After dropping them off, Gong Tao hurried away with the speed of an ox cart, as he noticed that each one of them was worried he'd waste their money and food if he stayed.
Gong Dajiang first went to the post office to send an urgent telegram informing them that the items were gone, and not to send money, as they were planning to return.
Then the elderly couple went to the station to buy train tickets; they initially remembered there was a train back around 2 PM, but when they asked—
"No tickets." The ticket seller said impatiently.
"How could there be no tickets? It's still so early." Zhang Lan got anxious; if they couldn't catch this train, they'd have to take the one past 10 PM.
Usually, not many people take the train at this broken-down station, so it felt quite desolate and the cold northwesterly wind wreaked havoc inside. During the day with the sun out, Zhang Lan already felt a chill she couldn't imagine enduring at night.
