Chapter 49: Would You Like to Learn to Draw with Me?

These days, only exceptional people get to fly on planes; ordinary folks don’t even dare to dream about it. Back then, the green train was the most common form of long-distance travel.

Even Su Taotao, who had lived two lifetimes, was riding a green train for the first time.

The locomotive in the distance, its color resembling the mailbox at the post office, drew closer with the sound of its whistle. The green carriages arrived slowly, and Su Taotao, just like the two children, was filled with curiosity and excitement.

Chenchen clapped his hands and nodded. “Train~~”

Su Taotao: “Yes, a train, a green train. Do you know how to make an origami train, Chenchen?”

The little guy bit his chubby fingers and shook his head. “No~~”

He sounded a little wistful.

Fu Zhengtu patted him on the head. “Daddy will teach you.”

Chenchen grinned, revealing his small white teeth, and nodded. “Yes~~”

Su Taotao noticed that Fu Zhengtu was getting more comfortable calling himself 'Daddy.'

Fu Yuanhang quickly pulled out his notebook and sketched the green train, marking the starting and ending points. He even drew the family of three next to them, documenting his first green train ride.

When it was time to board the train, Su Taotao could no longer smile. She hugged Chenchen and hid away, shivering.

It was like a swarm of people rushing to get into a packed elevator, but instead of an elevator, they were squeezing into the train cars!

In her past life, she had seen news reports from the early 2000s. At that time, the high-speed rail lines weren’t particularly developed, and not everyone could afford to fly on planes. During the Spring Festival, crowds would rush to train stations to head home for the holidays, just like this.

As people’s living conditions improved, more were willing to spend money on flying, and with more people able to afford cars, highway traffic jams during holidays became common. With the rapid development of high-speed rail, the spring migration gradually became less terrifying.

She never expected that in this life, she would experience the spring migration that she hadn’t in her previous life.

The strange part was that it wasn’t even a holiday season.

“Why are there so many people here? It’s not even a holiday!” Su Taotao was startled by the crowd.

The kids had only ever seen large crowds at the county market, but now they were wide-eyed with curiosity at this overwhelming scene.

Fu Zhengtu used the two large bags to create a protective space around them.

“Let them board first. We’ll board last.”

The family watched as the “school of fish” boarded the carriages in waves, and Chenchen was so happy watching that he wanted to clap.

Su Taotao helplessly pinched his little face.

When most people had boarded, Fu Zhengtu had Fu Yuanhang lead the way, Su Taotao walked in the middle holding Chenchen, and he brought up the rear with the packages to prevent anyone from bumping into them from behind.

After a lot of effort, the family finally found their seats. Fu Yuanhang and Chenchen were free of charge, and fortunately, Fu Zhengtu managed to buy two hard sleeper tickets; otherwise, Fu Yuanhang, being a half-grown child, wouldn’t even have a place to sit. The dining car and the aisles were packed with people.

The hard sleeper carriage had six berths, and when Su Taotao entered, both lower berths and upper berths were already occupied, with only the middle berths unoccupied. Fu Zhengtu had bought one middle berth and one lower berth.

Su Taotao, holding the tickets, said to the middle-aged aunt occupying their lower berth, “Excuse me, these are our seats. Could you please move?”

The aunt lifted her eyelids and, perhaps thinking that Su Taotao looked easy to push over, covered her mouth and coughed twice. “Comrade, my health isn’t good, and my legs aren’t strong. Could we switch seats? Mine is this one.”

The aunt pointed to the opposite middle berth.

Su Taotao shot back with a firm but polite tone, "If it were just me, I wouldn't mind switching with you, but I have two children with me, so I can't. If you're really uncomfortable, you should ask the attendant or the train conductor for help. They will assist you."

It wasn't clear if the woman had any real trouble with her legs or feet, but her voice was certainly strong and didn't sound like someone who was unwell.

The woman looked like she wasn’t about to budge anytime soon.

Fu Zhengtu called the attendant over, and only then did the woman climb up to the middle bunk on the opposite side, grumbling as she went.

Su Taotao was left speechless. "Where were her supposed leg problems now?"

Back in the village, the kids would have been fast asleep by now, but here they were, utterly exhausted.

Su Taotao told Fu Zhengtu to fetch some hot water. She washed Chenchen's face and hands. By the time Chenchen was asleep, she had Fu Zhengtu carry him to the middle bunk.

Su Taotao said, "Take Yuanhang to wash up first, and then I'll take over."

The woman across the way muttered under her breath, "Fussy..."

Su Taotao ignored her.

A single bunk was too small for two adults, and even for someone Fu Zhengtu’s size, it was a tight fit.

So, Su Taotao had to sleep with Chenchen in the middle bunk, while Fu Zhengtu took Yuanhang in the lower bunk.

When they returned, Su Taotao told Yuanhang, "If you need to get up in the middle of the night, you must go with your brother. Don't leave this compartment alone."

Yuanhang nodded. "I understand, sister-in-law."

It was impossible to get a good night's sleep in such an environment, but the children's sleep remained unaffected. Su Taotao listened to the "clank clank" of the train for most of the night and barely closed her eyes.

Fu Zhengtu wasn’t faring much better. He knew Su Taotao was restless in her sleep and was worried she might fall off the bunk. He placed two bags in front of the bunk but kept getting up periodically to check on her and the kids.

Su Taotao would always be lying there, wide-eyed, watching him.

After a few times, Fu Zhengtu had her move down to the lower bunk. He carried Yuanhang up to the top bunk, using a strap to make a simple railing to ensure Yuanhang wouldn't fall. Only then did he sit beside her, pulling her into his arms, just like those peaceful nights back in the village. He gently patted her back, and Su Taotao gradually fell asleep to the rhythm.

The night passed in silence.

It wasn't really sleep; they only dozed off for a few hours.

Fu Zhengtu couldn't really rest. He was worried about the two kids above and Su Taotao in his arms, and barely slept at all.

Around six or seven in the morning, Su Taotao woke up groggily and told Fu Zhengtu to sleep. He had been awake for two nights and fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

The children woke up just after seven. Su Taotao first took them to wash up, then they had mugwort cakes and eggs with hot water.

There were still many mugwort cakes left, and if they weren't eaten soon, they would go bad. Su Taotao gave one to everyone in the compartment, including the woman.

There were still plenty of good-hearted people around. An elderly man with glasses in the compartment kept praising Fu Zhengtu as a good man. He also took a liking to Chenchen and Yuanhang and played with them throughout the journey.

Once Chenchen became familiar with the old man, he took out the army chess his father had given him and played with the old man.

At first, the old man didn't think such a young child would know how to play, so he just went along with it casually.

Chenchen didn't say much, just silently set up the board.

Much to the old man’s surprise, Chenchen not only knew how to play but also understood the rules perfectly. He could tell at a glance which piece was bigger or smaller, which could capture another, and even knew to occupy the camps when he flipped his own pieces. If he flipped a bomb and it wasn't next to a high-ranking piece like a commander or army leader, he would avoid capturing smaller pieces and instead hide in the camp. He also knew to move the sappers to defuse mines...

Although the old man won the game, his view of Chenchen had completely changed.

"Is your son really only two years old? Does he know how to read? Who taught him to play Chinese military chess?"

Most two-year-olds are so full of energy that they can drive anyone crazy, even a dog. The fact that he can sit still for so long, showing such focus and patience, is already impressive for a child his age.

Su Taotao wasn’t very familiar with Chinese military chess, so she didn’t know the rules or how challenging it could be. She smiled and said, "He can’t read yet. His father played with him for a few days. He's two by traditional Chinese age, but he’s actually just a few days shy of his second birthday."

The old man gave a thumbs up. "Your son has limitless potential. Keep nurturing his talents."

Su Taotao thought he must be a teacher, as the admiration and love for talent in his eyes could not be hidden.

This was especially evident when he saw Fu Yuanhang’s sketches. Holding Fu Yuanhang’s drawings, his hands were shaking, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Have you really never taken sketching lessons?"

Fu Yuanhang shook his head. "No, I just drew it by feeling."

"You have an incredible gift!" the old man said, then asked Su Taotao, "May I ask where you are headed?"

Since they had only just met by chance, Su Taotao remained cautious and didn’t mention the specific destination, only saying, "We’re getting off at the next stop."

The old man’s eyes lit up even more. "I’m also getting off at the next stop."

Su Taotao blinked in surprise.

He grabbed Fu Yuanhang’s hand, his voice trembling with excitement. "What’s your name? Would you like to learn art from me?"