The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 155: On the Train_1

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: On the Train_1

Although Village Chief Qi was very curious, his expression remained unchanged. He was also afraid of upsetting the strong-willed Second Uncle Qi!

"Alright, I’ll write you a proof, and I’ll buy the train tickets as well," Secretary Qi said. "As for He Tiantian, I’ll talk to her. If her family has a house, you won’t need to stay in a guesthouse."

Upon hearing this, Old Man Qi waved his large hand and said, "No need to say more. As long as Girl Tian has a room at her place, she won’t let me stay in a guesthouse. If there isn’t a room, I won’t squeeze in with them; I’ll go to the guesthouse myself."

Village Chief Qi was taken aback again. With such a strong character, he was always so direct and never sweated the small stuff.

"Then I won’t speak to her," Secretary Qi said. He wasn’t worried about Second Uncle Qi being short of money; Second Uncle Qi hadn’t spent much of the money he received over the years and probably had enough.

After Old Man Qi went back, he dug out two sets of green clothes from his trunk. He removed the merit medals from them, leaving behind two pieces of quality clothing.

Village Chief Qi quickly wrote the proof and, while he was submitting the material distribution form at the office, he asked Niu Dajun to buy three sleeper tickets, two of which were lower bunks for the two elders. Since He Tiantian was young, he got her an upper bunk. After all, everyone wanted lower bunks, but with only so many available, getting two was thanks to having connections.

The holiday was quite long; they just needed to return before the tenth day of the first lunar month. To be on the safe side, He Tiantian wrote another leave application, stamped it, and left the number of days blank, to fill in later as needed.

Right before the trip, Third Grandma Qi and He Tiantian found out that Old Man Qi was also going to Nan City. So, when making the food for the road, they made an extra portion for one more person.

He Tiantian learned how to make scallion pancakes from her mother, Wang Shuping—soft and fragrant. Even without any dishes, they were satisfying to eat soaked in hot water.

At Third Grandma Qi’s house, they had several chickens that laid quite a few eggs. Third Grandma Qi boiled forty eggs, more than enough for three people to eat. One big package contained a change of clothes for them. Although it was bulky, it wasn’t heavy.

Old Man Qi had even fewer things. He packed his clothes in one package, while all the grain coupons and money were kept in the pockets of the clothes he wore.

He Tiantian didn’t have much either. Since she would return after the new year, there were still clothes to change into at her home in Nan City. As for the hundreds of sorted pheasants and wild chickens she had prepared earlier, they were all stored in the Barrier Space of Snake King. Another package contained the game meat He Tiantian brought, bulging at the seams.

Once they were ready, Village Chief Qi and Qi Ergou personally drove them to the train station in an ox cart.

Village Chief Qi bought a platform ticket and personally saw the three passengers onto the train, secured their packages, and secretly handed He Tiantian a handkerchief roll, whispering, "The two elders are getting on in years and have bad teeth. There are hot soups and hot dishes on the train; buy some more."

"No need, Village Chief Qi, I have money," He Tiantian said, declining, "They can’t eat much, and you should take this money back quickly."

"Just take it, Girl Tian," Village Chief Qi said with a smile. "If you can show filial piety, can’t we do the same? Hurry and take it. Once you’re in Nan City, we’re counting on you."

"I can’t take this money; I really do have money," He Tiantian said. "Don’t worry, Secretary Qi, my house in Nan City is big; when Grandpa Qi arrives in Nan City, he can stay at my place."

Village Chief Qi frowned and said, "Why are you being so stubborn, child? If I’m telling you to take it, just take it. It’s always good to have more money on hand when traveling—just in case. If you don’t take it now, I’ll get angry. Second Uncle Qi and Third Aunt Qi are my elders too, and I feel guilty enough for not being able to accompany them. If you don’t take the money, it won’t sit well with me!"

Seeing Village Chief Qi insist, He Tiantian could no longer refuse and accepted the handkerchief roll, saying, "Then... then I’ll take it."

"Hurry up and take it," Village Chief Qi urged. "Be careful on the way, keep important things close and take good care of the two elders."

"I know, I promise to take good care of them."

"Then I’m getting off!" Village Chief Qi heard the staff urging and, after saying that, he got off the train.

Village Chief Qi stood on the platform outside the window and waved.

It was Third Grandma Qi’s first time on a train; she looked here and there with great curiosity.

Old Man Qi had a military rank before he retired. There was nothing he hadn’t seen before!

As the train started moving, steam filled the air, accompanied by a tremendous noise, "Furthermore, furthermore..."

He Tiantian, Third Grandma Qi, and Old Man Qi waved their hands, saying goodbye to Secretary Qi. Secretary Qi also kept waving from outside the window, incessantly giving instructions to take good care of Third Grandma Qi and Old Man Qi.

It was only when the train had left the station that the figure of Village Chief Qi gradually disappeared from view.

"Ah, Dazhu has worked hard," Third Grandma Qi said gratefully, "If only my son were alive and could be this filial."

Old Man Qi gave a wry smile and said softly, "How many ’ifs’ can there be in the world!"

Seeing the atmosphere getting a bit melancholic, He Tiantian took out a thermos of hot water and three cups, saying, "Grandma, Grandpa, do you want some water? Are you hungry?"

Third Grandma Qi took a sip of water and chuckled lightly, "We already ate before getting on the train, and I’m not hungry now. I’ll just have some water and take a nap."

He Tiantian made sure Third Grandma Qi was comfortable and let her lie down.

Grandpa Qi went to the restroom and came back without eating or drinking anything and then lay down to sleep.

He Tiantian felt a bit hungry, so she peeled two eggs and ate a scallion pancake, feeling full and content, and then crawled into the bunk to sleep.

Before sleeping, she also told Snake King to stay alert.

If Third Grandma Qi or Old Man Qi woke up, it was also instructed to wake her up.

Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Third Grandma Qi woke up needing to use the restroom. Just as Grandma Qi sat up, He Tiantian also got up to help Third Grandma Qi.

Old Man Qi also woke up, and after waiting for them to return, he went to the restroom himself.

He Tiantian was worried because it was night, the carriage was dimly lit, and it wouldn’t be good if Old Man Qi were to fall.

After returning, the two elders went back to sleep.

On the way, at every train station, there were stops and starts, people continuously disembarking and boarding.

The next morning, He Tiantian got up, took out three towels—hers was an old one, while she had prepared new ones for Third Grandma Qi and Old Man Qi, all rewards from her time in Qijia Village. Without a washbasin, and with no excess of hot water on the train, they could only wet the towels to wipe their faces.

"Grandma, Grandpa, wipe your faces," He Tiantian said with a smile. While the two elders were wiping their faces, she poured some warm water for them to rinse their mouths and took out a small makeup box from which she took out Peony Snowflake Cream and dabbed it on Third Grandma Qi’s face.

When about to apply it to Old Man Qi’s face, Old Man Qi was embarrassed and said in a muffled voice, "That’s something for women to use. I don’t need it."

"Your face is like old tree bark, so rough, and you don’t take care of it. We’ll be embarrassed by you when we get to Nan City, Girl Tian!" Third Grandma Qi said disdainfully, "Girl Tian, he doesn’t appreciate kindness, so don’t give it to him."

He Tiantian chuckled on the side. The old man and the old lady were quite amusing.

******

Highly recommend "Transforming After Traveling to the 1970s," a military romance story! I am a female soldier who falls in love with her commanding officer, sweet to the point of being cloying. It’s completed, so feel free to check it out!