It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 23｜Travel together?
Because they had chatted twice before, Shang and Jian Keqiu were already quite familiar with each other.

But after all, it was my first time eating out, so I felt a little uncomfortable.

Weiyang University is located in a very good location. The two of them only took three tram stops to reach the bustling commercial district.

Shang Ke deliberately got off the car first, then turned around and extended his hand very naturally.

Jian Keqiu was obviously stunned for a moment, but because there were other passengers behind her who wanted to get off, she didn't have time to think about it and just reached out and grabbed it.

After she got off the bus and stood still, she felt a little embarrassed. For a moment, it was hard to tell whether she was shy or felt like someone was taking advantage of her.

The instigator, Shang, let go of his hand as if nothing had happened. He looked at the densely packed skyscrapers and said with a double meaning, "Wow! How beautiful!"

"What's beautiful?" Jian Keqiu asked.

"Look at the facades of these buildings, they're all very exquisitely crafted." After saying that, Shang Ke stared at one of the buildings for three seconds before adding, "Of course, the one next to me is beautiful too."

"Thank you for the compliment." Jian Keqiu didn't really buy it, but at least it sounded pleasant to her ears.

Skyscrapers of this era naturally did not have the glass curtain walls of later generations. Their facades were basically made of marble and concrete. Various carvings and decorations such as the spiral pattern, square pattern, and cloud-thunder pattern were cleverly integrated without being abrupt.

Soon, after turning an intersection, what came into view was Weiyang Avenue, a straight and wide commercial street that stretched for several blocks.

A more famous landmark is the twelve-lane north-south Suzaku Avenue at the seat of the Grand Central Federal Government. The name itself sounds quite historical.

Today, the negative impact of the Great Depression has been largely eliminated, and Weiyang Avenue is obviously less prosperous than it was ten years ago.

"How about this one?"

Jian Keqiu stopped in front of a Huaiyang restaurant. The food here was relatively cheap, and she felt that she shouldn't spend too much.

Shang Ke glanced at the sign in front of the door advertising discounted dishes and jokingly said, "Shouldn't the young lady eat something more expensive?"

"It's not like I haven't eaten here before. I think they're all the same." Jian Keqiu rolled her eyes and sneered, "In that case, let's go to another restaurant."

"Let's go."

"Just don't feel bad."

So, under the disappointed gaze of the restaurant staff, Jian Keqiu took Shang to another high-end restaurant nearby.

As everyone knows, in the most prestigious commercial street of the federal capital, you can enjoy a meal for just a dozen dollars if you budget carefully.

Of course, if you want, you can spend thousands of yen quickly.

Wensi tofu, gourd duck, crystal braised pork, lion's head... Shang Ke's evaluation is that the dishes themselves are well-made, but unfortunately the quantity is small.

When it was time to pay the bill, he stared at the nearly 100-yuan bill for a second, then paid it calmly.

It was indeed very expensive, but he didn't mind. After all, dozens of films and large-size photos were not cheap.

The winter sun is very weak and you can only feel a hint of warmth.

In Shang Ke's opinion, the biggest gain from this meal was actually deepening his understanding of Jian Keqiu. It is difficult to simply define her as conservative or open.

You might say she is conservative, but she believes that one should stick to one's own interests and pursuits, rather than just taking care of one's husband and children.

You could say she's open-minded, but in casual conversation she tends to be more moderately right-wing, even a bit populist.

All in all, interesting.

Afterwards, the two went to the Weiyang County Post and Telecommunications Bureau not far away.

Jian Keqiu was about to send a telegram home to inform her of her recent situation, which reminded Shang Ke to inform his family before returning home. Seeing her write a few colloquial words on the telegram registration sheet, Shang Ke's eyes widened, and he hesitated to speak. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Did you send telegrams like this before?"

Telegrams are charged by the word! 50 cents per word!
According to current prices, a meat bun costs only 20 cents.

Because it is too expensive, people in China and abroad are very frugal when sending telegrams.

For example, the method of using vowels to represent dates is designed to save characters in the date. The word "yan" in the infamous Yan Dian represents the 29th. On the other side of the ocean, Western Union also launched special services. For example, the code 57209 represents the entire sentence "I will arrive by steamer tomorrow morning."

Jian Keqiu hummed, then said calmly, "It's okay. I rarely contact my family."

"Okay, I see." What Shang Ke didn't know was that she had only written three letters home in the past six months.

You can see that the staff at the post office are delighted, while the telegraph operator behind the window is full of confusion - did she meet an idiot today?

In comparison, Shang was very normal. He only sent three words to his family: "I will be back in two days."

"You're going home?" Jian Keqiu recalled, "I think it's... Gusu?"

"Yes, I'm on vacation and leaving tonight." Shang Ke nodded.

Upon learning of this, Jian Keqiu put her index finger against her cheek and thought for a moment before saying hesitantly, "I'm planning to leave in the next two days too. I could actually go with you."

Since it is close to the Spring Festival, she felt it would be safer to go back and have someone to take care of her, and it would also be great to have something to talk about along the way.

Before the Great Depression, the public security in the economically prosperous Grand Unified Federation was relatively good. Unfortunately, the crisis that broke out on the other side of the ocean also affected this place, resulting in frequent cases of theft, robbery and robbery.

Of course, the situation has improved a little in the past two years, but it was most rampant a few years ago.

After these few contacts, she thinks that Shang is still trustworthy and his character seems to be good at the moment?

Shang Ke was naturally happy to do so. He mused, "I can only hope there are still tickets."

"Did you buy a first-class or second-class ticket?"

"Second class, of course."

"Oh."

Then the two of them rushed straight to the train station. Just after getting off the tram and taking a few steps, they saw a long queue in front of the ticket hall from a distance.

After a long and anxious wait, the tired-looking ticket seller said helplessly that the second-class carriage was full, but there were still many empty seats in the first-class carriage.

Jian Keqiu looked up at Shang Ke and said without hesitation, "That's it. Upgrade this gentleman's ticket to first class. Then, I'll get a first class ticket for myself."

"Okay, a total of one hundred and seventy-four yuan."

Seeing this, Shang Ke, feeling both amused and helpless, took out money to give her some more money, but she refused.

Federal Armed Forces officers and soldiers have some special benefits, such as vacations that include long-distance travel subsidies and a 50% discount on train and boat tickets.

As for plane tickets...that is an unconventional way of travel exclusive to the rich and is not included in the welfare benefits.

The departure time was 7:30 in the evening, and there was no more or less time left, so Jian Keqiu hurried back to the university to pack her luggage.

"Just wait here, don't go far."

"The luggage is quite heavy, isn't it?"

"No, I don't like to carry too much stuff."

(End of this chapter)