Chapter 10: A Mix of Emotions

To be honest, Lu Jiaor thought this man was quite decent. After all, it was she and the Lu family who had wronged him. However, if given the chance, she vowed to repay his kindness.

Lu Jiaor gazed seriously at the man's tall and imposing figure. Since waking up, she hadn’t taken the time to truly look at him or inquire about his situation. At this point, dwelling on it was futile. If things didn't work out, a quick marriage could just as easily end in a quick divorce—something she could accept.

Outside the train window, Gu Fengji stood behind the Lu family, watching the petite woman inside the carriage. This marriage was the first matter he couldn’t control, filling him with frustration and uncertainty. Reflecting on it now, perhaps all parties were innocent, merely at the mercy of fate’s cruel hand.

The train began to move. The Lu family ran alongside until the train disappeared from sight, then left the station with Gu Fengji, driving home. Lu Jiaor kept watching the figures outside until she could no longer see them, slowly turning her gaze away.

She felt a mixture of melancholy and relief, tinged with sorrow—a complex blend of emotions.

The hard sleeper carriage she was in held six people. Present now were only herself and a middle-aged male comrade who resembled a cadre, occupying the lower berth. They exchanged a brief glance and a nod, but neither spoke.

Taking advantage of the few passengers in the carriage, she decided to resolve her personal needs first. After using the restroom, she climbed up to her middle berth and lay down to sleep.

She had expected to struggle falling asleep but was pleasantly surprised to be asleep in less than ten minutes. Since it was broad daylight, she wasn’t worried about anyone taking advantage of her; misdeeds usually occurred under the cover of night. By resting during the day, she would naturally sleep less at night.

The middle-aged cadre opposite her was surprised the young woman in the middle berth fell asleep so quickly. He showed no sign of novelty or nervousness about boarding the train, acting as if it were all routine and even displaying a hint of disdain, making him feel like he was the one inexperienced with the world.

Lu Jiaor paid no mind to such thoughts; she focused solely on resting. She ended up sleeping until evening, even though the train hadn’t stopped once and the next station was still far away.

Upon waking, she visited the restroom again, filled an enamel cup with hot water, and sipped it to warm her hands. She planned to buy a meal on the train shortly. As for the boiled eggs and sugar cakes her mother had packed, she would save those for a midnight snack and breakfast.

From Ningshi to Jingshi took three days and nights. Lu Jiaor wasn’t about to shortchange herself—she would eat well. After all, she wasn’t lacking in money.

For dinner, she ordered tomato scrambled eggs, rice, and Chinese cabbage, costing only eighty cents with no receipt required. She also learned that the breakfast menu was quite varied, featuring porridge, steamed buns, stuffed buns, twisted rolls, and eggs—all available for payment without a ticket. Both lunch and dinner offered rice and steamed buns, typically accompanied by four meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

After finishing dinner, Lu Jiaor indulged in an extra piece of brown sugar cake. Su Yulan’s brown sugar cake was perfectly soft and sweet, its texture unaltered even in cold weather. She found it absolutely delicious.

The middle-aged cadre also bought a meal of braised pork with cabbage and rice. While Lu Jiaor ate her sugar cake, he glanced at her several times.

Just as the man finished his meal, the train finally reached its first station. Many passengers disembarked to stretch their legs outside the train doors.