The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 125: Matters of the Heart between Men and Women (600+) _1

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Matters of the Heart between Men and Women (600+) _1

Niu Dajun was taken aback, but he was steady and kept his composure, especially cautious in front of others, particularly when he saw Qi Xiaoyan not far behind Qi Fangfang. He didn’t show any sign of happiness, fearing it might cause trouble for Qi Xiaoyan.

"That’s not it, Village Chief Qi asked me to buy some medicine for Xiao Yan, and I was on my way to deliver it," Niu Dajun said as he stood up, no longer sitting on the stone by the roadside. "Xiao Yan, hurry up, I still have to deliver messages to other villages!"

He Tiantian looked at Qi Xiaoyan and asked with a laugh, "Did Uncle Qi really ask him to buy it?"

Qi Xiaoyan blushed, shook her head, and quickly walked over.

He Tiantian followed closely, chuckling to herself, thinking these two were really interesting.

Only then did Qi Fangfang notice Qi Xiaoyan and He Tiantian behind her.

Qi Fangfang was a very clever girl, seeing Qi Xiaoyan’s unusually rosy cheeks instead of her usual pallor, she asked with a smile, "Sister Xiao Yan, why is your face so red?"

"Hehe, I walked too fast," Qi Xiaoyan replied, though the excuse didn’t seem very convincing.

Mother Qi’s restless eyes swept back and forth over Qi Xiaoyan and Niu Dajun!

So gossipy!

Perhaps Mother Qi wouldn’t report Qi Xiaoyan and Niu Dajun, but her mouth could run wild, saying whatever troublesome things, and that was unpredictable.

He Tiantian didn’t want Qi Xiaoyan and Niu Dajun’s personal matters to be criticized by others before they had sorted things out themselves, so she added, "Oh my, I did a great deed today. Comrade Zuo, Comrade Xiang, and I went up the mountain to gather wild goods and saw two big wild boars fall into a crevice. The pigs have already been carried to the village committee. If we walk fast now, we can go see the pig being butchered and the meat distributed."

"Wild boar? Distributing pork?" Mother Qi raised her voice, looking incredulous.

Ever since someone in the village got hurt by a wild boar, nobody had gone hunting in the back mountains. Most importantly, the game caught would mostly be kept for personal use in the past, but now, catching a wild boar meant having only a small share for oneself while the rest was divided among the entire village. Therefore, it’d been a long time since anyone was willing to take the risk of hunting, and naturally, there was no wild boar meat to distribute.

As for the pigs in the village, after fulfilling their quotas, only one or two were slaughtered each year. The share each family received wasn’t much, and it was only during New Year’s; usually, wanting to eat some meat was problematic!

"Yeah, that’s why we ran so fast, to help out," He Tiantian said. "You should hurry too, don’t be late!"

"Right, we need to walk fast, Fangfang, don’t dawdle, come on and go home with me to help." Mother Qi, as if worried about getting less pork if they were late or if too few people showed up, pulled on Qi Fangfang’s arm, hurrying her forward.

Qi Fangfang wanted to say a few more words, to tease Qi Xiaoyan, but her mother was strong and she had to follow along.

"I’ll come find you to play later!" Qi Fangfang said reluctantly before she left. Going early wouldn’t get you more, and going late wouldn’t get you less.

Qi Xiaoyan and He Tiantian didn’t respond.

"Brother Dajun, we’re getting pork distributed at home today, don’t go," Qi Xiaoyan said, trying to keep him there. "Don’t just stand here, hurry back with me."

"No need, I’ll just give you the stuff and then I’m off." In front of He Tiantian, Niu Dajun felt a bit embarrassed.

He Tiantian laughed and urged, "Go on, capturing two big wild boars was largely thanks to me. Secretary Qi said I would get quite a bit of meat! Later, I’ll cut some for you and Sister Lili, and you can take it home to eat."

"No... no need!" Niu Dajun was a bit nervous, fumbling with his hands.

"If you won’t come home for dinner with me, I won’t take your medicine or shoes," Qi Xiaoyan said discontentedly. Whether it was the shoes or the medicine, she wanted to pay, but Niu Dajun simply refused, as if he had feelings for her, yet he said nothing.

It’s so frustrating being in this ambiguous situation!

Today, Sister Tiantian had analyzed some things for her, and she wanted to ask him directly to clarify.

"Go ahead, Brother Dajun," He Tiantian also urged, noticing how Mother Qi was scanning them suspiciously just earlier. If things weren’t clarified soon, Qi Xiaoyan would inevitably be gossiped about in the village.

With no good way to decline, Niu Dajun finally agreed, "Then I’ll impose. Take the medicine, please. I asked the doctor, and he said it’s better than what you’re currently taking. You must follow the instructions exactly."

Qi Xiaoyan took the medicine and glanced sideways at He Tiantian. Seeing that He Tiantian wasn’t looking, she quickly stuffed it into her pocket.

Niu Dajun felt embarrassed, opened his mouth to explain but ended up saying nothing.

Xiao Yan was young, perhaps she didn’t understand his feelings at all. He feared rejection from Xiao Yan, that afterward, they wouldn’t even be able to be friends, nor could he find excuses to visit and check on her anymore.

All three harbored their own thoughts as they headed back to the village together.

Niu Dajun and Qi Xiaoyan went back to their home, while He Tiantian returned to Third Grandma Qi’s place.

When Third Grandma Qi heard that He Tiantian had actually gone hunting in the mountains, and seeing He Tiantian all dirty, she quickly asked with concern, "You’re not hurt, are you?"

"Not at all, I run really fast, the wild boars couldn’t catch up with me," He Tiantian said proudly, "When I get my share of the pork, I’ll make you some braised pork ribs."

"Hehe, my teeth aren’t good anymore, I can’t chew anything, you should keep it for yourself," Third Grandma Qi said, "Just get me a few big bones, I’d be happy just to have some bone soup."

"I’m making the bone soup and the braised pork ribs. My cooking is different from the locals here, you’ll definitely find it tasty," He Tiantian smiled, "That’s a specialty from our Nan City, it tastes really good."

Third Grandma Qi didn’t hold back anymore and laughed, "Then this old lady will have to try it; it’s a gift from my granddaughter."

"That’s right, you’re thinking correctly," He Tiantian said while she poured out the pine nuts from the bamboo basket onto the ground to dry them.

"Oh my, these are some fine pine nuts!" Third Grandma Qi said, "Bring them here, spread them out to dry, they’ll dry faster. Once they are dry, I’ll roast them in the pot for you, they’ll be delicious!"

He Tiantian loved to snack on these treats, "Okay, let’s peel them together, I can’t wait to eat some."

"Go, go, go, wash your hair, wash your face, change your clothes, a pretty girl shouldn’t be looking like a beggar," Third Grandma Qi urged. She had been clean all her life and couldn’t stand to see young girls looking unkempt.

He Tiantian chuckled and went to wash up and change her clothes.

By the time He Tiantian had changed and washed her hair, Third Grandma Qi had already peeled a large basinful.

"These are dry enough; I’ll roast them for you now," Third Grandma Qi said, "You tie up your hair with a towel and come help me with the fire."

"Aye!" He Tiantian agreed enthusiastically, following Third Grandma Qi to the cooking hut. Every time Third Grandma Qi cooked something, the snacks and treats always left He Tiantian full of praise.