Starting as a Train Driver to Enter the Ministry
Chapter 20 - Swallowing the Bitter Pill!

Chapter 20: Swallowing the Bitter Pill!

Chen Shi’s exaggerated howls and Old Chen Han’s furious curses echoed through the entire courtyard, even reaching the neighboring compounds.

Of course, Chen Shi’s cries of pain were entirely fake. After twenty years in the Chen household, he knew exactly how to dodge Old Chen Han’s stick—which direction to duck, when to bolt the moment his father turned around.

The eastern courtyard was in an uproar. At the gate, Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu stood with grim expressions.

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth. “Dongxu, when it comes down to it, this is your mother’s fault. Borrowing the Chen family’s camphorwood chest should’ve come with sending them a meat dish—that’s the neighborhood custom. But your mother tried to skimp, and Chen Shi exploited that loophole.”

“Now Old Chen Han’s making a show of disciplining his son. We can’t very well confront them. When you return the chest later, don’t send it empty—put some wedding candies inside.”

Jia Dongxu stared blankly. Not only could he not demand justice, but he also had to give away candy?

Was there anything more humiliating in this world?

Yi Zhonghai sighed. Old Chen Han had played this perfectly. If he and Jia Dongxu barged in now, they wouldn’t just lose the banquet—they’d sacrifice his hard-earned reputation as the neighborhood’s kind-hearted elder.

His standing had already risen thanks to Chen Shi’s stunt. Sacrificing both face and material gains? Unthinkable.

This bitter pill, they’d have to swallow.

Dusk approached under leaden skies threatening snow. A sullen Jia Dongxu and Silly Zhu carried the camphorwood chest back to the Chen residence.

Chen Shi lay dramatically on the heated brick bed, groaning pitifully until they left. Only then did Tian Xiulan bring out the medicated oil to massage Old Chen Han’s sore back.

“Honestly, at your age, why lose your temper like that? Our boy never schemes unless provoked. He only pulled this because Yi Zhonghai publicly called our family ‘medicine pots.’ He was standing up for you!”

“And you—glaring, fuming, swinging that stick without even grazing him while he howled loud enough for the whole alley to hear! Was it worth throwing out your back for this act?”

Old Chen Han snorted. “What do you know? That fox Yi Zhonghai went through all that trouble for Jia Dongxu’s banquet. If I hadn’t put on this show, he’d have come demanding explanations. What if he ruined our boy’s reputation?”

“My son—no matter how unruly—only I get to discipline him. Don’t think the brat didn’t know I was pretending. Not a single thread on his clothes got touched, yet he wailed like the sky was falling!”

“Hmph! This performance was for the whole courtyard. Now who’d have the face to come causing trouble?”

Tian Xiulan shook her head. “You’d move mountains for him, yet all he gets is your scowls. What’s the point?”

“Bah, women don’t understand these things. Hand me my work logs—I’ll summarize key points for the boy.”

Tian Xiulan nodded. “I’ll prepare for tomorrow’s bridal visit. We should bring extra—it’s almost New Year’s. Who knows if your parents’ leg pains have flared up again.”

“Take the day off work?”

“Yes. This railway exam comes first. After, I’ll introduce him to the train crews—assistant drivers, engineers, foremen.”

“Let’s hope he grabs this chance. Who knows when the next will come?”

Unease flickered in Tian Xiulan’s heart. After all, Chen Shi was functionally illiterate.

Chen Maihua piped up, “Dad, if Brother passes, can he become a train driver? I hear they’re really impressive!”

Old Chen Han laughed. “Not so easy! I’ve been a fireman for years and never made assistant driver. If that rascal becomes one within eight years, our ancestors must be burning heavenly incense!”

Chen Maihua pouted. So much for boasting at school about her engineer brother—he’d still just be shoveling coal.

In bed, Chen Shi sidled up to Shen Youchu. “You missed me, didn’t you? Too shy to say?”

Her cheeks burned crimson. Tears welled in her peach-blossom eyes. “I… I didn’t!”

The stammered denial only made her cry harder.

That snowy night, Chen Shi dreamed of driving a mighty steam locomotive, charging up impossible slopes.

Pistons pounding, golden sparks flying as they roared through tunnels. Emerging into sunlit valleys, steel wheels grinding tracks with primal friction.

Push harder! More steam!

Clanking, hissing, the train crested the summit—

Chen Shi yanked the release valve.

Scalding spray erupted.

So this was the glory of being an engineer! Though he hadn’t even taken the exam, the dream kindled a new longing.

Dawn broke gray. Feathery snow still fell, blanketing the courtyard’s blue-gray bricks in thick white.

“Whew, quite the snowfall!”

Chen Shi opened the door to a faceful of icy wind, hunching into his threadbare patched coat.

Yi Zhonghai was already sweeping snow from the flagstones, broom scratching rhythmically.

“Up early, Uncle Yi?”

Yan Bugui emerged in a brown corduroy coat and wire-frame glasses—clearly a cut above Old Chen Han and Yi Zhonghai’s working-class attire.

Yi Zhonghai smiled. “Labor brings honor! The Deaf Old Lady hasn’t walked in days. Wouldn’t want her slipping.”

“Old Yan, better clear your path before it packs down. Wouldn’t want our delicate intellectual catching cold!”

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses. “As the Chairman said—intellectuals must labor too!” He began sweeping.

The Deaf Old Lady shuffled out, bundled in layers, head wrapped in a faded scarf. “Heavens, what timely snow! Just yesterday the street committee planned snow removal.”

“Careful, Granny! Call us next time—we’ll clear your path!”

“Pah! These old bones still work!”

“Uncle Chen, need extra coal briquettes? I’ve got spares,” called a neighbor.

Old Chen Han waved. “We’re set! This snow promises good harvests next year!”

Yi Zhonghai chuckled. “Your and Jia’s storerooms will overflow! Both your new daughters-in-law have family plots in Qin Village.”