CHAPTER 158: 157: NONSENSE (FIRST UPDATE) REQUESTING MONTHLY TICKETS

Although Ye Ling’s words were brief, Zhao Guodong’s mouth spread into a wide smile, his eyes narrowing into slits. Seeing this, Ye Ling felt a bit petty and averted her gaze without saying much more.

Zhang Linong smiled lightly at this scene, while Wang Ping seemed to breathe a deep sigh of relief. These two finally reconciled; otherwise, watching Dongzi sulk every day for the past half year made Wang Ping feel quite uncomfortable. If he got close to Ye Ling, Dongzi was upset; if he spoke ill of Ye Ling, Dongzi was also upset. Nothing seemed right, but now it was finally clear skies.

Before arriving at the train station, Ye Ling also went to the grain store and used the ration coupons she exchanged from Wan Li to buy thirty pounds of cornmeal and ten pounds of white flour. Zhang Linong exchanged a glance with the other two but said nothing more, simply helping Ye Ling up onto the berth. Ye Ling also breathed a sigh of relief.

"That should be all. You guys head back, the train will be leaving soon." Ye Ling thought that if not for them, she really wouldn’t have been able to carry all these things onto the train by herself.

She planned to use the cornmeal and white flour to make wildflower dumplings to sell for money. If it wasn’t enough, she would see if anyone in the village was willing to exchange cornmeal for money. If so, she wouldn’t need to buy ration coupons to exchange at the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Let’s go." Zhao Guodong was the first to speak, pulling Zhang Linong and gesturing towards the exit.

Zhang Linong pondered for a moment, then nodded, advising Ye Ling to be careful before following them out. Wang Ping was the liveliest, grinning widely at Ye Ling with almost all his teeth showing, then turning to chase after them.

Ye Ling shook her head and sat down on the berth. It was the lower berth, and the things she brought were placed underneath, easy to take out when getting off. Although she had long prepared to go home alone, thinking about the old house that hadn’t had a fire lit in over half a year, she wondered how it would be in this cold winter.

Meanwhile, outside the sleeper carriage, Zhao Guodong stopped at the junction between cars where Ye Ling couldn’t see him and looked at Zhang Linong. "Anyway, we spend the New Year at the company at home, so why not go to the countryside with Ye Ling for a look? I haven’t been back to the countryside for all these years."

"But what about tickets?" Wang Ping squeezed in from behind. "Three yuan per ticket, and you have to find someone in advance to get a sleeper. I heard from my dad that Ye Ling’s sleeper was arranged by Minister Shen. We don’t have money, nor people."

Zhao Guodong gave a glare, "We can evade the fares."

Speaking as if it was natural, Wang Ping fell silent.

Zhang Linong was a bit resistant, "Evading tickets isn’t easy, and what if our families find out we’re missing?"

Zhao Guodong glanced at Wang Ping, who straightened his neck, "Don’t even think about ditching me and leaving me behind to relay messages, no way."

Zhao Guodong looked away unhappily, making up his mind, "It’s unsafe for Ye Ling to go home alone. Back when we were in confinement, she took the risk to bring us food. Now we can’t let her go back alone."

Wang Ping nodded.

Seeing the two so determined, Zhang Linong didn’t oppose further, "Then let’s go, worst case we’ll send a telegram to our families from Ye Ling’s place."

With Zhang Linong’s final decision, things were settled.

The train began to move slowly, and the three of them hiding in the bathroom only came out after the train had started, immediately caught by the conductor. Zhao Guodong was initially going to lie, but Zhang Linong spoke first, explaining everything.

"Sir, we’re kids from the same courtyard and felt uneasy about her going back alone. We’re all workers’ children, so we felt we had to step up," Zhang Linong exclaimed with vigor.

The conductor looked at the three half-grown youths and eventually softened, "Even so, you can’t evade fares. I’ll help you supplement your tickets because you were looking after your comrade, but there can’t be a next time."

Zhao Guodong perked up, "Thank you, Uncle, we promise not to do it next time."

After getting the tickets supplemented, and learning their friend was in a sleeper compartment, the conductor used the train’s phone to send a message back to the station to inform their families in the courtyard, then escorted the three to Ye Ling’s sleeper compartment.

Ye Ling stood up in surprise when she saw the three lowering their heads and walking in, "Why are you on the train?"

The conductor came up and explained the situation, "Though they evaded the fares, they’re good kids who know to look after their friend. The train’s crowded, so let them squeeze in on the berth with you."

"Thank you, Uncle," Ye Ling thanked, seeing the conductor off before turning back to the three already seated on the berth. She wanted to scold them but knew they were concerned for her, and couldn’t bring herself to do it. Ultimately, she conceded, "Now that you’ve made such a decision, you won’t escape getting in trouble when you return after the New Year has passed. Have you thought it through?"

Wang Ping, the least afraid of trouble, responded, "It’s okay, we’re always in trouble anyway."

Zhao Guodong glared at him but smiled without commenting. This was the first time Zhao Guodong had been in such a good mood in half a year. Zhang Linong looked awkwardly apologetic, "Sorry for causing you trouble again."

You know it’s trouble?

Ye Ling laughed but sincerely said, "It’s good you came with me home. The house has been empty for half a year, and it’ll be tough to handle alone. I was planning to sell some wild vegetable dumplings, and you can help."

"Wild vegetable dumplings? So, it’s true what they say at school, that you run a business in the countryside?" Wang Ping asked outright.

This rumor had spread through school, but Ye Ling didn’t mind. She paid no attention to people pointing fingers, as she was earning her own money, and one day those who looked down on doing business would see the tide turn as everyone took the plunge, getting rich, and then they’d be the envious ones.

Ye Ling confidently confirmed, "Yes, I did it with my grandma. It’s unfortunate... but I don’t see anything shameful in doing business. I’m earning with my own hands, not stealing or robbing. What’s shameful about that, right?"

"That’s right. There’s nothing shameful about earning your keep. Those at school are just narrow-minded," Zhao Guodong, who always wanted to make money but never knew where to start, grew restless seeing Ye Ling planning to earn money during her winter vacation, "Can we join in?"

Before Ye Ling could speak, Wang Ping interrupted, "Do you even have capital?"

While others thought making small money was shameful, Wang Ping saw no issue if it meant having spending money, no matter how it looked.

Zhao Guodong’s face froze, awkwardly scratching his head.

"You can contribute labor and share profits," Ye Ling said smiling at the three.

This smile caught the three by surprise, dazzling them momentarily. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)