Chapter 13: He Jiaqing's Treasure

Without a phone or internet, and with the train broken down, Li Banfeng simply stayed silently in his carriage. While Li Banfeng only felt a bit bored, other passengers were not so fortunate.

The next morning, they could still endure. By noon, they could barely tolerate it. By evening, they reached their breaking point.

There was a special kind of person for whom even one day without food could be fatal. These people were called 'Food Cultivators'.

"Let me off this train! I'm starving to death, you bastards!" a Food Cultivator shouted, wrestling with a conductor.

"Don't give me any of your damn rules! I need food, I can't starve to death here!" another Food Cultivator yelled, rushing forward.

Although the struggle was intense, Li Banfeng could tell that the conductor's attitude remained remarkably restrained.

"Sir, please return to your carriage!"

Thud! After a muffled sound, the passenger's words became less aggressive.

"Sir, the train has not reached the station; you cannot disembark mid-journey."

Thud! After another muffled sound, the other passenger's emotions also stabilized.

"Sir, all members of the crew express their deepest apologies."

Thud! After a third muffled sound, the third passenger completely quieted down.

Clang!

The conductor escorted the passengers back to their carriages.

Clang!

The conductor closed each carriage door one by one.

On the first day, Li Banfeng merely overheard six similar incidents. The number was still manageable. For everyone except the Food Cultivators, going a day without food was bearable.

By the second day's dusk, the situation was somewhat out of control.

"Sir, you're so handsome and kind-hearted. Just let me step off for a moment; I'll be right back."

"Madam, the train has not reached the station; you cannot disembark mid-journey."

"Sir, I'll only be a moment, five minutes, not even five minutes!"

"Madam, these are our regulations, and I am simply following them."

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible! Sir, I really admire men like you; can't you just give me five minutes?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam. Please return to your carriage immediately."

"I have to get off this train! I can't starve to death here! I'm going to fight you!"

A commotion erupted!

"Help! He's hitting a woman! Is there anyone brave in Purozhou? Fight him!"

Purozhou!

This is Purozhou!

Li Banfeng slurped some instant noodles, wondering what this place, Purozhou, actually looked like.

That night, the conductor endured thirteen mob assaults, but ultimately persuaded all the passengers back to their carriages.

By the third day, a strange calm had settled. It wasn't that they didn't want to cause trouble anymore; they simply lacked the energy. After three days without food, few people still had the strength to cause a commotion. Even if they had the strength, they couldn't afford to waste it, knowing they were no match for the conductors.

Li Banfeng remained in his carriage, usually not moving much. Two boxes of instant noodles a day were sufficient for him. But this couldn't go on indefinitely. By nightfall, with only five boxes of instant noodles left, Li Banfeng also grew a bit anxious.

When would this train finally start moving?

Tap, tap, tap!

A knocking sound came from the door, and Li Banfeng's eyebrows twitched as he grew alert. He had experienced hunger before. He knew that starving people were capable of anything.

The knocking was very light, and the person's voice was remarkably courteous. "Friend inside, I'd like to beg for some food. I don't need much, just a bite. I won't eat it myself; I can endure. I want to give it to my wife and child."

Li Banfeng stood a step from the door, holding spicy strips and a thermos, waiting for the person's next move.

The person made no further move, and his tone remained courteous: "Friend, I know food is precious. I won't take it for free; I'll buy it."

Buy? In this situation, how much money could buy food?

The person seemed to realize it was inappropriate and quickly changed his words: "I'll trade food for it. I beg you."

Li Banfeng spoke: "If you have food, why do you need to trade with me?"

"Because my child won't eat this."

"What is it?"

"I can give you the food first. You just need to open the door a crack."

Li Banfeng's heart pounded. After a moment of silence, he unlocked the door and gently opened it a crack. This wasn't out of recklessness, but out of caution. He wouldn't allow the person into the carriage, but he had to give them a chance to negotiate. Although he hadn't seen the person's appearance, he could sense a unique aura just from their voice. Everything the person said was humble, yet within that humility was a sense of steadiness and calm. As an orphan, Li Banfeng had dealt with all sorts of people to resist bullying. He could sense that this person could enter his carriage, and do so without the conductors noticing. This door couldn't stop him at all. Rather than stubbornly holding out behind it, it was better to show some sincerity in negotiation.

Through the crack in the door, the person first handed over his food. The moment he saw that "food," Li Banfeng praised himself inwardly.

Li Banfeng, you are a brave man. You didn't even cry out!

It was a bluish-black object, partially flesh and partially just bone. From the distribution and quantity of the bones, it was clearly a hand.

"Whose hand is this?" Li Banfeng asked.

"My own," the man replied calmly.

Li Banfeng looked at the hand, nearly half-eaten, then turned, grabbed two boxes of instant noodles, and handed them through the crack in the door. This clearly exceeded the man's expectations; he hadn't even dared to hope for one box, truly only wanting a single bite of food.

"Not so much, you don't have to..."

"Take them, and take your hand back too," Li Banfeng said, handing the hand back to the man. "Find a hospital; perhaps it can still be reattached. It should be reattached."

Li Banfeng locked the carriage door. From outside, a continuous stream of thanks could be heard: "Thank you, thank you, thank you..." The voice was low and courteous, but no longer so steady. The person's voice was trembling, seeming about to cry at any moment.

As the voice faded away, Li Banfeng returned to his bunk, opened his backpack, and counted his remaining food. Three boxes of instant noodles, one box of potato chips, and one and a half bags of spicy strips. It could last for two days, or perhaps three if eaten sparingly. What would happen after three days?

At dawn, a whistle sounded, waking the entire train car of listless passengers. The train started moving.

Chug, chug...

Listening to the rhythmic chugging of the steam engine, Li Banfeng felt it was the most beautiful music in the world.

Rumble!

The train suddenly lurched, and the violent shaking sent Li Banfeng rolling directly off his bunk. His instant noodles, potato chips, spicy strips, and backpack all fell to the floor.

Rumble! Rumble!

The train continued to shake. Li Banfeng curled up in a corner of the compartment, holding his head and fully protecting his vital organs. He thought the train was derailing again.

After a moment of shaking, the train gradually stabilized, and Li Banfeng heard the announcer's voice: "The train's malfunction has been resolved, and it is now operating safely. The tracks are bumpy, so passengers should not move around unnecessarily."

Li Banfeng let out a long breath and quickly gathered his food. The instant noodles, potato chips, and spicy strips were all safe. His backpack was gone! He Jiaqing's package was still inside!

Li Banfeng was startled and quickly searched around. The carriage was still pitch black; the electricity supply hadn't been restored. Li Banfeng searched for a while and finally fumbled for his backpack under the bunk. The space under the bunk was very narrow. Li Banfeng reached his hand in, gave a forceful tug, and the backpack came out, but the package inside was stuck. He pulled too hard, having forgotten the backpack's zipper was open. He reached his hand in, felt for the package, and found it was tightly wedged. Li Banfeng extended his entire arm under the bunk and gave a strong pull.

Rip!

The package came out. The outer cardboard box was torn. Inside the cardboard box was a layer of bubble wrap, which was also torn. Were the contents inside alright?

Li Banfeng took the package and went to the window. He should open it and see; it was already torn anyway. If the contents inside were damaged, he should at least inform Jiaqing. Using the intermittent light from outside the window curtains, Li Banfeng opened the package.

He opened the cardboard box, removed the bubble wrap, and found another layer of tin foil. He removed the tin foil, and inside, it was wrapped in yellow paper. He removed the yellow paper, and inside, it was wrapped in oil paper. He removed the oil paper, and inside was a layer of silk.

When he finally uncovered the silk, Li Banfeng finally saw the true appearance of the object. What was this thing? In the dim light, Li Banfeng couldn't tell what it was for a moment. It looked like a flower. It looked like a lotus flower made of copper.