Chapter 83 – Sleepers, Pork, and a Grumpy Companion

The train rattled steadily as the city slowly faded behind them. Jia Lan leaned her cheek against the cool metal wall of her upper berth, eyes blinking lazily at the passing scenery through the window below. Her long lashes fluttered, still wet from earlier tears. The platform farewell had been a dramatic one—full of clinging hugs, tear-streaked cheeks, and Baby Naun's wails loud enough to shame the train whistle itself.

Her parents were now settled comfortably in their lower berths. Her father was directly under her, while her mother had the lower berth on the other side—beneath a grumpy old man with thick white hair and sharp eyebrows that hadn't moved since boarding.

Jia Lan glanced at the old man with his full head of white hair, thick eyebrows furrowed like permanent clouds. He didn't say much, only grunted when he walked in, carrying a small canvas bag, and proceeded to grumble softly as he climbed—rather agilely—into his berth.

Is he going to ask to switch? Jia Lan instinctively braced herself for the polite refusal she would have to offer. But surprisingly, he didn't say a word about it. Instead, he plopped onto the berth, lay flat like a board, took out a worn book, and began reading with the intensity of a man studying battle plans.

Jia Lan blinked. Oh. He's serious.

Her parents were chatting quietly on their berths, occasionally glancing out the window or offering her some cut apples. The scent of camphor and aged wood mixed with the ever-present iron tang of train air.

Most of the train car was filled with students just like her—educated youths who had passed the exam, brimming with hope and nervous excitement. The buzz of conversations, rustling of papers, and occasional peals of laughter reminded Jia Lan that she was part of a new generation stepping into the future.

Still, even as she lay back with her hands folded beneath her head, a soft sigh escaped her lips.

Sometimes I wonder if this is all a dream, she thought, eyes scanning the ceiling above her. From a lonely hospital bed in another life… to a family who loves me unconditionally, to being spoiled silly, to now heading to university in the capital. It's too good. Too warm.

A smile tugged at her lips.

She peeked down from the edge of her berth. Her father was softly humming an old tune, legs slightly stretched and arms folded over his stomach. Across from him, her mother carefully placed their thermos and lunch boxes in the shared table nook between berths.

Jia Lan's gaze shifted up to the man across from her—grumpy white hair, reading a book held above his face while lying down on his upper berth.

Hmm. Not what she expected.

She closed her eyes for a few moments, lulled by the gentle rhythm of the train. Her mother's soft voice called up, "Lanlan, you woke up too early today. Take a nap while we prepare lunch."

Feeling the fatigue of the long morning, Jia Lan yawned and climbed up into her berth. Her limbs curled comfortably against the soft quilt her grandmother had tucked into her luggage that morning. "I'll take a nap," she murmured, voice light."Mmm," Jia Lan mumbled, already halfway to dreamland.

She dozed for a solid two hours before being gently nudged awake by her father. "Time for lunch, sleepyhead. Your grandma's pork rice is calling."

Her stomach growled at the very suggestions.

The words "grandma" and "pork" were enough to jolt Jia Lan upright. She crawled down, stretched, and sat beside her parents at the foldable table. The smell was heavenly.

When they opened the metal lunchboxes, the warm aroma of braised pork, stir-fried greens, and fluffy rice filled the entire compartment. A faint hush fell in their corner as other passengers subtly peeked toward them.

The scent floated up and drifted into every corner of the compartment. Jia Lan noticed it reached her companion's berth as well. She peeked over and saw the old man retrieving his own meal—a very modest steamed bun and a sliver of salted vegetables. But his eyes kept darting to their boxes.

She offered a gentle smile. "Uncle, would you like some of ours? My grandmother packed too much."

He looked away with a huff. "Hmph. I don't need charity."

But just a second later, he peeked over and added quickly, "Well, if you're insisting purely out of courtesy, I'd be rude to decline... not that I need it, mind you. Just… waste not, want not."

Suppressing a giggle, Jia Lan passed him a generous portion in a small bowl. "It's pork with soy glaze and star anise. You'll like it."

He sniffed. "Star anise? You youngsters even know how to cook with real spice?"

Her father chuckled. "Her grandmother made it."

The old man took a bite. His eyes widened for a brief second before he turned his head, as if to hide the pleasure on his face.

"Decent," he grunted. "Could use more garlic."

Jia Lan giggled quietly to herself.

As they ate, the old man finally set his book aside. "So… heading to the capital?"

"Yes," Jia Lan replied. "For university."

He grunted, clearly interested despite himself. "Which one?"

"Capital B university."

"Hmph. At least it's not one of those pseudo-modern trade schools. Kids these days all want shortcuts." But there was something like approval in his voice.

Father Jia smiled. "Our Lanlan studied hard. She made our whole family proud."

The old man clicked his tongue, took another bite of pork, and mumbled, "...She's lucky to have food like this on a train journey. When I was her age, I rode cattle wagons to the capital with nothing but dry mantou."

"But Uncle, aren't you enjoying it now?" Jia Lan teased.

He squinted at her. "Hmph. Don't get cheeky just 'cause you're feeding me."

But he didn't refuse the second helping she passed him.

After lunch, the train rocked gently, and the old man stretched his legs and muttered, "Maybe that nap idea wasn't so bad after all…"

Jia Lan watched him curl up with his book like a grumpy old cat.

She leaned back against the berth wall, heart warm. The food, the journey, the atmosphere—it was all real. Yet somewhere in her heart, a quiet voice still wondered if she might wake up and find it all a dream.

A good dream…