Chapter 002: The Identity Card of the Mysterious Woman

When the cleaning lady handed me the wallet and asked me to check if the money was sufficient, I opened the wallet and my expression changed immediately

Crystal Palace cigarettes

I am puzzled and ask: The little girl simply forgot to bring money; is it really necessary to be so heartless

I remember very clearly that all the strange occurrences began on that day. Initially, I lost my wallet, but later it was found on the last row of seats on the bus, discovered by a colleague while cleaning the bus.

If a passenger encounters a problem on the vehicle, the driver and the ticket seller are responsible

I said okay, uncle, please ask you again

Could it be that there are still some counterfeit vendors who specifically produce these discontinued cigarettes? Thinking about it, that doesn't seem right either, as the counterfeit cigarettes are usually imitations of high-priced brands like Zhonghua, Yuxi, and Furongwang. Who would bother imitating such cheap products?

After returning from the evening departure, Chen Wei would sometimes still be awake and would pull me to have a couple of drinks. Things passed by so mundanely, but on the Friday of the second week, I encountered that little girl again who didn't have money for the bus.

Chen Wei once said that parking is not allowed at the station. I slowed down a bit and turned my head to say: "Little girl, there are so many empty seats, why don't you sit down? Be careful not to fall."

I am merely applying for the position of a bus driver for Route 14; does this have anything to do with the size of one's courage

I cannot make sense of this matter

I took another puff and felt that the taste is very similar to that of Crystal Palace cigarettes. Because of wwwhetushu.com, during my childhood, I would light firecrackers during the New Year, always imitating the adults by lighting a cigarette. Just before it went out, I would take a couple of puffs. I vaguely feel that the taste is quite similar!

With a thud, after listening to my words, Chen Wei dropped the disposable cup in his hand directly onto the ground, spilling liquor everywhere. He quickly bent down to pick up the cup and, with a mouth full of alcohol, said to me: "Oh, little brother, you mustn't say that to her again. She just wants to smile at you, and you shouldn't let her smile, understand"

She appears to be about thirteen years old, and her attire does not resemble that of a child from a poor family. It is possible that her parents are strict, not giving her pocket money, or perhaps she is indulgent, spending the money for her bus fare on snacks instead.

Who would have thought that the man would rush over from his seat, his face full of anger, and say to me: "Do not stop! Keep going, young man, you won't go wrong by listening to me!"

When the bus returned, the little girl from Meili City was still standing foolishly under the bus stop sign. I glanced at her through the window, and she stood there motionless, smiling at me.

I nodded and smiled in return

The middle-aged man said: Nonsense, let that kid Chen Wei try to criticize you

When the last bus of Route 14 reached Meili City, I spotted the expressionless little girl from a distance before the bus even approached the stop sign. Just as I was about to stop the bus, a voice suddenly came from the back of the carriage: Don't stop!

Chen Wei had a bit too much to drink. At this moment, he squinted his eyes and said with a meaningful smile: Don't mind her, that little girl has no money, just let her sit there, it's fine.

He no longer paid attention to me, returning to his seat without a word. This situation left me utterly perplexed, as if I were lost in a fog.

I sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought, carefully recalling the young man who had handed me the cigarette. I wondered where he had obtained such a cigarette. Could it be from his father's collection? However, considering that cigarettes, even if stored for just a few months, would become moldy and develop fuzz, it seemed unlikely.

Both of these women are ticket collectors on bus route 69. I rarely eat in the cafeteria, and I have only seen them once or twice, but I do not understand the meaning behind their words.

Perhaps she does not love to smile

I did not pay attention to their words either; I merely glanced back at them, and they immediately pretended to be seriously eating.

Could it be that she has hemorrhoids? Does her bottom hurt when she sits down?

Little did anyone know, the girl shook her head in a daze, her face showing not a trace of expression

Yes, I admit that the safety of the old No. 14 bus is quite poor, but if I drive slowly at night, wouldn't that be sufficient

I feel that children should be more vibrant and energetic; maintaining a stern expression is not good. A smile can touch the world, and a smile is the universal language in this world

After she got in the car, she asked: Uncle, if I have no money, will you let me ride and borrow books?

I shook him several times; he mumbled and seemed quite drunk. I had Chen Wei help him to his dormitory, and I went to rest.

For two consecutive months, every Friday, I would meet the little girl at the Charm City station on time. She never brought any money. Later, when I returned to the main station after my shift, I chatted and drank with Chen Wei, mentioning this matter.

I took a sip of wine and nodded, saying: Yes, she never brings money, and regardless of whether there are empty seats or not, she stands in the middle of the carriage. I suggested that we add more handrails to enhance passenger safety. What do you think, Brother Chen?

While speaking, that guy actually came over and grabbed my steering wheel, even extending his foot to press the accelerator. Watching him shift gears, press the accelerator, and grip the steering wheel in a series of actions was almost seamless. I felt he must be an experienced driver who has been driving for many years, and he was also familiar with this old-fashioned Blue Star bus

This brand of cigarettes was produced by the Quwo Cigarette Factory in Shanxi and has been discontinued for over a decade

For a month now, I have noticed that every Friday, this little girl boards the bus at the Charm City stop right on time. Moreover, she never has any money on her, and each time she asks me pitifully whether she can ride the bus without paying.

He cast a disdainful glance at me and said: "Young people are like this, they don't care about anything. Anyway, if you let her get in the car again, you will be in big trouble"

Upon hearing his words, I was taken aback for a moment. He continued, "I used to drive this very car, working the night shift, making the last run of the night. Young man, you can't go wrong by listening to me. If you encounter that young girl again, just make sure not to let her on the bus."

The little girl looked at me, saying nothing. I then asked, can you hold my hand?

At twelve o'clock at night, I departed from the house shop on time. When the vehicle arrived at the Sunjiaban stop, a middle-aged man, approximately fifty years old, boarded. After he inserted his coin, instead of directly walking to the seats at the back, he first gave me a polite smile.

The little girl then reached out to grab the iron pole inside the carriage, and I felt a bit more at ease, thinking to myself how strange this little girl was, with so many empty seats available, why didn't she go and sit down

What major trouble am I asking about again

As soon as I spoke, Chen Wei's expression changed. He quietly asked me: Does that young girl take the last bus every Friday?

Another person, with a hint of gloating, whispered: An old man just left, and now a bold young man has arrived; this young fellow must be in need of money as well

Chen Wei seemed to be drunk, his eyes were bleary as he spoke. But I wasn't drunk. I pressed on, asking: "Brother Chen, why is that?"

Chen Wei lay on the table, mumbling something unintelligible, and unexpectedly fell asleep like that

"Uncle, why can't we park at this regular stop?" After saying this, I prepared to park the car at the Meili City stop.

This time there were not many people on the bus. I saw that little girl in the rearview mirror; after getting on the bus, she stood in the aisle. There were many empty seats next to her, but she just wouldn't sit down

I was taken aback and turned to look behind me. The person speaking to me was a middle-aged man in his fifties, of short stature, no more than 1.65 meters tall, and somewhat balding

Before the vehicle reached the stop at Charm City, it rushed straight past. I turned around and shouted at him: You are disturbing public order! If I receive complaints from passengers, I will be criticized!

The next day, I woke up to find it was already noon. I had drunk a bit too much the night before, and my head was pounding. When I went to the cafeteria for a meal, I was still feeling groggy. Just as I sat down with my food, I overheard two women in the back quietly discussing: "Look, look, this is the new 14 bus driver."

As soon as this sordid thought surfaced in my mind, I shook my head vigorously; after all, the little girl is only in her teens, how could someone so young possibly have hemorrhoids

I nodded, clinked glasses with Chen Wei, and then said: However, this little girl is quite strange. I have invited her to take the bus with me so many times, yet she never shows even the slightest expression or smiles at me.

Once again, there were no passengers on the bus, just the little girl and me. I said: How about this, if you smile at uncle, uncle will let you ride the bus, okay?

The next day, as usual, the bus departed at twelve o'clock. This time, I did not encounter the young man who used to offer cigarettes. I had been traveling for several days, and I still had not seen him again