Chapter 2 The Next Day
Before dawn, the Tomato Soldiers arrived, conducting a thorough search of the family of four.
Half of the biscuits they had prepared for the journey were taken. Money and coupons sewn into their clothes were also found and confiscated.
They called it confiscation, but it was unclear who would ultimately benefit. The house and everything inside were to be confiscated as well.
If not for the fact that the bedding was too bulky and difficult for the Tomato Soldiers to handle, it surely would not have been spared.
Jun Jiuli held one child by the hand, carrying a small bundle with food and toiletries. Zhao Chenguang carried the rest of their belongings.
The train was extremely crowded when they boarded, and Zhao Chenguang stayed close behind Jun Jiuli.
His eyes were fixed on the children, fearing they would be separated by the crowd. Only after finding seats and settling down did he breathe a sigh of relief.
The journey to Hegou Village in Lin County would take a full day and night. Upon boarding, Jun Jiuli told Zhao Chenguang to rest and that she would take the night watch.
"Yangyang, thank you for your hard work."
After Zhao Zhili and his sister sat down, they curiously observed the people around them, occasionally looking out the window. Now, they had slumped down, looking unhappy.
Zhao Xin Nuan whispered into Jun Jiuli's ear, "Mommy, it's so smelly in here. When can we go home? Those uncles were so mean today. Nuan Nuan doesn't like them."
Jun Jiuli stroked her head, smiling affectionately (and evilly). "Mommy doesn't know when we can go home either. Nuan Nuan, please be patient. We're going to a very far place."
Zhao Xin Nuan's face turned pale. Zhao Zhili looked at them with worry.
Zhao Zhili: "Mommy, are we going to Grandma's house?"
"Of course not. We're going to the countryside, and I don't know when we'll see your grandparents."
As she spoke, Jun Jiuli lowered her head and sighed. Zhao Chenguang, resting with his eyes closed, heard these words, and his sense of indebtedness towards Jun Jiuli grew.
Zhao Zhili understood what "countryside" meant. He looked at the tall and mighty Zhao Chenguang, and the fear in his heart gradually subsided.
For dinner, they heated some water and ate biscuits. After washing up, the family stared at each other.
The space was cramped, and Zhao Chenguang couldn't stretch his legs when sleeping. Jun Jiuli watched the children, and he moved around in the aisle.
These people were escorted by Tomato Soldiers, for fear they would run away. Eyes had already been cast upon Jun Jiuli with ill intent.
Seeing that Zhao Chenguang was not in his seat, he swaggered over and reached out to touch Jun Jiuli's face.
As undocumented individuals, reporting to the police would yield no justice, which was why the Tomato Soldiers were so audacious.
They were like mad dogs, latching onto anyone they disliked and arresting people without evidence. Many police officers did not wish to offend them.
He saw that Jun Jiuli was delicate and weak, assuming she would be taken advantage of but would not dare to shout, nor would she let her man know.
After all, in such matters, it was the woman who was shamed. She could deny it, and no one in the car would offend him for an unrelated woman.
"Look at this tender skin, let brother..."
Jun Jiuli slapped his hand away. "Comrade, please be more respectful."
Zhao Xin Nuan was frightened by the man's lewd behavior and instinctively cried out for her father. Hearing the sound, Zhao Chenguang immediately rushed over.
"What are you doing?"
"What's your attitude? What are you so arrogant about? Do you think you're still the same as before?"
Zhao Zhili: "Daddy, that person wants to bully Mommy. He's a bad person."
Zhao Chenguang moved past the man to Jun Jiuli, anxiously asking, "Yangyang, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
The man, ignored, became furious. "Just a slut, you're so nervous.
She was the one who flirted with me first. Why are you so fond of someone like that? Who knows how many times she's cheated on you."
"Shut up!"
Zhao Chenguang immediately punched the man. He was about to hit him again but was restrained by other Tomato Soldiers.
The man touched his aching mouth and immediately tried to retaliate, but was stopped by the leader.
"This is a train, not your home. Get back to your seat."
The man left reluctantly. The leader glanced at Zhao Chenguang with utter disdain.
"No troublemaking, or don't blame us for being impolite. Things are different now, you need to learn to keep a low profile."
After speaking, he told the Tomato Soldiers holding Zhao Chenguang to let go.
Zhao Chenguang returned to his seat and looked apologetically at Jun Jiuli. "I'll never leave you again. I'll protect you."
"I'm fine. Little brats are troublesome. Let's try not to conflict with them."
"The place for down-to-earth placement has been arranged. They'll leave after they drop us off, so they won't cause much trouble."
"Mm-hmm."
"Daddy, when can we leave these annoying uncles? I don't want to be with them."
"Soon, Nuan Nuan, be patient a little longer."
The siblings sat dejectedly in their seats. They had never endured as much suffering in their lives as they had in these past few days. Their parents told them to be patient, but it was truly unbearable.
For the rest of the time, Zhao Chenguang dared not rest, fearing that someone would have malicious intentions. By the time they got off the train, he was completely haggard.
Without any reason, the Tomato Soldiers dragged Zhao Chenguang out and beat him. People passing by saw the tomato emblem on their hands.
They didn't dare to breathe and quickly left. The two children cried heartbreakingly, repeatedly calling for Zhao Chenguang.
Jun Jiuli, appearing weak and unable to care for herself, held the two children and wept uncontrollably. Those in similar predicaments couldn't bear to watch, turning their heads and weeping silently.
After sending them to the commune, someone would escort them to their respective down-to-earth villages. The Tomato Soldiers, having completed their mission, prepared to return.
As these Tomato Soldiers walked out of the commune gate, they fell to the ground one after another. The man who had molested Jun Jiuli, by chance, hit his head on a rock.
Several of those following also fell hard, and cries of pain could be heard. The commune members quickly took them to the hospital.
"Serves them right, karma."
"Peh, a bunch of beasts. It won't always be like this, it won't always be like this. They definitely won't be able to be arrogant for long..."
Everyone's attention was drawn to the situation outside. They spoke in hushed tones, and no one noticed.
Though they didn't fall heavily, many of them had broken arms. A group of them cried in pain at the hospital.
They had no money to pay for medical expenses, so they had to send one of the less seriously injured to call home and ask for remittance.
They hadn't earned much money on this trip, and now they had lost their soldiers and their horses. Especially with the medical expenses, their families would be heartbroken and want to kill them.