chapter 25
Xia Xiaoqiang was just about to speak when Jiang Li grabbed her hand.
Jiang Li didn’t say a word, only shook her head at her.
Xia Xiaoqiang felt an indescribable discomfort in her heart.
In Xia Xiaoqiang’s memory, there really was a rule about not touching the Black Garbage Bag.
But what exactly was that rule?
Was it really so sacred and inviolable?
Seeing the Migrant Worker so anxious, Xia Xiaoqiang felt like a cat scratching at her heart.
Thinking of what her father had said to her on the phone, Xia Xiaoqiang ultimately said nothing and sat down.
Tang Shuang watched the interaction between Jiang Li and Xia Xiaoqiang.
Especially seeing Jiang Li’s cold and indifferent attitude, Tang Shuang almost rolled her eyes to the sky.
Without another word, Tang Shuang stood up, “Uncle, don’t worry, I’ll help you look for it.”
On Tang Shuang’s other side sat another college student, a boy.
The boy wore headphones and looked unusually calm.
As if nothing happening outside had anything to do with him.
The Migrant Worker, who was so anxious he was nearly jumping, was instantly moved to tears when Tang Shuang stood up.
“Thank you, little girl, I’ll trouble you then!”
“Don’t worry, uncle, I’ll take you to find a Train Attendant.” Tang Shuang stood up confidently.
Her gaze, intentionally or not, glanced at Jiang Li a few times, her expression somewhat smug.
See, how am I anything like her?
That number 13 is so cold-blooded, obviously hasn’t read much, lacking in moral education.
Tang Shuang, on the other hand, got into university, so of course she’s not comparable to someone like Jiang Li, who loves to fight and is cold-blooded-a typical delinquent.
Tang Shuang felt proud inside.
But she didn’t know that the so-called delinquent in her eyes, who supposedly hadn’t studied, was actually, twenty years later, the Top Scorer in College Entrance Examination in Huaguo, who fought her way out of a sea of candidates in the most competitive era.
Jiang Li was a true high-achiever from Huaqing University.
Jiang Li’s low profile appeared as incompetence in Tang Shuang’s eyes.
Jiang Li had no idea what tricks Tang Shuang was up to across from her.
She was simply lost in thought, pondering how to successfully clear this Instance.
According to the Instance’s clearance conditions, as long as she reached the destination safely, she could achieve an A Rank clearance.
If she wanted an S Rank clearance, maybe she could ask Xia Xiaoqiang across from her for help, borrow some money to upgrade to a Hard Sleeper Carriage.
But for now, it was uncertain whether upgrading to a Hard Sleeper Carriage with RMB would work in this Instance.
Besides, she had only just met Xia Xiaoqiang, and it might be inappropriate to suddenly ask her for money.
More importantly, where exactly was the Pollution Source…
Jiang Li was immersed in her own world.
When she snapped back to reality, Tang Shuang had already returned with the Migrant Worker.
Judging by the Migrant Worker’s expression, he must have found his money.
The Migrant Worker looked the same as before, seemingly not polluted.
But Tang Shuang was different.
Ever since Tang Shuang ate that bowl of Braised Pork Trotter Rice, her hands and feet had already changed, turning into pig trotters.
Now, after rummaging through the Black Garbage Bag again, Tang Shuang’s pollution had worsened.
Her nose had turned into a pig’s snout, and pig ears were about to sprout.
Jiang Li could see these signs of pollution very clearly.
But the others showed no reaction to Tang Shuang’s changes.
Jiang Li guessed that Tang Shuang’s pollution was invisible to others.
Most likely, the Instance was set up this way to prevent panic among the people on the Train.
Once someone was completely polluted, Train Attendants in Black Vests would appear, collecting the polluted ones under the guise of gathering garbage.
It was already half past eight.
This time, the Honey Water arrived!
Based on her experience from the last Instance, hot Honey Water could resist a certain degree of pollution.
As soon as the Honey Water Trolley arrived, Jiang Li perked up.
Train Attendants in Black Vests came by, distributing a cup to each Seat.
When it was Jiang Li’s turn, she didn’t hesitate at all, tilting her head back and finishing it in one go.
Xia Xiaoqiang watched Jiang Li’s actions and imitated her exactly.
She tilted her head, held her breath, and drank the Honey Water in one gulp.
Tang Shuang next to them looked full of suspicion.
She nudged Xia Xiaoqiang, “Hey, Xiaoqiang, why is the Train handing out Honey Water? I’ve never heard of this before.”
Xia Xiaoqiang naturally couldn’t answer.
Because she didn’t know the reason either.
The only thing Xia Xiaoqiang knew now was that no matter how strange things got, as long as she followed Jiang Li’s lead, she couldn’t go wrong.
“Didn’t our families always say not to drink beverages from strangers outside… I really don’t want to drink this.” Tang Shuang grimaced, pushing the Honey Water aside.
Jiang Li’s eyes lit up at those words.
She immediately turned to Tang Shuang and asked,
“Hi, I know this is a bit forward, but I wanted to ask-if you’re not going to drink this honey water, could I have it? I really like it.”
Tang Shuang saw Jiang Li looking at her as if she needed a favor and raised her eyebrows.
She didn’t want the honey water, but she feigned hesitation on purpose.
“Hmm… I suppose you can have it. I don’t want it anyway, so if you want it, take it.”
Tang Shuang’s tone made it sound like Jiang Li was picking up trash.
Something she didn’t want, and yet Jiang Li was eager to take it!
Tang Shuang instantly felt her own value rise, as if she’d gotten the upper hand over Jiang Li.
Jiang Li picked up the cup of honey water and poured it into her own empty cup.
On the surface, she pretended to drink it, but actually stored the honey water in her Space.
Previously, the Paper House she had burned for herself was just a static Space.
Whatever you put in, it would come out exactly the same.
So as long as Jiang Li wanted to use it later, she could take out this honey water at any time, and it would still be hot.
Jiang Li stood up and scanned the Carriage.
Inside Carriage No. 04, about two-thirds of the people hadn’t touched their honey water.
There were about 120 people in the whole Carriage.
That meant there were 80 cups of hot honey water left untouched!
Jiang Li remembered what the Train Rules said:
[During the Train’s journey, the Train Attendant will distribute honey water for free once. For your safety, please be sure to drink it while it’s hot.]
There was only one free distribution!
Later, it might be sold, but Jiang Li didn’t know the price or how often.
To be safe, she’d better stockpile as much as possible!
Jiang Li didn’t care about saving face.
Compared to pride, her life was much more important.
Jiang Li stood up right away.
She went to the other end of the Carriage and asked those who hadn’t drunk their honey water if she could have it, saying she would collect all the trash for them.
Jiang Li took a tray from the table and started going from the front to the back of the Carriage, asking one by one.
No one wanted to drink it anyway, and they were too lazy to pour it out themselves. Now that someone was willing to collect it, almost everyone who could give it away did so.
Tang Shuang could hardly believe her eyes!
“Oh my god… Is she crazy? Is this water really that good?”
Next to her, Xia Xiaoqiang thought for a while, then stood up, wanting to follow.
“What are you doing, Xiaoqiang?” Tang Shuang grabbed her. “You’re not going to help that lunatic, are you? My god.”
Xia Xiaoqiang looked a little embarrassed.
But she still blushed and nodded. “Mm, I think she’s working really hard. I want to help.”
“Are you crazy too?” Tang Shuang stared at her.
In the end, she couldn’t stop Xia Xiaoqiang.
Xia Xiaoqiang borrowed the tray from the pregnant women’s table and followed Jiang Li.
“Sister Jiang, let me help you,” Xia Xiaoqiang said as she walked up behind Jiang Li.
Jiang Li didn’t refuse.
If she wanted to help, then let her help.
Two people were faster than one.
It was best to collect the honey water while it was still hot.
That way, when they took it out later, it would be ready to drink.
“Thanks for your help. You take care of those two rows, and I’ll handle these three,” Jiang Li said with a smile.
“Okay, Sister Jiang,” Xia Xiaoqiang replied, helping Jiang Li collect the cups.
The two of them quickly finished collecting all the honey water in Carriage No. 04.
They were just about to wrap up.
But suddenly, from the other end of the Carriage, came a series of bouncing, tapping footsteps.
A young man in a red vest, looking like a lunatic, walked over with a spring in his step.
His eyes were bloodshot, and the smile at the corner of his mouth was chilling.
One hand in his pocket, the other snapping his fingers, he hummed a tuneless ditty.
He was swaying cheerfully in their direction.
Train Rules, Article Four:
[There are no Staff Members in red vests on this Train. If you accidentally encounter one, immediately and nearby look for an empty Seat! Sit down at once!]
A chill ran down Jiang Li’s spine!
Her and Xia Xiaoqiang’s Seats were at the other end of the Carriage, close to the Red Vest Man.
If they went back now, wouldn’t that be walking straight into danger…
And in the entire Carriage No. 04, aside from their two empty Seats, there were no other places left!
There was no time for Jiang Li to think.
She immediately used her Space to store all the honey water.
Then she flipped the tray behind her, grabbed Xia Xiaoqiang’s wrist, and turned to run!