The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 124 Teasing Little Sisters_1

Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Teasing Little Sisters_1

Niu Dajun’s character is well-known to everyone; he is a man worthy of someone’s lifelong trust.

Seeing that He Tiantian didn’t speak, Qi Xiaoyan turned her head, only to meet He Tiantian’s inquisitive gaze. Suddenly her face heated up, embarrassed, she lowered her head.

"Hehe, why are you blushing? I haven’t asked anything yet?" He Tiantian laughed, thinking that Qi Xiaoyan was just too adorable.

She not only laughed but also reached out to ruffle Qi Xiaoyan’s hair. She didn’t have a younger sister, and after spending time with Qi Xiaoyan, she unconsciously started treating this young girl as her own sister, often finding joy in teasing Qi Xiaoyan whenever possible.

Qi Xiaoyan, who always liked to be neat, quickly dodged away, pouting and said, "Sister Tiantian, my hair is all messed up now, laughing, that’s all you do, mocking me!"

"I... I didn’t mock you; you’re overthinking it. Besides, we’re talking about Brother Dajun, why would I mock you?" He Tiantian spread her hands in innocence, but even an idiot could tell that He Tiantian’s real interest wasn’t in the drink, but in the male and female gossip instead!

Qi Xiaoyan’s face turned even redder, but in a moment’s time, she mustered up the courage to lift her head and asked, "What do you think of Niu Dajun?"

"A good person, very nice." He Tiantian replied, "Kind-hearted, honest and straightforward, and to top it off, his mind is quite sharp. He has worked in the city before, is agile, and has a formal job. If it weren’t for the fact that I already have Brother Yingjie, I’d even think of..."

Hearing He Tiantian continuously praising Qi Dajun made Qi Xiaoyan very happy, but the words that followed made her heart jump to her throat. If... if Sister Tiantian also fancied Niu Dajun... then she couldn’t compare to Sister Tiantian in looks or prowess; she guessed she’d have no chance.

Anxious inside and unable to conceal it on her face, Qi Xiaoyan felt out of place and her mood plummeted.

"I’d even think of matchmaking him!" He Tiantian took a sharp turn, causing Qi Xiaoyan to be stunned.

Seeing He Tiantian’s teasing gaze, Qi Xiaoyan immediately realized that Sister Tiantian was messing with her. She reached out to tickle He Tiantian’s armpit, feigning anger, "He Tiantian, you really are the worst..."

"Hahaha!" He Tiantian laughed proudly, "Beating around the bush instead of speaking directly, I’ve learned this from you. Hehe, got scared, didn’t you?"

"Not at all!" Qi Xiaoyan refused to acknowledge that she indeed had been worried a moment ago, concerned that Sister Tiantian might have set her sights on Niu Dajun, leaving no chance for her.

Fortunately, Sister Tiantian already had Brother Yingjie.

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t admit it, but you are young while Brother Dajun isn’t. He’s already twenty, and his family will surely be arranging things for him soon." He Tiantian spoke slowly; such a good man should be claimed early. If someone else took notice of him, there would be regret too late for tears!

Upon hearing this, Qi Xiaoyan was lost in thought for a moment, then said in a low tone, "But Brother Dajun hasn’t said anything to me, and I’m too embarrassed to tell him not to go on blind dates!"

"What? Niu Dajun has nothing to do with you, so you truly have no say in who he meets." He Tiantian spoke earnestly, as if she had not detected the urgency in Qi Xiaoyan’s words.

He Tiantian secretly snickered inside, wanting to see Qi Xiaoyan’s anxious expression.

"Sister Tiantian!" Qi Xiaoyan protested, "You know everything, yet you still mock me. If you keep this up, I’m not going to bother with you anymore."

He Tiantian feigned surprise, blinking innocently as she responded, "You didn’t say anything—how could I possibly know anything?"

Qi Xiaoyan was taken aback once more, indeed, she hadn’t said anything, and Sister Tiantian could very well claim to know nothing!

Qi Xiaoyan fell silent, her mood sinking even further.

He Tiantian knew Qi Xiaoyan was a girl of delicate sentiments and frail health, reminiscent of Lin Daiyu in her demeanor. Her earlier words might have led Qi Xiaoyan to overthink.

"Xiao Yan, how has Brother Dajun been treating you?" He Tiantian stopped teasing Qi Xiaoyan and started offering sisterly advice, hoping Qi Xiaoyan’s wishes would come true.

Qi Xiaoyan, with her head lowered, whispered, "Brother Dajun is quite nice to me, but he’s nice to everyone else, too. I don’t know what to say about it?"

He Tiantian probed further, "Then... do you feel that Brother Dajun treats you in any special way?"

"During the days you went back to your hometown, Brother Dajun gave me a pair of very pretty leather shoes—does that count as special?" Qi Xiaoyan said softly. It was from that moment on that she confirmed in her heart that Niu Dajun had feelings for her. But since Niu Dajun never expressed them, treating her more like a little sister, Qi Xiaoyan was unsure whether it was interaction between a man and a woman or just sibling affection.

"A pair of pretty leather shoes?" He Tiantian was genuinely surprised this time, "That would cost Brother Dajun ten days’ wages, and he just bought them to give to you?"

"Yes," nodded Qi Xiaoyan, "I accepted the shoes, but my parents still don’t know. If my dad found out, he definitely wouldn’t let me keep them. I don’t even know how to explain it to my family. But if I refuse them, Brother Dajun gets angry."

He Tiantian thought for a moment and said solemnly, "Trust your intuition!"

"Are you saying that Brother Dajun really does have feelings for me?" Qi Xiaoyan asked excitedly, "It’s not... just me imagining things?"

He Tiantian looked at the young girl experiencing the stirrings of love for the first time and felt secretly delighted. She continued, "Considering how close your family is to Niu Dajun’s family, would your brother, or you, spend nearly ten dollars on a pair of leather shoes for Niu Dajun’s sister if it were just out of consideration for the relationship between the two families?"

"No way!" Qi Xiaoyan shook her head eagerly, affirming that neither she nor her brother would do such a thing.

"But Niu Dajun did, and what does that tell you? You’re so clever, don’t you know what it means in your heart?" He Tiantian retorted. Indeed, with Qi Xiaoyan’s intelligence, she had probably felt it long ago, and by accepting the shoes from Niu Dajun, she was in some sense already accepting him.

It was just that Niu Dajun had only given her the shoes, without any confession, which made Qi Xiaoyan cautious about being certain of his feelings. The restraint and shyness characteristic of women prevented Qi Xiaoyan from voicing her thoughts.

"Is it... no... yes..." Qi Xiaoyan’s face turned even redder, stuttering timidly.

Just then, they heard Qi Fangfang laughing ahead, "Brother Dajun, have you come to deliver a letter?"

Upon hearing the words "Brother Dajun," both He Tiantian and Qi Xiaoyan immediately followed Qi Fangfang’s gaze, looking towards the left front.

There was Niu Dajun’s bicycle, parked by the small grove at the entrance of the village, as if waiting for someone. As for Qi Fangfang, setting aside what she was like on the inside, her outgoing nature and readiness to greet everyone with a smile made her quite likable, especially to those who didn’t know her or her family well—they tended to think highly of the family.