Go south to Pengcheng

That night, Zhao Dongchuan slept fitfully, the train's clattering sounds making it hard for him to rest peacefully.

He finally managed to endure until the next morning, when the train car became lively with people brushing their teeth, washing up, drinking tea, chatting, playing cards, and attendants pushing dining carts, calling out “peanuts, melon seeds, cigarettes” like street vendors.

Zhao Dongchan climbed down from his bunk, toothbrush and toothpaste in hand, and went to the washbasin at the other end of the hard sleeper car to brush his teeth.

Several people were already crowded there brushing their teeth; everyone would get water and then brush on the side, creating a harmonious scene.

Zhao Dongchan saw the man from the lower bunk also brushing his teeth there. The man saw him too and smiled, and Zhao Dongchan nodded in return.

Although they hadn't spoken, only met briefly, at this moment they seemed like friends.

After brushing their teeth, they returned to their bunks. Zhao Dongchan didn't climb up, but instead pulled down the foldable flip-up seat in the aisle and sat there. He took out the steamed bun and water bottle he had brought from his space, eating and chatting with the man.

The man's name was Hu Jianjun. Coincidentally, his Hometown was the provincial capital, but his parents had relocated to Hong Kong due to work transfers. His cousin back in his Hometown was getting married, and he was representing their family at the wedding.

Hu Jianjun also asked about his situation. Zhao Dongchan simply said he had taken a few days off, wanting to travel and broaden his horizons.

“Are you perhaps thinking of going over there?” Hu Jianjun asked cryptically.

Zhao Dongchan didn't react immediately, looking at him a bit blankly. “What 'over there' are you talking about?”

“Uh, never mind, never mind!” Hu Jianjun clearly had some reservations and didn't elaborate.

Due to Zhao Dongchan's fixed mindset, his worldview was still rooted in the Huangyuan region of the original ordinary world and he hadn't considered the many major events happening elsewhere in the world.

For example, at present, many people were trying various ways and means to get to the other side.

Through Hu Jianjun's behavior, combined with the current time and Hong Kong's geographical location, Zhao Dongchan belatedly realized.

Hu Jianjun was talking about Hong Kong.

At this time, many people lived in hardship, unable to even survive, while Hong Kong, just across a river, was endlessly prosperous. Thus, many people voted with their feet, abandoning their homes and livelihoods, leaving their native land. One cannot say they were wrong; one can only say life is full ofhave no choice.

Hong Kong's economy was rapidly developing and needed a large labor force, so it adopted an open-door policy towards newcomers.

Zhao Dongchan, of course, had no such thoughts. To be honest, his mindset hadn't yet shifted; he felt this world was somewhat illusory to him, and with the system, he might return at any time.

Of course, if he had the chance, he also wanted to experience Hong Kong during this period.

To dispel Hu Jianjun's concerns, Zhao Dongchan also explained some of his situation. After hearing that Zhao Dongchan was currently working at the Huangyuan Cultural Center, Hu Jianjun's reservations significantly lessened.

“You're really capable. I'm still just a temporary worker!” Hu Jianjun said self-deprecatingly.

“Temporary worker?” A temporary worker could afford a sleeper berth? If Zhao Dongchan hadn't been completing a system task, he wouldn't have spent 20 yuan on a ticket to travel so far.

Zhao Dongchan looked at him in confusion. Hu Jianjun scratched his head a bit sheepishly and said, “This train ticket was arranged by my parents through connections. I'm currently a temporary worker in the transport team.”

Zhao Dongchan nodded and said, “Have you gotten your driver's license?”

“Still practicing. When we go out, I just watch from the side; I rarely get a chance to drive myself.”

As they chatted, time passed. Besides chatting, Zhao Dongchan spent his time reading and doing practice problems, which attracted the attention of other passengers in the car.

Many people would occasionally steal glances at him, some disdainfully, others with interest. In those days, universities had been abolished, and there were no guaranteed job assignments, so studying seemed useless.

Zhao Dongchan paid no mind to these things, simply doing his own work, which made Hu Jianjun admire him even more.

At this moment, the usually quiet young girl in the upper bunk opposite suddenly spoke to Zhao Dongchan: “Hello, may I borrow a book to read?”

Presumably, seeing Zhao Dongchan's actions sparked her interest in reading, giving the quiet young girl the courage to speak up.

“Sure, here you go,” Zhao Dongchan said, handing her a copy of "Children of Xisha" that he had borrowed from the Cultural Center library.

“Thank you.”

It was clear she was an introverted and shy girl.

Zhao Dongchan didn't mind and continued to work on his problems.

Two days passed in a flash, and Zhao Dongchan, Hu Jianjun, and the girl in the upper bunk opposite gradually became more familiar with each other.

The girl's name was Li Yuer, and true to her name, she was obviously a beautiful girl. Although she always wore a large hat that covered half her face and didn't move around much, her fair skin and delicate features exuded youthful charm.

Hu Jianjun was clearly very interested in the girl, constantly trying to strike up conversations with her.

Li Yuer didn't pay him much attention, focusing on her book, though she occasionally noticed the problems Zhao Dongchan was doing.

“Do you want to go to college?” Li Yuer suddenly asked him softly.

“Knowledge, you know, is never out of date. You never know when it might come in handy!” Zhao Dongchan certainly wouldn't say that the college entrance examination would be reinstated in two years, only hinting at it vaguely.

Li Yuer heard Zhao Dongchan's words and gave him a deep look, which left him puzzled.

“You're very impressive!” Li Yuer suddenly stated.

“Hahaha, really? My apologies, you've discovered my secret,” Zhao Dongchan replied with a laugh. This teasing response seemed to infect Li Yuer, as she also showed a faint smile.

Zhao Dongchan, also in the upper bunk, looked at Li Yuer, whose smile was as beautiful as a flower, and felt a stir. Damn, the destructive power of this beauty was indeed no joke. No, he needed to do a few more physics problems to clear his head.

After that, Zhao Dongchan didn't dare to provoke Li Yuer anymore and just buried himself in his practice problems.

At noon, Hu Jianjun suggested going to the dining car for a meal.

Zhao Dongchan readily agreed. For the past two days, he had only eaten steamed buns, some fruit, and biscuits; he hadn't had a proper hot meal and was a bit craving one.

Of course, Hu Jianjun clearly didn't forget to invite Li Yuer along, and Li Yuer, without being coy, accepted.

So, the three of them walked towards the dining car.

Upon arriving at the dining car, they found it had white translucent curtains and tables covered with white tablecloths, giving it a very clean feel.

The three found an empty table and sat down. A blackboard hung on the dining car wall, with the menu written in large white chalk letters. They ordered a stir-fried chicken, scrambled eggs with chives, and a seaweed soup. After ordering, they sat and waited.

At this time, the dining car wasn't crowded, but it wasn't empty either. There were also some fair-skinned, blue-eyed, high-nosed foreigners eating.

These were clearly foreign tourists who had come from the soft sleeper car to eat.

Although these people spoke different languages, they weren't reserved; they would occasionally use gestures to communicate with the Chinese people, and some even shared tables, ate together, and toasted with wine.

Zhao Dongchan found this very novel, but his English wasn't good; he could only understand some of the conversations roughly, so he didn't think about approaching them.

His English wasn't good when he was in college, which also led to his poor performance in the college entrance examination and his admission to only a third-rate university.

He even failed English exams during college.

Thinking about those unbearable past events, Zhao Dongchan felt quite embarrassed; English was indeed not his strong suit.