Chunmei had the bunk above Song Ning. She had quite a lot of luggage and kept climbing up and down.
Song Ning moved out of the way and stood by the door, waiting for her to finish getting settled.
Just then, the man came back and called out to Song Ning, who was standing in the doorway.
"Chunmei, I'll come back when it's time to eat, all right?"
Before Song Ning could answer, Chunmei shouted at him from the ladder.
"Didn't we bring braised eggs? What are you hollering for? You've even got the wrong person! Hurry up and go!"
The man ducked his head, apologized repeatedly to Song Ning, then turned and hurried away.
Judging by the direction he took, he was heading toward the hard-seat carriages.
Song Ning glanced down at her jacket. It really was almost the same color as Chunmei's, and they were about the same height.
No wonder he had mistaken her.
Next, a bespectacled man of about forty entered the compartment. His bunk was opposite Chunmei's.
Gu Zheng got up to help him arrange his luggage, and the man thanked him repeatedly.
The train slowly pulled away, leaving Rong City and heading toward Yu City.
As the noise outside the compartment gradually died down, most of the passengers settled into their places.
Song Ning took a mug out of her bag and said to Gu Zheng,
"I'm going to get some hot water. Shall I bring you a cup too?"
Gu Zheng stood up and took out his own cup. "Carrying two would be awkward. I'll go with you."
They went to the Boiler Room at one end of the carriage to get hot water.
Just as they finished and were about to leave, a two- or three-year-old child came toddling unsteadily down the