Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 88 - 086 Extra update on the train with a monthly ticket of 150

Chapter 88: 086 Extra update on the train with a monthly ticket of 150

ps: Little demons, you guys are amazing, bringing up my tomorrow morning’s Chapter already!

Another update coming in an hour, after some revisions.

Even though we hoped to get there sooner, we were still an hour late. After getting on the train, Mr. Li was so tired he could barely stand, while Li Xianglu helped the old man to bed under the light because the ticket was bought with his retirement ID. It was for a soft sleeper compartment that only cadres could use, divided into separate rooms, but not separated by gender. Mr. Li slept on the bottom bunk, and Li Xianglu, after tidying up briefly, climbed up to the top bunk, just too sleepy to delay.

The train was moving very slowly at this point, rocking gently, and the one they were on was the most advanced gas-powered train available now, which only had a few routes in the country.

And there was only this one train headed from the Northwest to Shanghai.

In her drowsy state, Li Xianglu felt someone gently calling her name. She opened her eyes to see Grandpa swaying in front of her, rubbed her eyes, and said with a smile, "Grandpa, you’re awake?"

Mr. Li had been awake for a while and had even gone to the dining car to bring back some food. He hadn’t called his granddaughter because she was sleeping soundly, but seeing that it was already 10 o’clock, he thought about the two Qin Family boys who had spent the night in the hard sleeper and decided to wake her up.

Li Xianglu got up and saw the full view of the compartment.

It was an enclosed compartment with upper and lower berths, four beds. She and her grandfather were on the top and bottom across from each other, while opposite them was a couple in their forties, both wearing glasses, with kind and benevolent looks. They took a liking to Li Xianglu instantly, seeing her in her dazed state, and the woman said to Mr. Li with a laugh, "Oh my, it’s nice to have a granddaughter, soft and delicate. Not like my family, with a bunch of sons, all rough and burly, just a sight for sore eyes."

Li Xianglu widened her eyes, thinking, Aunt, is it really okay for you to backstab your own sons like this?

After putting on her cotton-padded jacket that was laid over the blanket, Li Xianglu rustled out of the bed.

And cheerfully greeted them, "Hello, uncle and auntie."

The couple also smiled and responded when Li Xianglu greeted them, while Mr. Li urged his granddaughter, "Eat quickly, I will go call Qin Zhen over, let them get some sleep."

Li Xianglu sleepily agreed, and after Mr. Li went out, she took a small towel and went out.

In this enclosed area, there were six small compartments in total. Following her common sense, Li Xianglu went to the end of the compartment and saw a small compartment, which was a sink. After closing the door, she took out her facial cleanser and toothbrush from the Storage Ring and started to wash up.

After cleaning herself, she took out a comb and tied her wildly unkempt hair into a small ponytail behind her head. Her hair had grown out from a previously cut bob and could now be tied into a short ponytail. That darn Qin Zhen once commented that it looks like a chicken tail, almost infuriating her to death.

After tidying up, Li Xianglu returned to their compartment number four, greeted the couple with a big smile, and sat down. Grandpa had bought ten meat buns and two meal boxes full of porridge. With a smile, she took a bun and started eating, carefully sipping some porridge.

By the time she finished two buns, Mr. Li returned with Qin Xi and Qin Zhen in tow.

Qin Zhen’s eyes lit up at the sight of the meat buns, and Qin Xi, seeing this, took her brother to wash up directly.

Mr. Li apologized to the couple, "I’m sorry, the kids couldn’t get a sleeper ticket and are in the hard seat compartment. Let them come over and sleep for a while during the day; otherwise, the night will be too tough to endure."

Fortunately, both of them were extremely courteous and seemed not to mind at all. Seeing that the woman was also eating, but only white buns with a box of porridge, Li Xianglu hurriedly took a jar of pickles from her bag under the bed and said cheerily, "Auntie, this is the pickle I made myself, if you don’t mind, have some. It’s too bland to eat the buns dry."

The woman seemed to be around forty-five, kind and gentle, and accepted the offer sincerely, replying with a smile, "Then, auntie won’t stand on ceremony."

Li Xianglu smiled like a little kitten, "Then, auntie, please help yourself to more."

The couple brought their own spoons. The woman scooped out a spoonful first, and after the man tasted it, he exclaimed, "Wow, this kid is so young, yet the cooking skills are top-notch. Minjun, if you had these skills, I’d have gained a whole size."

Hearing her husband tease her, the woman’s face blushed with embarrassment and she playfully slapped him saying, "Fine, then you should eat more."

Li Xianglu had only drunk half a bowl of porridge before she went out smiling. Under every window opposite each carriage, there was a foldable spring chair. Li Xianglu pulled down the chair and sat down to watch the scenery whizzing by outside.

Qin Xi, after washing up, gobbled up the food with her younger brother, and the two quickly cleaned up and went to sleep.

Grandpa Li went to the smoking area in the corridor with the middle-aged man to smoke and chat.

The auntie sat opposite Li Xianglu and started chatting.

"Little girl, I still don’t know your name?" the woman asked with a smile.

Li Xianglu responded with a grin, "Auntie, my name is Li Xianglu. I’ve been told it’s a very fashionable Shanghai name."

Upon hearing this, the woman was first taken aback then burst into laughter, taking a while before saying, "You’re quite the funny kid. Well then, I’ll call you Xiangxiang."

Li Xianglu nodded with a smile, "What’s your honorable surname, Auntie?"

The woman replied with a smile, "My surname is Qi, Qi Minjun. That’s my husband, Xie Feiyang."

Li Xianglu cheerfully greeted, "Hello Aunt Qi, are you and Uncle going to Shanghai for fun?"

The woman shook her head with a smile, "Your uncle’s parents are in Shanghai; we’re going to see them."

Li Xianglu nodded with a smile, "Ah, no wonder I thought the accent was different."

The woman curiously asked, "What does a Shanghai accent sound like?"

Li Xianglu blinked and started to speak with mock contempt, "Where are you from? Not from the countryside, I hope? We’re from Big Shanghai, where we have to supply a whole pound of eggs every month!"

Listening to Li Xianglu’s sudden burst of Shanghai dialect, Aunt Qi was initially stunned, and then burst out laughing, patting Li Xianglu’s shoulder while laughing.

Li Xianglu boasted proudly, "I imitated well, didn’t I, Aunt Qi? All the supplies are first prioritized for Big Shanghai, and our hometown only gets what’s left over."

Qi Minjun, after laughing enough to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, said, "You’re quite the character; not only is your mimicry spot on, but Shanghai is our country’s largest commercial area. That’s why all supplies are first prioritized for there, and that’s just how it is."

Li Xianglu pouted and shook her head, "But that shouldn’t reduce our supply. We only get half a pound of eggs each month."

Qi Minjun laughed and asked, "What are you going to Shanghai for, kid?"

Li Xianglu replied with a smile, "To take a look. I’ve never been to Big Shanghai before, so Grandpa is taking me to broaden my horizons."

Seeing the child speak so flawlessly, Qi Minjun smiled even more tenderly.

By lunchtime, the two families were on very good terms, so they decided to eat together in the dining car. Qi Minjun was happy to treat Li Xianglu to some meat, saying that the child had a special connection with her.

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