All he wanted was to visit the capital to see his daughter and grandchildren. Why was that such a big matter? Why were the heavens putting him in such a hard spot?
Even God wouldn’t be so strict.
Ding Jiayi’s expression soured. Did that mean that Old Qiao was going to buy a bus ticket anyway? In reality, Ding Jiayi was already feeling the pinch from wasting two bus tickets. It had cost several hundred yuan. It was enough to pay for half a month’s worth of their family’s expenses.
“Alright. Do what you want.” She and Zijin had already expected that Old Qiao would not give up so easily. It was just that Ding Jiayi had held on to that little bit of hope before it had happened.
Qiao Dongliang was a man of his words and immediately headed off to the bus station with his wallet. Because Qiao Dongliang was buying a ticket from Ping Cheng to the capital for the third time in such a short span of time, the seller was already familiar with him. “Sir, this is your third time here. What happened?”
Hadn’t he already purchased a ticket yesterday? It was impossible for him to have traveled to the capital from Ping Cheng and back in a day’s time. Besides, he had just gone there yesterday. If he was to go again today, that would mean that he must have taken the overnight bus ride back to Ping Cheng. Were tickets too cheap to him, or did his family have too much money to spare?
Qiao Dongliang laughed bitterly. “I’m really unlucky. The first time, I already had my bus ticket but I lost my identity card. Afterward, I got a temporary identity card but I overslept this morning and missed the bus!” It was not as though his money grew on trees that he could afford to waste his money on bus tickets every day. It was just that he had no other choice since he was down on luck.
The seller was dumbfounded. “You’re really unlucky indeed. After losing your identity card, you even missed your bus because you overslept! That doesn’t sound right. It’s not like you ate sleeping pills. Why would you have slept in and missed the bus?” It was not often that people missed their buses because of oversleeping.
Knowing that he would be in a rush the next morning, one would typically not sleep too soundly. In fact, it would be a rather light one where one would awake at the slightest sound.
The seller had only brought up sleeping pills as a joke but Qiao Dongliang fell into a trance. He had also found it strange that he had overslept.
These few days, he had indeed had a good rest. Besides, who could sleep until half past ten at his age unless they were ill? He was sure that he was sleeping so soundly with no intention of waking up. Usually, he did not even sleep so soundly. Something did feel amiss.
“Old comrade, keep this bus ticket carefully. Don’t lose your identity card or oversleep again. This will be the third time losing your ticket.”
Initially, Qiao Dongliang had already collected his identity card and bus ticket, but upon hearing that, he could not help but ask, “Then, can I buy another ticket? I’m always losing things. I might very well lose this ticket too.”
“But…” Under normal circumstances, one identity card was only entitled to one bus ticket. “They’re all using your identity card?”
“Yes.”
“But you won’t be able to use two seats.” If this old comrade requested a refund at the last minute, their bus station would lose out.
“Don’t worry. I’m so careless. If I really lose one, won’t I still have another?” In other words, there would definitely not be a case of a refund even if he bought two tickets.
Since Qiao Dongliang had already said that, the other party had no other choice. “Alright, then.” Anyway, it was not her who had too much money to spend. Four hundred yuan on two tickets for a single person. If someone wanted to spend that money, who was she to stand in the way? Besides, this old comrade really seemed to be down on his luck. It was indeed necessary for him to buy another ticket just in case.
After purchasing those two tickets, Qiao Dongliang placed one ticket and his change back into his wallet, and his temporary identity card and the other ticket into the pocket close to his chest.
“You’re back?” Seeing Qiao Dongliang’s expression, Ding Jiayi knew without asking that Qiao Dongliang had indeed purchased the bus ticket. “You must be hungry. I made quite a lot for lunch. Zijin isn’t home, so you don’t have to worry. Besides, I’m not planning on moving back into our room either. If you want to throw a tantrum, go ahead. But having a meal together doesn’t mean much.”
“Fine.” Qiao Dongliang agreed after giving it some thought. “I just came home and it’s true that I’m a little lazy to make something for myself. I’ll find a chance to return you the favor in the future.” Qiao Dongliang had eaten Ding Jiayi’s food for decades and was already used to it.
After the couple finished their meal, Ding Jiayi asked Qiao Dongliang, “You’re leaving tomorrow, right? Aren’t you going to get ready since you have half a day left? You can’t possibly stay at home and wait around, right? You’re not like me. You don’t like lazing around watching television.”
“I’ve already visited everyone I need to. They know that I’m going to the capital to visit Nan Nan. It’s the same going out or staying at home. It’s just as well. I’ll just watch the television. I haven’t done that in a long while.” Qiao Dongliang had no intentions of heading out of the house. What if he tired himself out, slept too soundly, and missed the bus again?
As such, the couple took a chair each and sat a good distance away from each other. Their eyes were fixed on the television and they hardly had any interaction with each other.
After about two hours, Ding Jiayi suddenly piped up. “I’m thirsty. I’m going to get some water. Do you want some?”
“No. I’m not thirsty yet.”
“Alright. I won’t get any for you, then.”
After sitting for a while longer, Qiao Dongliang stood up at around half past five. “It isn’t early anymore. I’ll make myself some food before going to bed. You can do whatever you want.”
Seeing Qiao Dongliang enter the kitchen, Ding Jiayi’s eyes lit up and her gaze fell on Qiao Dongliang’s room. Just as Qiao Dongliang emerged from the kitchen with his dinner, Ding Jiayi returned to normal. “Alright. Now that you’re done, it’s my turn. I’m hungry too.”
The couple did not prepare anything fanciful for dinner, so they were quick in their preparations. Before Ding Jiayi even left the kitchen, Qiao Dongliang had already finished his meal.
Ding Jiayi did not have any response upon seeing that Qiao Dongliang had finished his meal, cleaned up, and was preparing to go to bed. She simply continued with her meal. That calmness was rather reassuring.
When the clock struck ten that night, both of them should already have been asleep. But at that moment, Ding Jiayi gently pushed the door to Qiao Dongliang’s room open and stole a glance before calling out softly, “Old Qiao? Old Qiao!”
Even after a few calls, Qiao Dongliang had not only not responded, but he even flipped over in his sleep. Within a second, Qiao Dongliang’s breath became heavier and longer.
