Chapter 85: Post-Meal Gas Release, Hou San Must Work Hard!

Hou San, hearing Li Xiangdong’s question, stood still and, for a rare moment, spoke with complete seriousness, “Brother Dong, you’ve asked the right person. I actually heard my dad talk about this.”

“Uncle Gao used to be a soldier. He had several comrades who died on the battlefield. From then on, Uncle Gao would divide his monthly salary into several portions and send them to the hometowns of his fallen comrades.”

“A couple of years ago, he couldn’t even bear to buy Shengchan cigarettes and would just bum smokes off others all day. A lot of people who didn’t know the situation called him ‘Stingy Old Gao’. It’s only in the last two years that the children of several of his comrades have grown up and can earn their own money, so his burden isn’t as heavy as it used to be.”

Hearing this, Li Xiangdong was filled with respect. This kind of person deserved anyone’s admiration!

He had originally thought Gao Xinmin was just putting on a show, but now he realized the man was truly genuine.

“Uncle Gao is a pretty good person.”

This sentence from Li Xiangdong was not flattery, but came from the bottom of his heart.

“Of course Uncle Gao is great. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken out the Panda to give him. I’m not stupid. My granduncle hides that tobacco and is reluctant to smoke it himself. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even let them look at it.”

As Hou San spoke, he touched the half-pack of Shengchan in his pocket. He felt he was too unlucky, wronged but unable to tell his family. If his father found out he stole his uncle’s cigarettes, he would definitely get a beating.

The kind that even Uncle Hai couldn’t stop!

After being lectured by Gao Xinmin, the two of them had learned their lesson. Now, even while chatting, they didn’t stop working.

As the sun began to rise, the train pulled out of Beijing Railway Station.

Li Xiangdong and Hou San patrolled the entire train once, then walked into the dining car one after the other.

From the moment he got his lunchbox until he put down his chopsticks, less than 15 minutes had passed for Li Xiangdong.

Hou San, sitting opposite him, devoured five steamed buns, two small plates of pickles, and a lunchbox full of millet porridge in one go.

“How can you eat so much? Why don’t you grow taller or gain weight? Where does it all go?”

Hou San held a toothpick, leisurely picking his teeth. Suddenly, a burp came up. “Hic~ Brother Dong, I don’t know. My mom says I have a straight gut.”

“Impressive!”

Li Xiangdong gave him a thumbs-up. “Are you full? If not, I’ll go get you another bun.”

“I’m full.”

After speaking, Hou San stood up on his tiptoes, raised his heels, and then dropped them rapidly. He did this four or five times. After finishing, he let out a long breath and burped again. “Hic~ So comfortable. Post-meal gas release, Hou San must work hard!”

Holy crap~

A set of small movements, plus a self-made slogan. Li Xiangdong was completely bewildered by Hou San. This guy was full of drama every single day!

And this set of movements seemed to be from traditional Chinese medicine for tonifying yang qi, just missing the levator ani breathing…

“Ahem~”

Li Xiangdong noticed that the passengers and colleagues eating in the carriage were all staring at them. He coughed twice and reminded, “Hou San, since you’re full, let’s get to work.”

“Alright, Brother Dong. Da Ni’s water should be finished by now. Even if it’s not, it’s cold now. I have to go over quickly.”

As Hou San spoke, he started to speed up. Li Xiangdong followed behind him, feeling helpless.

“Hou San.”

Hou San stopped and turned back. “Yes, what is it, Brother Dong?”

Li Xiangdong took two steps forward and patted Hou San’s shoulder. “Kong Da Ni isn’t a water gourd. You’ve already gone to pour water for her seven or eight times this morning, haven’t you? Aren’t you afraid of making her swell up from drinking so much?”

Hou San’s face turned red, and he stammered, “I just want to talk to her.”

“I get it, I get it.”

Li Xiangdong nodded and, after thinking for a moment, said, “Don’t pour any more water for her. You can go over and ask her why she didn’t come for breakfast. That way, you two can strike up a conversation, right?”

“Thanks, Brother Dong!”

Hou San, carrying the water kettle, skipped three steps at a time, his expression joyful as he headed towards the sleeper car.

Li Xiangdong, walking behind, heard Kong Da Ni’s roar from the broadcast room up ahead from a distance.

“You still have the nerve to ask me why I didn’t eat breakfast?! I already told you I’m not thirsty, I’m not thirsty! You made me drink so much water, how could I possibly eat anything?”

Li Xiangdong’s steps faltered. He turned and walked towards the hard-seat carriage, muttering as he went, “San’er, your brother here had good intentions. I didn’t mean to set you up. Don’t blame me.”

Just as he was pouring water into the thermos, Hou San quietly walked over.

“Brother Dong.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Let’s get to work.”

“Oh.”

Hou San sniffled, picked up the tin water kettle, and started pouring water into the thermos.

As dusk fell, the train needed to stop to replenish its water supply after dinner. This stop was longer. Li Xiangdong and Hou San got off the train to get some fresh air and stretch their limbs.

The trains of this era were bumpy and unstable. After being off their feet for a long time, they felt a bit light-headed.

“Smoke mine.”

Seeing Hou San take out the Shengchan cigarettes from his pocket, Li Xiangdong handed over his own Daqianmen. “Next time you have good cigarettes, remember to keep them and smoke them secretly. Don’t show them off again.”

Hou San took a drag from the cigarette and chuckled, “It’s fine. When we get back, I’ll go to my second great-grandfather’s house and ‘borrow’ a couple more packs.”

Li Xiangdong smiled, “Be careful your dad doesn’t beat you.”

Hou San stuck out his neck. “If he dares to beat me, I’ll dare to run. I’ll go stay at your place then. Brother Dong, will you welcome me?”

Li Xiangdong patted his shoulder and nodded. “Welcome. If you have nowhere to go, just come to my place. The inverted-facing room at my house is empty anyway. I guarantee you’ll have a place to stay if you come.”

“Brother Dong, you’re such a good person… Hey~ Da Ni, did you have enough for dinner?”

Hou San was halfway through his sentence when he saw Kong Da Ni get off the train. He casually threw away the cigarette he had just taken two puffs of and trotted over.

Li Xiangdong finally understood why everyone said Hou San was heartless and thoughtless. This guy’s ability for self-adjustment and healing was truly powerful.

Just this morning, he had been rebuffed by Kong Da Ni so harshly that he was downcast all day. Now, he was fawning over her like a little puppy again.

*Beep~*

The whistle blew, and the passengers on the platform began to board the train one after another.

After the train started, Li Xiangdong called Hou San, and as usual, they patrolled each carriage once before heading towards the sleeper car.

As soon as they entered the sleeper car where the train crew rested, the air became much fresher. The other carriages were filled with smoke, the smell of sweat mixed with various indescribable odors. Taking a couple of breaths was enough to choke you and clear your head.

“Brother Dong, let’s sleep in the same compartment.”

Hou San sat on the lower bunk on the left, leaning sideways against the carriage wall.

“Let’s get some sleep. We have to get up in two hours to add water.”

Li Xiangdong sat down opposite Hou San, took off his leather shoes, and lay down on his stomach on the bed.

He had just closed his eyes when an unbearable sour and foul smell hit him. “Damn it, Hou San, go wash your stinky feet right now!”

“Are they stinky?”

Hou San, who was crossing his legs and taking off his socks, leaned down and sniffed his feet. “Achoo~ Achoo~!”