Because the journey was long, everyone took turns resting and keeping an eye on their luggage. Partway through, they transferred to another train to continue their journey toward Beidahuang.
Amid the roar of the train, the sound of metal lunchboxes clattering drew closer.
"Double-steamed rice—twenty cents a box!"
The hoarse cry echoed through the hard-seat carriage as the iron wheels of the cart rumbled over the uneven floor, emitting a creaking sound. Double-steamed rice was a product of that era, its existence inextricably linked to food shortages and the economic hardships under the planned economy. The preparation involved scalding rice in boiling water for an hour, boiling it with a 1:4 rice-to-water ratio, and then adding the soaking water back in to absorb the moisture. This method could yield six pounds of rice from one pound of raw grain, producing pearls of rice that were plump and glossy. Its advantage was that it provided more food from the same amount of grain, creating a strong sense of fullness—which was the main reason it was so popular during those difficult times. However, its drawbacks were equally obvious: since it was mostly water, one would soon feel hungry again after eating, and long-term consumption could lead to edema and malnutrition.
"Give me a box of double-steamed rice."
"Give me one, too!"
Even so, the double-steamed rice on the train was in short supply and was quickly sold out.
Jiang Rou also bought a portion of double-steamed rice and opened another aluminum lunchbox containing braised pork. The fragrant rice paired with the braised pork was incredibly delicious. However, this caused trouble.
Eyes full of envy and jealousy turned toward her. Looking at the tasteless double-steamed rice in their own hands, they found it truly impossible to suppress their feelings any longer. As educated youth, their meals were very simple; at most, they had brought some pickled vegetables from home, or perhaps, if they were slightly better off, two or three hard-boiled eggs. Braised pork was simply too extravagant.
Suddenly seeing braised pork, it was impossible not to feel jealous. Yet, they could only be jealous; after all, it was prepared by her family, and even if someone were shameless enough to ask for some, they didn't know her, so why would she give it to them?
Feng Yu stared at Jiang Rou’s braised pork, drooling. Even at home, she had never eaten braised pork. The aroma of the meat constantly stimulated her senses, making the jealousy in her heart feel as if it were being clawed by a cat, and her eyes couldn't help but drift toward Jiang Rou.
Finally, Feng Yu couldn't hold back any longer. She cleared her throat and said, "Jiang Rou, look, we’re all traveling together. It’s not very nice of you to eat it all by yourself, is it? Can you share that braised pork with the rest of us?" As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at the other educated youth, trying to get them on her side.
Jiang Rou was slightly taken aback by Feng Yu’s remark; she hadn't expected such a request. She frowned and replied expressionlessly, "Feng Yu, this was prepared for me by my family. I’m exhausted from the journey and I’m relying on this to keep my strength up. If you want some, you can find a way to get your own."
Feng Yu hadn't expected Jiang Rou to refuse her outright. Her face flushed, and she stood there, somewhat embarrassed. The other educated youth nearby turned their gazes toward them, and the atmosphere became rather awkward.
"Hmph, stingy! It’s just a piece of braised pork, what’s the big deal?" Feng Yu muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Anger flared within Jiang Rou. She looked at Feng Yu coldly and said, "Feng Yu, that’s not right. This is my property, and I’ll do what I want with it. Besides, I am under no obligation to satisfy your demands. If you're truly craving it, you can go to the dining car and buy some yourself."
The train did have a dedicated dining car, where food didn't require ration coupons, though it was pricier than elsewhere. This alone scared off most people, as they preferred to save their money.
Feng Yu was furious, her teeth gritted. Smelling the aroma of the braised pork while eating the tasteless double-steamed rice, her jealousy burned fiercely. She turned to Qu Qiaoliang beside her and said, acting coy: "Qiaoliang, why don't we go to the dining car tonight and get something better to eat?"
If Qu Qiaoliang agreed, she wouldn't have to be the one paying for it!
Qu Qiaoliang was tempted. He came from a family of cadres, and for this trip, his family had not only provided him with plenty of supplies but also a significant amount of money. He could certainly afford an occasional meal in the dining car. He looked at the others and asked, "What do you think? If we all go together and split the cost, it shouldn't be much. What are your thoughts?"
Everyone was tempted by the proposal and began to calculate in their heads. Wang Hao naturally agreed; although his family wasn't as well-off as Qu Qiaoliang’s, it wasn't much worse. Sun Xiaoxiao was already starving for something better, so she agreed immediately. Only Zhang Jiadong, who had been silent, didn't speak; he was still struggling. His family situation was different from the others. He was the second of five children, and beyond the necessary supplies, his family hadn't provided him with much extra money or coupons. What little he had was saved bit by bit, intended for emergencies.
Seeing that Zhang Jiadong was hesitant, Feng Yu said with dissatisfaction, "What are you still wavering for?"
"I—"
Feng Yu cut him off: "Since everyone else agrees, that’s decided."
Zhang Jiadong’s face turned bright red. He felt helpless but couldn't bring himself to make a scene. He gritted his teeth and said quietly, "Alright then, I’ll go, but I don't have much money."
Feng Yu pursed her lips and said dismissively, "Hmph, it’s just one meal, don't be so stingy. At worst, we’ll chip in for you this time, and you can treat us next time."
Zhang Jiadong felt deeply uncomfortable but had no choice but to agree.
That evening, the group headed to the dining car. It was brightly lit, and the aroma of food filled the air. They found seats and began to order. Feng Yu and Qu Qiaoliang ordered several expensive dishes, and Wang Hao and Sun Xiaoxiao ordered their favorites. When it was Zhang Jiadong’s turn, he hesitated and ordered only one cheap vegetable dish.
Once the food arrived, everyone started eating. Feng Yu and the others were delighted, their mouths full, constantly praising how good it was. Zhang Jiadong, however, ate very slowly, a bitter look on his face. He thought about how much his family had spent just to send him down to the countryside, and now here he was, eating such an expensive meal—he felt deeply guilty.
Just then, Jiang Rou stood up. She looked at the group with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Is this how you are? You squander your money without considering how others feel. Zhang Jiadong’s family is not well-off, yet you force him to pay for this meal. Is that really fun?"
Feng Yu was stunned by Jiang Rou’s sudden interjection. She hadn't expected her to speak up. "Jiang Rou, what is that supposed to mean? We’re just eating together. Is it necessary to make such a scene?"
Jiang Rou looked at Feng Yu and said coldly, "Feng Yu, you’re being selfish. You only think about your own enjoyment while ignoring everyone else. Zhang Jiadong’s family is struggling; we should be more considerate of him instead of pressuring him into this meal."
Seeing that the mood was sour, Qu Qiaoliang hurriedly smoothed things over. "Alright, alright, let’s stop arguing. Jiang Rou is right; we really should have considered Zhang Jiadong’s situation more. How about this: let’s cancel this meal, split the bill evenly, and return the money to Zhang Jiadong."
The group fell silent after Qu Qiaoliang spoke. Wang Hao and Sun Xiaoxiao, feeling a bit embarrassed, nodded in agreement. Though Feng Yu was unhappy, she couldn't say anything further. In the end, they calculated the costs and returned the money to Zhang Jiadong. He looked at them gratefully and said, "Thank you all. I will definitely repay you in the future."
Jiang Rou looked at Zhang Jiadong and said, "We don't need repayment. We just hope you understand that when we are all together, we should help one another, not take advantage of each other."
After this incident, everyone learned a lot. Feng Yu restrained herself significantly afterward; at the very least, she would never again so foolishly target Jiang Rou without being certain of her standing. As the train slowly moved toward Beidahuang, everyone’s hearts were filled with both anticipation and unease.