Encountering a thief

Zhu Tong possesses the standard demeanor of a scholar, with frameless glasses perched on his nose; the frames of this brand are quite expensive. The girl across from him, who also wears glasses, has already glanced at Zhu Tong several times.

This is a girl who may have originated from the countryside or a small town in Hangzhou, possessing a certain discernment; the women of Jiangnan inherently carry the charm of the water towns, even more so than those who are truly from urban backgrounds.

Bu Zhi Tong is a professional con artist, hailing from the seventh-tier Zhu Sect of the Jianghu. He specializes in large-scale "business" scams. His current identity is that of a doctor on vacation in Shanghai, and the "business" he is involved in is related to the hospital.

I just thought of something; tomorrow morning I have to meet an elder, and it would be impolite to appear drowsy. I see you look tired as well; if you have an extra ticket, could you please give me one?" Zhu Tong took this opportunity to quietly explain a few words in Qin Miao's ear.

With a snap, a silver lighter appeared in Zhu Tong's hand, the flame flickering and extinguishing instantly; the stout man, with an agility that was incongruous with his physique, swiftly dodged and steadied himself in the aisle of the carriage, his hand resting in his trouser pocket, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes as he stared at Zhu Tong

It is not the smell of disinfectant on you that keeps me from approaching you. Zhu Tongxin muttered to himself, yet his face showed shyness: "Are you also studying medicine?"

Qin Miao shook her head, while the person across from her chuckled and said: "What are you saying about us, Qin Miao? Isn't it better to speak up?"

Not long after the train started moving, a few people walked over from carriage 17. Zhu Tong furrowed his brow as a chubby man in his thirties plopped down opposite him, adjusting his glasses repeatedly.

Aren't you going to eat? When there were finally only four people left in the booth, the concern of the girl with glasses across from him opened the curtain on the deception, which was the way Zhu Tong liked best.

The blade was about to touch Zhu Tong's pants, and Qin Miao could no longer endure it, slamming the牌: "With so many seats in the carriage, why are we all crammed in here?"

As night gradually descends, the scenery outside the window fades into darkness

What they say can be heard by the child, yet they pretend to be shy, with a hint of redness appearing on their faces

Indeed, however, we are studying nursing, and when we go to the hospital, we are just nurses, far inferior to you doctors. The girl felt somewhat self-conscious as she glanced at the business card again and carefully tucked it into the pocket of her casual pants

However, the other party has clearly set their sights on me. The surname ranks fourth in the Hundred Family Surnames, and the group of fat men belongs to the fourth rank of the Red Fire Sect. They are a group of individuals from the underworld who specialize in train heists, and black-on-black crime is their favorite pastime.

The fat child has already disappeared into carriage 17. Zhu Tong considers that this is a good opportunity; there are still two more stops. If he goes missing now, they should be unable to ascertain his destination. Once the train reaches Shanghai, it will be easy to shake off these fools in the big city

All three girls claimed they could not play, but it became evident from the beginning when they played the game of fortune that their words were merely polite expressions

During dinner, three young girls prepared instant noodles. At that time, since the other two travelers had not yet gone to their sleeping berths, the space became somewhat crowded. Zhu Tong stood up and held a book in the aisle, presenting himself like a graceful gentleman

The glasses rolled their eyes a few times, but then returned to the game. Before long, they seemed to admire the fat man, who appeared to be able to read everyone's cards, guiding the glasses as they won three rounds in a row.

While Zhu Tong and Qin Miao were conversing at Zhan Tai Mountain, the girl with glasses was watching them from the car. At that moment, she had some doubts, but both of them behaved normally, so she did not inquire further

In the deep autumn, the number of travelers during this season is generally low. Carriage 16 is a soft seat carriage. In the evening, the shrewdness of the southerners becomes apparent, as many passengers originally in the soft seat carriage rush to the front to purchase a sleeper in carriage 15. This allows them to have a good night's sleep, minimizing the bumps of the journey. By the time the train arrives in Shanghai early the next morning, they will be refreshed and ready to start a day of hard work

As Zhu Tong walked back to his seat, Qin Miao looked at him with concern. Zhu Tong smiled, picked up the glasses from the table, and felt that the chubby guy was also starting to move in this direction

After the two of them finished their meals, they had become familiar with each other. As the conductor pushed the snack cart past them, Zhutong reached out to take two decks of playing cards: "Since we still have a long night ahead, why not play some cards to pass the time? I can see that you both are not able to sleep now."

As the vehicle passed through Nanjing, it was already late at night. Zhu Tong would get out to stretch his legs every time they stopped, and this time was no exception. Accompanying him in getting out was a card friend wearing a plain sweater. Just a moment ago, Zhu Tong's sluggish performance at the card table had yielded results.

The fat man was getting closer, and for a moment, Zhu Tong wanted to stand up and greet him. However, thinking of the "business," he decided to find a place to avoid him. The master had said that if one cannot endure a small annoyance, it will disrupt a grand plan. In the world of Jianghu, people are also divided into different ranks, and for those desperate individuals, it is not worth taking them too seriously.

As soon as he boarded the train in Beijing, Zhu Tong kept changing seats, only settling down when the train passed Jinan. Traveling with three young girls was certainly better than being alone, staring out at the sparse lights outside. Moreover, the girl sitting next to the window was quite attractive; her plain hand-knitted sweater beautifully outlined the curves of her youthful figure. Her long black hair was smooth and glossy, unlike her two companions who had dyed their hair a light yellow or golden hue.

Just as he stood up, Zhu Tong felt that the fat man had retreated back to carriage 17. Without needing to look, he knew that two railway police officers were coming from carriage 15; the night patrol had begun

Qin Miao felt somewhat annoyed, glanced at the chubby man but said nothing. However, the glasses-wearer was quite pleased, no longer finding the chubby man's proximity bothersome.

Zhu Tong still appeared somewhat dull, but he had already sensed the suspicion from the fat man; inside the carriage, the fat man's accomplices had already felt the clothes of more than ten people, seemingly without any gain; one of them came over and sat down beside Zhu Tong, a thin man who exuded the smell of low-quality tobacco.

I am tired. Zhu Tong stood up, walked towards carriage 15, washed his face at the water platform, and glanced at carriage 17; the fat man and three others were whispering there, their eyes frequently glancing in his direction

As the vehicle passed through Xuzhou, the colors outside the window began to change; the green became more vibrant, with a greater sheen of moisture. The architectural styles of the villages along the way also transformed, with black rooftops emerging from a hazy expanse of green, distinguishing them from the commonly seen red and gray tiles in the rural areas of Shandong.

"What are you going to Shanghai for?" the girl asked, stomping her feet like a child. High heels are not suitable for train travel, and her feet were somewhat swollen.

What do they mean? The glasses looked at the outsider who had left, then picked up the cards: "Miao Miao, don't be angry anymore, let's continue playing"

Time is tight, and Zhu Tong can only take risks; he reaches his hand from behind Qin Yao's body, pulls out his phone and a small bag from his jacket, and leans close to Qin Yao's ear to whisper: "I am going to Zhang's sleeper train, could you please help me look after these things?"

"What a pity that such a good game has come to an end. Miss, you should step out for a bit; I will take your place for a while." The stout man gave a knowing glance to those beside Zhu Tong, stood up, reached for the cards that Qin Miao had thrown on the table, and squeezed himself between Zhu Tong and Qin Yao.

"Look, my friend, I haven't taken a vacation in two years, so this is a perfect opportunity to travel to Jiangnan; the northern region lacks scenery now, and I prefer Jiangnan." Zhu Tong took off his glasses, lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, and squinted at the girl; in fact, it was at this moment that he could see more clearly. The girl had a good figure, a soft waist, but her hips were a bit inexperienced, suggesting she probably had little sexual experience.

The car moved on, and the game continued, yet the distance between Zhu Tong and Qin Miao had diminished. Their arms often brushed against each other, and it seemed that both parties enjoyed this contact.

As soon as the stout man sat down, he leaned forward to watch them play cards and began directing the bespectacled man on how to play. Judging by his attire, the stout man also appeared to be a refined individual, dressed in what seemed to be an authentic imported suit, though there were some doubts about the gold watch on his wrist. Zhu Tong analyzed the situation while playing his cards; it was clear that the stout man was there to act as a wall. The passengers in Car 16 who were not asleep were also in a daze, leaving only the four in their booth fully awake. The newcomers were a group of seasoned train bandits.

Zhu Tong touched the silver lighter in his pocket, which he had meticulously modified. Only a ZIPPO lighter had enough space to accommodate these mechanisms. Inside one small compressed gas canister was a hallucinogen, not very heavy, but sufficient to make anyone who inhaled it fall into a deep sleep for several days. He had no choice but to take action; this trip to Shanghai was crucial for a significant deal. The items hanging from the pocket of his jacket by the car window could not be taken by the fat man and his associates, as that piece of clothing was also essential for his survival.

He cannot risk taking his own bag, as there is nothing important inside; what matters is that this "business" of his requires a partner for cover. Sixteen days ago, he had a big argument with Yanzi, and now he does not know which city she has ended up in. The situation in Shanghai has been set up for half a year, and it is now time to reel it in; any further delay will jeopardize everything.

Thank you. The girl felt a bit shy; just now, when she bumped into Zhu Tong's embrace, her ample chest was pressed against the man's shoulder

As a result, many seats in the carriage became vacant. In a booth at the northern end of the carriage, three young men and one young woman occupied six seats, passing the time playing cards.

May I ask your honorable surname, sir

May I know your name? This is my first time in Shanghai, and apart from a few classmates, I don't know anyone else. They are all as busy as grandsons, so I might trouble you to be my tour guide. " Zhu Tong began his advance.

Zhu Tong is wearing a set of branded casual clothes, which were given to him by Yan Zi last month. The top is hanging next to Qin Miao, and beneath the collar of the sweater is a pair of deep gray pure cotton trousers. The thin man sitting next to him has his hand resting on the seat, and the blade between his fingers is already close to the back pocket of Zhu Tong's pants, while he is saying, "Brother, you made a mistake with this brand."

I cannot finish this large fruit by myself; beautiful ladies, please lend a hand, as I do not wish to carry them around the streets of Shanghai. The allure of the fruit is nearly irresistible. When Zhu Tong skillfully sliced open a gigantic fruit with a delicate Swiss Army knife, the sweet and sour flavor combined with the glistening flesh transformed the originally quiet and pretentious atmosphere into one filled with ease and laughter

"What should I thank him for? I should be the one to thank him." Zhu Tong pointed at the departing traveler, adjusted his glasses with a smile, and the meaning of his words was somewhat ambiguous, yet still within the bounds of what the other party could accept

The Pearl train from Beijing to Shanghai is a red-skin air-conditioned train, and its ticket price is significantly higher than that of the green-skin train

The train passed one station after another, and the passengers in car 16 came and went. Some had already leaned against their seats and fallen asleep, while a couple on the other side of the aisle embraced each other in rest; only the four of them continued to play cards and chat.

I wish Tong Diandian would touch her own nose, looking quite puzzled; "I am not a gentleman, but a doctor, a physician of traditional Chinese medicine from the Xinyuan Zhu family. My humble surname is Li, and what about you?"

Everyone is an actor wearing a mask. If we can learn to be a good audience with an appreciation for the performance, others will trust us more. This was said by Zhu Tong's deceased master. The year before last, Zhu Tong was thrown into the sea from a cruise ship traveling from Shanghai to Qingdao due to a gambling scam, which is why he believes he is already dead

"I don't think there's anything special about Jiangnan." The girl seemed to have numb feet, and a traveler with a large backpack brushed against her shoulder as he passed by, causing her to stumble and nearly fall. Zhu Tong reached out to support her arm but quickly let go.

"Call me when you have time, we are not busy with our homework during this period." A bell rang at the platform, and Qin Miao quietly recited her phone number, returning to the train with Zhu Tong.

"Mindless waste." Zhu Tong muttered a curse under his breath, feeling quite displeased. He could not confront the other party on the train; there were at least four of them, and Zhu Tong was not confident he could take down all these desperate individuals without causing trouble. For now, he had no choice but to endure, planning to wait until the train reached Shanghai before addressing the situation.

"It is the same; as long as one works hard, studying while working, one can still become a doctor." Zhu Tong comforted the girl, although he understood that the possibility was almost zero; such a beautiful girl would enter the hospital and within two years would likely become the bride of some doctor or patient; her later life would essentially be submerged in children and her husband

Zhu Tong's eloquence is quite good, which is a result of practice from a young age; at this moment, he exhibits a slight stutter, making the three young ladies feel even more at ease; these little tricks were mastered by him ten years ago, when Zhu Tong was theoretically only fifteen years old

The platform is brilliantly lit, allowing children to see the details of two lovers bidding farewell from dozens of meters away. However, she places the business card very close to her eyes, straining to discern the text on it.

"Passerby, our surname is Wang, and we are the fourth in the Hundred Family Surnames, following Zhou, Wu, and Zheng. Since the young lady does not welcome us, we shall not disturb you any further; please enjoy yourselves." After the fat man finished speaking, he lifted his foot and walked towards carriage number 17. His companion, the thin man, sat for a while longer, observing that the card game showed no signs of continuing. He quietly said, "Really not playing anymore, let's go back to sleep," and left as well.

"Tongren Hospital, Mr. Li Xiang, are you really a doctor? We are also interning at a hospital in Beijing, and after studying for another six months, we will graduate." The girl showed a hint of envy on her face

I simply do not eat convenience foods; it is best to consume more fruits while traveling. Zhu Tong opened his travel bag, first taking out a compact Dell laptop, and then placing a pile of fruits on the table

Qin Miao got up and sat over, leaning in to whisper a few words into her ear. The three girls looked at Zhu Tong with light laughter.

There is more than 2,000 yuan in the leather bag in the back pocket, and the money on several credit cards does not exceed five digits; the train ticket is in the pocket on the other side. Zhu Tong assessed the situation and had already prepared to feign ignorance, allowing them to succeed.

After washing his face, Zhu Tong glanced out the car window. It was dark outside with hardly any lights visible. Checking the time, he realized there were still three hours until dawn

In the first hour, Zhu Tong quietly read a thick medical book in his hands; what mattered was not whether he could understand it, but whether others believed he could.

"We will arrive in Shanghai at dawn, shall we get to know each other?" Zhu Tong took out a business card and handed it over, at that moment he realized that the other party was also nearsighted but had not brought their glasses.

"Whether we are bothering you or not, you are well aware. We are done playing; you may leave now, right?" Qin Miao's face turned slightly red as she turned her gaze towards the window

Qin Miao's ears turned red, and she neither nodded nor shook her head, turning her face to look at Zhu Tong in confusion. If it were to save money, there were empty seats in this carriage, and she could sleep anywhere; if it were not for money, the sleeper tickets for this train were not in short supply, as the train's announcements had been reminding everyone to purchase sleeper tickets almost since the moment it departed.

The thin man quickly withdrew his hand that was holding the blade, looking innocently at Qin Miao; the fat man also glanced at Qin Miao and said helplessly: "I was bored in the middle of the night, saw you all having fun playing cards, thought I would join in. What’s wrong, miss? Am I disturbing you?"

The shared identity subtly brought them closer together. The girl blushed slightly and said softly, "My name is Qin Miao, and I am not very familiar with Shanghai either; my home is in Hangzhou."