A green, tin-plated train, its engine spewing thick black smoke, let out a long WHOO-WHOO as it slowly pulled into the station from the north.

The platform wasn’t very long, and some of the train cars remained beyond its edge.

The crowded mass of people began to surge forward as they saw the train pull in.

Everyone was scrambling to be the first one on board.

"Don’t rush! There’s room for everyone."

"Stay behind the yellow line."

A train attendant with a large megaphone shouted continuously, but unfortunately, few people were listening.

The train had entered one end of the platform, its speed decreasing steadily.

On the two-meter-high platform, people carrying bags of all sizes scanned their surroundings, searching for a less crowded car.

Some rushed forward while others pushed back. Amid the shoving, An Ning held on tightly to An Guoming.

"Guoming, stick with me. Don’t get separated in this crowd."

A grown man like An Guoming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he obediently followed An Ning anyway.

In a chaotic scene like this, a man of his build really couldn’t push his way through.

An Ning pulled An Guoming along, not bothering to look for an empty car. She just aimed for the closest one.

With An Ning clearing a path in front, An Guoming held onto her backpack strap as they followed the human tide onto the train.

As luck would have it, their car still had empty seats.

"An Ning, over there!"

An Guoming, quick on the uptake, spotted two empty window seats. Showing off a surprising burst of speed, he dashed over, put down his bag, and called out to An Ning.

Seeing that An Guoming had already secured the seats, An Ning was no longer in a hurry.

As she walked over, she even had the presence of mind to ask a question.

"Guoming, have you been working out?"

"Of course. I do it every day."

"Not bad."

An Ning praised him sincerely, placing her backpack on the seat.

An Guoming put his own backpack on the luggage rack, and An Ning’s backpack was placed between the two of them.

"Where do you want to sit?"

"By the window."

An Ning wanted to watch the scenery outside, and naturally, An Guoming had no objection.

Once the siblings were settled, An Ning finally had a moment to ask, "Do we not have assigned seats?"

"No, this stop is in the middle of the route. It’s not the train’s starting point."

An Ning nodded and looked out the window.

Outside, many people were still boarding in a steady stream.

Moreover, there were many small vendors with flat wooden trays hanging from their necks.

They were constantly hawking their wares: fried dough twists, steamed buns, flower rolls, tea eggs, and more.

TAP TAP TAP

Someone tapped on the window next to An Ning, a vendor signaling for her to open it.

An Ning pushed up on the train window, opening the lower pane. The vendor thanked her.

"Thanks, thank you. This is for you."

In his palm was a wrapped piece of hard candy, a token of his gratitude for opening the window.

"No, thank you."

An Ning refused and remained in her seat, watching the bustling scene outside.

The vendor outside her window began to hawk his goods.

People on the train continuously came to buy things from him.

An Guoming observed all of this. ’Traveling was definitely the right choice,’ he thought.

A few minutes later, vendors also appeared on the train itself. As soon as they showed up, the vendors outside the windows quickly packed up their things, preparing to leave.

’These vendors are probably two separate groups,’ An Ning analyzed.

’The group on the train is clearly more powerful.’

"You again! Get lost!"

Someone outside saw the vendor at An Ning’s window and shouted, making the vendor flinch. Even then, he didn’t forget to protect his merchandise.

The vendor turned to run in a panic, but in that moment, he wasn’t watching his step.

"AH—"

The gap between the train and the platform was wide. His foot slipped, and he was about to fall in.

An Ning twisted to the side, her arm shooting out to grab the vendor’s arm. Her upper body immediately followed, leaning out the window.

The vendor wore a look of utter panic.

"Th-thank you... Don’t let go."

"Don’t let go."

The vendor’s voice trembled with fear. All his hope rested on the young girl before him, whose eyes remained eerily calm.

"Don’t worry."

An Ning exerted her strength, pulling the vendor straight up.

The vendor’s feet scrabbled in the air until they finally found the edge of the platform. With his toes on the ground, he pushed off the side of the train to steady himself.

The moment the vendor was steady on his feet, the station staff and the man who had shouted earlier all rushed over.

The staff member breathed a sigh of relief. The man who had shouted was no longer so menacing, though his tone was still angry.

"Get out of here, and don’t let me see you again."

The vendor bowed and scraped, repeatedly bowing to the man who had yelled at him.

"I’m leaving right now, right now."

The vendor turned back to An Ning and picked up all the remaining goods from his tray.

"Thank you, thank you."

An Ning didn’t refuse his thanks, accepting the items he offered. The vendor gave her a smile, then clutched his wooden tray and left.

WHOO WHOO—

The train was about to depart.

The on-train vendors all disembarked. A number of people still lingered by the windows, making last-minute purchases and hastily collecting money.

The train began to move, the CLACKETY-CLACK of the wheels growing faster as it slowly picked up speed.

An Ning pulled the window down, closing it securely.

In late October in the north, the weather was already very cold; you could see your breath in white puffs when you spoke.

"Looks like they don’t need tickets."

"Huh?"

An Ning turned to look at An Guoming, who had spoken.

An Guoming pointed at the items on the small table in front of An Ning. "These things don’t require any ration coupons."

"He certainly didn’t ask for any. Do you want some, Guoming?"

"No, you eat it."

An Guoming didn’t take anything. Staring at the items on the table, he asked, "An Ning, did you feel sorry for that vendor?"

An Ning tilted her head and shook it.

"No. The right to do business here is probably granted to a specific group, and they have to pay a certain price for the privilege. He could join them, but I imagine the profit wouldn’t be as high as selling things on his own. That’s why he’s trying to squeeze in and sell wherever he can."

"He knew the risks and rewards and simply made the choice that was best for him. Why should I pity him?"

"You’re right."

An Guoming asked no more questions. ’With An Ning being like this, I can feel at ease letting her go make her own way in the south.’

The train was now at full speed. An Ning leaned against the window and watched the scenery for a while.

But once they left the city, the landscape was mostly desolate: drab, gray fields with the occasional cluster of houses or a small village.

The scenery was largely unchanging. After watching for a while, An Ning lost interest. She took a book out of her backpack and began flipping through the pages.

About two hours into the journey, An Guoming got up to use the restroom.

He had just left when someone sat down in his spot.

An Ning closed her book and said, "This seat is taken. He just went to the restroom."

"I’ll just sit for a moment. I’ll be gone in a bit."