The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 156 Someone Called Her Mom! (Monthly Ticket 860+) _1

Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Someone Called Her Mom! (Monthly Ticket 860+) _1

Old Man Qi felt a blush rise on his weathered face when he saw Third Grandma Qi looking at him with disdain. He touched his own face and then looked at hers, clean and tidy, her hair combed neatly, and thought to himself, oh, he really did need to spruce up.

"Then, give me some too," said Old Man Qi in his parched voice. "I must say, my face does feel rather dry."

"Okay!" He Tiantian squeezed a little into Old Man Qi’s hand.

After applying it, Old Man Qi laughed, "Ouch, that’s really quite comfortable."

"That’s right!" said Third Grandma Qi. "But this is just the ordinary stuff. The rouge and scented creams from the Auspicious Shop I used when I was young were even better."

Hearing this, Old Man Qi remembered the young days when the woman across him was a maiden beautiful as flowers, with porcelain skin, clear and luminous, and a meticulously arranged hair bun. Back then, she truly could afford the finest rouge from the town’s best shop.

He Tiantian chuckled lightly - Grandma Qi and Grandpa Qi talked more when they were alone together than before.

The two of them cherished each other and respected each other immensely!

After a simple wash-up, He Tiantian took out scallion pancakes and eggs. Someone was selling soup in the aisle, and He Tiantian got soup for three with her tiffin carriers.

"Grandma, Grandpa, it’s time to eat," He Tiantian called out busily, handling everything so Third Grandma Qi and Old Man Qi didn’t have to lift a finger.

"Ah!" Third Grandma Qi smiled warmly, her face brimming with contentment at being revered and cared for.

Seeing Third Grandma Qi smile up close put Old Man Qi in a good mood too.

Aside from He Tiantian, Third Grandma Qi, and Old Man Qi, there was a middle-aged man in his forties in the small compartment who, seeing He Tiantian taking such good care of the old couple, said with a grin, "It’s your good fortune, old lady and old man, to have such a devoted granddaughter."

Old Man Qi chuckled, "Yes, with dutiful grandchildren, even we old folks can live a few more comfortable years."

Third Grandma Qi saw Old Man Qi boasting so shamelessly, pursed her lips, and looked away. Just because Girl Tian called him Grandpa Qi, didn’t make him her actual grandpa – she was a granddaughter he had acknowledged.

"Grandpa, your granddaughter will take good care of you," said He Tiantian with a smile. "The pancake is soaked; hurry up and eat."

Since Grandpa Qi didn’t explain, she went with the flow, letting Grandpa Qi talk. When you’re away from home, it’s better to talk less.

He Tiantian handed him chopsticks, urging Old Man Qi to eat quickly.

Their teeth weren’t good, but the hot vegetable and tofu soup made the scallion pancakes even softer and easier to chew and swallow.

After their meal, He Tiantian took the tiffin carriers to get washed at both ends of the carriage – they still had to eat at noon!

Some people on the train didn’t bother washing their dishes, finding it too troublesome, especially since they’d still need to eat at midday and had to queue at the carriage door for a long time to clean up.

He Tiantian took such good care of the elderly couple that even Third Grandma Qi, who was on a train for the first time, felt no discomfort at all.

After a day and night and an additional two hours of travel, they finally arrived at Nan City!

"Grandpa, support Grandma. I’ll carry all the packages," He Tiantian arranged as she spoke, strapping Grandma Qi’s large bundle on her back, carrying Grandpa Qi’s and her own belongings in one hand, and slinging her treasured army green satchel across her shoulder, which contained various letters of introduction and certificates. In fact, most of He Tiantian’s belongings were daily necessities like towels, tiffin carriers, and military water bottles needed for the train ride.

"Young lady, let me help you carry those down," the middle-aged man offered to help He Tiantian with her things and to escort her off the train, planning to come back up afterwards.

He Tiantian smiled and declined, "No need, I may look skinny, but I’m quite strong, you see... you see..."

The two packages seemed weightless in He Tiantian’s hands.

"Hehe, that’s good, be careful getting off the bus." Just now I thought the old and young couldn’t carry the stuff, but now they can manage it themselves, so there’s no need for me to help anymore.

"Thank you, Uncle." He Tiantian bowed and thanked him.

Up ahead, Old Man Qi was helping Third Grandma Qi walk forward. It wasn’t that Grandma Qi couldn’t walk, but he was worried about her getting jostled by the other passengers disembarking.

Third Grandma Qi was a bit nervous, in an unfamiliar place, without many concerns, so she didn’t refuse Old Man Qi’s support.

It was already ten o’clock at night now, and it was pitch black outside, with light snow beginning to fall.

Old Man Qi reached out to help Third Grandma Qi secure her scarf, then continued to support her, saying, "Let’s get off."

"Ah!" Third Grandma Qi’s heart felt sour, a long-missed warmth springing up within her.

Once off the bus, He Tiantian led Old Man Qi and Third Grandma Qi to a wind-sheltered spot, set down their belongings, and said, "Grandpa Qi, Grandma Qi, stand here for now, I’m going to look for my parents. Secretary Qi sent a telegram when he bought the tickets, they will definitely come to pick us up."

"You go ahead, I’ll watch over Grandma Qi." Old Man Qi replied, his tone not as stubborn as before.

Passengers kept disembarking from the train, turning the platform into a sea of people for a while.

He Tiantian, being small, weaved through the crowd deftly, and soon found her parents, He Jingyu and Wang Shuping, by the fifth carriage.

"Dad, Mom!" He Tiantian tiptoed and raised her hand, calling out loudly.

He Jingyu, being tall, followed the familiar sound of his daughter’s voice to find her in the crowd, leading his wife against the flow.

Seeing only He Tiantian, He Jingyu hastily asked, "Tiantian, didn’t you say Grandpa Qi and Grandma Qi came with you? Where are they?"

"They are waiting back there. I came to call you first," He Tiantian pointed behind her and said, "It’s really cold, let’s hurry back."

Wang Shuping’s eyes were red as she looked at her daughter, too moved to speak, gripping He Tiantian’s arm tightly.

"Mom, I’m back home, and I can stay for a long time," He Tiantian said. "Let’s talk more at home."

It took a lot of effort for the family of three to reach Old Man Qi and Third Grandma Qi.

He Jingyu and Wang Shuping stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Godmother, Uncle Qi, you must be tired from the journey."

The term "Godmother" instantly overwhelmed Third Grandma Qi with emotion.

It had been over twenty years since anyone called her "Mother"!

Originally, she had felt somewhat uneasy because she was arriving in a strange place and was going to stay at He Tiantian’s home, fearing that her family might not be pleased. But upon hearing the word "Godmother," all her apprehension disappeared.

"Good... good kids," Third Grandma Qi choked out, quickly helping He Jingyu and Wang Shuping up.

"Let’s go now, the crowd has thinned out," He Tiantian urged. It was too cold here, not a good place for sentimentality.

He Jingyu patted his daughter’s head, chuckling, "Tiantian is right. Godmother, there’s snow on the road, and it’s slippery. I’ll carry you."

"I... I can walk..." Third Grandma Qi reluctantly protested, it was all because of her small feet, such an inconvenience.