Chapter 121: Someone’s Scheme
Everyone hurriedly rummaged for their letters of introduction, clutching them tightly once found.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang had already stored theirs in their spatial storage.
Lu Manman said, “Jingxian, don’t panic, keep looking carefully!”
Yue Xiaoying added, “Yeah, search again, maybe you just put it somewhere else.”
Several impatient passengers behind them urged loudly.
“Move forward! Why are you standing there stupidly?”
“If you won’t move, then at least don’t block the way. Let us through.”
Mu Lantu and his group shuffled forward with the line, while Zhang Guodong and Zhang Jingxian, faces pale, hesitated and withdrew.
“Brother, what do we do?” Tears welled in Zhang Jingxian’s eyes.
Zhang Guodong told the others, “You all go ahead. Jingxian and I might have to catch the next train.”
The others nodded. There was no choice. They couldn’t all stay behind just for the siblings.
Zhang Guodong pulled Zhang Jingxian aside.
“Brother, can we even catch the next train? Don’t trains to Xinjiang only leave once a day? The next one won’t be until the day after tomorrow.” Sweat beaded on Zhang Jingxian’s forehead, but her mind remained clear. “If we arrive late and it counts as mission failure, both of us will be penalized. Brother, I can’t drag you down. You get on the train with everyone else. I’ll go back to the brigade alone, get a new letter, and take the next train. Hurry, go!”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Zhang Guodong tapped her on the head. “How could I leave you behind?”
He stubbornly glanced at her luggage. “Jingxian, search again. Maybe the letter’s tucked inside a bundle?”
“It’s really gone!” Zhang Jingxian said firmly, trusting her own memory. “Brother, you know I always remember things clearly. I distinctly recall—so it would be easy to show at ticket check—I put the letter in my satchel.”
Zhang Guodong clenched his fists in frustration. “Could it have been stolen? But why would anyone steal that? Were any of your other things missing?”
Zhang Jingxian realized the oddity too. “No, I checked just now. The money, tickets, biscuits, fountain pen—they’re all still here.”
Zhang Guodong pressed, “When was the last time you saw the letter?”
Zhang Jingxian replied with certainty, “After washing up this morning, I checked one last time.” Which meant there were only three possible places it could have been lost: the women’s dormitory, the tractor ride, or the waiting hall.
She hated to suspect her fellow educated youths, but if it was lost in the waiting hall, how would anyone even know she had the letter? Why steal only her letter, and nothing else?
Zhang Guodong looked at the big station clock. Forget it—this wasn’t the time to investigate.
“Come on, let’s go to the Educated Youth Office!”
Zhang Jingxian’s eyes lit up. “Right! Youth Mu said if we run into trouble, we can seek help there. Brother, I can go myself, you should—”
“Enough, don’t waste time.” Zhang Guodong cut her off. “Without the letter, if a cadre stops you, you won’t be able to explain at all. Let’s go!”
The two of them sprinted out of the station, hired a rickshaw, and rushed toward the Educated Youth Office.
*
Meanwhile, the rest of the educated youths had already boarded the train, sighing in unison.
The letters of introduction were essentially their “tickets,” but since no seat numbers were written on them, they had no assigned seats.
The trip from Shuangfeng County to Xinjiang would take three days and three nights!
No one dared to complain. Some squeezed into the space between two carriages. Some sat on empty seats until their rightful owners arrived. Some went to the conductors and bought tickets with their own money.
A few kind passengers even offered to share half their seat with an educated youth.
Xu Huazhang, who wasn’t short on money, had a colleague help him buy two hard-seat tickets.
He had originally wanted sleeper berths, but those were impossible to get. Sleeper cars—mockingly called “cadre carriages”—were usually booked in advance by work units. For such a long journey to Xinjiang, anyone who could afford it snatched them up long ago.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang greeted the other educated youths, then went off to find their seats.
Du Xuewen, Miao Jiaze, Yan Xuan, and a few others who weren’t short on money had bought their own tickets as soon as they got to the station, and went to their seats as well.
“Lantu, wait here. I’ll ask if we can upgrade to sleepers. Keep an eye on the luggage.”
Pickpockets were rampant on trains. Just in their carriage alone, Xu Huazhang had already spotted four suspicious types. Each time a new passenger boarded, those men would scan them up and down. Well-dressed passengers were assumed wealthy; sickly ones were probably headed to the big city for treatment and had money too…
Mu Lantu swept his gaze over each of them.
“Go ahead.”
[Host, I can help you keep watch.]
[Good, thank you, little five.]
Their seats were together. Opposite them sat two middle-aged men. Across the aisle was what looked like a grandfather and grandson. Opposite the pair sat two women, one around forty, the other just past twenty, chatting softly together.
Mu Lantu’s eyes followed Xu Huazhang.
“Brother Mu!”
Miao Jiaze ran over.
“Where’s Brother Xu?”
“He’s trying to upgrade to a sleeper,” Mu Lantu replied.
“No chance,” Miao Jiaze said. “Old Du already asked—completely full.”
Mu Lantu frowned. Three nights on hard seats?
“I swapped seats with Old Du so we could sit together. He asked me to see if you want to switch too, so we can look out for each other.” Miao Jiaze lowered his voice. “There may be pickpockets on the train.”
Mu Lantu disliked people getting too close, leaning away. “Let’s wait until Huazhang returns to see.”
“Alright, I’ll wait.” Miao Jiaze leaned on the seat back. “You think Comrade Zhang and his sister will be okay?”
Mu Lantu had overheard the Zhang siblings’ conversation. He reminded him, “Keep your letters safe, and don’t tell anyone where you keep them.”
Miao Jiaze’s eyes widened. “No way—are you saying it’s an inside job?”
He immediately thought of the consequences of failing their political task. Anger surged beneath his solemn expression. Such a scheme was vicious, calculated, and ruthless!
Mu Lantu said, “Just mind your tongue.”
“I’ll only tell Old Du, alright?” Miao Jiaze whispered.
Mu Lantu nodded. He trusted his judgment—Du Xuewen was a good comrade.
Still, Miao Jiaze mulled over it. Little Zhang was always low-profile, never offended anyone. Who would target her this way?
Xu Huazhang returned, handing Mu Lantu a bag of dried beef.
“I managed to reserve two sleeper berths. Those passengers will be getting off tomorrow afternoon.”
Mu Lantu shifted inward, giving Xu Huazhang the outer seat. “Bought from the dining car?”
“Mm, spicy flavor. If you like it, I’ll get us more later.”
Miao Jiaze looked on enviously. He had thought about offering extra money himself, but perhaps the attendant he approached was too upright, insisting there were no sleeper tickets left. Or maybe—maybe Xu Huazhang had used his good looks to strike a deal! Hmph!
Unfair!
“Good-looking people always get the perks.”
Mu Lantu frowned. Xu Huazhang had gotten those berths because of his ability.
“I was going to share one with you—Huazhang and I could squeeze together. Forget it.”
“Brother, I was wrong!” Miao Jiaze panicked, pleading to Xu Huazhang. “Truly wrong! When we reach Xinjiang, I’ll treat you both to lamb hotpot to make up for it!”
Xu Huazhang just tapped his knee lightly with his fingers, smiling silently.
Miao Jiaze turned back to Mu Lantu. “Brother, I really was wrong!”
Mu Lantu held up two fingers.
“Three meals, fine!” Miao Jiaze nodded quickly. “I’ll go tell Xuewen.” He promptly dragged Du Xuewen along to split the cost—what a sly little fox.
After Miao Jiaze left, one of the middle-aged men across from them struck up conversation.
“You lads headed to Xinjiang?”
“Uncle, judging by your accent, are you from Xinjiang yourself?” Mu Lantu asked.
While Mu Lantu enjoyed making small talk, Xu Huazhang found his own amusement—he took out a book from his bag and also gave Mu Lantu a bag of sunflower seeds.
The middle-aged man nodded. “Yes. Except for educated youths, we rarely get outsiders there. You are… also educated youths?”
Mu Lantu offered him some seeds. “Uncle, try some. I’ve heard people there are warm and hospitable, with sweet and delicious fruits. I’ve always longed to go, but since this is my first time, I don’t feel very confident.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.” The man replied in somewhat clumsy Mandarin. “Our people have always been hospitable since ancient times. Everyone is easy to get along with…”
Xu Huazhang’s lips curved faintly. This little troublemaker was already leading the conversation astray again.
Mu Lantu, relaxed and smiling, managed to draw out plenty of information from the man while revealing nothing about himself.
Uncle Yalikun warmly produced a naan wrapped in clean oil paper, breaking off a third each for Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang.
The naan was chewy and fragrant, growing tastier with every bite. Mu Lantu enjoyed it, and in return, offered Uncle Yalikun two egg pancakes and two tangerines.
The uncle ate the pancakes on the spot but tucked the tangerines into his bag—likely to bring home for elders or children.
At noon, Mu Lantu asked the uncle to watch their luggage, then went with Xu Huazhang to the dining car for lunch.
Because meals were free, many educated youths came to eat there.
They couldn’t choose freely—only one staple: a solidly packed bowl of rice, or three steamed buns, or three baked cakes. Side dishes were one portion each of pickled radish shreds, smashed cucumber, and steamed eggplant. Not bad overall, enough to fill even the men to eighty percent.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang collected their free meals, then paid for extra: two bowls of rice, one plate of braised pork, one of cured pork with radish, one stir-fried greens, and a large pot of winter melon tofu soup.
A few educated youths gnawing on dry steamed buns couldn’t help glancing over.
It wasn’t just them—other passengers with money also ordered meat dishes, and some even alcohol.
Zhao Canxing and Qian Yongning were there too, separated from Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang by four or five tables.
“See that? Rich people,” Qian Yongning muttered, noticing them first.
Zhao Canxing lowered his head. “I’ve got a way to teach that guy a lesson.”
Qian Yongning brightened. “What way?”
“No rush. Let’s finish eating. Watch for my signal later, then follow my lead.” Zhao Canxing’s grin twisted wickedly.
