Page 140 - updated on July

Yu Jihui: “A Stinking Old Ninth – A Tale of the Coal Capital” (updated on July 2020)

panic. I told her I was also a transient and couldn’t

afford to buy a train ticket. She smiled and said she

was from a village in Shan Dong province (Shan

Dong province is our neighbouring province. It is

separated from our province by the Bohai gulf).

Her village was too poor. She was going to a

relative of hers in the city of Hai Laer (a city about

200 kilometers from Man Zhouli). I told her that this

goods train was heading to Man Zhouli. She said she

knew, but she was not able to find a train to Hai Laer.

She decided to go to Man Zhouli first and then take a

bus to Hai Laer. She said she knew Hai Laer was not

far from Man Zhouli. Then I asked her why she left

home to go such long distance to look for her relative.

She said that life there was much easier. I told her I

was also going to see a friend in Man Zhouli. She

said she was happy to travel with me. Soon we

became friends. We chatted with enthusiasm.

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