latelenovela Chapter 236 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Awaiting Return 7
Chapter 236 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Awaiting Return 7
His breathing was rapid, like a broken bellows, dry and heavy.
My throat feels like it's been sanded with sandpaper; it hurts terribly.
Shen Shuwan's steps grew heavier and heavier, as if she were carrying a thousand-pound burden, and the edges of her vision began to darken faintly.
But the footsteps chasing behind didn't stop, and even got closer.
She wasn't paying attention, her legs gave way, and she fell heavily to the ground.
The person approaching was only ten steps away.
How to do? !
In desperation, Shen Shuwan struggled to her feet and plunged headfirst into the river, the depth of which was unknown.
……
By the time Shen Shuwan dragged herself ashore, the moon had been hanging high in the sky for quite some time.
She collapsed on the riverbank, lying face down, panting slightly, too weak even to move her neck to keep the dust off her face.
Tears kept flowing, but Shen Shuwan thought to herself with a bittersweet smile that if those people came looking for her now, she would definitely surrender and not run away.
Having regained some strength, she wiped away her tears, struggled to get up from the ground, and looked around.
Where is this?
Which way should we go now?
so tired.
So hungry.
I want to cry again.
I wish all of this was just a dream, and that when I woke up I would have already stolen some of Aunt Qian's braised pork.
As I walked out of the kitchen with my greasy paws, contemplating whether to lick them clean, my mother caught me red-handed.
She slunk off to wash her hands, passing by her father, who was fiddling with an abacus and sitting in a chair, probably plotting to swindle some unlucky soul, and her sister, who was engrossed in looking through the account books.
After washing her hands, her uncle, who had just finished his patrol, strolled in with the large pork knuckle she had been longing for...
Shen Shuwan wiped away her tears and staggered off in one direction.
She couldn't give up; she still needed to reunite with her parents, uncles, and sisters.
It seems like bad luck has hit rock bottom and is starting to bounce back.
After walking in this direction for about ten minutes, we happened to come across an oxcart.
The old man who was rushing to catch the train told her the direction of the train station and kindly offered to give her a short ride.
Shen Shuwan thanked them profusely as she climbed onto the cart, then huddled in a corner, hugging her legs.
I wonder how my parents are doing now.
It should be fine, right?
No, everything will be alright!
Perhaps, by the time she arrives in Haishi, they will already be waiting there.
Yes, definitely!
-------
On her way to the train station, Shen Shuwan exchanged her clothes for an old one.
Seeing that her clothes were dirty but could still be made of good material after washing, the man agreed and told her to go into the side room to change and then come out quickly.
While changing clothes, I noticed a small pair of scissors lying casually on the table.
After much hesitation, Shen Shuwan still managed to sneak it into her clothes before leaving.
Once she was far away, she cut her long hair into a messy, bird's-nest style, following the shape of the river, and swept her bangs forward to cover most of her face.
He looked himself up and down, rolled on the ground a couple more times, and smeared the exposed skin on his face, neck, and arms with mud before hunching over and continuing to walk toward the train station.
I wonder what the situation is like now, and whether there are people staking out the train station.
She looks barely like a boy; hopefully no one will notice.
In any case, in this world, boys are always a bit safer than girls when they're out and about.
When her mother sees her like this, she'll probably get so angry that she'll chase after her with a feather duster and beat her.
-------
I didn't have enough money to buy a train ticket to Haishi.
So even Dad can miscalculate sometimes.
Shen Shuwan stared at the ticket price board for a while, and unexpectedly, this untimely thought popped into her head.
She left with a wry smile. Passing by a steamed bun shop, she touched her stomach, which was so full she didn't even have the strength to rumble, and bought three steamed buns.
Hiding in a place where she wouldn't be easily noticed, Shen Shuwan squatted down and finished eating one of the two. Reluctantly, she stuffed the remaining two back into her pocket.
Let's save these for eating in the car.
I just heard someone say that if you follow the tracks, there's a bend ahead where the speed will be a little slower.
If you hurry, you might be able to climb up successfully.
If it fails...
Shen Shuwan controlled her gaze, avoiding looking at the broken bones on the ground, her eyes fixed on the approaching train.
"Woo——"
one,
two,
three!
We're up!
I almost got caught in the tracks and became one of the remains, but thankfully I managed to climb back up safely in the end.
Shen Shuwan was so frightened that her heart was pounding wildly. When she stepped on the ground, she couldn't control herself and her legs went weak, causing her to kneel down.
The two steamed buns hidden in his arms rolled out and came to a stop only after being covered in dust on the ground.
Shen Shuwan looked at the steamed buns on the ground and felt like crying again.
Forget it.
She sniffed, swallowed her grievances, and silently picked up the cornbread and squeezed into the gap among the piled wooden boxes.
Just bear with it, we'll be in Haishi in three more days.
……
The train from Beiping to Haishi passes through several cities.
At each stop, people kept climbing onto the train in Shen Shuwan's carriage.
Most of them are strong men.
However, a woman also came up with several girls.
In short, more and more people gathered, crowding the entire carriage.
Shen Shuwan could only try to hug herself, shrinking as much as possible into the gap so that no one would notice her.
Soon, soon.
We'll arrive in Haishi tomorrow.
-------
Half-asleep, Shen Shuwan was once again startled awake by the sudden clatter of the train.
He looked up and his eyes met those of the woman who had earlier climbed onto the bus with two girls.
Shen Shuwan hurriedly lowered her head, wanting to continue sleeping, but hunger forced her to stay awake.
She could only clutch her stomach and stare blankly at the ground.
So hungry.
The remaining two cornbread buns were eaten yesterday, no matter how carefully we tried to eat them.
Meals are provided on the train, but they are expensive and not meant for people like her who climbed onto the train.
Furthermore, she only had ten silver dollars left.
Hai Shi didn't know what was going on, and her parents didn't know when they would find her.
This money needs to be kept for emergencies.
She could only console herself by telling herself to be patient a little longer.
Just as I was feeling unwell, something wrapped in a handkerchief suddenly rolled into my field of vision.
Shen Shuwan looked up in confusion, only to see the woman smiling gently at her, gesturing for her to open it.
After hesitating for a long time, she picked up the handkerchief and lifted it.
It was half a white steamed bun.
She looked at the woman again.
The woman pointed at the object and made a quiet gesture, then looked away from her.
Shen Shuwan carefully and tenderly held the steamed bun and swallowed her saliva.
The steamed buns had long since gone cold, but she could still almost smell their aroma.
These steamed buns, which I hardly ever look at at home, suddenly seem incredibly tempting.
She broke off one half and kept it, then took a big bite of the rest, chewing it slowly many times before swallowing.
It's as if eating for a longer time can trick your stomach into feeling hungrier.
My stomach started to feel a little fuller, and I gradually felt sleepy.
Shen Shuwan shrank further into the crevice, leaned against the wooden box, closed her eyes, and continued to sleep.
The woman then looked in her direction again, a smile playing on her lips as she met the gaze of a man with a pointed chin and monkey-like cheeks.
It became.