Clap, clap, clap~
"Brother Hao said it well. Everyone being able to take this train, heading to the same place for the same goal, proves that we are fated. Fate brought us together, so we should help and support each other even more." Sun Chaoshu led the applause in agreement.
Subsequently, everyone else also agreed one by one.
"One for each of you, don't be strangers. From now on, we're all brothers and sisters eating from the same pot." Ye Hao distributed the melon seeds and peanuts to everyone, and each person also received a white rabbit creamy candy.
"Everyone, let's introduce ourselves while we eat, so we can get to know each other. My name is Ye Hao." Ye Hao said as he watched everyone start eating.
"My name is Sun Chaoshu." Sun Chaoshu immediately chimed in.
"My name is Tang Zilan."
"My name is Zhao Yuanhang, university graduate." A bespectacled boy by the aisle said with an arrogant demeanor.
"My name is Niu Jianwen, and this is my younger brother Niu Jianwu. We are twins."
Niu Jianwu, standing next to him, gave a simple-minded smile.
"My name is Zuo Lei, Sister Zilan, we're from the same school. I'm a year below you, and I really admire you at school." A voice like an oriole came from one of the girls.
"My name is Huang Su Su." The girl sitting next to Zhao Yuanhang responded.
"Lu Bingsheng." A name came from the boy sitting in the corner, and then he fell silent.
"My name is Wang Rong. If any of you need letters written in the future, you can find me. I've been practicing calligraphy since I was a child." A timid voice came from another corner.
"No need. Who among us here can't write?" Zhao Yuanhang replied arrogantly.
Wang Rong's face turned beet red from the retort, but he said nothing.
Through this self-introduction, Ye Hao gained a rough understanding of everyone.
First, there was Zhao Yuanhang, clearly a scholar, very arrogant, and probably not willingly sent to the countryside, with a slight disdain for everyone. Huang Su Su seemed to have some connection with him; their intimacy was evident along the way.
The two brothers, Niu Jianwen and Niu Jianwu: Ye Hao couldn't say much about Niu Jianwen due to limited interaction, but Niu Jianwu was simply simple-minded and seemed to follow his brother's lead.
Wang Rong was the kind who looked very timid. Being small and thin, he appeared even more so.
Zuo Lei was lively and outgoing. Since she admired Tang Zilan, she was probably also a restless spirit.
Finally, Lu Bingsheng. When he took the melon seeds and peanuts from Ye Hao earlier, Ye Hao noticed his hands were covered in calluses, indicating he was a hardworking person, a man of few words who worked diligently.
Looking at this group of people, Ye Hao knew there would be plenty of trouble ahead. There were people of all personalities, and even someone like Zhao Yuanhang. Ye Hao shook his head, "Why think about all this? I have food to eat, things to use, and a cheat finger. Why would I be afraid of them? At most, it's just a little fun in life."
Because of Zhao Yuanhang's retort earlier, the atmosphere was a bit awkward, and for a moment, only the sound of chewing could be heard in the train compartment.
"Alright, everyone has gotten to know each other. From now on, we're family. How about we celebrate our upcoming new life by singing a song together?" Sun Chaoshu said, noticing the awkward atmosphere, and stood up, wanting to ease the tension.
"Yes, yes! What should we sing?" Zuo Lei eagerly chimed in, looking excited.
"Immature." A barely audible sound came from Zhao Yuanhang's mouth. Of course, others might not have heard it, but Ye Hao, having been nourished by the spring water, did. He glanced at Zhao Yuanhang, saw that he had already closed his eyes, and then ignored him.
"Then let's sing 'The East Is Red' first." Tang Zilan said.
"Okay, let's sing 'The East Is Red.' Who will start?"
"I will, I will! I was in the school's singing team." Zuo Lei volunteered.
The East is Red
The sun rises
Ready, begin!
The song that witnessed the nation's journey from poverty to prosperity and strength echoed through the train compartment.
As expected, Zhao Yuanhang did not sing along with the others. Not only Zhao Yuanhang, but Niu Jianwen also didn't sing. Ye Hao wasn't surprised that Zhao Yuanhang didn't sing, but what was the deal with Niu Jianwen? After all, in this era, it was a bit strange. People in this era were still relatively simple and pure, and they respected that great man very much.
Ye Hao didn't show any abnormality and sang the song along with everyone.
After one song, Zuo Lei seemed to not have had enough and started another song, "My Motherland," for everyone to sing.
And so, with laughter and joy all the way, they arrived in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.
Along the way, Ye Hao noticed that Zhao Yuanhang didn't like Huang Su Su as much as he appeared to. From some details, it was clear he was quite disgusted with Huang Su Su, but he didn't say it. Huang Su Su, on the other hand, was the type of "love-struck" person from later generations, willing to give everything to satisfy and accompany the other person.
Ye Hao learned from snippets of conversation that Zhao Yuanhang desperately wanted to go abroad, but his family's old man disagreed. The old man saw Zhao Yuanhang's yearning for the United States and his dislike for his own country. As a military veteran, he wouldn't allow Zhao Yuanhang to go abroad, so he arranged for him to be sent to the countryside for tempering.
Huang Su Su and Zhao Yuanhang were university classmates. Huang Su Su admired Zhao Yuanhang's talent and pursued him. Initially, Zhao Yuanhang ignored her, but eventually, for some unknown reason, he accepted Huang Su Su. When Huang Su Su learned that Zhao Yuanhang was going to the countryside for tempering, she secretly signed up for the assignment without telling her family. It wasn't until the notice came down that she told her family. Her family had no choice but to watch her board the northbound train.
Niu Jianwen was a typical loafer. His family's expectations could be seen from the names of the two brothers, but Niu Jianwen had been a restless spirit since childhood, dropping out of elementary school to wander around. Niu Jianwu, due to a high fever in childhood, had some intellectual impairment and never went to school. He stayed home helping with work, developing a strong physique. He also seemed to have a natural superhuman strength; according to Niu Jianwen, his younger brother Niu Jianwu could lift a 500-jin ox. This startled everyone. In ancient times, he would have been a fierce general like Xu Chu or Dian Wei.
Because Niu Jianwu's mind wasn't sharp, he listened to his brother in everything. This time, their parents primarily sent Niu Jianwen to the countryside because their eldest son was always loafing around and they couldn't control him. However, they didn't expect Niu Jianwen to also trick Niu Jianwu into going to the countryside. Fortunately, they still had a younger brother and sister at home. Otherwise, the elderly couple at home would probably have been sad for a while.
Wang Rong, being shorter than his peers since childhood, was often bullied, which led to his timid personality. However, he said that his calligraphy was quite remarkable. His grandfather was a master calligrapher, so he came from a scholarly family. His grandfather often taught him to be kind to others, which was also a reason for his personality. This time, his father arranged for him to go to the countryside. His father was also troubled by his timid personality, but after trying many methods without success, he decided to send him to live alone in the countryside for a few years to see if it would have any effect.
Lu Bingsheng was truly extraordinary. His ancestors were from the Imperial Household Department of the previous dynasty. After the fall of the previous dynasty, Lu Bingsheng's grandfather left the Imperial Household Department and opened his own small workshop. He had intended to pass on his craftsmanship to his son, but his son's talent was too poor; after more than ten years of learning, his skill hadn't improved much. The old man was about to give up, but perhaps he didn't want this craft to die out when Lu Bingsheng was born.
Lu Bingsheng showed extraordinary talent from a young age, whether it was his slender fingers or his diligent and meticulous spirit of research. All of this greatly pleased Lu Bingsheng's grandfather. Thus, Lu Bingsheng's grandfather passed on all his lifelong experience to Lu Bingsheng and also gave him the books he had brought from the Imperial Household Department back then, instructing him to self-study.
Lu Bingsheng lived up to the old man's expectations, thoroughly understanding all the books from the Imperial Household Department in just five years and being able to create exquisite artifacts. However, good times didn't last. Due to some people fleeing to Hong Kong that year, they brought many exquisite artifacts that sold for exorbitant prices in Hong Kong. A group of people specializing in reselling cultural relics learned that Lu Bingsheng's grandfather was from the Imperial Household Department and wanted him to imitate artifacts from the palace.
The old man repeatedly and decisively refused, which angered these desperadoes. Last winter, they set fire to the old man's furniture workshop, and the old man and Lu Bingsheng's parents perished in the fire. Only Lu Bingsheng escaped. Lu Bingsheng knew who the enemies were but had no ability to seek revenge, and he couldn't even say he was the old man's grandson.
If that group of people knew he was the old man's grandson and had inherited his craftsmanship, he would definitely be in grave danger.
Lu Bingsheng went to the countryside this time to avoid his enemies.
During these past few days of interaction, Lu Bingsheng trusted Ye Hao relatively well. The pressure had been too great recently, and he wanted to confide in someone, which is why he told Ye Hao these things privately. Ye Hao immediately stated that he would not tell anyone else about Lu Bingsheng's background. Both being orphans, there was a feeling of mutual sympathy.
As for Zuo Lei, she was completely an overgrown child. As the youngest in her family, she was greatly pampered, but precisely because of this excessive pampering, she became fearless. When she learned that her admired big sister, Tang Zilan, was going to the countryside, she insisted on going too. When her family disagreed, she threatened to die. In the end, her family had no choice but to agree to let her go to the countryside.