He Jiefang spotted his younger brother and sister-in-law holding their child from a distance.
He quickened his pace and got closer: "Yuejin, sister-in-law, have you been waiting long?"
He Yuejin looked towards the He Family behind: "We were just worried about missing the train, so we left a bit early."
The tickets were already bought in advance by He Yuejin, so everyone could just enter the station and wait for the train.
Guo Yueyue leaned over to Sister He: "Sister He."
Wang Erni reached out and pinched He Yuanyuanâs cheek in Guo Yueyueâs arms: "Our Yuanyuan is getting prettier. Look at this soft little face."
He Yuanyuan smiled shyly at her aunt and nestled back into her motherâs arms.
Mr. He glanced at the large clock at the station: "Itâs getting late. Since everyone is here, letâs go inside and wait."
It wasnât long after entering that the train arrival announcement was heard, and they joined the bustling crowd to board the train.
To save money, they all bought hard seats. But since they were a large group, they took over four sets of three seats, not needing to mix with others. Itâs all family, which felt safe and reassuring.
A few older kids were chattering all the way. They had been looking forward to this trip to Beijing for a while.
After all, the last time they visited for their uncleâs and auntâs engagement, the couple was very warm to them, and their aunt even encouraged them to study hard, welcoming them to attend college in Beijing.
Soon it was noon, and people began to take out packed meals for lunch. Later, some staff also pushed a trolley through the carriage selling boxed meals.
Sister He, Wang Erni, looked at her children: "Are you hungry?"
Du Xubei nodded: "I wasnât feeling hungry before, but now that you asked, I really do feel a bit hungry."
Wang Erni turned to her husband: "Jiefang, take down the bag with the food."
Once the bag was down, Wang Erni took the steamed mixed-grain buns made in the morning and handed them to her parents-in-law, then gave some to her three children and her husband. Finally, she took out the water that He Jiefang had prepared earlier and poured some into the empty canned jars they had brought and pushed them in front of everyone.
Guo Yueyue also took out some pancakes from her luggage and handed some to He Yuejin: "Give some to mom and dad to try."
He Yuejin accepted with a smile, stood up, and handed them to the seats behind: "Mom, Dad, these are the pancakes Yueyue made this morning, have some to try."
Mother He did not refuse: "Eldest daughter-in-law, give two of our buns to your fifth brother."
Wang Erni, unbothered, took two buns from the bag and passed them over.
He Yuejin didnât take them: "Yueyue made a lot of pancakes, itâs enough to eat."
Wang Erni didnât listen to him and placed the buns on their food bag: "Pancakes arenât as soft as these buns. Let Yuanyuan eat these; theyâre easier to digest."
Hearing this, Guo Yueyue agreed: "Then thank you, Sister He."
Wang Erni saw they had accepted: "Oh, no need to be polite."
At this moment, Gao Yumei, who was sitting nearby, turned to Mother He and spoke: "Mom, we got up late this morning and didnât have time to prepare food for the trip. I see youâve brought quite a bit. Can you spare us some?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the He Family turned to her.
He Jiahui from the second household heard her motherâs words: "Mom, you didnât bring food?"
Gao Yumei awkwardly touched her nose: "Well, since we got up late, we didnât have time to prepare.
Itâs fine, with your grandpa and grandma here, you wonât be left hungry."
Upon hearing this, Wang Erni was displeased, but with her parents-in-law present, she didnât immediately speak up.
Mr. He, hearing their words, was somewhat unhappy: "Second son, didnât I remind you all a few days ago?"
He Jian Country glared at Gao Yumei and explained: "Probably because we were thinking about going to Beijing, we got a bit excited last night and overslept this morning, not having time to prepare."
Mr. He glanced at his eldest daughter-in-law with a sullen face, knowing the two families werenât close, he didnât say much. But seeing the two grandchildren from the second household looking at him, he handed over the pancakes given by his fifth son: "Eat up. If itâs not enough, your dad can buy you some boxed meals."
Gao Yumei wanted to say something else, but she was silenced by her father-in-lawâs gaze.
Mr. He, feeling both disappointed and angry, glared at his second son, thinking: "They canât forget their little tricks even now. If you didnât bring it, let your couple stay hungry."