Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Facing this derogatory term, Yu Yue was deeply troubled and frowned, but realizing that the other person might be one of the few who knew Su Huan’s background, she could only suppress her emotions and ask, ”Is Su Huan’s... home here?”

”Home?”

The woman chewed on the word, then as if hearing the funniest joke, she burst into laughter, her head thrown back, her disheveled white hair shaking violently, each laugh hoarse and strained, then pointed at Su Huan’s back, ”That harbinger of death, and a home?”

”Hahahaha...”

Then abruptly stopped, turning to Yu Yue, gripping the bed frame with both hands, her upper body almost suspended in mid-air.

Her legs dangled emptily, her murky, bloodshot eyes staring at Yu Yue, like a ghost climbing out of hell to claim a life.

In a few snickers, she whispered, ”His real parents were long cursed to death by him! If I hadn’t taken him in, he’d have already rotted away in some garbage heap!”

As she spoke, her eyes rolled wildly, trembling toward Su Huan’s back.

The stench hit Yu Yue in the face, her almond-shaped eyes lowered, but she didn’t take a step back, her voice turned indifferent, ”Then do you know a man who loads coal—”

The woman’s face grew increasingly mocking, then interrupted Yu Yue, ”Tall and thin? High school dropout? Wears glasses, not much of a talker?”

”Wife with just an elementary education, fiery-tempered?”

”Where are they?”

”Dead!” The woman’s eyes widened, suddenly laughed, ”They’re dead too hahahaha...”

The already hoarse voice shattered into laughter.

Using a ghostly voice, she vividly mimicked to Yu Yue.

...

Outside the window, the cold wind whipped against the window frame, a small figure stood before the window, watching the yard outside, a layer of snow covered the trampoline, with this weather the director surely wouldn’t let him go out to play.

But he wasn’t waiting for that.

Soon, a coal-loading truck pulled in, the driver turned off the engine and sat in the cab smoking.

A couple got off the back of the truck, exchanged a few words, the woman wrapped her head with a scarf, the pair grabbed elongated shovels and began unloading coal from the truck, working for two hours, their whole bodies emitting wisps of white vapor.

The woman seemed to hurt her hand, the man immediately dropped his shovel to check on her, but didn’t know how to handle it, could only tightly grip her hand, standing there dazed, after a while took off the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around her, even though she was already wrapped thickly.

”Don’t entertain unrealistic fantasies, that’s your fate, accept it, you need to think about what you can offer others, otherwise why would anyone want a child of unknown origin?”

A tall, thin woman came up from behind, her cheeks slender, deep nasolabial folds.

The child turned his head, revealing a pair of slim, beautiful eyes, ”I don’t want to go to that home anymore, I want to be their child, is that okay?”

The woman looked outside at the couple with some astonishment, her gaze softened slightly.

”But they have no money, following them means no good life...”

The boy’s hands holding his slightly upturned mouth, eyes expectant, ”Do I look good when I smile?”

The door was opened, the couple wanted to come indoors to warm up.

The boy quickly ran over, brought over two chairs for them, then fetched hot water.

The young couple was somewhat surprised, repeatedly praised the child for being sensible.

”Sis, this kid’s real nice, what’s his name?”

The woman embraced the boy, looking at the nearby orphanage director.

”His name was given by the leader, Su Huan.”

”Hey? That sounds good, cultural people truly are different...”

The woman half-jokingly said, ”Why not come with me?”

Xiaosu Huan nodded repeatedly.

The woman was stunned for a second until the man tugged her hand to bring her back to reality.

The director quickly mediated, saying, ”Don’t rush back, it’s not easy to come over, why don’t you stay for a meal?”

The woman repeatedly declined, ”Still have goods to unload later, come again when there’s a chance.”

Xiaosu Huan’s eyes dimmed slightly, but still acted like he didn’t understand a thing, cheerfully seeing the couple off.

In the days following, the couple indeed came many times, each time bringing some treats, their affection growing deeper.

Until one day, the woman holding Xiaosu Huan’s hand, with some expectations asked, ”Do you like me?”

Xiaosu Huan pretended to be calm, nodded, restrainedly, ”I like.”

”Then how about being my son in the future?”

”Okay.”

Xiaosu Huan felt his heart was about to leap out, but still maintained the most appropriate smile.

It’s winter again, procedures in small places processed quickly, today was the day Su Huan would leave the orphanage.

The director helped pack his luggage while tirelessly reminding, ”Respect elders in your new home, keep clean, nobody likes a dirty child, smile more, avoid tantrums, no matter what happens, always smile...”

Not much clothing, yet the director repeatedly packed meticulously.

Su Huan lay by the window, black eyes brimming with bits of anticipation.

Until the snowflakes grew from specks to goose feather size, two familiar figures finally appeared at the doorstep, carrying large and small bags, faces smiling.

Su Huan impatiently opened the door, just rushing out, hearing a piercing horn, an out-of-control truck crashed into the yard, dragging the two under the vehicle until stopping by the willow tree, the trunk marked with a nearly snapped trace.

Miscellaneous items scattered everywhere, a roll of blood-stained fresh lamb landed at Su Huan’s feet.

The small silhouette stood amidst the snow, bewildered by the screams and chaos around him, recalling the director’s reminders, pulling his mouth into a smile, his eyes sorrowful.