Chapter 241: The Well-Behaved Child
"Anmin, why was the door closed?" Ding Anguo’s voice came from outside the compartment, prompting Ding Anmin to get up and open it immediately. Both men were carrying green mesh bags filled with lunch boxes.
After Ding Anguo placed two lunch boxes in front of Qin Muxian and Zheng Sirui, the mother and son looked a bit puzzled.
"We brought you some dumplings and noodles, have some." Ding Anguo said with a smile.
Qin Muxian accepted this gesture. She didn’t want to take her son to the Qin Family, and had planned to go to the dining car later, but now it was unnecessary.
After finishing her meal, Qin Muxian took out some money and tickets, insisting on giving them. "You’ve already gone out of your way to help us with the meal. If you refuse, we’ll feel awkward for the rest of the journey."
Ding Anguo accepted the money and ticket without hesitation.
Because of the Qin Yuehong incident, and this meal, Qin Muxian grew closer to Yi Roujing’s group and started engaging with them on her own.
"You’re also going to Jing City, there are many places worth visiting there." Qin Muxian said with a smile, introducing the places she knew.
Huang Xiaobao, who had been to Jing City many times, chimed in and added to the conversation with a smile as Qin Muxian introduced the places.
"It seems you already have a guide." Qin Muxian said warmly.
"Muxian, do I really need to personally invite you?" Qin Muxian’s gentle smile faded as she saw her slightly hunched great uncle at the compartment door, along with the haughty Qin Yuehong, and she stood up reluctantly.
"Great Uncle."
"Mom, I’ll go with you."
"Don’t worry." Qin Muxian reassured her son.
Qin Muxian asked Yi Roujing to help look after Zheng Sirui, then followed them out.
After Qin Muxian left, Zheng Sirui wore a face full of grievance and heartache.
"Hey, little Sirui, are you worried about your mom?" Ding Anmin asked.
"Yeah, my grandpa, grandma, dad, and I all care for mom a lot. My mom suffered a great injustice this time coming to Jiang Province." Zheng Sirui replied, "When we get back, Dad and the others must help her stand up for herself."
"Why didn’t your dad accompany you this time?" Ding Anmin asked, thinking how Qin Yuehong’s words earlier were extremely harsh. If Qin Muxian’s husband had been here, it could have been avoided.
"My dad was called back urgently." Zheng Sirui replied dejectedly, "The tickets were already bought."
"Your mom is a very strong person, don’t worry, with so many of you caring for her, others can’t hurt her." Yi Roujing said with a comforting smile.
"Really?" Zheng Sirui asked doubtfully.
"Of course." Yi Roujing assured him. "Your mom doesn’t mind if her clothes and shoes are taken, because she doesn’t care about those things."
"What matters more to her is you and her real family."
There was a spark in Zheng Sirui’s eyes, "Mom said something like that before."
Yi Roujing smiled and ruffled Zheng Sirui’s hair.
"Ahem—" As they heard Li Hongying coughing in the next compartment, Ding Anguo got up and went over immediately, and Yi Roujing was about to stand up but was stopped by Ding Anmin.
"Sister-in-law, just sit down, I’ll go." Ding Anmin took the boxed meal prepared for Ding Wei and Li Hongying over to the next compartment.
It’s been ten minutes since Qin Muxian left, and Zheng Sirui was already starting to rub his eyes tiredly. After some coaxing from Yi Roujing, he struggled a bit but eventually fell asleep.
When Qin Muxian returned, Zheng Sirui was sleeping soundly, and she quietly thanked Yi Roujing.
"Qin, are you okay?" Qin Muxian looked fine, but Yi Roujing still asked out of concern.
"I’m fine, they just wanted me to contribute money and tickets." Qin Muxian said helplessly, "But I refused, it took some extra effort. Always yielding is not a good thing, we can’t let them get used to it during the journey."
Yi Roujing chuckled at this and gave Qin Muxian a thumbs up.
"Xingchen, I’m going to the bathroom." Yi Roujing said as Xia Xingchen was half-leaning on the lower bunk, yawning.
"Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you." Xia Xingchen got up immediately, "I also need to go, and then I’ll come back to sleep."
The two left the compartment, making sure to close the door behind them.
To get to the bathroom, they had to pass through the hard sleeper and hard seat compartments. Xia Xingchen guarded Yi Roujing the whole way, ensuring she didn’t bump into anything. When they reached the bathroom, two women were already waiting outside, so they queued up behind them.
"Your child is so well-behaved, not making a fuss the entire way."
The two women standing in line seemed to know each other.
Only then did Yi Roujing notice the woman in front of her was holding a child, wrapped in cloth, who looked about one or two years old.
Yi Roujing looked at the woman’s face. She was around thirty, with a yellowish complexion and plain features that wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. But the child in her arms, despite having eyes closed, seemed quite good-looking.
Yi Roujing smiled and said, "This little girl is so pretty."
"He’s a boy." The woman replied with a smile on her face.
Surely it’s hard to distinguish a young child’s gender without checking, Yi Roujing thought with amusement as she added, "Yes, this little boy is really cute."
Hearing this, the woman looked up at Yi Roujing, seemingly surprised by the sudden change in her response without any difficulty. When she caught sight of Yi Roujing’s appearance, she paused for a moment but then her smile deepened.
"You are a pretty young lady, how old are you this year?"
"Nineteen." Yi Roujing replied with a smile.
"Such a pretty young lady, and dressed so nicely. Are you going out during the National Day holiday?"
"Yes." Yi Roujing nodded.
"With family? Or with friends?" the woman asked with a smile, "Nowadays, many students plan trips together. Big sister, the two girls sitting across from us earlier came out, right?"
"Yes, they sneaked out because they were upset with their families." The first woman grinned, "It’s certain they were spoiled at home. If a girl in our family did that, she’d be in big trouble."
"Sister-in-law, are you tired standing?" Xia Xingchen stepped in and supported Yi Roujing, showing concern.
"Didn’t expect the young lady to be married." The woman commented, seemingly a bit regrettably.
Yi Roujing found it odd, sensing a fleeting hint of pity in the woman’s eyes.
"The young lady’s with family, and her sister-in-law is also pretty," the woman remarked, scrutinizing Xia Xingchen.
Maybe it was because of seeing the earlier incongruity, now Yi Roujing thought the woman with the child seemed to have a somewhat insincere smile.
"Sister, holding the child while going to the restroom must be inconvenient." Yi Roujing questioned with a smile, "Are you traveling alone with the child? It must be tough."
"Isn’t that the truth?" The first woman quickly chimed in, "Luckily, this child is well-behaved. He hasn’t caused any fuss and just cries a little when he wakes up, drinks some water, and falls back asleep. He really can sleep."