Chapter 48: Journey

Zhou Quanyi supported Jiang Zheng as they entered the station, turning a blind eye to the curious gazes along the way. Compared to flying, traveling by high-speed rail was far less troublesome; simply scan the ticket and board. In the past, paper tickets were a necessity, but now, even those have been dispensed with—one can enter the station just by swiping their ID card. It was wonderfully convenient, though it sacrificed a bit of romance; without a physical ticket, there was nothing left to collect as a keepsake.

They made their way into the carriage and took their assigned seats. Having purchased their tickets together, their seats were side by side. Only a few seats in the high-speed rail carriage faced each other, reminiscent of the old green trains. It so happened that Jiang Zheng and Zhou Quanyi sat at such a spot. Opposite them was a young couple, cradling an infant in their arms. The child’s large, dark eyes wandered curiously around the carriage. Jiang Zheng noticed a dark mark on the child’s hand—not an injury, but a birthmark.

Children’s moods shift swiftly; the little one, who had just been looking around in wonder, suddenly began to cry. As soon as the child cried, the parents grew anxious.

“He must be hungry. Go mix some formula,” the wife said to her husband.

“Alright,” he replied, rummaging through his backpack for the formula and bottle, then heading toward the front of the carriage. There was a spot to get hot water on the train.

Meanwhile, the child continued crying. The mother rocked him gently, soothing him. “Could I trouble you to help me get that bag?” she asked Zhou Quanyi and Jiang Zheng.

On high-speed trains, larger luggage like suitcases is placed on the floor, while backpacks and similar items are stored on the overhead racks.

Zhou Quanyi stood up and pointed, “Is it this one?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Thank you,” the woman said.

“No trouble at all,” Zhou Quanyi replied, handing it down.

The woman rummaged through the bag, found a toy, and placed it in the child’s hand. Instantly, the crying lessened.

“Thank you,” she said, looking up.

“It was nothing,” Zhou Quanyi replied.

Just then, the husband returned with the formula. “It’s still a bit hot; we’ll have to wait a moment,” he said.

“Alright, we’ll wait. He’s playing with his toy now,” his wife replied. “By the way, this young man helped me get the bag down,” she added.

The husband turned to Zhou Quanyi, “Thank you, brother.”

“No problem,” Zhou Quanyi replied.

The husband sat and struck up a conversation. “From your accent, I’m guessing you’re here traveling?”

“Yes, we’re planning to visit Chang’an. It’s full of historical sites,” Zhou Quanyi replied with a smile.

The man was surprised, “You’re going to Chang’an too? What a coincidence!”

The high-speed rail passes through several stations.

“So you’re headed there as well?” Zhou Quanyi asked.

“That’s right, we’re returning to Chang’an,” the husband said with a smile.

“Are you from Chang’an?” Zhou Quanyi asked.

“Not me, but my wife is. If you have time, I can show you around, let you taste Chang’an’s cuisine. Let me tell you, there’s plenty of good food, but outsiders rarely get to try the authentic dishes. There are some delicacies only locals know about,” the man explained.

“Sounds great—if we have time, we’ll rely on you to be our guide,” Zhou Quanyi replied with a grin.

“No problem at all,” the man said, patting his chest.

They continued chatting along the way. After the child drank his milk, he settled down and stopped crying.

When the train arrived at Chang’an station, everyone disembarked. Zhou Quanyi waved goodbye to the couple, then supported Jiang Zheng as they walked toward the station exit.

Suddenly, Zhou Quanyi slapped his forehead. “Oh no, I forgot to ask the guy’s name and contact information!”

Their conversation had been lively, but they’d forgotten to introduce themselves or exchange contacts.

Jiang Zheng laughed. “Let it go. He was just being polite—you really thought he’d show us around Chang’an?”

“It doesn’t matter whether it was just polite talk. Worst case, I could pay him—as if hiring a guide,” Zhou Quanyi said.

“Then hurry and chase after him. He might not have gone far yet—you could catch up,” Jiang Zheng suggested.

“No, it’s fine. They’ve already left; there’s no need to run after them,” Zhou Quanyi said, shaking his head.

They dropped the subject, and Zhou Quanyi helped Jiang Zheng to the hotel.

They had booked the hotel online beforehand, so they headed straight over.

“Let’s rest at the hotel today. Once your foot is better tomorrow, we can go out and explore,” Zhou Quanyi said.

“Fine by me,” Jiang Zheng agreed.

Had it not been for Zhou Quanyi’s heartbreak, Jiang Zheng wouldn’t have come to Chang’an today. He was suffering the side effects after receiving his reward; now, he couldn’t walk without stumbling. His body was perfectly healthy, yet he couldn’t keep his balance—even on flat ground, he’d fall. In this state, staying in the hotel was the best option.

They hailed a cab and arrived at the hotel Zhou Quanyi had booked.

Jiang Zheng frowned, “Are you sure this is the place?”

“Yes, it is,” Zhou Quanyi said, double-checking the address several times.

“If we’re not lost, let’s go in,” Jiang Zheng said.

“Wait a minute. Maybe we should find another place. The difference between this and the photos is huge,” Zhou Quanyi said.

“You’ve already paid for the room, right? If we leave now, we probably won’t get the money back,” Jiang Zheng replied.

“If we can’t get it back, so be it. The environment here is really poor,” Zhou Quanyi said.

“I think it’s alright. Sure, it doesn’t match the online photos exactly, but when do pictures ever look just like reality?” Jiang Zheng said.

“I’m not being picky on purpose. If the difference were small, I wouldn’t mind. I know pictures are just for reference, and there’s always some discrepancy. But I never expected the gap to be this wide!” Zhou Quanyi exclaimed.

Jiang Zheng, hearing this, agreed—the difference between the photos and reality was indeed quite significant.

“It’s up to you,” Jiang Zheng said.

“I’d rather find another place. We’re here to stay, and comfort matters most,” Zhou Quanyi said.

Jiang Zheng made no objection.

To him, accommodation didn’t need to be fancy—cheap was best. Of course, he didn’t voice this; Zhou Quanyi was paying, and if he didn’t mind the expense, it was his decision.

Zhou Quanyi supported Jiang Zheng as they turned to hail another cab, intending to find a better hotel in Chang’an.

Just then, a middle-aged woman walked toward them and collided with Jiang Zheng, knocking him straight to the ground.