chapter 24
Intelligence Department Minister Xia Guofeng broke out in a cold sweat.
His hand tightened unconsciously around the file he was holding.
Twenty years ago, the disappearance of this train caused an uproar in Huaguo.
That year, Train Z114, carrying 2,268 people, vanished without a trace – both train and passengers – after entering a tunnel.
Afterward, Huaguo dispatched rescue teams to search the tunnel multiple times.
But every time, they returned with nothing.
A perfectly normal train had simply disappeared into thin air.
Countless families fell apart.
Even Xia Guofeng’s daughter, who had just started university at the time…
And now, this very train had returned safe and sound, appearing in the Strange Tale World!
Intelligence Department Minister Xia Guofeng stared at the live broadcast screen.
On the screen, the female college student sitting across from Jiang Li was his own daughter, missing for twenty years…
Xia Guofeng turned away, and despite being a grown man, tears streamed down his face.
He took a moment to compose himself, then turned back, his expression regaining its calm.
“In three minutes, the Intelligence Department will hold an emergency meeting.”
“For this Train Instance, we must give Comrade Jiang Li our utmost support! Help Jiang Li through this crisis!”
“Yes, Minister.”
Xia Guofeng stared at the live broadcast, unable to look away.
For a moment, a thousand thoughts flooded his mind.
He took out his phone and tentatively dialed his daughter Xia Xiaoqiang.
The number he had tried for twenty years without success finally connected after two rings!
Xia Xiaoqiang picked up: “Hello, Dad? What’s wrong?”
Xia Guofeng, eyes fixed on the big screen, choked up, “Xiaxia… is it really, really you?”
“Of course it’s me, Dad. Why do you suddenly ask? Are you drunk?” Xia Xiaoqiang teased.
Xia Guofeng sniffled. “No, it’s just… just that Dad misses you.”
“Hahaha, Dad, are you sleep-talking? Ew, that’s so mushy. Didn’t I just leave home less than two hours ago?”
Xia Xiaoqiang didn’t realize that for her, she’d only been separated from her family for two hours.
But for Xia Guofeng, he and his daughter had been apart for twenty whole years.
As they spoke, Xia Xiaoqiang voiced her confusion:
“By the way, Dad, this train I’m on is so strange. The Announcer said a bunch of weird rules. Are all trains like this now? I don’t get it.”
Xia Guofeng hurriedly instructed, “Xiaxia, listen to me. You must remember those rules!
If you’re not sure what to do, just follow Passenger No. 13 sitting across from you. Learn from her!
Don’t ask why – I can’t explain it all at once – but you must listen to Dad, okay? Please, I’m begging you.”
Xia Guofeng’s words only confused Xia Xiaoqiang more.
She looked up and quietly glanced at Jiang Li sitting across from her. “Oh, okay, Dad. I understand.”
Father and daughter hung up.
Xia Xiaoqiang turned off her phone and put it away, feeling even more curious about Jiang Li sitting opposite her.
But curiosity aside, Xia Xiaoqiang didn’t dare approach Jiang Li with questions directly.
She felt Jiang Li seemed a bit fierce and was always muttering to herself at her shoulder, acting mysterious.
Sensing the scrutinizing gaze, Jiang Li shot a look over.
Their eyes met, and Xia Xiaoqiang froze for a moment.
She quickly nodded, gave Jiang Li a blushing smile, then awkwardly looked away.
Meanwhile, the pregnant woman who had been driven away kept cursing quietly nearby.
She tried to stir up everyone’s emotions, hoping they would scold Jiang Li.
The pregnant woman’s actions did earn some sympathy from the more honest passengers.
A Migrant Worker who had a Seat stood up enthusiastically.
He brushed the dust off his Seat and, a little embarrassed, said to the pregnant woman:
“You… you see… if you don’t mind, you can take my Seat for now.”
The Migrant Worker spoke with a thick accent.
He was covered in dust, his skin dark, with a simple and honest face.
The pregnant woman, belly protruding, glanced at the Seat.
Seeing the yellow mud on the Seat, she curled her lip in obvious disdain.
She hesitated for a few seconds, then borrowed a wet wipe and carefully cleaned the cushion.
“Thank you, big brother, you’re such a good person,” the pregnant woman said perfunctorily.
Then she turned and glanced at Jiang Li on the other side. “Not like some people! So black-hearted! Sooner or later you’ll get what you deserve!”
Jiang Li looked out the window, completely ignoring her.
Across from her, Xia Xiaoqiang thought Jiang Li was still upset, so she leaned over to comfort her:
“Sis, just ignore her. That pregnant woman’s been noisy the whole way, hogging seats everywhere. None of us like her.”
Jiang Li glanced at Xia Xiaoqiang. “Mm.”
“Oh, right, Sis, I noticed you didn’t bring anything. Do you want something to eat? I’ve got snacks.”
Xia Xiaoqiang unzipped her yellow backpack and pulled out a pile of snacks, spreading them out on the table.
Jiang Li looked them over; they all seemed normal, not like weird food.
“If you’re hungry, help yourself, Sis! Don’t be shy,” Xia Xiaoqiang said cheerfully.
Sometimes, getting along with people really is this simple.
Jiang Li smiled and thanked her. “Alright, thank you.”
She found herself liking this girl, who looked four or five years younger than her.
If this girl ever did something silly, Jiang Li thought she could give her a little advice.
“Mm-hmm. Sis, my name’s Xia Xiaoqiang. What’s yours?” Xia Xiaoqiang asked warmly.
“Jiang Li.”
“Oh.”
The girl sitting next to Xia Xiaoqiang nudged her gently with her elbow and lowered her voice:
“Xiaoqiang, what are you doing? I feel like that woman’s got violent tendencies, and she’s always talking to herself. Don’t you think there’s something wrong with her?”
Xia Xiaoqiang shot her a look. “Don’t talk nonsense. I think she’s pretty nice.
Tang Shuang, I think you could be friends with her too. You’re both cold on the outside, warm on the inside.”
Tang Shuang pursed her lips. “Forget it, I don’t want to be friends with someone like that.”
The two chatted quietly for a while.
Soon, the Dining Car arrived with dinner.
“Come on, come on, Braised Pork Trotter Rice! Hot and tasty Braised Pork Trotter Rice! Tuck your legs in-”
Hearing the vendor’s calls getting closer, Tang Shuang checked the time. It was already 7:30, and she was so hungry her stomach felt glued to her back.
“How much for a Braised Pork Trotter Rice?” Tang Shuang asked quickly as the Dining Car stopped in front of them.
“Ten yuan, selling cheap!” the vendor replied.
“I’ll take one,” Tang Shuang said, quickly pulling out her money.
With the meal in hand, Tang Shuang stared at the red, tender pork trotter, her mouth watering.
She quickly turned to Xia Xiaoqiang. “Want one too? It looks really good.”
“Ten yuan a serving, Braised Pork Trotter Rice, selling cheap!” The vendor called out toward Xia Xiaoqiang.
Jiang Li just glanced at the Braised Pork Trotter Rice and turned away, unmoved.
The smell tempted Xia Xiaoqiang for a moment.
But seeing Jiang Li’s complete lack of interest, she decided to follow her lead.
Xia Xiaoqiang waved her hand. “Nah, I’ll skip it. Too greasy. I’m on a diet.”
Seeing no sale here, the vendor turned to the other side. “Braised Pork Trotter Rice, ten yuan, anyone want some?”
The pregnant woman looked over, swallowed, and said, “I’ll take one.”
“Alright! Here’s your Braised Pork Trotter Rice!”
A Migrant Worker standing nearby gazed longingly at the food.
He clutched the crumpled bills in his pocket, but in the end, couldn’t bring himself to spend them, turning away and refusing to look again.
“Sister Jiang, are you hungry? Want some snacks?” Xia Xiaoqiang asked tentatively.
She wanted to see if Jiang Li would eat.
If Jiang Li ate, she would eat too.
If Jiang Li didn’t eat, she wouldn’t touch the snacks either.
It was getting late.
Jiang Li was indeed a little hungry.
She smiled and reached out, accepting the snacks Xia Xiaoqiang offered. “Thanks. Let’s eat together.”
“Great!” Xia Xiaoqiang replied with a bright smile.
Finally, they could have something to eat.
After they finished, the Train Attendant came by to collect the trash.
The huge Black Garbage Bag was carried seat by seat, collecting waste.
The Train Attendant had just passed by when suddenly, the Migrant Worker next to them cried out.
“Ah! My hard-earned money! I messed up, I threw my money away!”
The Migrant Worker searched both pockets.
Garbage was still in his left pocket, but the change he’d wrapped in the plastic bag in his right pocket was gone.
Jiang Li suddenly remembered Train Rules number nine:
[Do not be curious about the Black Garbage Bag collected by the Train Attendant, and never open it.]
“What am I going to do? My kid’s tuition is gone…”
The Migrant Worker earned every penny through hard work; none of it came easy.
Across from him, Xia Xiaoqiang’s sympathy overflowed, and she immediately stood up.