Chapter Thirty: Yantai Train Station (Please Collect)

  Huang Li let out a sigh of relief, put on an admiring expression and flattered: "Very unique insights, very touching sermon, I almost applauded."

  Oh, oh, Taili's eyes shone brightly. As a novice preacher, it was the first time she had heard such sincere praise. Hmm, another of God's followers has been added, this is God's blessing, which made her role come into play.

  "God is merciful and omnipotent, He will bless you and bestow blessings upon you!" Terry drew a cross again, took out a piece of chocolate and coffee candy from the small table, and then politely and joyfully bid farewell.

  Niang niang saw the colorful candies and immediately woke up from her drowsiness, reaching out to grab them.

  "Are foreigners' things also eaten casually?" Zhen Niang rebuked in a low voice, full of vigilance.

  Huang Li shook his head slightly, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, saying: "It's okay, there are good people and bad people among the foreigners too. We don't need to be afraid of them. Come on, this is chocolate, let's all have a taste."

  There are some trivial matters in one's life, which seem to have no significance at all, but actually have great importance. After the passage of time, when thinking back on the causal relationship, it is often surprising to find out how big an impact they had.

  If it weren't for the Yellow Calendar casually bringing up religious matters, Taili would not have suddenly started preaching and the two people would not have met. The events that occurred on the road would also have been different, and the trajectories of their lives would also have been different.

  ..................

  The train stopped at two more stations, and the number of passengers in the carriage increased. The seats gradually filled up, and Huang Li had to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhen Niang. On the one hand, it served as a protective measure; on the other hand, this was also what Zhen Niang wished for in her heart - she didn't want a stranger suddenly appearing beside her.

  Across from them were two young women, dressed in summer attire due to the heat. One wore a light blue gauze dress that clung tightly to her body, accentuating her full breasts, with sleeves rolled up at the elbow, revealing snowy white forearms. A feeling she couldn't describe suddenly filled Zhen Niang's chest, and she hastily turned away, only to be met with another woman wearing a transparent silk camisole, exposing her skin in plain sight, who lifted one bare white leg, as if not wearing pants at all. Zhen Niang's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly closed her eyes.

  This is how city women dress, completely shameless. Just thinking about going to a place where such seductive women are everywhere makes Zhen Niang feel afraid. She secretly opens her eyes a crack and takes a peek at Huang Li, finding that he's still engrossed in the menu, not even sneaking a glance at the woman across from them. For some reason, Zhen Niang seems to have found comfort in this, and her heart isn't racing as much anymore.

  It's terrifying to live without a goal, and having one can ignite passion. Huang Li was very perplexed in his heart, he was exploring, searching, following the feeling in his heart, according to others' words, trying to connect the fragmented life that had been lost.

  People are endowed with their own bodies, their birthplace and position in life, but this does not mean that they cannot change the status quo. They have the possibility of becoming whatever they want to be, to a certain extent.

  As for unfortunate things, time is the greatest doctor, it will heal people's wounds and change their minds. Because perseverance is the only true way to make one's dreams come true, in unfortunate circumstances, what can be done is just temporarily finding something to console oneself.

  The monotonous sound of the train seemed to have a hypnotic effect, Niu Niu had fallen asleep, Zhen Niang also closed her eyes, Huang Li let out a gentle yawn and was on the verge of dozing off...

  Zhen Niang dreamed of Zhang Xiaosuo, leaning on that warm and solid shoulder, smelling the man's scent, feeling so comfortable, and her heart was so peaceful. But the happy feeling was always so short-lived, she was awakened by the train whistle.

  Niang Niang didn't know when she woke up, the woman opposite was teasing Niu Niu with a string of pearls, Niu Niu laughed and showed two small white teeth, stretching out her hand. Her head was leaning on Huang Li's shoulder, suddenly, she felt a heartbeat, her cheeks turned red. Fortunately, Huang Li still had his eyes closed, she quietly moved away, Huang Li still didn't notice, which made Zhen Niang breathe a sigh of relief.

  "This little girl is really lovely." The fashionable young woman praised with a smile when she saw Zhen Niang wake up.

  Zhen Niang wanted to smile, but couldn't, and muttered something incoherently, feeling awkward and fidgety, twisting her body around, even more shy than the most bashful girl, with red eyes, lowering her head to stare at her toes drawing lines on the ground.

  Two women exchanged a glance, seemingly finding it very interesting. Zhen Niang's clothes were clean but her attire was very rustic. Huang Li, on the other hand, wore Western-style clothing because he subconsciously felt most comfortable in it. The two of them sitting together gave the impression that the husband had gained experience and made a name for himself outside, and now wanted to bring his country wife and children to enjoy the city's prosperity.

  The train slowly pulled into the station, and Yantai had arrived. There were many people on the platform, porters, newspaper vendors, food sellers, cigarette vendors, and all sorts of people shouting and calling out to each other, roughly displaying the hustle and bustle of a big city. On the other side, the train departed, with people waving goodbye, waving handkerchiefs, and a trail of black smoke, the train disappeared from view.

  Huang Li opened his eyes, pretending he had just woken up, got up and looked around, calling out to Zhen Niang and Niu Niu to get off the carriage.

  Huang Li carried a metal trunk, a rare item in the country, which was a German product given to him by Zhang Yu. It had accompanied Zhang Yu on his long journey back home. The trunk had a specially designed secret compartment for storing valuables. In the crowded station, Huang Li didn't push through the crowd for Zhen Niang and Niu Niu, but instead moved slowly with the flow of people. Zhen Niang led Niu Niu closely behind Huang Li, clearly feeling anxious and uneasy.

  The air in the station was murky and thick, with smells of mud, garbage, sweat, smoke, incense, and the aroma of food being roasted on a nearby charcoal stove. Around him were the cacophonous sounds of porters shouting and vendors hawking their wares.

  At the station entrance, a group of rickshaw pullers surrounded us, silently lowering their handles in an inviting gesture. Another city's landmark was the gathering of beggars, who were dirty and smelly, with crippled limbs, haggard and weak, constantly harassing passersby. Among them were beggars holding babies, competing with each other, wailing loudly, "Sir, madam, have mercy! The child is starving to death! The child is starving to death!"

  The chaotic, noisy and miserable scene frightened Niu Niu and Zhen Niang. Niu Niu's eyes widened in shock, staring blankly, while Zhen Niang clutched the calendar even tighter.

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