Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 431 Changing Shops

As the train drove further and further away, it became pitch black outside the window, and the rhythmic clatter of the train became the sound of the whole world.

Several people couldn't sleep, so they huddled together to talk. There were three berths in the carriage: one middle berth and two upper berths. However, the lower berth of the middle berth was empty at the moment, so the group sat there chatting. Opposite them, on the lower berth, was a middle-aged man lying on his berth reading a book.

Chen Hui looked around and said, "There are so many empty berths, why are we all in upper berths and divided into two carriages?"

The middle-aged man said, "You bought your tickets at the station, right? If you buy them on the train, they'll be together. The station sells tickets according to the berths announced on the train. They can't possibly announce that an entire carriage is empty; they just announce them at different times. And usually, they only announce the middle and upper berths; the lower berths are more expensive."

Xiao Wei said, "Uncle, you must be out and about a lot, right? You sound experienced."

The middle-aged man rolled over onto his side, shoved the book under his pillow, and said, "I'm always on the go, spending about half the year on trains. We usually buy a hard seat ticket and come on board to buy a supplementary ticket. On this train, the conductors are familiar with us, so we can just get on and buy a ticket later."

Xiao Wei said, "Uncle, could you ask the train conductor to move our berths together? That way, the six of us can share one berth."

The man said, "It's hard to say. Let me go ask for you. Is that alright for a couple of yuan?"

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, as long as we can be transferred together."

The man put on his shoes and went to find the train conductor.

"Cigarettes, fruit, melon seeds, poker, mahjong, checkers, beer, drinks, mineral water, sausages, bread, peanuts, this is the last trip, hurry up and buy what you want, we're going to sleep after this trip." A familiar voice came from the front of the carriage.

Xiao Hong tilted her head and looked over, saying, "Huh, why is it still this person selling goods?"

Xiao Wei said, "I guess it's the same train crew." Coincidentally, the group arrived at the same train crew, but the carriages were different.

As they approached, the saleswoman saw Xiaowei and Xiaohong, then looked down at Chen Hui and Xia Maosheng, and said, "What a coincidence? You're back in Fengtian? Come on, what would you like to buy? It's a long night, get some beer and sausages."

Xiao Wei smiled and said, "Okay, I'll buy it if you help us switch the shops together."

The sales clerk scratched his head and asked, "What kind of shop are you now? Aren't you in the same area?"

Xiao Wei patted his head and said, "This middle bunk, the upper bunk across from it, and the upper bunk of that cubicle, there are two more bunks in that carriage."

The sales clerk looked around and asked, "How would you like to exchange it?"

Xiao Wei said, "They're all empty, so why don't we all switch together? That would make five seats. This lower berth is taken; it's an older man. Oh, he went to find the train conductor. He knows someone there and said he'd see if he could help us switch together."

The sales clerk leaned down and whispered, "It's not easy to change. Everyone wants more empty berths in their carriage, you understand?"

Xiao Wei asked, "What should we do? Is there any way?"

The sales clerk said, "I'm not part of the train crew; I just sell goods on the train. I'm under the locomotive depot, so my word doesn't always carry weight. It might be okay if you buy a ticket, but I can't say for sure about changing berths."

The middle-aged man walked back with a cigarette in his hand, sat down, shook his head, and said, "It didn't work. They said they're all taken. I just met them on the bus and train, and we chatted a bit when we were free. We're not really close."

The sales clerk kicked Xiaowei and pushed the cart forward: "Cigarettes, fruit, sunflower seeds, playing cards, mahjong, checkers, beer, soft drinks, mineral water, sausages, bread, peanuts. Last trip."

Xiao Wei stood up and said, "I'm going to the restroom." He followed the salesperson to the other side of the carriage.

When we got to the connecting area between the carriages, the vendor said, "That train conductor is known to be difficult to talk to, and if he asks, it probably won't do me any good either. I'll take you to ask this guy over here. Give him twenty yuan, and I'll slip it to him. Then you can buy my goods."

Xiao Wei took out twenty yuan and stuffed it into his hand, saying, "Okay, I'll buy it after I've changed and settled in. I'll definitely buy it."

The sales clerk held the money in her hand, pushed the cart forward, and said, "Wait here for a moment."

Xiao Wei nodded, leaned against the wall, and watched the salesperson push the cart into the truck. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and looked at his reflection in the glass with boredom. He squinted, raised his eyebrows, and pouted, and damn it, he quickly became engrossed in making facial expressions and entertaining himself. "Hahahaha!" A burst of laughter rang out from behind him, and Xiao Wei came back to his senses. He turned around and saw Xiao Hong squatting on the ground, laughing uncontrollably.

I shoved the cigarette butt into the ashtray, bent down and picked up Xiao Hong, who was about to sit on the ground. Oh no, she was as soft as a noodle again. I could only hold her tightly in my arms and listen to her cooing laughter.

"You're changing bunks? How many people are with you?" A voice came from behind. Xiao Wei turned around and said, "There are three people here. Thank you for your help."

The train conductor, with a blank expression, said, "It's alright, we understand special circumstances. Is this the pregnant one?"

Xiaowei helped Xiaohong to her feet and said, "No, she's sitting inside."

The train conductor said, "Alright, go and call her over. The lights are about to be turned off. What's wrong with her?"

Xiao Wei smiled and said, "It's alright, it'll be right away. Please wait a moment." He then looked down at Xiao Hong and asked, "Can you stand up by yourself?"

Xiao Hong reached out and held onto the wall for support, saying, "Okay, you go ahead, I'll just stand here for a bit." She wiped away the tears that had welled up from laughing. Xiao Wei let go of her hand, checked that everything was alright, and went to the front to call Chen Hui and the others, glancing back every few steps. When the group came over carrying their suitcases and luggage, they didn't see Xiao Hong. They went into the next carriage and found the girl sitting in the train conductor's room, chatting with the conductor.

Xiao Wei knocked on the glass of the train conductor's break room. The conductor turned around, looked at him, took out his key, opened the door, stood up, and said, "You're all here? Let's go." He led them into the carriage and walked to the other end, saying, "This is it. Two up, two middle, one down. Give me your original tickets."

Xiao Wei took out his ticket and handed it to the train conductor. The conductor took the ticket, glanced at it, and said, "Hurry up and put your luggage away and get some rest. The lights will be turned off soon." He then left with the ticket. The group of people stuffed their luggage under their berths, sat down, and started chatting; none of them were sleepy.

A few minutes later, the lights in the carriage suddenly went out; it was ten o'clock.

Xiao Wei and the others were positioned near the connecting area between the carriages, where lights shone in, so it wasn't dark.

As they were talking, a figure flashed by, and the saleswoman came over: "All changed? This train attendant is easy to talk to. Next time you take this train, just ask her if you need anything. Besides, she's related to the train conductor, so she'll have a lot of influence. How about it? What do you want to buy? What's the point of just chatting like this? Get a few bottles of beer, some sausages and peanuts, drink for a while, lie down and sleep. Isn't that comfortable?"

(End of this chapter)