Tian Tian saw the address Chen Dongyang had sent her.
Shancheng City, Mayang County, Qing Shui Town First Hope Primary School.
Mysteriously, this rustic and unfamiliar line of text gave her a sense of hope.
Suddenly, she yearned for that place.
She replied to Chen Dongyang that she knew, then immediately booked her ticket, packed her bags, and set off for Shancheng the next day.
It was a very underdeveloped fourth or fifth-tier small city. The urban area was still more than 100 kilometers away from Mayang County. It took more than three hours of bumpy travel by bus to reach the county town.
As soon as Tian Tian got off the bus, a group of middle-aged men driving three-wheeled vehicles surrounded her.
"Miss, miss, do you need a ride? Where are you going? We'll guarantee to take you there, it's very cheap!"
"Take mine, miss! Where are you going?"
"This suitcase is yours, right? I'll help you carry it."
Several people vied for her attention, the competition for business was fierce and unpleasant, making Tian Tian very disgusted, even a little fearful.
She didn't want to get in, wanting to hail a taxi, but her suitcase had already been placed in the truck bed by a quick-handed driver.
She could only suppress her temper and say she was going to Qing Shui Town.
The driver was curious about her, "Are you back from a big city? Is your home in Qing Shui Town?"
During the back-to-school season, people were going out, and he really couldn't understand why this girl was coming back.
Tian Tian didn't want to talk to him much, just asking how much it would cost.
The man said that Qing Shui Town was still far from here, twenty to thirty kilometers, and it would cost at least 30 yuan.
For Tian Tian, thirty yuan was not a lot of money.
But she just didn't feel at ease with this person and deliberately bargained.
"Ten yuan, are you going or not?"
"How much?"
"Ten yuan. If you go, you go. If not, I'm leaving."
She wanted to take the suitcase down, but the driver quickly stopped her.
"Alright, alright, alright, alright. Seeing as we're all fellow villagers, and you're a student, it's not easy for you, ten yuan it is."
With a heart full of anxiety all the way, she finally arrived at Qing Shui Town.
The driver casually dropped her on the road and turned away.
It was already dusk. Tian Tian stood on the empty and quiet street and looked around. Instead of the expected loess plateau, it had a bit of a market feel, and her fantasies about the place were almost dashed.
She chose the Ruyi Inn and went to ask the owner if there were any rooms.
The owner, yawning idly, looked up from behind the counter. When he saw her, his eyes shone even brighter than when he had seen Chen Dongyang last time.
What was going on lately? Was something big going to happen in town? Why were so many city people coming?
And they were all more and more attractive. Could it be that a big star was coming to shoot a movie?
"Yes, yes, yes. Miss, are you staying alone?"
"What are the prices?"
"The most expensive room here is 78 yuan a night. It's clean and bright. I'll take you to see it."
Tian Tian could hardly imagine how good a room for 78 yuan a night could be, but she had been traveling all day and really didn't want to look for anything else.
The owner helped her carry her suitcase to the third floor.
When the door opened, it was indeed worth the price.
Tian Tian had a germ phobia. Seeing the crumpled sheets washed with bleach, the unevenly folded quilt, and the pillow that had been used for who knows how long, she felt a little nauseous.
"May I ask where Qing Shui Town First Hope Primary School is?"
"Hope Primary School. Why are you all going there?"
Tian Tian keenly caught the other meaning in his words.
"What do you mean 'all'? Are there others going?"
The owner said, "The day before yesterday, a young man from the city was also asking about that place. I was wondering why so many young people have been coming here recently. What are you all doing here?"
There was also a young man asking about this place.
Could he also be a volunteer teacher?
Tian Tian didn't think much of it, "I'm here to teach. Is the school closed now?"
The owner didn't want to miss out on business, so he naturally said it was closed.
"The health department checks fire safety and hygiene here regularly, so don't worry, there are absolutely no problems. It's just that there's a water shortage, and you can't shower in the bathroom. You have to go to a designated bathhouse."
It was expected that there would be no better hotels in such a backward place, so Tian Tian couldn't be bothered to make a fuss.
"Is there a supermarket nearby?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Don't look at our small street. We have everything we need. It's across the street, and there's a restaurant too."
Tian Tian paid for the room, put down her luggage, washed her hands, and planned to buy a clean set of bedding to change into.
The so-called supermarket was just a converted house selling daily necessities.
The goods were not fancy, in bright red and green, filled with a strong rustic charm.
Fortunately, they were all new, which was better than what was in the inn.
Tian Tian picked out a sky-blue four-piece bedding set, which the owner put into a large red plastic bag. She went to the adjacent restaurant and ordered a bowl of beef noodles.
After eating and drinking, she returned to the inn, changed the bedding, and worked up a sweat.
She then took her phone and clothes and went to the bathhouse across the street.
As soon as Tian Tian left, Chen Dongyang arrived at the inn.
He tapped his fingers on the tabletop. The owner looked up and, seeing him, revealed a surprised smile.
"Xiao Chen, why are you here at this time?"
Chen Dongyang said, "I'm looking for someone. Did a beautiful young girl from the city check in today?"
"A beautiful young girl from the city? Your friend?"
Judging by the owner's expression, Tian Tian must have come.
Chen Dongyang nodded, "Yes, my friend. Is she upstairs now? Which room is she in?"
The owner said, "I thought so, why would such a young and beautiful girl come to our place, so it turns out she's here for you. She's here, she's here. She's in room 301 upstairs. But she's not here right now. She just went out."
"Did she go to eat?"
"She probably went to take a bath. I saw her carrying a bag and heading towards the bathhouse."
Chen Dongyang thanked the owner and ran towards the bathhouse.
The bathhouse was simply decorated, also converted from a shop front.
The outer lobby had only a single incandescent bulb, and a table was placed at the entrance.
A tall and stout middle-aged man leaned against the wall playing with his phone. It seemed there were no customers, and it was particularly quiet.
As Tian Tian walked in, except for a small fan running in front of the owner, there was not a sound.
Even though it was hot, because of the special occasion and the gender divide, it felt a bit eerie.
Although Tian Tian was dressed conservatively, in an ordinary white t-shirt and capri pants.
But her superior appearance and good skin made her stand out everywhere.
The owner felt someone enter and looked up, his eyes instantly lighting up.
"Miss, here to take a bath?"
Although on the surface, this was a very normal sentence.
But combined with his physique and demeanor, it always made one feel uneasy.
Tian Tian instinctively felt a bit disgusted and regretted coming in. She was about to lie and say she had made a mistake and turn to leave when a wave of warmth came from beside her.
Immediately after, a gentle arm was placed on her shoulder.
"Boss, bath, get a room."