178, Green-skinned Train

Jing Suyun also replied in a low voice, "Yes, it is very effective!"

As a doctor, Jing Suyun was much more perceptive and knowledgeable about the body's structure and changes than ordinary people. In the past, she had tried numerous medicinal prescriptions, but none of them yielded significant results. Above all, her husband suffered from a low sperm count, a problem for which she had never found an effective solution.

"That's wonderful. Foster Father and Foster Mother, after you finish this month's medication, go to the hospital for a check-up to see the results. Send us a telegram or a letter then, and I will prescribe the next batch of medicine based on your condition," Jing Qingxin said gently.

"Alright, we will definitely follow your instructions!" Zhang Liangping responded with a bright smile, his heart filled with anticipation. He felt that life had suddenly become much more joyful.

Afterward, everyone washed up and returned to their respective rooms to rest.

***

The next day, Jing Suyun woke up early to prepare breakfast, hoping that Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen would have a good meal before their journey. She also steamed a cage of meat buns, packing a full twenty large buns for the two of them.

After eating their fill, Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen headed to the railway station. Zhang Liangping and his wife originally wanted to see them off, but the couple declined. The train station was crowded and chaotic; there was no need for them to squeeze through the crowds.

The day before, Gao Shen had asked Zeng Lin to help them book two soft sleeper tickets. Today, Gao Shen just needed to go to the designated window, pay, and collect them.

The train ride from Ningshi to Panshi took twelve hours. They had booked the 8:10 AM train, which meant they wouldn't arrive in Panshi until past 8:00 PM—effectively spending an entire day traveling. Gao Shen didn't mind hardships, but now that he was a married man with a wife, he naturally had to consider her comfort.

Hard-seat carriages were noisy and crowded, with people standing in the aisles and luggage bags blocking the way, making movement extremely narrow and inconvenient. If they had to sit on hard seats for such a long time, Qingxin's feet would surely swell up. He simply couldn't bear to let his delicate little wife squeeze into a hard-seat carriage.

Soft sleepers, however, were entirely different. They were located in separate compartments with spacious and clean berths. Compared to hard-seat carriages, sleeper carriages accommodated fewer passengers, making the corridors much clearer. Most importantly, they could lie down and rest, offering far greater comfort than hard seats.

Gao Shen carried a military duffel bag in one hand while shielding Jing Qingxin with the other, protecting her from the pressing crowd. Amidst the hustle and bustle, they finally located their sleeper berths.

Zeng Lin had booked lower berths for them. The beds were neat and clean. The two of them sat on one berth, while their military bags rested on the opposite one.

Not long after, the train let out a whistle and slowly started moving. The two passengers in the upper berths right above Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen turned out to be a middle-aged couple. After stowing their luggage, they immediately lay down to rest.

Gao Shen adjusted the pillows and blankets, sat leaning against the head of the bed, and took out the book his father-in-law had given him, reading it carefully.

As the train pulled away, Jing Qingxin stood up and walked over to the window by the corridor, watching the scenery slowly glide past. This was her first time riding such a train—specifically, this vintage green-skinned train filled with the nostalgic atmosphere of the era.

Because her past travels were fixed and her routes well-defined, Jing Qingxin's childhood transportation had been limited to bicycles, cars, subways, and airplanes. Consequently, she had no experience with long-distance train travel and found herself momentarily fascinated by the old green train.

After gazing outside for a while, Jing Qingxin lost interest. The train moved at a leisurely pace, feeling much slower than a subway. The rhythmic clacking of the train was quite loud, and one could almost hear the sound of the chains and tracks underneath. As for the scenery outside the window, there was nothing particularly remarkable to see.

Jing Qingxin noticed that the carriage was very quiet; presumably, everyone was resting. Otherwise, how could anyone endure a twelve-hour journey?

She walked back to the berth and sat quietly beside Gao Shen. Watching him read with such serious concentration, she found his focused expression extraordinarily charming.

Thus, Gao Shen read his book intently, while Jing Qingxin gazed at him with bright, affectionate eyes.

Although Gao Shen was indeed deeply engrossed in the medical cases recorded in the book, the intensely burning gaze coming from beside him was impossible to ignore. The fact that this blatant, fiery look came from his own little wife made his heart itch with sweet agitation.

Helplessly, Gao Shen lowered his book, turned his head toward Jing Qingxin, and murmured, "Qingxin, if you keep looking at me like this, I won't be able to read."

"Huh? Really? You read your book, and I'll look at mine~" Jing Qingxin chuckled softly, looking like a cunning little fox.

Gao Shen leaned close to her ear and whispered, "If you keep staring, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from eating you up right now~"

His words brought a delicate flush to Jing Qingxin's cheeks. The warm breath brushing against her ear sent a gentle shudder through her entire body, accompanied by a pleasant, tickling sensation.

She was slightly surprised that Gao Shen could utter such a direct and ambiguous remark, and she couldn't help shooting him a playful glare. What a smooth operator!

At that moment, Jing Qingxin realized that the stern, cadre-like Gao Shen had completely transformed into a seasoned flirt, teasing her through words and actions whenever he got the chance.