Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

If this old man were to go out and spread the word, the gossip that she "shamelessly interfered in Li Jianguo's relationship" would surely become the talk of the town.

The reputation that had been painstakingly salvaged is now completely ruined.

She glared at the old man, her tone sharp: "You're just making things up yourself, and now you're trying to pin this on me? I was just greeting him, and you old geezer can't seem to say anything nice!"

"You little rascal—"

The old man was so angry he was blowing his beard and glaring. The two immediately started arguing fiercely at the intersection.

Pedestrians rushing to work stopped to watch the spectacle; if they weren't in a hurry to get to work, they would have loved to see the whole thing.

Yu Li eventually returned home humiliated after being scolded.

On the way back, I happened to run into He Yushui.

He Yushui came to bring food to Shazhu. She's been very quiet lately; it's been a long time since I've seen her.

Yu Li was taken aback when she saw her.

The idea of ​​forcing a fait accompli was originally He Yushui's. Who would have thought Li Jianguo would act so unpredictably...

……

The train whistle sounded long and muffled, and as the train clattered and rattled along, Jiang Min was still peering out the window.

"How come those people can push and shove like that?"

She turned her head, her expression unreadable—it was hard to tell if it was relief or something else. People were still climbing onto the platform, and many hands were sticking out of the train windows—luggage, and children crying. Everything was mixed together.

Li Jianguo stuffed his luggage under his bunk, straightened up, and clapped his hands.

That's why it's called sardine canned food.

He sat down, and as the train swayed, the wooden plank beneath him shook. A sleeper berth was definitely different; unlike outside, where you're pressed against each other, making it hard to even breathe.

Jiang Min was still looking outside.

"Will things be better with trains from now on?"

"able."

Li Jianguo spoke with absolute certainty. He leaned against the window, sunlight streaming in through the glass, revealing dust motes floating in the light. The smells of an old-fashioned train, coal smoke, the rust of the boiler room, and the aroma of tea eggs wafting from somewhere blended into an indescribable symphony.

Jiang Min finally stopped looking out the window and turned to stare at him.

"Why are you writing those things at night with the light on, instead of sleeping?"

"What's the point?" Li Jianguo was taken aback. "So that the train won't be so crowded in the future."

"You're just being cheeky."

Jiang Min smiled. But as she smiled, she became serious again.

"I heard that you gave a bunch of materials to that guy in your department, what's his name, Chi Cheng? You're not sleeping, just to write things for someone else?"

Li Jianguo didn't respond.

The train crossed a level crossing with a loud bang. The sunlight was blocked by something, dimming briefly before brightening again.

"That was to help Secretary Jiang out of a predicament," he said. "You wouldn't understand."

"How come I don't understand?"

Jiang Min was displeased and pouted.

"You think I don't understand anything, right? My dad is my dad, and I am me. I'm not asking you about those junkies. I just... I just feel sorry for you, understand?"

After saying that, she lowered her head and stared at the tips of her shoes.

Li Jianguo suddenly laughed.

"Understand."

He reached out and ruffled her hair. Jiang Min tried to dodge, but failed; her hair was now disheveled. She looked up and glared at him, her eyes slightly red.

"Alright, alright," Li Jianguo quickly withdrew his hand, "Let's talk about something happy. What do you plan to do when we get there?"

Jiang Min was indeed led astray.

"I want to go see the market over there; I heard it's different from ours. And what's that, the mountain... they say you can see the whole city from there..."

She got excited as she spoke, gesturing with her hands and her eyes shining brightly.

Li Jianguo listened from the side, occasionally interjecting a word.

"Then we'll have to get up early."

"Fine, I'll get up then. Who's afraid of who?"

The train clattered again.

Someone outside was shouting, "Make way, make way, the hot water is here—" The voice came from afar and then back away.

Jiang Min suddenly stopped talking.

"Li Jianguo".

"Um?"

"Am I lucky to have met you?"

Li Jianguo paused for a moment.

A field flashed past the train window, the wheat just beginning to sprout, its green gleaming. A child stood on the edge of the field, waving enthusiastically at the train.

"Let's go," Li Jianguo stood up, took her hand, and said, "Let's go out and see where our people are, so we don't get separated."

Jiang Min was pulled away by him and walked out, muttering to herself.

"I'm asking you a question."

"I heard you."

"Then you tell me, isn't that right?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

The door to the sleeper berth opened, and an even stronger stench of human presence wafted into the corridor—the smell of sweat, cigarette smoke, and pickled vegetables someone had brought from home. Several children ran past from the other side, while adults grumbled and cursed behind them.

Jiang Min suddenly smiled.

"That's just a perfunctory response."

"no."

"Yes, there is."

The two squeezed through the narrow corridor, moving forward from carriage to carriage. The hard-seat area was packed with people, the luggage racks were full, and the space under the seats was also full. People standing in the aisle had to step aside to make way, swearing loudly.

After finally finding their own people, the engineers huddled together, their faces pale from the crowd, and looked at Li Jianguo as if he were their savior.

"Director Li, how long are we going to sit here?"

"It's still early."

Li Jianguo patted the man on the shoulder, "Bear with it, I'll treat you to a good meal when we get there."

On the way back, Jiang Min suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

"Is what you just said true?"

"What?"

"Trains won't be crowded anymore."

Li Jianguo looked at her.

Someone carrying luggage squeezed through the aisle, pressing the two of them close together. Jiang Min's hair brushed against his chin, making it a little itchy.

"real."

He said.

The train sounded its whistle again, a long, drawn-out whistle that traveled through fields and villages and into the distance.

Jiang Min didn't ask any more questions.

The two returned to the sleeper compartment, the door closed, and the noise outside subsided. She sat on her berth, leaning against the window, her eyes half-closed, as if she were about to fall asleep.

The sunlight shone on her face.

Li Jianguo glanced at her, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as well.

The train rattled along.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Min suddenly spoke.

"Li Jianguo".

"Um?"

"Try to stay up less late in the future."

He didn't open his eyes.

"OK."

"Seriously."

"OK."

Jiang Min was satisfied, turned over, and this time she really fell asleep.

Li Jianguo opened his eyes and looked out the window at the fields, villages, and telephone poles passing by. The sun was setting a little, and the shadows were getting longer.

He remembered the child from earlier, standing on the edge of the field, waving at the train.

I don't know who I'm waving it at.

The train continued on its way.

Clang. Clang.

Later, they went out again and met with several important people. The engineers were still enduring the hard seats; some ate their dry rations, while others dozed off by the window. Director Yang's group was also there, squeezed into another carriage. When they saw Li Jianguo coming, they quickly waved.

"Director Li, is our arrangement alright?"

"No problem, just come over if you need anything."

"Okay."

It was getting dark when I got back, and the lights in the corridor came on, casting a dim, yellowish glow. A food cart was pushed past, and the aroma of stewed cabbage and glass noodles wafted over.

Jiang Min said she was hungry.

Li Jianguo said he would go back and see if there was anything to eat.

She said okay.

The two walked back, and the train crossed another level crossing, clanging and clattering.

Back in the sleeper car, Li Jianguo pulled out the fried dough cakes that Jiang's mother had given him from his bag. They were still golden brown and glistening with oil. Jiang Min took them and took a bite.

"My mom's cooking is delicious."

"That's right."

Li Jianguo also took one and ate it by the window.

It was completely dark outside, and occasionally you could see lights in the distance, which would flash by in an instant.

After finishing the fried dough, Jiang Min licked her fingers.

"So, what's the first thing we should do when we get there?"

"Let's find a place to stay first."