
She had seen plenty of this kind of moral coercion in her past life.
She closed the lunchbox and placed it on her lap, looking coldly at the plump woman.
“Elder sister, you look strong and healthy, much sturdier than the lady next to you.”
“It seems to me you don’t look like someone who can’t afford a meal.”
“Besides, my own things, I can give them to whomever I want. If I don’t want to give them, no one can take them!”
Though Qin Yao’s tone was calm and unhurried, her words were sharp and carried an undeniable authority.
The plump woman’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment at Qin Yao’s retort.
She hadn’t expected this seemingly delicate young girl to be so sharp-tongued.
“You… you little brat, how can you be so rude!”
The plump woman grew increasingly flustered and angry, her voice growing even shriller.
“I was just trying to stop you from wasting! I kindly reminded you, and you don’t even appreciate it!”
“Young lady, you look pretty and young, but you have no manners at all!”
“They’re just two steamed buns! What’s wrong with saying a few words?!”
Hearing this, Qin Yao curled her lips into a mocking smile.
She looked up at the plump woman, a hint of coldness in her eyes.
“Manners?”
“Whether I have manners or not is not for you to judge.”
“All I know is, giving to others is a kindness, not giving is my right!”
“You demand others’ things without hesitation, acting as if you’re entitled, and then stand on moral high ground to criticize others.”
“I’d like to ask, where are your own manners?”
Qin Yao’s words left the plump woman completely speechless.
The surrounding passengers, hearing this, silently cheered for Qin Yao.
“This girl is right!”
“That’s right, your own things, you can give them to whomever you want. Why should you give them to this plump woman?”
“She doesn’t look like a good person anyway, with all that moral coercion!”
The plump woman felt utterly humiliated by the surrounding whispers and Qin Yao’s words.
Knowing she was in the wrong, she said nothing more, only shooting Qin Yao a fierce glare before turning away angrily.
Qin Yao paid her no further mind, lowering her head to continue eating her meal.
The little boy finished his meal and returned the lunchbox to Qin Yao, his eyes filled with gratitude.
“Sister, thank you!”
Qin Yao smiled and patted his head.
“You’re welcome. Study hard in the future and grow up to be a useful person.”
Night fell, and most of the passengers in the carriage had fallen asleep.
A dark figure quietly crept toward Qin Yao’s suitcase.