Chapter 59: The Gaze That Scrutinizes Goods

It wasn’t that the restroom held any particular allure—she simply couldn’t hold on any longer.

If she didn’t drink some Spirit Spring Water to suppress the nausea, she might very well end up vomiting right in the train carriage.

Although the weather had cooled by late September, the temperature inside the train carriage was still stifling.

It wasn’t the kind of heat from air-conditioned trains of later eras, but the oppressive, stuffy heat caused by overcrowding and the mingling of breath and body odors.

It was hard to describe—simply put, it was unbearably hot.

Before discovering her pregnancy, Shen Yi’an hadn’t been so sensitive to smells.

But ever since learning she was pregnant, her nose had suddenly become exceptionally sharp, allowing no unpleasant odor to slip past unnoticed.

As a result, her overly sensitive nasal passages meant that any disagreeable smell would trigger her gag reflex.

Pregnancy likely played a part in this as well.

So, as soon as she found her seat and the train settled into a steady rhythm, she immediately grabbed her suitcase and headed toward the restroom.

Fortunately, the timing was just right, and Lancheng was the starting station.

If this had been a stop along the way, the area around the restroom would have been packed with people by this hour.

Forget about queuing—even getting close would have been a challenge.

So, sometimes, a little bit of luck was all one needed.

Making sure the restroom door was securely closed, Shen Yi’an slipped into the Space with her suitcase.

After setting her luggage down in the living area, she turned and went straight to the Spirit Spring, taking several refreshing gulps.

Indeed, it lived up to its name—the Spirit Spring Water not only relieved fatigue and greasiness but also soothed irritation and dryness.

Once her discomfort had subsided, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Goodness, what a journey this had been.

Before pregnancy, she hadn’t been so demanding about air quality.

Though she might have wrinkled her nose in discomfort, she could usually tolerate it after a brief adjustment.

But now, it was different.

The train ran on diesel, emitting a strong, pungent smoky odor.

Coupled with the various other smells inside the carriage, the mix was truly overwhelming.

That was why she had been so eager to enter the Space and drink from the Spirit Spring.

With her stomach settled and her spirits lifted, she finally had the mind to plan for the rest of the journey.

Luochuan City was close to the Tibetan Region, a place with relatively high elevation.

Yet, situated in a volcanically active area, it enjoyed warm winters and springs, with rainy summers and autumns, making it a highly livable city.

Add to that the widespread hot springs, and it could be described as nothing less than an ideal vacation destination.

Although she hadn’t arrived yet, Shen Yi’an was already considering building a home here for her retirement.

It might be a bit early, but the conditions in every aspect were truly excellent.

Besides, Li Beichen’s military base was located here.

He had left the address specifically before his departure, saying it was for future contact.

As it turned out, she hadn’t called or written a letter yet—instead, she was about to seek him out proactively.

Tsk, it really fit the old saying: “No visit without a reason, and a visit always means trouble.”

Having roughly sorted out her thoughts and plans for what lay ahead, Shen Yi’an finally left the Space and headed back to her seat.

There was a time difference between the Space and reality, so she wasn’t worried about anyone suspecting she had spent too long in the restroom.

As for the suitcase she had taken with her—if no one asked, fine. If someone did, she’d just say a fellow traveler was looking after it for her.

After all, no one would verify it to her face.

With these thoughts, Shen Yi’an had already reached the vicinity of her seat.

Just as she was about to take her seat, Shen Yi’an felt someone tugging at the corner of her clothes.

Turning around, she discovered it was a little girl sitting in the seat directly behind hers.

She couldn’t just yank her clothes away forcefully, so she directed her gaze toward the man holding the child.

“Comrade, is your child hungry?”

“Do you need help fetching water?”

This was just an excuse Shen Yi’an came up with.

After all, she couldn’t outright say, “Your child is pulling on my clothes.”

If she happened to encounter unreasonable parents, phrasing it this way would help avoid unnecessary trouble.

Hearing her question, the man, who had been somewhat distracted, snapped back to attention.

When he noticed the clothes clutched in the little girl’s hand, a flicker of sorrow quickly passed through his downcast eyes.

But the moment he looked up, his expression turned fierce again.

“Mind your own damn business!”

“If the kid’s hungry, I’ll feed her myself. Who asked you to stick your nose in?”

He waved his hand impatiently.

“Get lost, stop standing in front of me and blocking my view.”

“Just looking at clueless young people like you pisses me off!”

After venting his frustration, he roughly pried the little girl’s fingers open, cursing under his breath.

“Let go!”

“Brat, you have no sense of boundaries!”

“Grabbing just anyone—aren’t you afraid of catching some filthy disease?”

Perhaps he used too much force, because the previously expressionless little girl flinched in pain, shrinking her small body.

She didn’t cry or make a sound, looking as still as a wooden doll.

Seeing that Shen Yi’an was still watching the little girl, the man exploded again.

“Scram!”

“Stop annoying me!”

Being yelled at repeatedly, Shen Yi’an wasn’t without her own temper.

But with a baby in her womb, talking back would be too risky.

If the hot-tempered man decided to hit her, she would be the one to suffer.

With that thought in mind, she quietly sat back down in her seat amid his angry outburst.

No sooner had she settled than a soft voice whispered beside her.

“The man behind you is scary—he even hits women.”

“You weren’t here earlier, but you should’ve seen how he dragged his wife around, cursing and shouting. It was terrifying!”

“And that little girl is so pitiful, stuck with a weak mother and a cruel father. I can’t imagine what her life will be like.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an nodded at the person who had warned her. “Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll try to avoid them next time I go out.”

Perhaps feeling pleased with her good deed, the woman smiled and straightened up in her seat.

Though their interaction was brief, the woman sitting across from them noticed.

She didn’t speak, but a shrewd glint flashed in her eyes.

Interesting!

By 9 p.m., the entire train carriage had quieted down from the daytime bustle.

Coupled with the dim, yellowish lighting, the atmosphere was perfect for sleeping.

While others were dozing off, Shen Yi’an, being pregnant, was even more exhausted.

Once she confirmed that the sounds around her were only even breathing, the woman who had earlier flashed that shrewd look opened her eyes.

She quietly stood up and approached the seat behind Shen Yi’an, her voice hushed and soft. “Bring the child and follow me!”

After saying this, she headed straight toward the connecting area between carriages.

Shortly after the sound of two sets of footsteps faded away, another faint rustling noise could be heard.

After that came another round of footsteps, until the carriage completely fell into silence.

At this moment, Shen Yi’an, who should have been drowsy, opened her eyes.

A closer look would reveal no trace of sleepiness in her gaze—only absolute clarity and alertness.

The Spirit Spring Water had not only enhanced her physical constitution but also significantly sharpened her sensory acuity.

During the day, she hadn’t missed the calculating glint in the eyes of the woman sitting opposite her.

It was precisely because she noticed this that her internal alarm bells had rung at the highest level.

Now, finally witnessing the woman take action, Shen Yi’an was instead somewhat taken aback.

How could this be?

Were the woman sitting opposite her and the man behind her in cahoots?

But if they were working together, why would the three of them leave in two separate groups?

Could there be more to this scheme?

Moreover, why did the woman opposite her look at her as if appraising goods?

One question after another swirled in her mind, compelling Shen Yi’an to ultimately decide to follow and investigate.

After all, with her Space available, if discovered, she could simply hide inside it—what could anyone do to her then?

With this thought, she had already left her seat and followed them.