COLD RAIN

CHAPTER 5

On the day of departure, several residents from the neighbourhood came to see them off.

They didn't use the bus tickets to the city. After Benz refunded the tickets and came out of the station, he saw Sammy and Pon standing on the side of the road with colourful plastic bags in their hands.

Aunt Lisa was pushing a bag of boiled eggs into Pon's hands and when she saw Benz coming, she turned to hand them to him, "Go, go, don't miss the train. The eggs are soft boiled, eat them on the road."

The pickup truck was owned by Aunt Lisa's family and she had offered to take them to the city the day before, saying that it was along the way for them.

Sammy didn't want to bother them, so she woke up early and prepared to sneak out, but when she opened the door, Aunt Lisa's truck was already parked at the door with its headlights on.

That was why Benz was refunding the tickets just now.

Their family was sitting in the back row seats. Pon heard the cooing sound from behind and couldn't help but turn his head to look at the big white geese in the steel cage in the cargo box.

Sammy saw that he was interested and said, "Let's go to a restaurant to eat geese in the capital."

Benz was in a good mood because he was about to see his idol, so he took off his headphones and said, "He wants to raise it at home, not eat it."

Uncle Tay, who was driving, laughed: "This is a bird of prey. You cultured people cannot raise it. If you like them, come to our house to see them in the future. Pick one and take it home to kill and eat."

Pon pursed his lips and smiled in response.

He had lived in a big house since he was born, with a dedicated housekeeper waiting on him at all times.

He had never been in such a truck, never seen a goose run around and never knew that neighbours could get along so well.

Because of being equipped with a large bag of food, the family only spent money on mineral water during a nearly twelve-hour train journey.

Pon, who had occasionally travelled by plane, took a long-distance train for the first time.

He had a shelled boiled egg in one hand and a hot pig's trotters in the other, but he had no time to taste them.

He stared out the window intently. Golden wheat fields and low houses passed by and even the ordinary sight of the sun setting seemed unbearable to miss.

After Benz finished his share, he coveted the trotters in Pon's hand.

Pon simply gave it to him. Benz gnawed on it and asked, "What's so nice to look at? Be careful, if your neck gets stiff, you won't be able to twist it back."

Pon smiled at him, proving that he was okay, then turned his head and continued to look out the window.

When he was studying painting, he often went out to sketch.

He had seen many more beautiful sceneries than this, but this time he felt different.

The train was speeding on the tracks, the clouds in the sky were floating very slowly, there were children crying and people whispering to each other all around.

Everything seemed to be telling him - you are still alive.

Only if you live, can you perceive this beauty.

Only if you live, you will not be left behind.

It was dinner time when they arrived in the capital.

After checking in the booked hotel, they immediately went out to eat.