Chapter 174 - Altitude Determines the Mind (Part Two) (1/2)

Sleeping on the train is uncomfortable. Mostly, all the pa.s.sengers wake up by the noise at six or seven o’clock in the morning. Lin Luoran didn’t sleep all night. She has h.o.a.rded so many refined jades in her s.p.a.ce. All she has to do is to take one out and hold it in her palm. In this way, Lin can cultivate herself on the train, where there is nothing but turbid air.

Rong Donglin wakes up and sees that the “sister” is lying on the bunk across to his and looking through a magazine. They are on a slow train, and they will arrive at Xi’an at 4 pm. Rong has no more instant noodles — what should he do? Luodong’s sister seems to be so solitary. Even he wants to help them very much, there is nothing that he can do.

When Rong is struggling, Luodong wakes up. After cleaning himself, Luodong starts to talk with Rong Donglin.

During their conversation, Rong obtains more information about Luodong and his sister. They come from R City. They got on this train after having a tour at the capital and they are going to Xi’an to see the scenery… This is so strange. Why can they have the money to go on a trip but can’t afford food?

Rong is confused. It’s almost lunchtime. Luodong’s sister is still reading the magazine. Rong offers food to Luodong again, and Luodong refuses to take — Luodong is a smart boy. He must have figured out that Rong lied last night in order to let him take the instant noodles.

It takes 24 hours to get to Xi’an from the capital by slow train. Rong Donglin only prepared three bowls of instant noodles for himself, and he didn’t expect that he would have to share his food with two more people.

Out of Rong’s expectation, by noon, Luodong’s “sister”, who hasn’t said a word today, takes out some cash and puts them on the table. She says, “Luodong, can you run to the dining carriage and buy us lunch for three?”

Lunch for three? Are we buying lunch for brother Donglin?

Lin Luodong is happy that he is going to buy lunch for his new friend. He takes the money and runs into the crowd, heading to the dinner carriage.

Rong Donglin tries to say something, but Luodong runs so fast. Rong doesn’t get the chance to say what he wants to. He hesitates for a while and says to Lin Luoran embarra.s.sedly, “It’s not safe on the slow train… You shouldn’t have given that much money to a kid.”

As a matter of fact, Rong Donglin now realizes that Luodong and his sister are not poor at all. The sister just gave her younger brother a few hundred yuan to buy lunch, which makes Rong feel that what he did yesterday was nothing. As a student who is short of money, Rong never orders the “expensive and unsavory” meal on the train.

Rong only said that because his heart was struggling. He regrets immediately. He has no right to mind other’s business.

However, Lin Luoran, who has been in silence, smiles and says, “You are a good guy. Good things will happen to nice people.”

What? What good things?

Rong hears Lin Luoran’s words clearly this time. Isn’t his “help” useless? Turns out that Luodong’s sister believes that he is doing good things… Rong Donglin really can’t understand the thoughts and actions of these rich people.

Though the price of commodities has soared in recent years, a few hundred yuan are enough for the three of them to enjoy dishes specially made in a small wok. Since Luodong is so cute, the attendant lady helps him bring the dishes back. The other pa.s.sengers who are adding boiled water into their instant noodles are so jealous.

After Luodong is back, Rong Donglin discovers sensitively that Lin Luoran who was nice and gentle just now becomes cold immediately. Luodong is the only one who knows nothing about this. He keeps asking “brother Donglin” to eat more.

Also, Rong Donglin notices that Luodong’s sister only takes a few bites of the best dishes the kitchen on the train can make. She even ate more instant noodles last night.

They must eat fancy dishes every day… Rong scratches his head and gets confused. There are a few pimples at the corner of his mouth. After all, he is a simple and young student. He doesn’t think much about anything. Soon, he forgets about his confusion and starts to enjoy the meal.

“Brother Donglin, are you going to Xi’an for a trip?” After lunch, Luodong asks.

“No, I’m heading back home…” Though Rong is not a shy person, he is too embarra.s.sed to admit that he has spent his summer vacation working, and he only has time to go home and be with his parents when the vacation is almost over.

Why is he embarra.s.sed?

Rong Donglin doesn’t know either.

Luodong becomes more articulate during the conversation with Rong. Time pa.s.ses quickly on the train. They arrive at Chang’an.