Aromatic Flesh

According to her current theory, Gu MingYue concluded that the world line of the current mission interface closely resembled the reference world line, suggesting a historical period between ancient times and the apocalypse, but before the modern era. Drawing from her insights into the shared characteristics of previous mission worlds, she inferred that their destination, BeiPing, likely matched the geographical location of the modern mission world’s capital.

Overwhelmed by a myriad of thoughts, Gu MingYue’s spirited state couldn’t resist the embrace of fatigue. At a midday stop in a small station, she and Qian YunSheng quickly grabbed some roasted chicken and pears to satisfy their hunger. After that, nestled in the man’s arms, she dozed off with a faint frown on her forehead.

As the evening twilight settled in, the arduous ten-hour journey came to an end as the train gradually pulled into the station located in NanJing. Here, Gu MingYue and Qian YunSheng were to take a ferry to PuKou, where they would then switch to the JinPu Railway.

After alighting at NanJing, Gu MingYue and Qian YunSheng made their way to PuKou Railway Station, which involved over an hour of navigating through the waiting time for boarding the ferry and crossing the river. PuKou Railway Station was strategically situated at the intersection of land and water, functioning as a bustling transport hub for both passengers and freight transfers. As they moved from the ferry terminal to the station’s expansive plaza and then into the bustling waiting hall, they were greeted by a continuous flow of people, bustling with activity.

Around the platforms, numerous vendors gathered, energetically showcasing their goods to a steady stream of travellers. The air reverberated with lively calls and the sounds of bargaining as passengers enthusiastically made their purchases, creating a vibrant and bustling ambience.

To save money, Gu MingYue and Qian YunSheng opted for third-class carriage tickets. The third-class carriage was located closer to the locomotive, which ran on coal-fired steam engines, producing both deafening noise and powerful vibrations during the journey. It released large plumes of white steam and billowing black smoke mixed with dust, dissipating towards the rear carriages, thereby posing more pollution risks for those closer to the front. Typically, women from affluent and esteemed families travelled in first-class or, at the very least, second-class carriages.

Considering Gu MingYue’s delicate constitution, Qian YunSheng originally intended to purchase first-class tickets for the JinPu Railway. However, due to Gu MingYue’s firm objection, he reluctantly settled for third-class seats.

Gazing at the bluish-black circles under Gu MingYue’s eyes, Qian YunSheng felt an overwhelming sense of concern. As a pampered young lady from a privileged background with access to overseas education, the strained journey from ShangHai to NanJing had already taken a toll on her, leaving her slightly fatigued and weary. Though the 64 yuan first-class ticket was undoubtedly costly and financial considerations were essential, Qian YunSheng couldn’t help but feel remorseful and guilty upon seeing Gu MingYue’s exhausted expression.

He couldn’t bear to witness Gu MingYue preoccupied with financial worries; as a young lady who grew up with a privileged background, she deserved a life above such mundane concerns. With resolve in his heart, Qian YunSheng made a silent commitment to finding a means of earning money as soon as he arrived in BeiPing in order to ensure their financial independence. He was determined to make sure that Gu MingYue’s life would remain unchanged, both before and after being with him.

Passengers in the third-class carriage were not allowed to dine in the dining car, so Gu MingYue and Qian YunSheng went to a decent restaurant near the station. There, they indulged in a variety of Nanjing specialities, such as beef potstickers, shredded chicken over noodles, crab roe dumplings, radish cake, honey-glazed lotus roots, osmanthus-filled sweet rice balls, and xiaolongbao. The dishes were both flavorful and served in perfectly satisfying portions, and with rumbling stomachs, the two devoured almost everything on the plates in a fierce and ravenous manner.

The journey from PuKou to TianJin was long, and Gu MingYue and Qian YunSheng were in for a whole day and night inside the train carriage. Prior to boarding, they made sure to buy easily portable snacks from a vendor near the platform. They chose an array of delectable treats, including the crispy and aromatic duck oil pastries, the savoury and iconic Huangqiao sesame pancakes, an assortment of flavorful vegetable buns, the fragrant scallion pancakes, the well-spiced tea eggs, and the delicate and delightful Liu’an Maofeng green tea. To keep refreshed during the journey, they also purchased two ripe oranges and juicy pears, seasonal fruits perfect for quenching their thirst along the way.

After a day of jostling, Gu MingYue’s light blue wide-sleeved thin cotton jacket and black pleated horse-face skirt had gathered a fair amount of dust. To deter potential thieves, they had deliberately dressed in simple and unassuming attire, and their woven travel boxes were indistinguishable from those of the other travellers. Apart from their striking appearance, they blended seamlessly with the crowd, showing nothing out of the ordinary.

As the clock struck 8 in the evening, the JinPu Line train set off. Seated comfortably, Gu MingYue peered through the window at the sky engulfed by dark clouds, concealing the moon and stars, and an unsettling feeling started to stir within her.

IDK but how is this saving costs 😂😂 ngl, I would’ve just gotten some bread and a few bottles of mineral water 😂

Enjoy~

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