Neither Hong Kong nor the capital left her with too many unpleasant memories. Whether it was cowardice or avoidance, she was not ready to return home yet.
The man secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her refusal.
Feigning nonchalance, he smiled and said, "The banquet is about to begin, and it's not good to be late."
He Wenxin nodded, and the two soon left together.
"Do you really not need me to accompany you?" Gu Xingdong asked again, watching Chen Lishu fold clothes and pack luggage.
"The three little ones at home, especially Xiao Chengzi and Xiao Bai, are at their most active. Rui Rui also needs to be picked up and dropped off from school every day. I'm afraid Mom and Sister Yue won't be able to manage alone."
Chen Lishu folded a cashmere sweater and placed it in the suitcase. "Besides, I'm not going alone. I'm taking Li Qiang with me this time. There are still business matters to attend to at the factory, and I can rest assured leaving Nan Haitao and Zhao Xingwang behind."
"If things go smoothly and are finalized, I should be back in about half a month. Rui Rui's final exams are also coming up. Wait until he's finished with his exams, and then you can take him over to stay with Grandpa and the others for a few days. We can all come back together then."
After making arrangements for the company and home, Chen Lishu boarded the train to the capital with Li Qiang.
Yang Lili was also traveling with them.
"Manager Chen, it's time for lunch. Shall I go to the dining car to eat, or should I buy it for you?" Li Qiang looked at the time and asked.
Chen Lishu's hands didn't stop moving. "What time is it?"
Li Qiang replied, "It's almost twelve o'clock."
Chen Lishu was so engrossed in her drawing that she hadn't realized how late it was. She said, "Wait a moment. There's just a little bit left. Once I finish this, let's go to the dining car to eat. I haven't moved much all morning, so it'll be good to stretch our legs."
With that, she sped up her movements.
In a short while, the initial draft was almost complete. She casually tucked the pencil into the notebook, closed it, and placed it on the bunk. Then, she got down from the upper bunk.
"Big Sister, let's go eat together."
Yang Lili shook her head. "I'm not feeling well. I won't go."
Chen Lishu asked, "Do you need me to bring anything back for you?"
Yang Lili shook her head. "No, thank you. I'll just drink some hot water. I'll eat with you all tonight."
Chen Lishu and Li Qiang then went to the dining car.
As the end of the year approached, there were many travelers, especially those who hadn't bought seats. To secure a seat, they were willing to pay extra for meals.
Therefore, when Chen Lishu and Li Qiang arrived, there wasn't a single empty seat.
Chen Lishu saw some people eating with their lunch boxes, leaning against the wall.
The smell of food mixed with various smoke and indescribable odors. Her stomach, which had been somewhat hungry, lost its appetite at the aroma.
Chen Lishu said, "Forget it. Let's just get takeout."
Li Qiang's gaze fell on the dining car. "Manager Chen, what would you like to eat?"
"Something light. A bowl of white rice and stir-fried green peppers with dried tofu."
After hearing her request, Li Qiang went to join the queue.
The strong smell made Chen Lishu feel uncomfortable. She turned and walked out, standing in the aisle by the carriage door.
While waiting for Li Qiang to get the food, she suddenly heard a commotion from another carriage.
"Damn it, crying and crying, it's so annoying. Can't you tell those two brats to stop crying? This isn't your house. There are so many people here. If you cry again, I'll open the window and throw them out!"
The man waved his fists at the woman and said fiercely.
The woman was wearing a faded plaid dress with a patched elbow.
Startled by the man's aggressive gesture, she flinched but instinctively pulled the two children closer.
"Brother, please calm down. It's the children's first time traveling, and there are many people in the carriage. The children have a fever, and I will pacify them." Feeling the gazes of everyone around, the woman spoke softly while coaxing the children.
However, the man's ferocious demeanor completely frightened the children. The already crying children wailed even louder, their faces turning red.
"Are you crazy? Bringing a child with a fever out like this? I won't waste my breath with you. Either take these two brats and get out, or I'll help you throw them out."
The woman pleaded, "My husband is a soldier on the border. The younger one hasn't even seen what her father looks like since she was born. My husband sent a telegram saying he finally has a few days of leave, and I wanted to take the children to see him. The children were originally very well-behaved."
Upon hearing that she was a soldier's wife, the impatient expressions of the onlookers softened considerably. Some even chimed in to persuade the man, "Forget it, everyone has their difficulties. Perhaps the carriage is too stuffy, and the mother and her two children are squeezed into one seat. Moreover, the children are still young. Try to pacify them, give them something to eat, and see if they get better."
"Yes, I have two pieces of candy here. Take them for the children."
"That's nonsense! They were whimpering last night, and today they've been crying all morning. I'm telling you, no one can persuade me today. If she doesn't get out, I'll report her to the train attendant. If you have money, take a sleeper berth. If you don't have money, don't go out. They've ruined my good mood."
The man's voice was loud, and his eyes were wide and fierce.
The two children, who had been hiding in the woman's arms and had begun to calm down, suddenly burst into tears again.
"Cry, cry! Cry again, and I'll smack you!"
The man, annoyed, raised his hand, but it was suddenly slapped aside.
"You have quite the nerve. Who are you hitting?" Chen Lishu stared coldly at the man, showing no intention of backing down.
The man's expression clearly faltered when he saw that his opponent was a woman.
He subtly sized up Chen Lishu from head to toe. Seeing her refined demeanor and expensive-looking attire, his attitude towards the woman with the children clearly shifted.
"This is between her and me. It has nothing to do with you."
"It's true that her children's crying is a bit disruptive, but she has already apologized. As a man, you lack such tolerance and even intend to resort to violence, which is wrong. Moreover, as she said, her husband is serving in the border region, protecting the country on the front lines. It's not for their families to be bullied by just anyone."
"You say that so easily. You haven't heard those two little devils. They're making my head spin. Besides, I was just trying to scare them."
Seeing that Chen Lishu was no ordinary person, the man, who preyed on the weak, tried to backtrack.
Chen Lishu ignored him and turned to the woman. Seeing that the child in her arms had a flushed face, she asked, "The child has a fever. Have you given them any medicine?"
The woman shook her head embarrassedly. "This is my first time traveling such a long distance. My husband only told me which train to take, and he would pick me up at the station. I didn't expect the child to feel unwell."