From Guangzhou back on the high-speed rail, I carry a shoulder bag, left hand carrying a duffel bag, right hand pulling a suitcase, all the way stumbling to find my seat.
But the seat was occupied.
A raw-looking young man was sprawled out on a small tabletop playing a game.
I said, "Are you in my seat?
He rolled his eyes and looked at me for a second: Do you have a ticket?
Because I've had more than one experience with losing a ticket, after I've had my ticket checked at the station, I've stashed it solidly in my card case, which I again keep in a hidden pocket on the inside of my quilt.
I put down my suitcase, then my duffel bag, and with great difficulty fumbled the ticket out and handed it to him.
He kept charging through the game, not looking up at all, let alone at the ticket I handed him, and pointed to the seat next to him:
"This seat is mine, you sit."
"Why don't you take your own seat?" I couldn't help but ask.
He was still busy playing:
"This seat is quiet, and I need to concentrate on my game."
He suddenly rolled his eyes up to look at me again:
"It's the same wherever you sit, right big sis?"
I looked at his headlines from exerting himself so hard with a "big sister" that left me speechless.
I had to take a seat in his place. The luggage rack was full, so the only way was to tuck my large bag under the seat.
The train started and I drifted off to sleep.
At one stop, a wave of people came up.
A girl with a ticket stood next to me, "Sis, are you sitting in my seat."
I froze and nudged the young man next to me, "What the hell is going on here?"
The young man lazily looked up from his game, "My seat is in the other compartment, I'm too lazy to walk there, why don't you go?"
He took the ticket and gave it to the girl, who ignored him and just said to me, "Please let me have my seat.
The young man took the ticket again and said to me, "Sister, why don't you go?"
I gave him a blank look, "I'll call the passenger police."
The young man gave me a blank look, stood up, and walked away.
When he was leaving, he kicked my bag that was under the seat, "Big sister, get such a big bag? You are sweeping the goods, right? They are all high-fashion white horses, right?"