The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 153: Going Back to Nan City Together? (Monthly Tickets 840+)_1

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Going Back to Nan City Together? (Monthly Tickets 840+)_1

The next morning, Niu Peng didn’t convene a mass meeting but instead went to each household very respectfully to do the work personally. He began by praising the villagers of Qijia Village for their high awareness and strong abilities; then he talked about the good times Qijia Village had this year, not only having enough food but also being able to distribute a fair amount of money; and finally, he described the dire straits of other disaster-stricken villages, with nothing to eat or drink, almost to the point of having to eat "Guanyin clay."

With the atmosphere set, Niu Peng took the opportunity to discuss the commune’s difficulties and broke down in tears again.

The villagers, simple and sincere, saw such a high-ranking official working himself to the bone for the common people, almost to the point of death, and so they agreed to let the unit manage the back mountain of Qijia Village until the heavy snow sealed off the mountain.

In just two days, Niu Peng had persuaded all the villagers to agree to the unit’s decision.

When He Tiantian heard about this, she was very impressed. This Niu Peng was quite a character.

With an uncle like Niu Dajun, Niu Da probably wouldn’t suffer a loss in this era.

In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth lunar month, and once the year-end money and food were distributed on the eighth day, young people from the city in TY County could buy tickets to go home.

The hustle and bustle of Qijia Village had nothing to do with He Tiantian, but she was more worried about Third Grandma Qi. Since she was going home for the New Year, Third Grandma Qi would be all alone in Qijia Village. If it had been before, although He Tiantian would have been reluctant, she would still have left to return to Nan City for the New Year.

But now, He Tiantian told herself she couldn’t do that!

She still remembered that, on the evening of the second day after her fainting spell, Grandma Qi personally carried the paper money and, braving the cold wind, wobbled on her small feet to the chaotic graveyard in the small forest, burning paper in sincere devotion to those ethereal yet mysterious spirits, praying for He Tiantian’s swift recovery.

Who else would do such a thing if not someone close to her heart?

Third Grandma Qi had no other relatives, and she treated He Tiantian as her own family.

Having received care and love from Third Grandma Qi, how could He Tiantian remain indifferent?

He Tiantian couldn’t bear to leave Grandma Qi alone for the New Year while she went back to Nan City to reunite with her parents. However, her parents had to work and probably wouldn’t get a seven-day holiday until the year’s end, making it not only grueling for them to come to Qijia Village in TY County but also restricting their stay to just two or three days before having to leave, leaving them little time together.

He Tiantian was troubled, so she found Qi Xiaoyan and shared her heartfelt thoughts with her.

After listening, Qi Xiaoyan patted He Tiantian’s shoulder, wrinkled her little nose, and teased, "Sister Tiantian, you’re so smart, how come you haven’t figured out a workaround? If your parents have to work and can’t come here, then you can take Third Grandma to Nan City!"

"Ah?" He Tiantian was stunned. She had always been thinking about how her parents couldn’t come over, but it never occurred to her that Third Grandma Qi could go to Nan City!

However, upon further thought, He Tiantian considered Grandma Qi’s age, the long train ride, which would take a day and a night, and how tiring it would be. She worried Grandma Qi’s body might not withstand the journey.

"But Grandma Qi is old..." He Tiantian hesitated, "What if something happens on the way..."

Qi Xiaoyan pursed her lips and said, "I’ve heard my father mention that Third Grandma Qi has always wanted to go to Nan City to see where her son used to study and work, and to look for any trace of him. But as you know, farm folks don’t have the time or the money, so it was always put off. If you truly want to repay Third Grandma Qi, talk to her and ask if she’s willing?"

He Tiantian, after listening to Qi Xiaoyan’s explanation, had an epiphany and mumbled to herself, "No wonder, I often heard Grandma Qi mention Nan City in front of me, then she would think of her son and become melancholic. So that’s why!"

"Yes, Third Grandma Qi might have bound feet, but her health has always been good. You go back and ask her, if she’s willing, she can go back to Nan City with you," said Qi Xiaoyan, also trying to help Third Grandma Qi fulfill her wish.

He Tiantian nodded and said, "Okay, I’ll go home now and talk to Grandma Qi. If she agrees to go to Nan City with me, I’ll take Grandma Qi home with me."

"Don’t worry about money. You can divide the money tomorrow. Grandma Qi will also get some money and things, it won’t cost you much," explained Qi Xiaoyan. "If you’re worried about leaving things at home, you can leave them at our house, and I’ll look after them for you."

"Mhm, that sounds good. I’ll be going now," said He Tiantian as she said her goodbyes and went home to discuss the matter with Grandma Qi.

He Tiantian carefully organized her thoughts before speaking to Third Grandma Qi, "Grandma Qi, the New Year is coming soon. Why don’t you come with me to Nan City to celebrate it?"

Nan City?

That was where her son had once been!

Grandma Qi’s eyes lit up when she heard this, but then she remembered that Nan City was He Tiantian’s hometown, and it was such a long journey. Tiantian was going home for the New Year; what was she going for? Maybe Tiantian was just being polite by inviting her.

Thinking this, Grandma Qi shook her head and said, "No, it’s too far, I’d better not go."

If Qi Xiaoyan hadn’t shared those words with He Tiantian, perhaps Tiantian would have missed the fleeting hope in Grandma Qi’s eyes.

He Tiantian carried a small stool over to sit at Grandma Qi’s feet, propped her chin with both hands, and said with a smile, "Grandma Qi, I can tell from your eyes that you want to go to Nan City. It’s not just because it’s my hometown, but also where your son studied and worked. You want to go and see the place, to look for traces of him."

Upon hearing He Tiantian’s words, Third Grandma Qi looked up, her chin trembling, her eyes filling with tears, and she clutched He Tiantian’s arms tightly with her dry hands, saying uncontrollably, "You girl, are you a roundworm in my stomach? How do you know everything I’m thinking!"

In less than half a year of getting to know each other, this girl had guessed everything in her heart.

Third Grandma Qi felt relieved. How could she have guessed if she didn’t truly care about her?

"Hehe, if it were me, I would also want to visit the place where a dear one disappeared," said He Tiantian with a touch of sadness, "Put yourself in others’ shoes. You, being so strong, probably think the same."

Third Grandma Qi pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief from the inside of her clothes, wiped her tears, and said with a choked voice, "Yes, I’ve dreamed of going to Nan City. But I am an old lady living alone, with bound feet, in such times. I never dared to go. Time has dragged on for so many years, and I still haven’t been to Nan City. I want to go there before I die. Even if I can’t find my son, I still want to see the place where he once stayed."

Seeing that Third Grandma Qi shared her heartfelt thoughts, He Tiantian guessed that she probably agreed to go to Nan City with her.

"Grandma Qi, since you want to go and your health is still fairly robust, you should come with me to fulfill your desire," said He Tiantian. "I have recognized you as my grandma, and my parents have agreed. By all rights, it should be my parents visiting you, but they don’t have vacation until the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and they go back to work on the sixth day of the new year. The round-trip on the train nearly takes three days, and over the New Year, train tickets are scarce and may not even be available. That’s why I thought of taking you back to Nan City with me."