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Chapter 375: Chapter 365: A Nagging Man is a Good Man
On the train, because of Li Hongjun’s behavior, Shen Yunfang became the focus of the carriage.
"Oh, the young man is really great, knows how to care for his wife, emotional and warm, that’s what makes a good man." The old man gave Shen Yunfang a thumbs-up.
Shen Yunfang smiled bashfully, "Grandpa, you’re exaggerating. My husband is just worried about the children."
"A man who worries about his children is good, that’s being family-minded." The old lady chimed in with praise. "Ours always just goes wherever he wants to go, never worrying about me and the kids at all." The old lady said, shooting her husband an unsatisfied glance.
"Hey, look at you, we’re talking about someone else’s man here, why bring me up?" The old man felt somewhat embarrassed by his wife’s words.
Shen Yunfang watched as in just a few sentences, the old lady and the old man started arguing; she didn’t know what to say and could only laugh awkwardly.
"Big sister, are you taking the kids to visit relatives?" a curious woman asked.
"Mommy’s going to school." Pangpang interjected before Shen Yunfang could reply.
"School? You’re a university student too?" A young man asked in surprise, then scrutinized Shen Yunfang from head to toe. Glancing at the two children sitting on the bunk, he shook his head slightly. It just didn’t seem likely.
"Yes, my mommy is a university student, my mommy is really amazing." Pangpang shouted proudly. In their family, daddy was the most amazing, mommy came second.
Shen Yunfang patted Pangpang, signaling him to simmer down, he had no sense of crisis, blurting out everything.
"Hehe, don’t listen to him. I’m a university student and I’m taking the kids to the Capital to study with me," Shen Yunfang said with a smile.
"Which university are you from?" a young woman who was with the young man asked skeptically, staring at the mother and her two kids. It was hard to imagine someone like her, with kids in tow, was also going to study.
"North Agricultural University."
"Oh, you study agriculture." The young woman said, her tone slightly disdainful.
"Hiss, I don’t think I’ve heard of that school in the Capital before," the young man said uncertainly.
"Ah, it isn’t a scam, is it?" The young woman muttered quietly after hearing the man’s comment.
However, her muttering was heard by the people around them.
Shen Yunfang wasn’t embarrassed at all and spoke confidently, "Our school was originally in S City. It only moved to the Capital during the holidays, which is why I’m taking the kids to the Capital to register this term."
Her words instantly showed up the young woman’s pettiness.
From the conversation of this young man and woman, everyone could tell that they were also university students.
"Hehe, university students are excellent; our country is in need of useful talents like you." The old man laughed and shifted the topic, "By the way, I see the kids’ dad is in the military, which unit? Back in my day, I also carried a gun and fought the Japanese..."
"Alright, that’s enough; don’t go on about your stories here, nobody wants to listen," the old woman hastily stopped his rambling.
"Who says so? Young lady, do you want to listen?"
What else could Shen Yunfang say? "Yes."
"See, there are people who want to listen." The old man was quite pleased with himself.
"Hmph, you already asked her like that, how could she have the nerve to say she doesn’t want to listen," the old woman said with a scoff, giving Shen Yunfang an apologetic smile.
Everybody chatted and laughed; time passed quickly.
When night fell, Shen Yunfang had Pangpang and Manman sleep foot-to-foot while she lay on her side on the outermost part. The bunk was already small, and this way, she could hardly move at all.
Having persevered through the night, Shen Yunfang finally made it to dawn and sat up to stretch her arms and legs.
"Must’ve been exhausting last night," the elderly lady in the lower bunk across from her said.
"Not too bad," replied Shen Yunfang with a smile. "Could you keep an eye on the kids for me, granny? I need to use the restroom."
"Sure, it’s no trouble at all. Go on, don’t worry, I’ll watch the kids. Nothing will happen," the elderly lady gestured with her hand, reassuringly telling her to go ahead.
So Shen Yunfang took out her toiletries from her luggage, headed to the restroom at the front of the train, and freshened up before coming back.
"Your kids are really well-behaved. When he woke up and didn’t see you, I told him you went to the restroom, and he sat there quietly without crying or making a fuss. That young man in the upper bunk was teasing him, saying he’d take him to find you, but he insisted on not going," the elderly lady hurriedly reported as soon as Shen Yunfang returned.
Shen Yunfang glanced over and saw that her son had woken up and was sitting on his berth, waiting for her.
"That’s all taught by his dad," she said. "Don’t talk to strangers, don’t go with strangers..."
"And don’t eat sweets from strangers, dad said those are ’sugar-coated bullets,’" Pangpang quickly added, clearly proud of himself as he spoke.
"Oh my, you even know about ’sugar-coated bullets’," the elderly lady chuckled amusedly at his words.
"You’re all talk," Yunfang said, half-annoyed, half-amused, "I’ve seen you accept things more than once. Come on, brush your teeth with mom before your sister wakes up."
"Granny, I’m going to brush my teeth now, I’ll continue our talk when I come back, okay? My sister is here, could you watch her for a moment? I’ll be right back," Pangpang earnestly asked the elderly lady next to him to help watch over his sister.
"Hahaha, alright, alright, granny will watch your sister. Come back and talk to me later," the elderly lady, charmed by his childish speech, laughed heartily.
Shen Yunfang smiled and led her child to wash up. Of course, it was unlikely she’d truly entrust her child to a stranger. Their berth was close to the front of the train, and while washing up, a step to the side was all it took for her to see her children. So without dawdling, she quickly brushed her kids’ teeth, washed their faces, used the restroom, and hurried back.
It was about time to get up, so Shen Yunfang woke up Manman, who was a bit of a sleepyhead and the only one in the family who loved to sleep in.
After getting both kids ready, and with the train approaching the station, Shen Yunfang struggled a bit with the luggage (and its appearance) while also managing the two kids. A young man beside her swiftly took over carrying the luggage, "Miss, let me carry this for you, so you can take care of the children." This man was also from the sleeper carriage and had exchanged a few words with her during the trip.
Shen Yunfang wanted to say that she could manage it herself, but seeing that he was offering help out of goodwill, she didn’t want to reject his kindness. She could only keep thanking him.
"Thanks a lot, brother, you’ve really helped me out," she said.
"No need to thank me, we should look out for each other when we’re away from home. Anyway, it’s tough for you to carry things and tend to the kids alone," the young man expressed his admiration for Shen Yunfang, who was determined to come and study while bringing her kids along. Not many women would take on such a challenge.
Following the crowd to the train station exit, the place was buzzing with people leaving and those waiting to pick up arrivals—a sea of heads that made it difficult to find someone. Shen Yunfang stretched her neck looking around, as some people held up signs, she searched for her name.
"Are you Comrade Shen Yunfang?" A strange male voice suddenly sounded beside her.
She hadn’t found her party yet when a man had approached her on his own.
Since he knew her name, he must be one of Li Hongjun’s comrades.
Shen Yunfang turned to look at the man, "Yes, that’s me. And you are?" It was still necessary to confirm.
"It’s nice to finally meet you, sister-in-law. I’m Ma Liguo, Li Hongjun’s comrade," Ma Liguo introduced himself.
"So you’re Brother Ma. Hello," Yunfang quickly greeted him.
"This place is crowded; let’s head back before we chat. Have you got any more luggage? I can carry it."
"This kind-hearted brother already helped me with it," she responded.
"Ah, truly grateful for your help," she added.
