Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 97 South Ticket

The long-distance bus traveled against the north wind across the boundless wilderness, the windows rattling incessantly with the vibrations of the vehicle. The windows were covered in breath, and those sitting by the window would occasionally reach out and wipe away a patch of condensation to get a better view of the scenery outside.

Looking out the car, a vast expanse of white stretched out under the high blue sky, interspersed with the withered yellow of dead wild grasses, scattered here and there, occasionally creating mounds in the otherwise flat snow. Occasionally, a patch of earth would peek out, its blackness appearing incredibly intense at this moment.

The earth, fields, and houses were all covered under the heavy snow.

The road lost its clear boundaries, and the villages we passed by were reduced to a few low houses half-buried in the snow. Looking into the distance, there was no one in sight, not even animals. It was as if the car was traveling alone in a vast, unknown world.

The pine forest on the distant hillside was pitch black, and the path wound through the inky black forest like a glaring white line, connecting with the hazy sky above the mountain peak where the color of snow or sky was indistinguishable.

There would be a river by the roadside, its water frozen into a hard shell, tinged with a bluish hue, reflecting a dazzling light under the listless sun. On both banks were mounds of snow, forming two winding lines that disappeared into the white distance.

Xiao Wei looked away, stretched his stiff body from sitting for so long, and stomped his feet a few times.

The car was crowded and heated, so it wasn't too cold. The cold air seeping through the window cracks actually made the stuffy car a bit more refreshing. However, it wasn't so good underfoot. The thin floorboards couldn't keep out the cold outside, and the chill stubbornly crept up the body from underfoot.

He patted Xia Maosheng, who was sleeping soundly with his face tilted back, sitting next to him: "Old Xia, how much longer until we get there?"

Xia Maosheng groggily opened his eyes, glanced at Xiao Wei, then turned to look out of the car and said, "Almost there." He then closed his eyes again.

Xiao Wei had already said countless words along the way. He sighed and continued to look out the window, bored. He wanted to sleep but couldn't. Being able to sleep on the bus was a kind of happiness.

Beipiao is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Chaoyang City in Liaodong Province. It is located between Fuxin, Jinzhou and Chifeng. It was formerly known as Chuanzhou and is a well-known coal-producing area in Liaodong. Mining began in 1907 and it was rich in coking coal. Like most coal-producing areas, the coal mines have long been closed.

Transportation in this area was not very convenient at that time; it was a relatively isolated region with no direct trains to Fengtian.

This area is considered mountainous, but because it's located on the edge of the Liaohe Plain, the mountains aren't very steep. The bus swayed and rocked for over an hour before the houses along the roadside finally started to cluster together, and pedestrians could be seen walking around. Chickens, cows, dogs, and pigs also appeared, and tractors with huge rear wheels could be seen from time to time along the roadside.

When the car finally used its last bit of strength and came to a stop with a clattering and rattling sound, it had arrived in a place completely unfamiliar to Xiao Wei. There were a few cement buildings, and as far as the eye could see, they were all spacious bungalows with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.

He nudged Xia Maosheng, who was still asleep. Xia Maosheng yawned, stretched, looked out the window, and said, "Pretty fast, we're in Nanpiao already."

Nanpiao is a district under the jurisdiction of Huludaoshi, which was originally Jinxi County of Jinzhou City. The names Nanpiao and Beipiao originated during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, two dragon tickets were issued to western Liaoning, which were coal mining permits at that time. One was issued in the south and the other in the north, hence the names.

After getting off the bus, puffing out white breath, I looked at this small black town on the white landscape and stretched my stiff legs. Xia Maosheng, standing beside me, stretched dramatically with his mouth wide open, rubbed his eyes, and asked, "Want to eat? Eat here or go back and eat?"

Xiao Wei asked, "How much further?"

Xia Maosheng said, "It's not far, just an hour and a half by the little train."

Xiao Wei was stunned for a moment, then looked at Xia Maosheng and said, "Damn, do you live in a cave? How come it's so far away? And there's no direct route."

After leaving Fengtian, Xiaowei traveled west through Liaozhong, Panjin, and Jinzhou, almost crossing into the sea. He then had to take a train for another hour and a half, and Xiaowei immediately felt pain all over his body.

Xia Maosheng laughed and said, "There's nothing I can do. If I were in charge, I would have made it long ago. What do you want to eat? Let's eat before we go. I'm starving too."

Xiao Wei looked around and, to be honest, was a little disappointed with the place. He said, "Whatever, I'll just follow you."

The two of them randomly picked a snack bar by the roadside and went inside. This area was near the station, so it was relatively lively, with small shops and restaurants scattered along the roadside.

The weather was lovely, the sun shining warmly overhead. Locals, dressed in various padded coats, stood by the roadside or leaned against the walls, chatting, smoking, and observing the passersby. A few stray dogs strolled leisurely along the road, occasionally coming up to sniff people.

The restaurant wasn't big, so the two of them ordered a couple of dishes and ate. After they finished, they sat down, drank some hot water, and rested for a while. Once their stiff bodies felt better, Xiao Wei followed Xia Maosheng out of the restaurant and walked to the train station.

Xia Maosheng went to the ticket window to buy a ticket. At this time, train stations were pretty much the same all over the country. The windows had a hole that was no bigger than a fist, and people outside had to bend over and twist their faces to talk to those inside.

"What time is Sanbao?" Xia Maosheng asked, then took out a five-yuan note and handed it in to buy two tickets, one yuan each.

There was no ticket check; the two of them went straight through the wide-open ticket gate. Xia Maosheng pointed to a green train parked more than a hundred meters away and said, "That's it, the little train. It runs in the mining area, and the miners don't have to pay to ride it."

The two walked over. The train carriage door was open, and there were no train attendants. After boarding and entering the carriage, they saw two rows of hard-seat carriages running along both sides of the carriage, unlike the horizontal rows on a regular train, which made the middle of the carriage seem particularly spacious.

The carriage was already occupied by some people, some smoking, some talking, and sunflower seed shells were scattered everywhere.

The two sat down, and Xia Maosheng said, "Isn't it strange? This bus is a mining area special line bus. It doesn't go out of town. It mainly carries workers and farmers in this mining area. The seats are arranged like this, with the middle being wide enough to hold a lot of things." He explained the reason for the seat arrangement.

Xiao Wei looked around and asked, "How are the seats arranged on the other trains?"

Xia Maosheng looked at him and asked, "You've never ridden a train before?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "I've never taken the train before. Before, the only way I got from home to the county town was by bus. Then my uncle drove me from the county town to Fengtian, and now I'm here. Where am I supposed to catch the train?"

Xia Maosheng swallowed hard and nodded, saying, "You'll know when we get back and take the train. It's hard to explain."

The train started moving quickly, with only a few extra passengers; the carriages were almost empty as it clattered and rattled out of the station.