Refusing to marry a widower, I went on a crazy spree of sending my children to the army.

Just as I was about to ask, Qiao Manman handed me an oil paper package.

Fang Jianzhou understood immediately, picked up his lunchbox, and got up to go to the dining car.

By the time we got back, the sun was high in the sky.

As the train pulled into the station, more and more people boarded, and the carriages began to feel crowded.

The rest of the journey went relatively smoothly, and apart from her sore bottom, Qiao Manman couldn't pay attention to anything else.

She finished all the food she had brought with her by the evening of the first day. Instead of taking any more from her spatial storage, she followed the crowd to the dining car for a meal.

This feels quite novel, and it gives me a chance to stretch my arms and legs.

The train carriages are getting more and more crowded, making it difficult to go back and forth. So, Qiao Manman always stays a little longer, afraid that she won't be able to get out next time.

When they take turns eating, the empty seats they leave behind are given to a young woman with a child next to them.

The young wife is gentle and polite. The children are also very well-mannered, calling them "sister" and "auntie" in their sweet, childlike voices.

When Qiao Manman is bored, she will play with the child and then feed him a piece of milk candy or a meatball.

The woman smiled gratefully and gently stroked the child's soft hair.

They parted ways at the Shanghai train station.

Qiao Manman followed Fang Jianzhou and Wei Xueping off the bus. Looking at the huge station and the bustling crowd, she exclaimed, "No wonder it's a big city, so prosperous!"

Fang Jianzhou chuckled: "There's something even more amazing coming soon, so stay close!"

He walked forward, his steps light and quick.

Qiao Manman nodded, chatting and laughing with Wei Xueping all the way, and soon left the station.

Outside, golden sunlight bathed the earth, and even in the early morning, the heat was already palpable.

Three- or four-story buildings are everywhere, and people with bright smiles on their faces ride bicycles through the streets and alleys.

Occasionally a car would drive by, but people were used to it and would consciously move aside to the sides.

The bus stop sign under the shade of the trees guides passengers.

Fang Jianzhou glanced at them and said, "Let's go, let's go find a place to stay first!"

The three walked along the street for more than half an hour and arrived at a guesthouse.

This guesthouse is popular because it is close to the station and has low prices.

Fang Jianzhou showed Qiao Manman the letter of introduction and asked, "Are you going to Suzhou City today or tomorrow?"

Fearing things might change if they were late, Qiao Manman smiled and said, "Let's do it today! The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go home!"

Fang Jianzhou nodded and asked for two bunks. One bunk cost six mao, two bunks cost one yuan and twenty cents.

After settling in, the three of them used the guesthouse's restroom to wash up before going to a state-run restaurant for dinner.

We ordered a plate of braised prawns, a plate of grouper, a plate of bok choy, and three bowls of rice.

"Mmm, this is the taste! I've been craving it for so long!" Fang Jianzhou slurped up a shrimp shell and asked Qiao Manman, "Do you like it?"

Qiao Manman nodded, indicating that she liked it too.

You have to understand, these are wild-caught shrimp, completely wild and pollution-free. Even if she wanted to eat them in later generations, she wouldn't be able to!

I should stock up on a lot to take back with me during this business trip!

As Qiao Manman peeled the shrimp, she discussed with the system in her mind: "System, next time you sign in, give me an ocean!"

The system rolled its eyes: "Host, I would like to apply for it for you, but your progress is too slow. You haven't gained much merit yet."

"Giving you even one cubic meter of supplies every day is already an extraordinary act of mercy from Heaven!"

Qiao Manman felt embarrassed by what was said, but what could she do?

In this sensitive era, you can't just openly declare, "I have fertility pills; if any of you are impotent, come buy them from me!"

Isn't that the same as shamanistic rituals? They might even shave their heads and send them to labor camps!

Qiao Manman took a bite of the shrimp meat with disappointment, only to find it smooth, tender, and incredibly fresh.

The fish was also delicious. The three of them ate until they were completely stuffed before leaving.

Fang Jianzhou took Qiao Manman to the Shanghai Machinery Factory, department stores, and trade fair, told her where to find them when she was done, and then took her to the station.

Shanghai is close to Suzhou; there are direct train and bus connections.

However, at the current speed, it would take half a day to walk there.

Qiao Manman hesitated for a moment, then bought a ticket for the overnight train, hoping to save on accommodation costs.

Bah! It was just an excuse she made up because she was afraid Fang Jianzhou would detain her. Otherwise, she probably wouldn't have been able to leave until the next day.

Fang Jianzhou breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, it'll be light when we get there, which will make things easier for you. Be careful on the way, and don't talk to strangers!"

Qiao Manman hummed in agreement, then glanced at the sky and said, "Brother Jianzhou, why don't you go back to the guesthouse first? It gets dark late here, and it's not safe for Sister Xueping to be alone at the guesthouse!"

Fang Jianzhou hesitated, but Qiao Manman immediately raised her hand and promised, "I promise I won't run around and I'll stay here obediently!"

Fang Jianzhou was indeed tired after the long train journey. Seeing that Qiao Manman was well-behaved, he didn't stand on ceremony with her.

He gave a few words of advice and then left.

Qiao Manman waited in the waiting room for more than half an hour, and when she was sure that Fang Jianzhou wouldn't come back, she ran away in a flash.

It gets dark early here, but that doesn't mean it's late.

Qiao Manman jogged to the nearby state-run restaurant and found many people eating there!

He took out his money and bought a yellow croaker, a fried ribbonfish, a pan-fried bun, and a crab roe pastry, and left happily.

After strolling around the streets for a while, I felt it was about time, so I returned to the station and waited to have my ticket checked.

Then I boarded the train and dozed off in my seat until dawn the next day. When I heard the announcement "Next stop: Suzhou Station," I quickly packed my luggage and headed for the door.

After getting off the car, a cool breeze blew by, and Qiao Manman stretched and yawned in the rising sun.

As I followed the crowd out of the station, looking at the white walls and gray tiles everywhere, I was struck by how Suzhou truly resembled a scene from a traditional Chinese ink painting—ethereal and otherworldly.

Qiao Manman asked someone for directions to Paiyun Street, thanked them, and then boarded a bus heading there.

The bus swayed and rattled as it passed several famous tourist attractions that would later become known to the world.

However, there are not as many people as in later generations; only a few tourists are buying tickets at the entrance, preparing to visit.

Qiao Manman decided that after finishing her business with the Qiao family, she would go to the scenic area to experience the original ecological garden scenery.

Half an hour later, Qiao Manman successfully arrived at Paiyun Street.

She didn't act rashly. She went to a state-run restaurant for breakfast and then bought a few packages of pastries from the supply and marketing cooperative.

They were strolling around aimlessly; it was obvious they were visiting relatives.

Someone approached her and greeted her with a smile, only to find that she couldn't understand the person's soft Wu dialect.

"I'm sorry, Auntie, I really don't understand what you're saying. I'm here on a business trip from out of town, and I'm stopping by to visit my aunt!"

Qiao Manman took out the letter of introduction from the factory and her work ID.

The man took it, glanced at it, and after confirming that she wasn't a bad person, pointed in a direction.

Qiao Manman smiled and thanked her, then took two candies out of her pocket and gave them to the other person.

The man rattled off a string of words, leaving Qiao Manman completely bewildered; she couldn't understand a single word.

After the other person left, I walked in the direction they pointed out. I noticed that the courtyards on both sides of the street looked particularly grand.

Indeed, the Qiao family was a scholarly family, and the Tao family was a merchant family. With such a powerful combination, how could they possibly live in such a remote and secluded corner?