sbdcsierra Chapter 67 Chengdu Railway Station
Chapter 67 Chengdu Railway Station
The minibus bumped along the way.
Finally, it stopped at a bus stop on the outskirts of Chengdu.
The ticket seller slammed the train door open.
Xu Liang picked up the canvas bag that his mother had stuffed full of things into the house the night before.
Then, he slowly got off the bus following the flow of people.
As soon as I got out of the car, the road beneath my feet was no longer the bumpy, gravelly road typical of rural towns, but a smooth cement road that had been repeatedly compacted by car wheels and pedestrians.
As Xu Liang looked around, he saw wide streets stretching into the distance, with buildings stacked one on top of another on both sides. The buildings in this city were several levels taller than the tallest buildings in Huaikou Town.
By the mid-1990s, Chengdu was already beginning to take shape as a metropolis.
It's just not as advanced as it is now.
Bicycles weaved along both sides of the road, their bells ringing incessantly.
Occasionally, a few buses from other routes would slowly pass by, their bodies adorned with simple slogans and yellowed "GG" stickers on their windows.
The state-run stores, grocery stores, and tailor shops were all located next to each other on the roadside.
Bamboo baskets, cardboard boxes, and plastic basins were piled up at their door.
The stalls on both sides of the street were bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of hawking and bargaining.
Xu Liang looked up at the sky; the sun had risen to its highest point, its warmth making people feel cozy.
Without lingering, he determined the direction and headed towards Chengdu Railway Station.
The distance from the suburbs to the train station is not too far. Along the way, the number of pedestrians increases, and people carrying large and small bags can be seen everywhere.
Xu Liang looked at those people and thought for a moment. Most of them were ordinary people who went out to work, visit relatives, or go on business trips.
Their faces showed weariness, but they were filled with anticipation for what lay ahead.
Xu Liang stood out in the crowd, his clean white shirt making him particularly eye-catching. He was tall and had a calm demeanor.
However, these people had a different kind of spirit compared to the weary travelers around them.
After walking for about twenty minutes, a building that was not particularly grand but was exceptionally eye-catching came into view.
This is Chengdu Railway Station.
In 1995, there were no towering, modern station buildings or spacious, bright glass curtain walls like those in later years.
The main body of the train station in front of us is a gray and white brick-concrete structure.
Several large red characters were painted on the roof.
Chengdu Station.
The lettering was a light red, carrying a unique sense of age and weight, and it stood out prominently in the spacious square in front of the station.
The ground was rough cement, and there were crowds of people everywhere; the entrance to the station was so crowded that it was almost overwhelming.
Migrant workers carrying snakeskin bags, workers carrying tin lunch boxes, women holding children, soldiers in military uniforms, and students carrying military green satchels.
All sorts of people gather here.
Some people sat on the ground, some squatted by the roadside eating steamed buns, some anxiously looked at the train schedule board, and some vendors pushed bicycles and hawked popsicles and newspapers.
A unique smell, a mixture of sweat, instant noodles, cigarettes, and dust, wafted over – the smell of a train station in the 1990s, crowded and chaotic, yet full of the warmth and life of everyday people.
Xu Liang stood at the edge of the square, calming himself down slightly.
In his past life, he had traveled all over the country and seen all kinds of train stations, but after being reborn in 1995 and finding himself in the same scene again, he still felt a surge of indescribable emotions.
Back then, there were no smartphones, no e-tickets, no self-service gates. Everything relied on a small cardboard ticket, shouting, running, and the most primitive form of interaction between people.
He glanced down at the cheap digital watch on his wrist. It was still early; there were still nearly two hours before the train to Tongchuan departed.
Go ahead and wait in the waiting hall.
Xu Liang picked up his canvas bag and followed the flow of people toward the entrance.
The entrance is located on the first floor of the main building, with two simple wooden tables placed at the entrance.
Two station staff members in blue uniforms sat at the back, checking passengers' tickets one by one. There were no complicated security checks; they simply glanced at the date and train number on the ticket, stamped it with a small stamp, and waved people in.
Xu Liang took out the train ticket he had bought in advance and handed it over. The staff member glanced at it.
A blue round stamp was put on the door with a "snap," indicating that Xu Liang could enter.
After crossing that threshold, the waiting hall came into view for Xu Liang.
The main hall of Chengdu Railway Station is quite large, with a high ceiling and several old-fashioned ceiling fans that creak and spin, their blades covered with a thin layer of dust.
The ground is made of a material similar to yellow marble, and many parts are worn and faded. Rows of iron-framed seats are neatly arranged, and almost all seats are occupied.
People were everywhere, and the sounds of talking, children crying, and broadcasting were all mixed together.
A huge train timetable with black lettering on a white background hangs on the wall directly in front of you, with train information for each direction written in calligraphy.
The delay, departure, and arrival times are clearly displayed.
There was also a wall clock next to it, its pendulum swinging at a steady pace, the hands pointing steadily to a little past nine in the morning.
Xu Liang weaved through the crowd and finally found an empty seat in a corner. He sat down, placed his canvas bag at his feet, leaned back in the seat, and let out a soft sigh of relief.
He drove all the way from his home to the town, then took a minibus to Chengdu, a journey that took most of the day. Even though he had superhuman stamina, he was still quite tired.
He closed his eyes to rest for a moment, but his ears were habitually listening to the sounds around him.
On the seats next to me, several men who had gone out to work were chatting in accented languages, saying that they could earn several hundred yuan a month working in factories in the south.
Not far away, a couple was soothing their crying child, feeding him biscuits little by little.
There was also a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit, holding a newspaper in his hand, reading it with great interest.
Everything was ordinary.
Just as Xu Liang was about to take out his water bottle to get a drink, a series of slightly hurried and cautious footsteps stopped softly not far from him.
The footsteps were very light, with a hint of probing, taking two steps and then stopping, as if they were groping for something.
Xu Liang subconsciously opened his eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.
In the passageway not far away, one could see...
Standing there was a girl who looked only thirteen or fourteen years old.
She wore a faded light blue school uniform, had her hair tied in a simple ponytail, and carried an old cloth backpack. She was thin and small.
She has fair skin and delicate features.
However, the little girl's eyes were slightly closed, and her eyeballs were unfocused.
He held a slender white cane in his hand, the tip of which gently tapped the ground again and again.
Xu Liang roughly knew that this was a blind little girl.
She stood alone in the bustling waiting hall, without any adults by her side, looking particularly frail and helpless.
The surrounding passengers were in a hurry. Someone accidentally brushed past her shoulder, and she suddenly trembled and subconsciously shrank to the side.
The little girl's face tightened slightly, showing a hint of tension and fear.
How come such a young girl, who is blind, is alone at the train station?
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he saw the little girl tentatively take two steps forward, her cane touching the ground, but she accidentally bumped into the luggage of a passenger next to her.
The other person glanced at her impatiently, moved aside, and didn't say anything, but their disdain was obvious.
The little girl looked slightly worried, her lips were slightly pursed, and she stood there at a loss, her small hands tightly gripping her white cane.
She seemed to be looking for a place to sit down, but there were too many people around and all the seats were full.
But the little girl couldn't see and had no idea where there were empty seats, so she could only stand in the middle of the aisle like a frightened little bird.
Xu Liang watched this scene and sighed softly to himself.
The spirit of Lei Feng may sound grand, but in practice it's just a matter of lifting a finger.
In his previous life, he wandered for half his life, witnessing indifference and suffering. Reborn, his heart became even more gentle, and he could not bear to see such a young child suffer alone.
Moreover, this girl is visually impaired, which is extremely dangerous in a chaotic and crowded train station.
Without further hesitation, Xu Liang stood up and walked towards the little girl.
He walked very quietly, trying not to startle her, and only when he was two steps away from her did he soften his voice and speak gently:
"Little sister, are you all alone?"
The little girl stiffened noticeably when she heard the sudden male voice. She instinctively pulled her cane back and turned her face toward the direction of the voice, looking both wary and bewildered.
"Um…."
Her voice was soft and gentle, with the naivety and slight trembling characteristic of a junior high school student.
"You can't see, it's dangerous for someone to be here alone."
Xu Liang's tone remained calm, without any condescending pity, as if he were treating an ordinary young girl.
Are you looking for a ride, or are you waiting for someone?
The little girl was silent for a few seconds, as if she was trying to determine whether the person in front of her was a bad person.
The waiting hall was a mixed bag, and unlike later years when surveillance cameras were everywhere, the 1990s were different. With her parents not around, she was naturally afraid.
Xu Liang's voice is calm and clear, which makes people feel at ease. It doesn't have that greasy or frivolous feeling, nor does it have any deliberately feigned sympathy.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking softly:
"I...I want to take the train to Tongchuan."
Xu Liang was slightly taken aback.
What a coincidence, he's also going to Tongchuan!
"Where in Tongchuan are you going? Is someone picking you up?"
"I'm going to the county town because my grandma is sick, and I'm going to take care of her."
The little girl lowered her head and spoke even softer.
"My parents are busy and can't come, so they told me to go by myself... It's my first time taking a train alone, and I'm a little scared."
Towards the end, her voice began to sound a little aggrieved.
A blind girl who has just started junior high school is traveling alone for the first time, taking a train across several counties and cities. Anyone would be scared in that situation.
Xu Liang's heart softened a little.
"Perfect timing, I'm also going to Tongchuan, we can take the same train."
He softened his tone, trying to reassure her.
"Have you bought your ticket? Which train is it?"
The little girl nodded, reached into her schoolbag and rummaged around for a while, then pulled out a neatly folded train ticket and handed it to the air.
Xu Liang reached out and took it, glancing at it.
The train number and time were exactly the same as his.
This was truly a chance encounter.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine along the way."
Xu Liang returned the train ticket to her.
"When we go through the ticket check and enter the station, I'll lead you. Just follow me, you won't get lost."
The little girl was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting to meet such a kind person.
She couldn't see Xu Liang's expression, but she could sense the sincerity in his tone. Her tense face slowly relaxed, and she whispered something.
Moreover, the little girl recognized Xu Liang's voice; it didn't sound like a younger uncle or an old man, but more like an older brother.
So she said, "Thank you... thank you, brother."
"You are welcome,"
Xu Liang smiled at her. It was a pity that such a beautiful girl was blind. If only he could give her three days of sight.
"Please stand here for a bit. I'll call you when it's almost time to check tickets. By the way, what's your name?"
"My name is Lin Xiaoyu."
"Xiaoyu, that sounds nice. My name is Xu Liang, you can just call me Brother Xu."
After a brief chat, Lin Xiaoyu was noticeably less nervous. Her hands relaxed a bit, and her cane touched the ground steadily.
Seeing that she was standing there and it was inconvenient with people coming and going around her, Xu Liang looked around the waiting hall.
The seats were still full, and many people were still standing and waiting.
His gaze swept over a middle-aged man not far away, who was occupying two seats and had placed a large bag next to him, and he frowned slightly.
The man had his legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and was blowing smoke rings as if no one else was around.
He had a large canvas bag taking up an empty space next to him, and he ignored the elderly and children standing next to him.
Xu Liang walked over and said calmly, "Master, could you please take my bag? There's a little girl here who has difficulty seeing; could you let her sit for a while?"
The man glanced up at Xu Liang, noticing that he was dressed neatly and didn't seem like someone to be trifled with. He then looked at Lin Xiaoyu behind him, who couldn't see anything, and realized he was in the wrong. Reluctantly, he pulled the bag to his chest and muttered something.
"Sit down, sit down."
Xu Liang didn't argue with him and turned to wave at Lin Xiaoyu.
"Xiaoyu, come here, there's a seat here."
Hearing the sound, Lin Xiaoyu gripped her cane and carefully moved over little by little.
Afraid that she might bump into the chair, Xu Liang stepped forward and gently supported her arm, his action perfectly measured, helping without being offensive.
"Slow down, there's a chair on your left, sit down slowly."
Lin Xiaoyu was gently helped down and sat steadily. Her tense body completely relaxed, and she whispered.
"Thank you, Brother Xu."
"Sit and rest for a while, the car won't arrive for a bit."
After Xu Liang finished speaking, he returned to his original position, glancing at Lin Xiaoyu from time to time to prevent anyone from accidentally bumping into her.
Many passengers around witnessed this scene. Some gave Xu Liang approving looks, while others remained expressionless, busy with their own affairs.
The waiting hall remained noisy, with announcements about train boarding coming over the loudspeaker from time to time. The speaker's sound was a bit hoarse, but it echoed clearly throughout the hall.
Lin Xiaoyu sat quietly in the chair, her hands on her knees, listening intently to the sounds around her, occasionally turning her face slightly as if trying to discern her surroundings.
Seeing that she seemed bored, Xu Liang casually chatted with her for a few minutes.
What grade are you in?
"Second year of junior high."
"Were your eyes like this since you were little, or did they appear later...?"
Xu Liang asked very carefully, afraid of touching a sore spot.
Lin Xiaoyu didn't seem to care much, and simply hummed in agreement.
"I've been blind since I was little, I'm used to it."
His tone was so calm it was heartbreaking.
"So, do you usually go to school by yourself?"
"The school is close to home, my classmates help me, and my teachers take care of me."
"You'll be taking several hours by train to Tongchuan this time. Aren't you worried?"
Lin Xiaoyu paused for a moment, then said softly.
"I'm scared... but Grandma is sick, and I want to go see her. My parents say I'm all grown up now and need to learn to do things for myself."
Despite his young age, he is far more mature than his peers.
Xu Liang felt a slight sense of emotion.
Children born in the 1990s mostly matured early, especially those from ordinary families with physical disabilities. They understood the hardships of life much earlier than Xu Liang did before his rebirth.
The two chatted casually. Xu Liang spoke gently and never showed deliberate pity. Lin Xiaoyu gradually opened up and would occasionally ask him a question or two.
"Brother Xu, are you also going to Tongchuan?"
"Okay, I need to take care of something."
"Going into business?"
"I guess so. I'll go check out the ingredients and add some new dishes to the restaurant."
Upon hearing about food, Lin Xiaoyu's face lit up with a faint smile:
"I love potatoes the most. The potatoes are especially delicious in the mountains where I live."
Xu Liang's heart stirred.
What a coincidence.
His purpose on this trip was to find small potatoes from eastern Sichuan.
"That's perfect."
Xu Liang smiled.
"I went to Tongchuan this time to find potatoes from the mountains. I heard that the potatoes there are very starchy and soft, and can't be found anywhere else."
Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up, and although she couldn't see, she subconsciously looked in his direction.
"Really! Our Tongchuan potatoes are the best. When I was little, my grandma used to make them for me all the time."
When talking about the food from her hometown, the little girl became noticeably more talkative, her tone tinged with a touch of pride.
Xu Liang continued the conversation, talking about potatoes, wild fruits and vegetables in the mountains, and the mountains and rivers of Tongchuan. Lin Xiaoyu spoke with great enthusiasm, and her original unease completely disappeared, replaced by a smile.
The surrounding passengers listened to the two chatting and all showed a gentle expression.
A kind young man and a sensible blind girl are in a noisy and crowded train station.
This scene was especially heartwarming.
Time passed little by little.
As the clock hands slowly approached departure time, people in the waiting hall began to stir, picking up their luggage and moving towards the ticket gates.
Finally, a clear announcement came over the loudspeaker.
"Attention passengers, boarding is now open for train K407 from Chengdu to Tongchuan..."
As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd surged forward.
Xu Liang immediately stood up and walked to Lin Xiaoyu's side.
"Xiaoyu, the train is about to check tickets. Let me help you walk. Hold on tight to my arm."
Lin Xiaoyu nodded, stretched out her small hand, and gently grasped Xu Liang's sleeve.
The small palms were a little cold, but the grip was very firm.
Xu Liang slowed his pace, protecting her as they slowly squeezed forward through the crowded flow of people, reminding her as they went.
"Watch your step, there are steps ahead. Slow down, there are people on the left, let's move a little to the right."
He stood tall and straight, consciously separating himself from the crowded passengers around him, protecting Lin Xiaoyu by his side, and steadily walked to the ticket gate.
The ticket inspector tore up the tickets and stamped them. Xu Liang, holding Lin Xiaoyu's hand, followed the flow of people towards the platform.
In the 1990s, train platforms did not have platform screen doors, the rails were exposed, and the locomotives spewed out white steam with a deafening roar.
A green train slowly pulled up to the platform. The train was dark green, the carriages were old, and the doors opened, allowing passengers to swarm on board.
"We are in carriage number three."
Xu Liang glanced at the train ticket and helped Lin Xiaoyu up.
"Be careful getting on the bus, the steps are a bit high."
He carried the canvas bag in one hand and steadily supported Lin Xiaoyu with the other, carefully helping her onto the bus and finding her a seat.
It was a two-seater, by the window.
"You'll be safer sitting inside by the window."
Lin Xiaoyu obediently sat down, placed her hands on her lap, and let out a long sigh of relief:
"Brother Xu, I don't know what I would have done without you."
"It's okay, we've been together the whole way. When we get to Tongchuan Station, I'll walk you to the exit. Someone will be waiting for you there, right?"
"My uncle will be waiting for me at the exit."
"That's good."
Xu Liang put his luggage on the luggage rack and sat on the outside of Lin Xiaoyu, blocking the flow of people.
A short while later, the train sounded its whistle, the doors closed, the wheels slowly turned, and it gradually pulled away from Rongcheng Station.
The buildings outside the window receded into the distance, and the green train clattered along.
We made our way towards Tongchuan Station, step by step.