The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 160 Teasing_1

Chapter 160: Chapter 160 Teasing_1

There were only a few days left until vacation, and Huo Yingjie could hardly wait to go home, eager to see the woman he longed for day and night.

"I’ll leave before the New Year." Huo Yingjie said, having already packed his things, just waiting for the holiday here to start, ready to grab his bag and go.

"That’s fine, I’ve made a note of it here. As soon as your leader signs off, you can leave the day after tomorrow." Director Liu said, "Be safe on the road. You’re a soldier, remember the rules of secrecy firmly, and absolutely do not disclose even the slightest secret of the institute."

"Yes, sir!" Huo Yingjie snapped to attention and saluted.

Holding the slip Director Liu had issued, Huo Yingjie went to find his direct superior.

Just as he stepped out of Director Liu’s office, a woman hurrying with documents nearly bumped into Huo Yingjie.

With quick reflexes, Huo Yingjie stepped to the side to avoid the woman’s sudden collision, and extended a hand to steady her, preventing her from falling.

When the woman saw Huo Yingjie’s face and wanted to say thanks, Huo Yingjie didn’t linger and walked straight ahead.

The woman’s face flushed with shyness as she watched Huo Yingjie’s retreating figure, a shy smile on her lips.

"Who’s out there? Come in," Director Liu said, noticing a figure outside and calling out to the door.

"I’m here, I’m here." The woman came in, placing the materials on Director Liu’s desk, "Director, who was that just now?"

Director Liu chuckled, "Well, that’s one of the young talents in our department! Huo Yingjie, he’s something else."

"Is that man really that amazing, Director?" The woman’s heart leaped with joy, thinking that they were now in the same unit, close to the water and first to get the moon—perhaps there would be an opportunity in the future!

"Xiao Qian, you just joined us, so it’s normal that you don’t know about him yet. You’ll find out in time," Director Liu said, "Have you brought everything with you?"

Qian Miaomiao arranged the documents and said, "They’re all here, please check them."

"Just leave them there! Xiao Qian, I also know your mother, so if you have any work or life issues, talk to me about them," Director Liu said, "Work well here. Apart from the strict ins and outs, everything else is great."

Qian Miaomiao nodded repeatedly, "Mm, thank you, Auntie."

"No need to thank me, from now on, you can call me Director Liu here," Director Liu instructed. She was experienced, and when Qian Miaomiao had asked about Huo Yingjie earlier, she wanted to remind her, but she was afraid of any misunderstanding. She decided to wait until after the holiday to talk to her alone.

Huo Yingjie arrived at his direct superior’s office with the certificate in hand.

Chief Engineer Sun, wearing reading glasses, warmly greeted him as Huo Yingjie approached, "Xiao Huo, come take a seat! Coming to see me at this time, you must have something on your mind, huh?"

This Xiao Huo hadn’t been at the institute for long, but he was highly capable, having solved several tough problems, which allowed their institute to complete this year’s target tasks ahead of schedule and receive national commendation. The engineers in the institute, from top to bottom, showed respect toward this bright young man.

Huo Yingjie held Chief Engineer Sun in high regard and respectfully said, "Chief Engineer Sun, I swapped shifts with a colleague a while ago, and I’ve earned three days off. I would like to combine those with my New Year’s break and leave three days early. This is the certificate issued by Director Liu. If you agree, please sign it."

Chief Engineer Sun took the certificate, signed it promptly, and chuckled, "Is it because your little girlfriend from the countryside has gone home?"

If it had been someone else, Huo Yingjie could have joked and dodged the question, but faced with the teasing from the esteemed Chief Engineer Sun, Yingjie’s face turned red, his eyes a bit evasive, and he nodded slightly, a touch embarrassed.

"Hehehe, a graceful and gentle lady is a perfect match for a gentleman. It’s quite normal for a young man to admire the girl he likes!" Chief Engineer Sun chuckled, his thoughts drifting back to the days when he and his partner cozied up together on the Seine Riverbank, whispering softly and sharing moments of romance.

Huo Yingjie knew that Chief Engineer Sun had studied abroad and was usually quite serious, but he occasionally revealed a romantic streak. The office furniture was simple, but there would always be potted plants and flowers by the window, which he sometimes watered himself.

Seeing Huo Yingjie’s blushing face, Chief Engineer Sun burst into hearty laughter. When he had talked about the woman he loved years ago, he probably had shown a similar expression—awkward yet tinged with shyness and a bit of excitement!

"Chief Engineer Sun, may I leave now?" Huo Yingjie, recovering his credentials and feeling a bit flustered, asked.

"Haha, yes, you may," responded Chief Engineer Sun, deciding not to tease him further, "When you’re working, be fully focused, but during your time off, clear your mind and enjoy your vacation. I hope that while you’re experiencing sweet love, you’ll also prepare yourself to make a big splash next year."

The romantic element in Chief Engineer Sun began to surface again.

But compared to the revolutionary ardor and indestructible slogans that were commonly spouted, Huo Yingjie preferred this sort of romantic teasing.

"Thank you, Chief Engineer Sun, I’ll do my best," Huo Yingjie stood up, bowed to Chief Engineer Sun, and with the pleasing sound of Sun’s laughter behind him, he took his leave.

Zhou Yuanchao, learning that Huo Yingjie was granted three days off in advance, finally understood why Huo Yingjie had been swapping shifts with others.

"Ah, it’s good to have a partner," Zhou Yuanchao said enviously, "If I had one, I’d want to go back early too."

Huo Yingjie, in high spirits while packing up, unexpectedly showed some generosity, taking out a bag of pine nuts and placing them on the desk. "Want some?" he offered.

Zhou Yuanchao, who had been lying on his single bed, sat up abruptly, eagerly responding, "Yes, of course! You’re heading back, and your wife must have prepared some for you. Can I have all the pine nuts in your bag? When I come back, I’ll bring you the best beef from the grasslands."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yingjie grabbed another handful from the bag and said, "Is this enough?"

"Just give them all to me!"

Huo Yingjie glanced at him and replied, "No, I need to take some to Chief Engineer Sun. He can’t go out from here, and with the New Year coming, it’s a small gesture from us. Want to come along?"

"Yes!" exclaimed Zhou Yuanchao, "Actually, I have some beef jerky left, too. I’ll give it up and present it to Chief Engineer Sun."

That evening, the two of them took their offerings to Chief Engineer Sun and his wife.

In this special period, Chief Engineer Sun was under close surveillance during his work, and his family couldn’t freely enter the research institute. Although all living supplies were provided by the institute, their freedom was still limited.

Seeing them arrive, Chief Engineer Sun greeted with a smile, "What brings you here? Come in, I have some liquor, let’s have a drink, just the three of us."

"No need, we’ve just come to visit," said Huo Yingjie, finding it hard to take advantage of the rare liquor to indulge themselves.

"Xiao Huo, Xiao Zhou, you’re here?" Aunt Li, Chief Engineer Sun’s wife, greeted them warmly, "You’re not leaving today; otherwise, I’d be upset. We have liquor today, and also the beef stew I made."

Seeing Aunt Li so inviting, Huo Yingjie took out a half-bag of pine nuts and said, "Aunt Li, I have some pine nuts here, please keep them for yourself."

******

Recommended military marriage novel: Time-Traveling to the 80s to Strike it Rich. In this novel, the female lead dreams of becoming wealthy, but instead, she ends up marrying the most adorable person!