TYH-DCI | Chapter 12: “Delicious, Divine!”

Only then did Jiang Lai let out a cold snort.

“Talk any more nonsense, and next time this water will end up on your face for real.”

Wang Shengnan immediately chimed in.

“Brush your teeth before you speak. You stink.”

The woman was furious, but the man beside her kept tugging at her sleeve.

In the end, she could only force out a harsh remark.

“I can’t be bothered with you country bumpkins. Let’s go, we’re going to the dining car to buy food.”

She stood up, grabbed her luggage, and dragged the man away.

Once they were far enough, Xi’er finally withdrew her murderous glare.

“That woman is seriously insane. We were just eating peacefully—what did we even do to her? Zhaodi, ignore her. Your pickled duck eggs are really delicious!”

Seeing Zhaodi keep her head lowered, Xi’er quickly tried to comfort her.

Wang Shengnan also hurriedly peeled one and took a bite.

“Right. It’s good—better than what our family’s maid makes.”

Realizing she had said something inappropriate, she quickly stopped talking and stuffed another bite into her mouth.

Only then did Li Zhaodi look up again, forcing a small smile.

“If you like it, eat more. When we get there, I’ll try to make more and share them with you.”

Xi’er patted her shoulder.

“Alright, I’ll remember that. Though I wonder if we’ll even get assigned together.”

Jiang Lai noticed that all of them had luggage piled around their feet.

The empty seats nearby were already being eyed by others trying to squeeze in.

Without hesitation, she placed her bundle on the seat.

“Zhaodi, come sit with me. Put your luggage on the seats and watch them carefully.”

Li Zhaodi reacted quickly, standing up and placing her bedding beside Jiang Lai.

Then she helped shift Xi’er’s and Wang Shengnan’s belongings, filling the seat space before sitting across from them.

Seeing no space left, the people who had been trying to squeeze in gave up.

Some even tried to pressure them into sharing space, but the four girls were not easy targets.

Wang Shengnan and Xi’er switched seats to the outer side, then piled their luggage onto the empty space.

The once-available seats were now completely blocked.

Even Jiang Lai and Wang Shengnan didn’t look like people to mess with.

With the train police patrolling the aisle, the troublemakers eventually backed off.

Finally, things quieted down.

The four exchanged glances—and burst into laughter.

Li Zhaodi, seeing everyone eating her salted eggs, finally gathered courage and reached for Jiang Lai’s pickles too.

Wang Shengnan frowned slightly.

“I’ve already eaten yours—why aren’t you eating mine? Are you looking down on me?”

Xi’er immediately picked up a dumpling and popped it into her mouth.

“Wow, Shengnan, your dumplings are amazing!”

Then she waved everyone over excitedly.

“Come come, try my braised beef. I’m not bragging—my mom’s beef is legendary in our compound. Everyone who’s tried it never forgets it!”

She cheerfully fed each of them a slice.

Jiang Lai chewed instinctively—and had to admit, Xi’er wasn’t exaggerating.

The salty marinade had fully soaked into the beef. It was tender, chewy, and incredibly flavorful—the kind that got even richer the more you chewed.

She gave Xi’er a thumbs-up.

“Delicious. Divine.”

Xi’er lifted her chin proudly.

“Of course! I specifically requested it. Otherwise my mom wouldn’t have had time to make it. She braised it overnight after work, let it soak, then cut it this morning. I only left a tiny piece at home—everything else is with me.”

Soon, all three agreed it was delicious.

They fully relaxed and began sharing food freely.

Li Zhaodi, though reserved, was encouraged by Xi’er and ended up eating too much.

In the end, everyone was stuffed.

“I can’t eat anymore…”

“Me neither… hic…”

Seeing them uncomfortable, Jiang Lai took out a small jar of hawthorn pills from her bundle.

“From the supply store. Helps digestion.”

No one refused.

After resting a while, they noticed everyone was running low on water.

Wang Shengnan stood up.

“I’ll go fill the bottles. I’ll get yours too.”

Li Zhaodi quickly followed.

“I’ll go with you. It’s easier with two people.”

They left together and returned after a long squeeze through the crowd.

Li Zhaodi handed Jiang Lai her bamboo tube.

“Yours seems to be leaking a bit. Be careful not to put it near clothes or food.”

Jiang Lai inspected it and found a small crack near the opening.

“Got it. Thanks for helping me fetch water.”

At that moment, Xi’er suddenly asked, a little embarrassed.

“Um… anyone want to go to the bathroom?”

The four of them eventually went together.

The train toilets were crowded, chaotic, and far from clean.

As they reached the entrance, people were already squeezing past without any sense of queue.

Jiang Lai, still used to modern orderliness, hesitated just a moment—

and Xi’er grabbed her arm and pushed forward.

Jiang Lai instinctively helped push through the crowd too.

Step by step, the surrounding passengers were shoved backward…

and somehow, the two of them ended up right at the very front.