Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

Unlike Li Xiangdong, Hou San was not married yet and was dreaming of love.

For someone like him, the allure of money is far less than the charm of a wink from a beloved girl.

His excitement hadn't subsided, and he followed Li Xiangdong with light steps. "Isn't it easy? I think it's quite easy. We don't need to worry about anything else. We just need to keep an eye on each insulated container. This job is so worry-free."

"Fine, whatever you say."

Li Xiangdong was too lazy to argue with someone who was hot-headed. He swung his arms and felt that he would definitely develop a pair of superhuman arms in no time.

As time slowly passed, a large flow of people walked towards their train.

Passengers flocked in, crowding the boarding gates of each carriage.

Those who come in groups are the most formidable. As soon as one person manages to squeeze onto the train, they immediately open the window of a nearby carriage so that their companions can throw their luggage up first. Then, they stack themselves up and climb into the carriage through the window.

The flight attendants and police officers shouted at them, but it had little effect. As soon as they left, things went back to normal.

Soon, all the seats, aisles, connecting areas between carriages, and next to the doors were covered.

Even the luggage racks, small dining tables, the backs of benches, and under chairs were packed with people.

Flight attendants' lounge.

While the passengers were boarding, Hou San and Li Xiangdong slipped in.

As Li Xiangdong was figuring out how to maximize profits, Hou San leaned over and asked, "Brother Dong, have you come up with a way to make money?"

Li Xiangdong asked with a smile, "So, do you want to make money, or do you want to get married?"

"I want to... Ouch!"

"I rely on!"

The train suddenly jolted, and Li Xiangdong and Hou San bumped heads together.

Li Xiangdong rubbed his head. "Hou San, your head is really hard."

Hou San chuckled: "Right? My mother often says I'm a stubborn person."

Li Xiangdong said speechlessly, "Is this the same thing?"

Hou San asked, his eyes full of doubt, "Isn't it the same thing?"

Li Xiangdong countered, "Have you ever been to school?"

Upon hearing this, Hou San immediately replied smugly, "Of course I went to school! I graduated from high school!"

Damn it~

Li Xiangdong only graduated from junior high school. Education is indeed a double-edged sword, both credible and unreliable!

The train slowly accelerated and smoothly pulled out of the station.

Hou San picked up the tin kettle that was on the ground, stood up and said, "Brother Dong, we should go out for a walk."

Li Xiangdong picked up the water bottle and walked outside. "Wasn't the thermos just filled with water a little while ago? We just set off, do we need to refill it now?"

Hou San explained, "Let's go take a look. Usually, more water is used when the bus first departs. Passengers are carrying big bags and squeezing onto the bus, and everyone is covered in sweat. They need to drink water after sweating, and one bucket of water is definitely not enough for so many passengers."

Li Xiangdong understood. In fact, there was a pattern to this job. They used more water right after starting the trip and before and after meals, so they needed to add water frequently.

If you're going on a long trip, you'll need to add water to the thermos before going to bed and before dawn the next day.

As for other times, just make an occasional round of inspections.

The two walked through the crowded passageway to the train's boiler.

There is a maintenance worker here who is responsible for managing the boiler and adding water to it.

The two first filled the tin kettle with hot water.

Hou San led the way, shouting to the passengers crowded in the aisle, "Make way! Be careful not to get burned! Whose child is this? Pick him up quickly, the kettle I'm carrying has just boiled water in it!"

When the passengers in the carriage saw the two of them carrying water bottles, they all reached out their water cups and teacups.

"Hey comrade, don't go yet, give me a glass of water."

"Pour me a glass too, thank you, comrade."

"Here, here, I'm still here."

Li Xiangdong followed behind Hou San, looking at the passengers who were eagerly waiting to be fed, and he thought to himself, "Wow!"

This intuitive feeling reminded him of the waiters in teahouses...

The only thing missing between them was a white towel draped over their shoulders!

At this moment, a middle-aged man stopped Li Xiangdong, tilted his head back and finished the water in his teacup. "Young man, please fill it up, thank you."

Li Xiangdong smiled and poured the passenger a full bowl of hot water. He was still a good service person; if someone gave him a smile, he would seem impolite if he didn't return the gesture.

That's right, facing the next passenger, and the passenger after that...

Gradually, Li Xiangdong's smile froze, and the arm holding the kettle began to tremble slightly.

As he walked out of the carriage, carrying his empty water bottle, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Hou San walked to the thermos, opened the metal lid and looked inside. "There's still plenty of water. We came out early this time."

Li Xiangdong rubbed his face a couple of times without saying a word. Pouring water into the insulated containers one by one for the passengers was more tiring than adding water directly to them!

However, things will get better as passengers get more water from the thermos themselves, and fewer and fewer people will ask them for water.

Li Xiangdong and Hou San carried the empty kettle back the way they came and returned to the boiler where the water was being boiled.

And so they went back and forth between the bumpy train carriages.

"It's finally over."

Back in the lounge, Li Xiangdong put down the water bottle he was carrying on the ground and slumped into a chair, feeling completely dizzy.

Hou San carried two empty lunchboxes filled with water into the break room. After placing the lunchboxes on the small table, he asked with concern, "Brother Dong, are you alright? Have some water to calm down."

"I'm fine, thank you Hou San."

Li Xiangdong wiped the sweat from his forehead, picked up his lunchbox and took a couple of sips of water. He was not only physically tired, but also feeling a bit out of sorts.

He had become accustomed to the quietness of train carriages in the future. If he happened to encounter an inconsiderate passenger, not only him, but everyone else in the carriage would feel irritable and restless.

What about now?

The entire carriage was noisy and chaotic, with children crying and running around, and no one paying any attention to them.

The passengers in the carriage were all busy with their own things. Even those sitting together didn't seem to care about the crying of the children next to them, and continued to doze off, drink tea, and read newspapers.

Not only did no one give them a hard time, but they even joined in with smiles and teasing the child.

These two completely different mindsets, and I don't know when the shift began.

Is this an upgrade or a downgrade of civilization?

Li Xiangdong, a junior high school graduate, couldn't understand it and needed someone to answer his questions...

Anyway, he needs to adjust himself now and try to adapt to the crowded, noisy, and bumpy train carriage as soon as possible.

The two had barely returned to the lounge when the train's announcement came on: 'This train...'