CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 211: BOXED MEAL

Zhang Yuan during this time has also become accustomed to Lin Xue’s cooking, and having had a good and filling lunch, he didn’t feel like eating anymore after having one of the tea eggs Lin Xue brought out.

"Hmm, I’ll put it away in a bit, are you not hungry either? I’ve still got some packed lunch with me, you can eat it if you get hungry!" Lin Xue clearly understood the other person’s intent.

So the three of them formed a situation where two watched Li Jianshe eat heartily and occasionally gave him some pickles.

It was like feeding a child who had been hungry for several days.

Just then, there was a commotion at the door, accompanied by the amplified voice of the train attendant.

"What’s going on?" Lin Xue put down her chopsticks and leaned over to look.

At this time Liu Jianguo was sitting on the folding chair across the aisle, eating, and he explained to Lin Xue.

"There’s a woman at the door with a little girl trying to come in, arguing with the train attendant!"

Though the other person had a companion, getting to say a few words with such a beauty was still good.

Lin Xue nodded to Liu Jianguo, her curiosity piqued, she turned back and said, "You two go ahead and eat, I’m going to check it out."

Then she walked towards the train compartment door.

It turned out this part of the compartment was the head of the sleeping car section, linked to the hard seat compartment, something Lin Xue hadn’t come over to see yet.

She went over to take a look — oh my, there really were a lot of people. The ground at the door was packed with seated people, truly forming a sea of humanity.

A woman, dressed in worn yet clean clothes, was holding onto a five or six-year-old girl with one hand and tightly grasping a burlap sack with the other, pleading with the train attendant.

"Train attendant, I’m begging you, please let my daughter come in and stay for a bit. She won’t run around, just sit at the door, okay? She won’t go inside!"

"Madam, these are the rules, she can’t go in means she can’t go in! Don’t talk to me about it! I can’t do anything!" The train attendant was also helpless, seeing that the little girl truly had no place to sit due to the crowd. The mother and daughter only had space for the sack against the wall, yet people were crowded around them, leaving no room to sit.

"But look at my daughter, she’s so small, already being pushed that she can’t even stand, please have some mercy, I won’t go in, just let my daughter in, please!" The woman persisted.

"Madam, don’t make it hard for me! If you go in, everyone will want to follow, and then how am I supposed to do my job?" The train attendant looked at the eyes staring from behind the woman.

It wasn’t that he lacked compassion, he simply couldn’t set a precedent, otherwise, everyone would want to go in, and he might as well expect to lose his job!

Besides, the people in the sleeping compartment were powerful, influential, or wealthy, he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

"Mom, don’t put the train attendant uncle in a difficult position, Shu’er is fine, I can stand." The little girl’s soft voice emerged.

Lin Xue now looked over at the little girl, seeing her small stature, thin figure, and small melon-shaped face. Though she was slim, it didn’t impact the child’s attractiveness. Her large eyes were bright and clear, her tiny nose and pouty mouth made her exceptionally cute.

Lin Xue’s maternal instincts immediately kicked in, feeling a special affinity with this little girl. She seemed so sensible, not wanting to trouble others despite having no space left to stand amid the crowd, which made Lin Xue realize this child surely endured much hardship in life.

"Train attendant!" Lin Xue impulsively called out to the train attendant.

Seeing that the individuals in the sleeping car were stirred, with some emerging from their spaces, the attendant tried to wave the mother and child off, then turned back.

"What’s the matter, madam? Is all this noise bothering you?"

"I’d like to have this little girl come and sit with me, is that okay?" Lin Xue decided to express her thoughts plainly since everyone was already paying attention.

"Well..." The train attendant hesitated.

The mother and child looked at Lin Xue, and Lin Xue saw gratefulness in their eyes, not suspicion or fear.

Her appearance must have scored her points, giving an impression of harmlessness.

"Is it not okay? Children aren’t allowed in the sleeping car?" Lin Xue queried the train attendant.

"No! It’s just that this child isn’t with you, is she?" The train attendant awkwardly replied.

"From now on, she is. She’s my sister now! Is that alright?" Lin Xue asked once more.

By this time Zhang Yuan had also arrived.

"Madam, then how about this, if you’re taking your sister in, she can go in but her mother doesn’t have a ticket and can’t go!" The train attendant quickly changed his tone.

"I don’t need to go in, I’ll just sit here by the door. I won’t go inside," the mother immediately gestured to stay outside, not wanting to cause trouble seeing her daughter was allowed entry.

"Okay! Little girl, follow this lady inside!" The train attendant finally smiled.

In truth, he sympathized with the mother and daughter — just earlier, he saw them pull out a cloth bag from the sack, taking out cornmeal cakes mixed with husks, eating just two bites before cautiously putting them back.

He wanted to help them but his job demanded he remain impartial, or he’d face trouble.

People are like this; when there’s no conflict with their interests, anyone can be kind.

"Shu’er, Mom’s giving you some cakes, remember to eat if you get hungry!" The mother hurriedly pulled out a cloth bag from the sack, taking two cakes while handing the rest to the girl as she was about to be taken inside by this kind lady.

"Mom, I can’t eat so much, keep more for yourself! I’m so little, my stomach is small, just give me two!" The little girl sensibly pushed back the cloth bag.

Lin Xue couldn’t bear to see this and interjected, "Aunty, what station are you getting off at? I have extra dinner at my place tonight, perfect for Shu’er. Keep the cakes with you, she can come get them if she’s hungry anytime!"

After Lin Xue said this, those watching around were stunned, eyes widening incredulously.

Was there still anyone nowadays unable to finish their food, giving it away to others? What kind of circumstances was this?

"No, no, young lady, that’s not right, you’ve already helped our family a lot, how could we eat your food? That’s absolutely not possible!" The mother sincerely refused.

This made Lin Xue further appreciate the mother and daughter.

Despite their poor situation, they maintained such purity of heart—truly not easy.

"Alright, don’t refuse. I’ll take Shu’er in first. You go ahead and keep those cakes! Let’s not disturb the train attendant further!" Lin Xue waved dismissively, pulling Shu’er inside to the sleeping compartment.

With the compartment door shut, the mother pulled the sack closer to the door and sat by it.

Lin Xue led Shu’er into the sleeping compartment and headed towards her own space.

Their compartment was actually quite close to this door, a mere two compartments away. They were in the third, but when boarding, they came from the other end, so Lin Xue hadn’t visited this door yet.

Seeing her daughter was truly brought into a compartment not far from the door, the mother finally felt at ease.

Zhang Yuan had followed, taking a seat on his own berth.

Li Jianshe had already finished his meal by this time.

His philosophy was nothing mattered more than eating, so he didn’t join the spectacle but concentrated on his meal, meanwhile Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan hadn’t touched theirs yet.