CHAPTER 214: CHAPTER 214: SHARING DELICACIES

The breakfast on the train the next morning was plain congee with steamed buns and pickles.

Lin Xue had sneaked a midnight snack and wasn’t very hungry, but since the train offered white steamed buns for sale, they were definitely worth buying, and there was no limit on the number you could buy.

Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan hadn’t eaten last night, and to skip breakfast while so many eyes were watching wouldn’t be good. So Lin Xue bought five large steamed buns; they could only buy four portions of congee, because there were four of them.

Li Jianshe rushed to pay. Although he’s usually stingy, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have money. People like him, with special talents, tend to earn high wages.

"Shu’er, let Auntie take you to wash your hands and eat!" Lin Xue noticed the noise woke the little girl, who sat up dazed. She quickly said.

"Auntie..." Lin Xue watched the little girl, who seemed a bit confused, rub her eyes after calling out.

"What’s the matter?"

"I miss Mom..." the little girl said softly.

"Alright, Auntie will take you to your mom! But first, eat your breakfast!" Lin Xue nodded.

During the day, resting beside Mom should be okay, as long as the child sleeps well at night.

Lin Xue took Shu’er to wash her face and hands, and then quickly freshened up herself, returning to fetch tea eggs and scallion pancakes from her bag—or rather, the handy space within her bag. She dared not let eggs or pancakes sit outside too long for fear of spoilage, and since they weren’t going to eat them, it wasn’t right to take them out again when others were eyeing her oddly.

In such hot weather, a day and a night had passed already without spoilage, which made it puzzling.

"It’s time to eat! Have more, others won’t provide lunch at noon, and the scallion pancakes will soon spoil if not eaten!" Lin Xue pulled out the food, along with the pickled vegetables she’d prepared.

She wouldn’t dare to take out any more, keeping a low profile was best, enduring it for five or six days will be over soon.

Causing trouble would be the last thing she wanted. She peeled a boiled egg for Shu’er to put into the congee, then peeled another for Zhang Yuan and herself.

Of the remaining two eggs, she handed one to Li Jianshe and saved the other egg and bun for Kang Chunmei outside.

Upon hearing that her husband was a soldier, it was inevitable that Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan looked after her more.

Military spouses, who endure hardships, deserve respect and help.

Shu’er ate half a bun and drank half a bowl of congee, then refused to continue, insisting on saving some for her mom.

"Shu’er, this steamed bun and egg are already set aside for your mom; you need to eat and have energy to stay by Mom, right? Auntie will send a scallion pancake to Mom too, so hurry and eat! Once you’re full, we’ll deliver Mom’s food!" Lin Xue admired Shu’er’s sensibility, affection growing within her.

"Really, Auntie? But won’t Uncle and that gentleman go hungry then?" Shu’er blinked her bright eyes, showing concern for those around her.

Hearing the term ’uncle’, Zhang Yuan suddenly found himself liking Shu’er and proactively spoke to her.

"Shu’er, eat quickly! Uncle can eat to his fill; we’ll soon deliver food to your mom!"

Lin Xue was surprised. The usually antisocial Zhang Yuan was so gently speaking to Shu’er, which was quaint.

"Indeed! Shu’er should eat full, otherwise how to care for Mom, right? Uncle eats full too, good girl!" Li Jianshe promptly patted the little girl’s head.

Truthfully, their actions puzzled nearby onlookers. Helping a stranger like this—is such help warranted? With terms like ’Auntie’ and ’Uncle’, it’s understandable if others thought she was really a relative, given they even took care of her mother’s meals.

If these three aren’t fools, maybe they have too much money to spend, just indulging whims.

Lin Xue didn’t care about others’ looks. She had noticed that people around them viewed oddly, but she simply liked the little girl and wanted to assist a military family; what was wrong with that? Moreover, she did have money to spare, so what if she didn’t mind losing a few dimes for happiness.

After encouraging Shu’er to finish her meal—ultimately eating the eggs and buns—the congee was still saved, half reserved for the mom.

When Lin Xue led Shu’er to find Kang Chunmei, she’d been sitting beside canvas sacks staring outward, seemingly not eating.

Nearby, people were eating cornbread and crackers, various food—but Kang Chunmei hadn’t eaten anything.

"Mom!" Shu’er happily dashed forward upon seeing her mom.

"Shu’er, you’ve come!" Kang Chunmei turned her head, seeing her daughter running over, laughing as she caught her in an embrace, then noticed Lin Xue approaching with food.

"Xiao Xue, why are you delivering food again? I don’t need any this morning, I brought dry food myself, you don’t need to think of me!" Tears welled in Kang Chunmei’s eyes at the sight of the items Lin Xue held.

At this age, apart from her own mom, the little girl ahead was the only person extending absolute kindness to her.

Helping her repeatedly—a stranger meeting at random by chance—how could she not be moved?

"Mom, Auntie even gave me an egg!" The little girl noticed her mom crying and hurried to console her.

Knowing that whenever mom heard she was full, she’d be happy, soon smiling and saying, as long as her treasure’s full, she was content.

Thus, each time she reassured mom, the words were, Mom, I’m full, I ate deliciously!

"Really? Did Shu’er thank Auntie?" Kang Chunmei wiped her tears and smiled.

"Of course! Plus, Uncle said they ate full—this is the food saved for Mom! Mom, the white steamed buns are delicious, and Auntie’s scallion pancakes are particularly tasty, hurry and eat!" Shu’er reached out to wipe her mom’s tears.

"Thank you, Xiao Xue, you’re kinder to me than my own sister! I don’t know how to repay you, without you, I can’t imagine the ordeal Shu’er would face on this journey! From now on, you’re Shu’er’s very own Auntie; we’ll someday repay you, someday Shu’er will honor you!" Kang Chunmei spoke until incoherence crept in.

"Alright, sister, let’s discuss it later; presently, hurry and eat! Otherwise, it’s cold, cold porridge doesn’t taste good!" Lin Xue laughed, handing over the offered food.

"Sure, sure, thanks! I won’t hold back!" Kang Chunmei accepted and began eating.

She initially thought of saving eggs and buns for her daughter for lunch. But Lin Xue assured her they’d spoil by noon when she’d deliver more food; traveling together, there was no need to hold back.

After persuading with much effort, she consumed everything. Kang Chunmei felt her journey felt festive, with meals getting better and better, including a big chicken leg for lunch. Each time she ate, though, she discreetly avoided sight, but the aroma was hard to mask.

All the while, Lin Xue took care of Shu’er, having her sleep together at night, delivering her back to mom during the day. Twice daily, she supplied meals for the mother-daughter duo, spending just one dollar a day, insignificant to her.

She even delivered some of her own food at lunch. Any produce she transported was shared. In five or six days, one could visually see the little girl putting on weight, getting adorably plumper.