"Coming through, make way, make way! Keep an eye on your children, watch your valuables. Smokers, try to go to the connections between the cars. Be considerate of the comrades who don't smoke, and the children too. It's like the Heavenly Court's holding a meeting in here—smoke everywhere. Open the windows a little and let it air out."
The train rumbled along as Wang Yan and Wang Xin continued their patrol. They had to make a round before every stop and another after the train pulled in. Each station brought a new wave of passengers, which meant they needed a fresh show of force—a reminder that the police were present.
They threaded laboriously through the carriages, tirelessly reminding the passengers again and again.
After passing through another two cars, they found two men standing at the connection between the carriages, smoking and chatting. On the other side sat a grimy-looking old man on a small stool, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as well.
"Well, look at that. You've even managed to bum cigarettes," Wang Yan said with a smile. "You really treat this train like the edge of your own kang bed, huh?"
The old man chuckled, only to take a bad drag and break into a fit of coughing.
"Stop laughing already. If you laugh yourself into trouble, we'll be the ones held responsible." Wang Xin patted the old man on the back.
As it happened, this blind old man was an old acquaintance. He was the father-in-law who had once made such a fuss about wanting hand-ground coffee from Wang Yan.
The blind old man finally caught his breath and spoke in a throat clogged with years of phlegm. "You got that right, kid. This old man really has made the train his home. Let me tell