CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 215: ARRIVING AT THE CAPITAL CITY

Soon they’ll arrive in the Capital City, and the arrival time is unexpectedly past three in the morning. Lin Xue holds her forehead; what are they going to do at this hour? Wouldn’t the guesthouse be closed already?

"At this time, wouldn’t the guesthouse be closed? What are we going to do when we get off?" Lin Xue asked Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan had already folded the quilts and prepared the bags to be taken out.

Their bags only contained some food and blankets, and by now, only the blankets were left; they had almost finished the food.

"You could wait in the waiting room until daylight or take a taxi home overnight. There are also some inns that aren’t closed if you don’t mind resting a bit!" said Zhang Yuan.

"Hold on, I’ll take Shu’er over!" It was already two-thirty, with half an hour before they reached the station, so Lin Xue quickly woke Shu’er up, and when she took her over, Kang Chunmei had just finished packing and was waiting.

"Big sister, Shu’er just woke up! It’s still a bit cold at night, dress her warmly!" said Lin Xue as she handed Shu’er to her mother.

"Yes! I’ve already prepared clothes for her. Xiao Xue, will you go straight home when you get off the train?" Kang Chunmei asked while taking her daughter.

Over the past few days, they had become familiar, and given the care they received on the journey, it was inevitable to ask more questions before parting.

"We’ll see when we get off. My boyfriend mentioned there are inns where we can rest. The guesthouse might be closed. Will anyone be picking you up? Brother-in-law probably doesn’t know you’re arriving today, right?" Lin Xue asked worriedly, "Why not get off with us! It’s not safe with a child!"

"Can I? I’m also worried it’s not safe with the child; if you’re waiting until daylight, I’ll shamelessly get off with you. I’m really a bit uneasy in an unfamiliar place!" Kang Chunmei said with an embarrassed smile.

"Alright then, we’ll meet at this exit, wait here!" Lin Xue said cheerfully before turning back inside.

Soon, they arrived at Kyoto Station, and the three of them, with the mother and daughter, got off the train. Although it was summer, it was still a bit cold at night, and after walking out of the crowded crowd, they felt the cold wind on their faces.

Luckily, Shu’er was dressed warmly! Lin Xue thought, looking at Shu’er wearing a larger coat with a patch on it, which Kang Chunmei said was clothes previously worn by her husband’s older brother’s child.

Her husband’s fabric rations might have been taken by her sister-in-law, leaving them with just these clothes.

"Brother Yuan, aren’t you going back now?" Li Jianshe asked, struggling under his burden of luggage.

"We’ll wait until daylight to go back; your home is closer, you head back first!" Zhang Yuan said calmly.

"Then find a place to rest! Comrade Xiao Xue! I’ll head back first; we might not see each other for a while, take care!" Li Jianshe said sincerely and earnestly.

"Take care! Wishing you success in your career!" Lin Xue knew they both would go into seclusion, so she said, "Next time we meet, hopefully, you’re a family of three... or four or five!"

Li Jianshe blushed and shyly lowered his head upon hearing this, and then looked up again, "Alright! I’m also waiting to drink at your wedding!" With that, he waved and left.

Zhang Yuan was quite pleased with his last words, and he thought to himself, that when they get back, he’d treat the guy to something delicious.

Now, it was just the four of them left. The station was bustling; Lin Xue looked at the Kyoto Railway Station of this era and felt emotional.

During later times, she also visited Kyoto Railway Station, but compared to now, they were incomparable.

The grey, overwhelmingly nostalgic train station, with people hurrying by with sacks of luggage, was a testament to the hardships of the era.

Lin Xue didn’t have time for nostalgia because the security was poor, and lingering outside too long in the dead of night was unwise, so she decided to wait in the waiting room until morning.

Anyway, summer daylight came early; two more hours and it would be bright.

Considering Kang Chunmei’s strong-willed nature, she felt guilty even when Lin Xue bought her meals throughout the journey. Looking for an inn would make her uncomfortable if she had to spend money, and since she had little money herself and still needed to find her husband, Lin Xue decided to wait in the waiting room until morning.

They weren’t in a rush; after sunrise, they could look for a guesthouse, freshen up, and purchase some gifts before visiting.

After all, she was like a bride meeting her in-laws for the first time, she couldn’t be too casual.

So the group waited in the waiting room until daylight, and after Zhang Yuan and Lin Xue sent the mother and daughter to a taxi, they turned to find a guesthouse. Zhang Yuan raised an eyebrow at hearing the address and remained noncommittal.

In the end, they found an inn, and once in the room, Lin Xue collapsed on the bed, gasping for breath.

"So tired, traveling such a distance is exhausting, transportation is too inconvenient, unlike..." She began to complain, almost revealing too much, and immediately stopped, glancing at Zhang Yuan who entered afterward.

Zhang Yuan looked around the room, relaxed, and said with a smile, "If you’re so tired, let’s rest for a day before going back! Anyway, grandpa and grandma don’t know exactly when we’re coming back!"

He had sent a telegram before leaving, though not with an exact time.

"Really?" Lin Xue’s eyes lit up.

Zhang Yuan looked at the pale little girl and was extremely heartbroken, not caring about anything else and nodding.

"Great, then let’s return tomorrow! It gives me time to sleep and rest well, so grandpa and grandma won’t dislike me for looking exhausted!" Lin Xue said, suddenly perking up at the prospect of a day of rest, no longer complaining of exhaustion.

"Go take a good hot bath and relax, I’ll take you to taste Kyoto’s specialties afterward! Then come back and have a comfortable sleep! We’ll head home tomorrow!" Zhang Yuan patted her little head.

"Alright! I’ll go wash up first! Will you wait here or in your room?" Lin Xue asked, tilting her head.

"What’s the difference? I’ll just wait here, and go wash up when you’re done!" Zhang Yuan asked, puzzled.

"Big difference! If I don’t know you’re waiting here, I might come out undressed, and that would be a big problem!" Lin Xue seriously analyzed.

"I’ll wait in my room! You knock when you’re done!" Zhang Yuan blushed immediately.

In high spirits, Lin Xue entered the space and headed straight for the rest room.

Even though she snuck in to freshen up during the trip, she still had a bit of sweat on her body.

She wanted a soothing hot bath, a full meal, and a good long sleep. Only then would she have the energy to meet Zhang Yuan’s grandparents.

She would need the energy to deal with his stepmother and siblings too.

Zhang Yuan said his stepmother was quite formidable, capable of bending but also standing firm as needed.

His grandparents disliked her, and didn’t let her hang around, and she actually could stay away for years.

Because she knew that their son was the only heir to everything, so enduring some temporary grievances was nothing compared to the much longer days of enjoyment to come.

When the old folks are gone, who wouldn’t listen to her commands? She had the man securely in her grasp, and in any issue, she would push him forward, playing the good daughter-in-law while having their son deal with the problems.