With Lin Canghai's approval, I immediately called Duan Huairen, "Lao Duan, buy tickets for three people."
"Three people? What, is Zhang Ling really going too?"
"Don't ask, you'll know tomorrow."
"Okay, got it."
The next day, at the train station square.
After giving Shi Jingxia a once-over, Lin Canghai turned to me and asked, "Guangting, is this the girl you were talking about?"
I nodded, introducing everyone to each other.
"Xiao Jing, do you know what we do?"
"I do."
"Once you join the Guild, you're a Guild member for life. Have you considered this?"
"I have. Wherever Guangting goes, I go."
Shi Jingxia's response was firm and confident, and Lin Canghai nodded slightly, stroking his beard.
Zhang Ling pursed her lips, her jealousy evident, "Alright, ticket checking has begun. Let's go."
"Passengers, train L430 to Qiqihar is about to depart. Passengers heading towards Zhengzhou, Tianjin, and Qiqihar, please proceed to platform two for ticket inspection and boarding."
As the train slowly started moving, I waved goodbye through the window.
Shi Jingxia rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window with curiosity.
Duan Huairen leaned closer to me, cupping his hand around his mouth.
"Guangting, I have something to ask you."
"What's with the secrecy? Just say it."
Duan Huairen glanced at Shi Jingxia, "What's wrong with Xiao Jing's face?"
I gave him a look, "Lao Duan, you're getting old and yet you're so nosy, like a gossiping aunt in the market."
Duan Huairen quickly covered my mouth, "Shh, keep it down. It's for your own good. Honestly, I think Lingzi is better for you."
I leaned away, covering my mouth, "Although Sister Ling still has her charm, I feel like there's a generational gap between us. Being with her feels odd."
"Okay, okay, don't stir up trouble. If you really care about me, you should buy tickets for the Z-shaped train."
Suddenly, Shi Jingxia asked, "What are you guys talking about?"
Duan Huairen rubbed his goatee, "Nothing, that Z-shaped train requires a transfer in Beijing, quite troublesome."
The green train was really slow, stopping at every station, yielding to every passing train. Going to the bathroom felt like opening a warehouse door to release grain, it was so tedious, people couldn't help but stop drinking water.
After a full twenty-eight hours, people were dizzy and disoriented, finally arriving at Tianjin Railway Station at ten o'clock on the second night.
Getting off the train, heads spinning, some even found it hard to walk.
Shi Jingxia zipped her down jacket up to her neck, shivering, "It's so cold."
"Accommodation, twenty-four-hour hot water, 60 yuan a night."
Once you stopped, you'd immediately be approached for a private chat. Those who understood knew exactly what was happening.
The bus had stopped running, so we took a taxi. After an hour and a half, the driver dropped us off at a place called Courtyard No. 3, charging 160 yuan on the meter, more expensive than the train tickets.
After calling Jiang Erwa several times without success, I called Lin Canghai to explain the situation.
Soon, Lin Canghai replied, saying he couldn't reach Jiang Erwa either, and told us to find a place to settle down for now, and to wait until morning. He specifically instructed us not to stay in hotels.
Just as we were worrying, the phone suddenly rang—it was Jiang Erwa's number. I quickly answered.
"Where are you guys?"
I looked around, "We're under this big clock."
"Okay, wait for me, I'll be there soon."
Fifteen minutes later, a minivan slowly approached, brake lights flashing, then reversed.
The car window rolled down, and a middle-aged man with a disheveled appearance asked, "Are you Du Guangting?"
"Yes, it's us."
Jiang Erwa shook his head, "Get in the car."
On the way, he explained that he worked as a driller in the well team, and there was no signal in the wilderness, so he didn't receive my call.
When he knocked on his own door, the faint light in the peephole suddenly disappeared.
"Hey, why is the light off?"
Jiang Erwa muttered and knocked on the door again. A cautious voice came from inside.
"Who's there? It's late at night, what's the matter?"
"I'm back, open the door."
As soon as the woman inside heard this, her cautious tone turned to shock.
"Ah, husband, why did you suddenly come back? Weren't you just..."
"Stop the nonsense and open the door."
After some delay, about three minutes passed before the door was opened.
His wife was very beautiful, fair-skinned and lovely, her looks rivaling Zhang Ling's. A good cabbage had been chosen by Jiang Erwa the pig.
Jiang Erwa barged in directly and began a thorough search, dragging a man out from the balcony who was only wearing red underwear and holding clothes in his arms.
This scene left us dumbfounded. Shi Jingxia quickly covered her eyes.
Despite delivering a wild beating to the man, Jiang Erwa was still unsatisfied and rushed into the kitchen to grab a kitchen knife.
"You worthless scum, if I'm a king, I'll make you a eunuch."
The woman tightly hugged Jiang Erwa, allowing the man to escape.
"Wang Cuilan, who is that man?" Jiang Erwa asked sharply, holding the knife.
Wang Cuilan trembled, her voice quivering as she said, "He, he ran out of hot water at home and came to wash... wash with us."
"Your mom."
Jiang Erwa slapped Wang Cuilan to the ground and dragged her by the hair into the bedroom, where angry curses and painful screams could be heard.
The three of us looked at each other, shaking our heads. Shi Jingxia muttered to me.
"What's going on here? Let's go."
I signaled to Duan Huairen, and we quietly left.
Near Courtyard No. 3 was a university, and the nearby residential area had become a notorious "love nest" hotspot. After asking several households, we finally found a place to stay—a three-bedroom apartment, one room already occupied, leaving only two rooms available.
Duan Huairen took one room, and Shi Jingxia and I took the other.
I slept on the floor, Shi Jingxia on the bed, both of us fully dressed. We slept peacefully.
In the midst of drowsiness, we heard a series of creaking noises from next door, which was unbearable to hear.
"Does it hurt?"
"Mm!"
"Are you done?"
"Huh?"
The world's shortest love affair, no doubt. It was quite succinct. I was freaking out, unable to sleep, and Shi Jingxia was tossing and turning like a pancake on the griddle.
My heart was racing, so I quietly slipped into Shi Jingxia's blanket. She didn't resist, but instead swallowed me up like a fierce beast.
The next day, we hugged each other tightly, without needing to speak, feeling each other's warmth. Happiness was that simple.
"Don't sleep, it's time to get things done." Duan Huairen's voice came from outside the door.
I kissed her forehead, "The important stuff is already done, isn't it?"
Shi Jingxia kicked me, got up, and started getting dressed.
At a breakfast stall, we each ordered a basket of Goubuli buns and a bowl of soy milk.
After taking a bite of the bun, I found it had thick skin and little filling, not as tasty as Shi Jingxia's leek and vermicelli stuffing. Regret not eating something once, regret eating it for a lifetime.
"Lao Jiang, we came here for..."
Jiang Erwa interrupted me, tossing a pickled pepper into his mouth as he chewed and said, "Lin Lao told me about the matter. Later, you guys will come with me to the fishermen's wharf."
After breakfast, Jiang Erwa drove us to the fishermen's wharf in his minivan.