The train carriage at the end of the early nineties, while not as terrifying as the Spring Festival travel rush, was still packed with people. The crush of heads and the bustling noise were uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Yu Zhou had managed to buy two seat tickets and relaxed a little once he was seated.
The entire carriage was filled with passengers carrying large bags and even cargo. Some had even brought small folding stools, indicating they were well-prepared.
"Melon seeds, drinks, mineral water, beer, peanuts, eight-treasure porridge! Watch your feet…"
In those days, a flight attendant pushing a dining cart was a prestigious and glamorous profession. Many poorly dressed people looked at the flight attendant with envy, and there was no one who would refuse to cooperate.
"Big bowl instant noodles, brother, there are big bowl instant noodles…"
Seeing the Master Kong noodles on the dining cart, Wu Dabiao was amazed. At this time, a bucket noodle was almost a luxury item, even in inland cities. Three yuan a bowl was enough to order one or two stir-fried dishes at a restaurant, which was why Wu Dabiao was so surprised.
"Why don't you ask how much a bowl is?" Yu Zhou said teasingly, looking at his buddy.
"Waitress! How much is this big bowl of instant noodles per bowl?"
Unexpectedly, the honest Wu Dabiao was not only honest but also thick-skinned, shouting out loudly.
"Seven yuan, seven yuan a bowl. There's hot water in the restroom, you can make it yourself."
One sentence deflated Wu Dabiao. Indeed, seven yuan was not a large sum for Wu Dabiao, who was traveling with Yu Zhou. But he wasn't stupid; spending seven yuan on a bowl of instant noodles on the train was no different from being a fool. Didn't he see that those people sitting in the aisle had brought steamed buns and boiled eggs? The prices on the train hadn't changed much even thirty years later.
"Why don't we buy a bowl? It's a novelty, after all!" Yu Zhou didn't act like he didn't care about money. After all, the journey to Wanghai was over four hundred kilometers, which would take more than ten hours. The more ostentatious you were, the greater the risk of being targeted. The carriage was filled with all sorts of people, and it was impossible to guarantee there wouldn't be someone willing to risk it all for money. If it was just theft, they wouldn't be able to do anything about it, but if it was robbery, they would be helpless.
"Let's forget it! Outside, that's enough for a meat dish and two vegetable dishes, three dishes in total. My mouth isn't that precious." Wu Dabiao wasn't someone who cared about face; he could blurt out words of mockery, whether directed at himself or others.
"Waitress! Give me a bottle of drink."
However, Wu Dabiao's words were immediately contradicted. The speaker was a couple who had just boarded the train and were seated opposite them.
"What a coincidence!" Yu Zhou blurted out.
This couple was precisely the two people he had felt very familiar with when buying tickets. One was dressed very rustic, and the other was very fashionable. If this were many years later, countless people would secretly sneer about a gigolo being kept. However, upon closer inspection, one could find clues. Although the younger boy was dressed rustically, he bore some resemblance to the girl, especially their eyebrows, which were identical. This made Yu Zhou instantly guess that they were siblings.
"Oh, right, I remember, isn't she Qin Siyue?" Yu Zhou finally remembered. It wasn't that he knew her personally, but Qin Siyue was famous. Years later, her legend would spread throughout the business world of Jiangbei, a formidable woman who would almost make it onto the list of the wealthiest people. He remembered that in his previous life, after Yu Zhou became successful, he had met Qin Siyue a few times. However, her status was far superior to Yu Zhou's, so they were merely acquaintances. For thirty years, even up to before Yu Zhou's rebirth, the fifty-something Qin Siyue had not aged, which showed that this woman was not only famous but also a myth of eternal youth.
"Is the one following her his younger brother, Qin Feng?" He had heard rumors that the Qin Siyue of Jiangbei had a very deep background, and coupled with her capabilities, she had achieved what she did thirty years later. Among the biggest pieces of gossip was that her younger brother, Qin Feng, had died for her in '94. Therefore, although few had seen Qin Feng, he was well-known in Jiangbei's high society. Looking at the current siblings, one rustic and one extravagant, it seemed Qin Siyue had brought her brother to Wanghai to make a living.
"Should I get acquainted with this future magnate?" The quick-witted Yu Zhou immediately thought of the utilitarian aspect. This was not entirely his fault. After all, with his memory of the future, he had countless times wished to get to know influential figures. Just like Ma, who was probably just a university student now, or Dong, who had suffered a setback solely because of a woman. However, these were just his thoughts. With his foreknowledge, Yu Zhou didn't believe that if he developed at a steady pace, he would truly be worse off than them. But now, a future magnate was right before his eyes, and she was even from his hometown, so he couldn't help but want to get acquainted.
"Sister, I'm not thirsty. Let's wait until we reach Wanghai," Compared to Qin Siyue's extravagance, her younger brother Qin Feng was very cautious, and even seemed a little uneasy. This made Yu Zhou's impression of Qin Feng improve. Having such a wealthy sister, yet still being cautious or not becoming arrogant, was something very few people could achieve.
"It's okay, sister has..." Before she could finish speaking, Yu Zhou, who was leaning on the small table, deliberately made a little noise, thus interrupting Qin Siyue's words. Qin Siyue frowned and looked at the person opposite her. She was somewhat displeased but did not make a scene. However, the way she looked at Yu Zhou became meaningful.
"Have we met somewhere before?" Finally, after a while, Qin Siyue asked this question. Yes, they had indeed met, but it was many years later. Yu Zhou couldn't say this. He smiled kindly and shook his head. Although he had the intention of associating with a big shot, he was more concerned about not making Qin Siyue conspicuous. After all, it was obvious that Qin Siyue was taking a train for the first time. If those hidden people knew that this woman was rich, they would all be in trouble.
"You did that on purpose just now, didn't you?" Although she received a negative answer, Qin Siyue still felt Yu Zhou looked familiar. Being sharp-witted, she immediately guessed why Yu Zhou had acted like that just now. However, she didn't know his motive.
"Yes!"
"Why?" Qin Siyue was a little confused. It was her first time on a train, so she naturally didn't understand the intricacies.
"Crowded!"
The moment Yu Zhou uttered these two words, Qin Siyue suddenly understood. She realized that she had spoken carelessly. This was not Jiangbei, nor was it the Wanghai where she was developing. She understood the consequences of flaunting wealth.
"Thank you!" Qin Siyue whispered. Yu Zhou did not reply and instead closed his eyes to rest.