My Mister Ostrich

Chapter 21-23

Pang Shuisheng had no way to tell Pang Qian that Gu Mingxi could go on those trips because Gu Guoxiang had given up his vacation days. He was an engineer at the factory. If he said he wasn't going to go, and instead let his wife take his son, who would dare say anything about it?

So in front of Gu Mingxi, Pang Qian was just a little bumpkin. She hadn't even ridden a train before. She went on and on about Shanghai this and Shanghai that, but she didn't even know which direction Shanghai was from E City.

Pang Shuisheng encouraged Pang Qian to buy her train ticket on her own. He felt that her knowledge pool was really too shallow. She ought to experience more of the world.

Pang Qian had no clue about how to go about buying a train ticket. She didn't even know which way to go to get to the train station. But she also didn't dare to let her dad buy the tickets either, because she only needed two tickets. Asking her dad to help would be a big mistake.

And so, Pang Qian just invited Gu Mingxi along with her to the train station.

The two of them took the public bus to their destination. It was summer break, so people were coming and going. It was very busy. Pang Qian didn't even know which way was north. In the end, it was still Gu Mingxi who followed the signs and found the ticket counter.

Even when they lined up to purchase the tickets, Pang Qian stuck closely to Gu Mingxi, and ridiculously pulled onto the tail of his shirt.

Gu Mingxi said towards the ticket counter, "Two tickets to Shanghai for the morning of August 16th."

"There are no more seats for the morning. There are seats in the afternoon, 2:30."

"What about the morning of the 17th?"

"There are also no more seats."

"Then I'll take the afternoon on the 16th. Two tickets." After a moment, he said, "Auntie, can I also buy tickets from Shanghai back to E City for the afternoon of the 18th?"

"Sure."

"Then I'll also buy two return tickets."

"Is 3 PM on the 18th okay?"

"Yes."

"That's four tickets total, 128 dollars."

Gu Mingxi turned to see the muddleheaded Pang Qian. "Pang Pang, pay for it."

Pang Qian quickly pulled out the money and handed it over, then she accepted the change and the train tickets.

They walked out of the train station, and she looked down at the four train tickets in her hands. She suddenly said with realization, "So that's how you buy train tickets."

Gu Mingxi was silent as he watched Pang Qian looking around curiously. He suddenly felt that here was a typical crab, walking out sideways from its nest. Once she leaves home, her courage probably wasn't even as big as a rabbit.

On the day that they set off, Gu Mingxi's concerns became a reality. Pang Shuisheng and Li Han kept telling Pang Qian to take good care of Gu Mingxi, and she had agreed very well. But once they got to the train station, she was just like a scrooge, tagging along behind Gu Mingxi.

Entering the station, getting bags checked through security, finding the waiting area, checking tickets on the train, finding their seat... Gu Mingxi truly felt that if Pang Qian were left on her own, she probably wouldn't have been able to take care of it all.

It was Friday and the train car was packed. Pang Qian naturally sat at the window. She propped herself against the window, staring outside.

Gu Mingxi had already become the focus of all the traveler's attentions. They all watching him quietly, with probing eyes. As usual, he didn't care much. But it was a bit uncomfortable when people stared at you, so he turned to look at Pang Qian.