The train journey from Feishi to Jinling was about four to five hours. In those days, it was a slow green train that couldn't pick up much speed.
Unlike the crowded green trains of later generations, the number of people who could afford to travel by train, or who needed to, wasn't that high back then.
Chen Yang glanced around. The entire carriage was barely more than half full, with quite a few seats empty.
Chen Yang, Shen Xue, and the two little ones sat in the same row. It was the children's first time on a train, and they were excitedly pressing their faces against the window, listening to the clatter of the wheels on the tracks.
Unlike the high-speed rail of today, the windows of trains back then could be opened. Many people on the platform, finding it troublesome to climb aboard, would simply clamber in through the windows.
That was how tough passengers were in those days.
Chen Yang pinched the baby's cheek, daring not to let her get too close. With the window open, it was very dangerous.
Opposite them sat a middle-aged man in a green military uniform and canvas shoes, his face unshaven. As soon as he boarded, he buried his face in a newspaper and fell fast asleep.
Chen Yang remembered that when they came from Jinling to An Province for their rural posting, their entire train carriage was packed with educated youths sent to the countryside.
At that time, everyone was filled with a mix of confusion and trepidation, but also a sense of passion amidst their fear.
They were to fully embrace the rural life, go up to the mountains and down to the countryside, build up the rural areas, and strive for the motherland.
Back then, they would often discuss how many of them, who had gone to the countryside, might never return.
"What's wrong, missing home?"
Shen Xue had naturally noticed the shift in her husband's mood. The two little ones, initially full of curiosity, had been pressing their faces against the window, watching the scenery.
But unlike the railway lines of today, the landscape outside now was mostly vast fields. As they watched, the two children gradually became drowsy and fell asleep in Shen Xue's arms.
"Not entirely."
"Five years have flown by. When I first arrived, I was just a greenhorn. Even when we got married, your father was always looking for a reason to beat me up."
"Now, we already have children this old."
Chen Yang looked at the two little ones sleeping soundly in Shen Xue's arms. All he felt was a profound sense of happiness and a weighty responsibility.
In this life, he was determined to give his wife and children a good life, free from any bullying.
"You still remember that. Who told you to be so impatient? We weren't even officially engaged yet, and you wanted to take me to the haystack at the threshing ground for a date. How could my father not beat you?"
Shen Xue glanced at Chen Yang. She was just a young girl back then, and in the blink of an eye, she was a mother of two.
"Didn't I write a love poem I wanted to read to you? From the haystack at the threshing ground, we could see the sunset, with the sky ablaze with red clouds. It would have been so romantic for me to read you a love poem."
Chen Yang's face turned a little red. He truly had no other intentions; he just wanted to see the sunset from the haystack.
"I believe you."
"But my father didn't, and there was nothing I could do about it."
Shen Xue blinked her innocent eyes. She still remembered her father chasing Chen Yang around the village with a hoe three times. If it weren't for the village elder intervening, her father would have gone all out against Chen Yang.
Seeing Shen Xue's mischievous look, the older man felt a pang of annoyance. If they weren't on the train, he would definitely let this bold woman know how severe the consequences of teasing him would be!
The train continued its clanging journey. Shen Xue also couldn't stay awake any longer, holding the children, her head resting on Chen Yang's shoulder as she dozed off.
Chen Yang idly stared at the newspaper covering the face of the man in front of him. On it, there was indeed news about his dream radio receiving the nation's first individual business license.
But just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from the carriage ahead. The man with the newspaper instantly opened his eyes and sat up straight.
He was very alert.
Chen Yang glanced towards the aisle in front and tucked his few "big unity" bills deeper into his inner pocket.
His outer pocket held a few yuan in small denominations, while his inner pocket was sewn with several dozen yuan. These were meant to mislead.
Chen Yang knew well that in those days, some people would kill for a few hundred yuan. Even on a train now, it might not be entirely safe, so he had made backup preparations.
If someone tried to rob him, he would hand over the money from his outer pocket first. If the robber managed to get to his inner pocket, he would hand that over too.
As for the rest of his money, it was all sewn into old clothes inside his baggage.
If they went through the trouble of searching every piece of old clothing, then Chen Yang would have no recourse.
"Everyone listen up. We brothers only want money, we won't hurt anyone. Leave us some travel expenses, and we won't trouble you."
Just as Chen Yang withdrew his hand from his pocket, the two ends of the carriage were blocked by several robbers with their faces covered by towels.
Then, two robbers carrying knives and iron bars searched their way from the front of the carriage.
In broad daylight, they were robbing a train!
Chen Yang was stunned by this operation. As someone who had experienced a society governed by law in his later life, he was still somewhat speechless at the audacity of these people, despite having had some prior preparation.
He could now understand why, in the near future, there would be several waves of severe crackdowns. If this perverse trend wasn't firmly dealt with, who would dare to travel far?
"No, you can't rob me. This is the money I'm saving to marry my wife. If you dare to take it, I'll fight you to the death."
The robbers were searching quickly. Back then, people kept any money they had hidden on their person. No one dared to put their money in their bags like Chen Yang, leaving it casually on the luggage rack as if it were discarded junk.
Most people endured being robbed, until the robbers reached a young man who gritted his teeth and resisted.
"Bang."
But as soon as he finished speaking, the robber carrying the money bag swung the steel pipe in his hand and smashed it onto the young man's head.
The young man's head instantly started bleeding. Then, another robber slashed his clothes with a knife, revealing a sewn pocket from which a wad of money was pulled out.
"Anyone who dares to be disobedient will face this consequence."
After stealing the money, the two robbers savagely kicked the bleeding young man, a clear warning to others.
Now, the people in the carriage were even more terrified and dared not speak. Some timid women were even reduced to soft sobs.
Shen Xue and the two little ones were also startled awake by the young man's heart-wrenching scream. Looking at the ferocious robbers, Shen Xue involuntarily clutched Chen Yang's hand.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Sensing Shen Xue's panic, Chen Yang quickly patted the back of her hand.
"Don't be reckless. If they want money, we'll give it to them. Safety is the most important thing."
Shen Xue tightly gripped Chen Yang's hand, afraid he would act impulsively. She was just an ordinary person and didn't expect Chen Yang to be a great hero.
She could give up the money; all she wanted was for Chen Yang to be safe!
"Don't worry, I know which is more important, money or life."
Although it was frustrating that the entire train of people was being coerced by a few robbers, Chen Yang also knew that he wasn't a god of war. If he dared to resist the robbers alone, he would have ended up like the young man.
Getting injured himself would be the least of it. If he endangered Shen Xue and the children, that would be truly dire.
However, what Chen Yang didn't notice was that the man in front of him was gripping the newspaper so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.