After a good night’s sleep, Xue Ling was roused not by an alarm but by the enticing aroma of sweet noodles. Glancing at the old clock beside her, she realized it was already 7 a.m.! Startled, she hurriedly got ready and rushed downstairs.
“Cheng, why didn’t you wake me? We might miss the bus to the station now!”
Cheng Tianyuan, with a reassuring smile, said, “No need to worry. We have the bicycle, remember? We can leave a bit later and still make it in time for the 8:30 bus.”
Realization dawning on her, Xue Ling laughed, “Right! We can just park the bicycle at the station. That way, we won’t be too late coming back to work either.”
They quickly finished their sweet noodles and set out. The streets were already bustling early on this Mid-Autumn Festival day. People were carrying sweet cakes and mooncakes, some with fruits, all enveloped in a festive mood.
The usually quiet bus stop was crowded with a long line of people waiting. Sitting on the bicycle’s rear seat, Xue Ling remarked, “Cheng, it’s a good thing we have the bike, or we might not have made it on time.”
Cheng mentioned something she’d said the night before, “You mentioned you haven’t called home in a while. Today’s a special day for family reunions. You should call your parents to chat and wish them a happy holiday.”
“Are you suggesting I make the call once we get to Cheng’s village?” Xue Ling inquired.
“No,” Cheng clarified, “They have a community phone there that’s free, but we shouldn’t take advantage of it. There’s a public phone at the station. It starts at two yuan, and if it goes over a minute, they charge an extra two.”
Understanding his thoughtful nature, Xue Ling agreed immediately, “Okay, I’ll call from the station.”
The county town wasn’t large, and the roads were smooth, making their ride to the bus station quick and easy. Upon arrival, Cheng familiarly left the bicycle at a nearby store for safekeeping with a small fee.
“Comrade, I heard there’s a public phone here. Do you know where it is?” Cheng inquired at the store.
“Just inside the station,” the store owner replied.
They headed into the bustling station, Xue Ling almost overwhelmed by the crowd. “Have we bought the tickets yet? With this crowd, can we even get any?”
Cheng protected her from the throng, explaining, “I bought them three days ago. We still have fifteen minutes. Let’s hurry and make that call.”
The public phone was a rare commodity at the time, locked up unless in use. The attendant, an elderly woman, informed them that a call to the capital would start at three yuan.
Despite the cost, Xue Ling agreed without hesitation, longing to hear her parents’ voices. As soon as the call connected, her mother’s familiar voice flooded through, full of worry and affection, instantly bringing tears to Xue Ling’s eyes.
Briefly, she relayed her recent life, mentioning her new job and living situation. Her mother was delighted to hear about her well-being and the new bicycle they’d purchased.
“Your dad’s out delivering mooncakes to clients. When he returns, I’ll tell him you called. He’s been worrying about you and Cheng, but now I can tell him not to fret. Haha!”
As Cheng waited nearby, Xue Ling’s heart swelled with warmth. “Mom, Cheng and I are heading to his village now. I’ll call again in a few days to chat with Dad.”
Her mother, seemingly anxious at the thought of hanging up, hastily added, “Oh! Ling, I forgot to tell you. Now that you’re in the county town, visit my cousin Mei, who lives near the big alley in Rongcheng. Remember her?”
Xue Ling’s face paled as memories rushed back. In her previous life, it was in Cheng’s village that she met Lin Cong, Mei’s son. Back then, her mother had contacted him, asking him to look after her distant cousin and even sending money for Xue Ling.
Lin Cong, who had appeared caring and generous, was actually deceitful and greedy. Upon learning of the 500 yuan sent by Xue Ling’s father, he saw an opportunity and pretended to be her caring cousin.
After hanging up, Cheng paid the phone attendant and hurried her to the bus as it arrived. Amid the crowd, Xue Ling felt disoriented but was steadied by Cheng’s reassuring presence.
As they settled on the bus and the cool breeze filtered through the windows, she began to reflect on her past with Lin Cong and the potential troubles that lay ahead.
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