I had thought that Han Ye running into his classmate would just be a small episode in their long journey.
But as it turned out, over the next ten or so hours, Han Ye kept running into Liu Wenqiu from time to time.
After all, Han Ye was never one to sit still, and Qin Qiao'an was just as restless and playful. They couldn't settle down and read like Xiaxia could.
So the two brothers would, every now and then, go out together for a stroll.
And every time they went out for a stroll, they'd inevitably run into Liu Wenqiu.
Han Ye was truly fed up with this classmate of his. He had nothing to say to Liu Wenqiu, and he didn't want to make awkward small talk.
Besides, he wasn't good at dealing with female classmates anyway.
So after only a couple of strolls, Han Ye holed up in the soft sleeper compartment and refused to go out again.
When Qiao Lanshu woke from her nap, she was quite surprised to see Han Ye and Qin Qiao'an both curled up on the lower bunk reading.
She said in astonishment, "What's wrong with you two? Since when do you read books?"
They definitely hadn't brought any books with them. Qiao Lanshu had brought textbooks, which she read on the way.
Xiaxia, on the other hand, had brought a few random books — a collection of essays, a poetry anthology, and a martial arts novel.
What the two of them were holding now were the martial arts novels from Xiaxia's bag.
Qiao Lanshu climbed down from the upper bunk and sat beside Qin Qiao'an, saying, "Why aren't you brothers going out for a walk?"
Both of them reading books — Qiao Lanshu was really taken aback by these two rascals.
From above, Xiaxia said gleefully, "Oh, Mom, you don't know — Brother Ye's been so scared by his 'fated encounter' that he doesn't dare go out anymore."
Han Ye put down his book and shot Xiaxia a fierce glare, telling her, "Read your book. What nonsense are you spouting?"
Xiaxia stuck out her tongue and went back to reading.
Qin Qiao'an also let out a sigh and said gloomily to Qiao Lanshu, "Mom, girls outside are really scary. That Liu Wenqiu keeps coming to find Big Brother, and now Big Brother won't even go out."
Qin Qiao'an repeated himself over and over: "I'm so bored I could die."
Qiao Lanshu looked at Han Ye. The usually unruly Han Ye was also sighing. He said, "Mom, how many more hours until we arrive? I'm going to grow mold lying here."
Qiao Lanshu couldn't help asking, "That young girl — she seemed pretty nice to me. Why are you so afraid of her?"
At that, Han Ye couldn't hold it in anymore. He sat up, crossed his legs on the bed, and said to Qiao Lanshu in a low voice, "She talks too much. The moment she sees me, she starts asking all sorts of questions. I'm not even that familiar with her. Besides, she keeps giving me food. It's not like I'm short on food — but if I eat it, I owe her a favor."
The worst part was that every time he refused, she'd put on this hurt, aggrieved look, as if he were some terrible villain.
Han Ye rarely interacted with female classmates, so he had no idea what to do.
So he just hid in the compartment and stayed put.
Hearing all this, Qiao Lanshu understood everything clearly.
That classmate Liu was most likely interested in Han Ye.
Qiao Lanshu studied Han Ye carefully.
Han Ye would be starting eighth grade soon. At fourteen, he looked like his father Han Wenlin — tall, broad-shouldered, and after years of training, sturdy and well-built.
His features were still a bit youthful, but you could already see his deep-set brows and sharp, handsome face.
Great physique, good looks, and a well-off family — even if his grades weren't the best, that was more than enough to catch the attention of female classmates.
Middle school — they weren't that young anymore.
When Qiao Lanshu was in middle school, some of her female classmates had already gotten married before finishing their studies.
So these kids had reached puberty, the age when young hearts begin to stir.
Thinking about this, Qiao Lanshu couldn't help but smile and asked Han Ye, "From what you're saying, you've never really gotten along with any female classmates?"
Han Ye had caught on a bit by now, so upon hearing this, he quickly said, "Of course not. I only hang out with guys. Girls are a no-go — what if they report me for harassment?"
Qiao Lanshu said with some relief, "You're quite cautious."
In the old days, if a man and a woman so much as stood by the roadside and talked a little too long, people would accuse them of 'improper relations between the sexes.' And if the label of 'hooliganism' got slapped on you, you'd be sent off for reeducation through labor.
Though things weren't as strict now, unmarried men and women still had to keep their distance.
Qiao Lanshu felt that Han Ye was really clever. He didn't even need adults to teach him — he understood a lot on his own.
Then Han Ye said, "Of course. That old man of mine has been pestered by all kinds of female comrades over the years. If he hadn't been careful, he'd have ended up with who knows how many wives by now. I learned from his experience too."
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Qiao Lanshu: "About four more hours to go, so not long now. You two should eat something first."
The train to the capital took about ten hours or so, which wasn't really that long. Sleep a bit in bed, read a bit, eat a bit — and the time would pass soon enough.
When they reached their destination and got off the train, Han Ye, carrying two bags on his back, said to Qiao Lanshu, "Mom, you go out first and keep an eye out for me. I'm afraid I'll run into her again."
Qiao Lanshu smiled and nodded: "Alright."
However, Qin Yuanzheng was the first to step in front of Qiao Lanshu. He said, "Get behind me. Han Ye, you stay in the back. Everyone hold hands. The platform is crowded — we can't afford to get separated."
The train station really was crowded at this time, and with the lax management, it was especially chaotic.
Qin Yuanzheng led the way in front, Han Ye followed at the back, and Qiao Lanshu walked in the middle with the two younger children. She kept turning back to check on Han Ye every now and then, afraid he might get lost.
When the family came out of the station, the guard sent to pick up Qin Yuanzheng drove over.
Qin Yuanzheng didn't let the guard drive. He borrowed the car and drove his wife and kids himself to the guesthouse, checked them in.
By then, it was already quite late. They got two rooms — Qin Yuanzheng stayed in one with the two boys, and Qiao Lanshu stayed in the other with Xiaxia.
They went to bed early that night, and when they woke up the next morning, the whole family went out for breakfast.
There were plenty of breakfast stalls by the roadside. They sat down at a stall selling soy milk and fried dough sticks, the five of them squeezed around a small square table.
Qin Qiao'an kept looking around curiously the whole way, then said, "Mom, I think the capital isn't really that special. It's pretty much the same as our Wencheng."
Qiao Lanshu said with a smile, "Well, they're both northern cities, so the difference probably isn't that big? If you ever go to Guangzhou, you'll see the obvious difference between northern and southern cities."
Actually, the food in the capital and Wencheng was fairly similar too. To Qiao Lanshu, a southerner, it all felt the same.
Still, the capital was busier and livelier — more buildings, more people packed together.
After the reform and opening up, most people flooded into the cities, and the capital had absorbed countless migrant workers.
Even early in the morning now, the streets were bustling and noisy — chaotic, but lively.
Just then, Han Ye suddenly said angrily, "What do you think you're doing? Give it back!"
With that, he abruptly stood up, glaring at a woman in her forties or fifties standing behind him.
The woman was startled by his shout. Then, she curled her lips and tossed over a little red flower, saying, "Who cares? So grumpy."
With that, she stared at Xiaxia for a few good seconds, muttered curses under her breath, and walked off.
Han Ye tucked the little flower back into Xiaxia's hair, frowning. "That woman's really messed in the head. What's wrong with her, going after Xiaxia's clip like that?"
