Siheyuan's Journey Through the Ages

Chapter 32: The Way to Be Brave

When it was time for dinner, Ma Qing was embarrassed to find that he had not prepared any food. He was careless. The middle-aged man may have seen that Ma Qing was not prepared, or perhaps out of politeness, he gave one of the two steamed buns he brought to Ma Qing. Ma Qing had never suffered such hardship before, he said immediately.

"Brother He, you treat me to steamed buns and I treat you to vegetables. Let's go to the dining car."

"No need, just deal with it for now, why spend that money?"

"We have the staple food. Let's order two vegetarian dishes. Let me make it clear first. I don't have any meat coupons. I can't treat you even if you want to eat. It's just a few cents. Let's not argue."

"Okay, since you said so, let's go."

The two came to the dining car, and Ma Qing ordered stir-fried cabbage and black fungus, and shredded potatoes with green peppers. They were told that vegetarian dishes did not require a ticket, but Ma Qing still spent 1 yuan.

"It's hard to get details while traveling, but you are very careful about spending money," said Brother He.

"My family works at the Red Star Factory, and my parents are both workers, but I have never lacked money since I was a child." Ma Qing boasted with a smile.

"The Red Star Factory is great. It's a large factory directly under a ministry. The treatment there is better than at our machinery factory. Many people want to get in but can't." Brother He said with emotion.

"Your Sijiucheng Machinery Factory is pretty good, but you're still complaining. How can others survive?"

"Haha, one mountain looks higher than another, that's human nature." Brother He picked up a piece of shredded potato with chopsticks and took a big bite of the steamed bun.

Ma Qing continued, "I was admitted to the Sijiucheng Agricultural Machinery School this year to study mechanical manufacturing. Brother He, I will ask you for advice when the time comes."

"No problem. I'll leave you my phone number and address. When I return to Sijiu City after my business trip, you can contact me at any time." Perhaps he was meeting a future colleague, Brother He said happily.

"Brother He, I think there's something wrong with the couple across from us."

"You can see that the two people's clothes don't match the little girl, and the little girl is too silent and seems a little scared, while the woman keeps rolling her eyes, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable." Brother He nodded.

"Yes, the two people opposite were dressed simply and didn't look like they were particularly well-off. But that little girl made me feel something was wrong. Compared with the middle-aged men and women, her appearance was particularly delicate, her clothes were also delicate, and her skin was fair. She didn't look like a child from this family." Ma Qing analyzed slowly, "And when I handed her the candy, the moment she stretched out her hand, I saw obvious bruises on her arm."

"So what are you going to do?" Brother He asked with a scrutinizing look.

"I plan to report the problem to the conductor after dinner. It's just a matter of a word and it won't take me any time. If it's true, I'll have saved a family. If not, that's even better. Then I'll come back and continue bragging to you. I'll go back in an hour." Ma Qing said softly.

"You're treating me to a meal just for this?"

"A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. A plan is made in secrecy. I don't want to fail to accomplish a good thing and cause trouble. Besides, I sincerely invite you to eat. When you take out the steamed bun and share one with me, I will definitely make you my friend." Ma Qing replied. "Haha, you see the flight attendants are eating at the first two tables. Hurry up and go after you finish eating."

When the two returned from the dining car, there was no one sitting opposite them. The passengers around them were still enthusiastically discussing the story of the human traffickers. The two smiled at each other, and everything was said without words.

The next morning after 10 o'clock, Ma Qing arrived at the station, said goodbye to Brother He whom he had just met, got off the train with a backpack weighing more than 30 kilograms, and left Changchun Station.

Changchun, referred to as "Chang", also known as the "Spring City of the North", was called Xidu and Cha'a Chong in ancient times. It is the capital of Jilin Province, located in Northeast China, at the geographical center of the Northeast, bordering SY, SP, JL and HEB respectively. It is the central city of the Northeast Asian Economic Circle, a famous old industrial base in China, and the earliest automobile industrial base and film production base in New China.

More importantly, on March 1932, 3, the puppet Manchukuo established its capital in CC City, which was renamed "Xinjing". In August, it was changed to "Xinjing Special City" and was under the jurisdiction of the State Council of the puppet Manchukuo.

Especially during the Japanese occupation period, in order to "enlighten the people at home and enhance national prestige abroad", the Japanese invaders, based on the needs of their colonial rule, tried their best to make Changchun the ruling center of regional politics, economy, military and culture in order to "enlighten the people at home and enhance national prestige abroad" and cover up their crimes of invading other countries by creating prosperity and establishing an image. They concentrated a large amount of manpower, material and financial resources on its operation, increased the intensity of "development" of urban construction, and increased the number of immigrants.

In addition to traveling, relaxing and letting go of his restless heart, Ma Qing came here to pick up the spoils of the Japanese and discover some undiscovered underground treasures.

Ma Qing stood in the square in front of Changchun Railway Station and looked back at the green-roofed Changchun Railway Station. Of course, the railway stations of this era cannot be compared with those of later generations, but the small, time-honored sense of the times made Ma Qing feel happy, and the sunshine in August became brighter. Looking around, various Chinese, Russian, Japanese and other style buildings in Changchun are arranged in different heights, forming a unique urban aesthetic scene.

Coming out of Changchun Station, walking a few hundred meters south is the famous Chunyi Hotel. Unfortunately, Ma Qing, a young boy, is definitely not qualified to stay in such a hotel. So Ma Qing plans to try his luck at Songyuan Hotel. Yes, it is the filming location of the gate of the provincial party committee compound in "The World". In reality, Songyuan Hotel is next to the Jilin Provincial Party Committee compound. Ma Qing is actually unsure whether he can live here. Who cares? I am not short of money. What's there to be afraid of? If not, I can move to another place.

The result was naturally tragic. To be exact, he was laughed at when he asked for directions. Now Songyuan Hotel is called No. 1 Guesthouse, which only accommodates central leaders.

Of course, Ma Qing also learned from passers-by where an ordinary person like him could live. Ma Qing left the square in front of the station, walked less than 200 meters east, and arrived at the public-private joint venture Yuelai Hotel.

"Yuelai Inn", founded in 1915, was a very famous chain inn in Northeast China at that time. "Yuelai Inn" in Changchun is the head office, and there are branches in Shenyang, Harbin, Dalian, Sijiucheng and other places. "Yuelai Inn" continued to be prosperous until 1948. In 1956, when the state carried out socialist transformation of industry and commerce, "Yuelai Inn" became a public-private joint venture and was renamed "Public-Private Joint Venture Yuelai Hotel".

Ma Qing looked at the red Russian-style building in front of him, tightened the strap of his backpack, and walked into the hotel lobby with trepidation. There were several staff members at the front desk. Ma Qing spotted the youngest girl at the front desk and walked up to her.

"Hello, young lady, I want to check in."

Maybe it was because she had just started working, maybe it was because girls are naturally gentle, or maybe it was because she heard Ma Qing call her "sister", the female staff member's attitude was very good, "Hello, guest, you are so young and going away alone, are the adults at home worried?"

Ma Qing ignored the young lady's teasing, took out the letter of introduction issued by the street and handed it over, "I would like to get a single room, how much is the best room here per night?" Ma Qing said boldly.

The young lady who was looking at the letter of introduction raised her head and said, "The best room here is 19.9 yuan a night. Are you sure you want to stay?" The half-smile on her face looked very hateful.

(End of this chapter)