The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 169: Going Home, Missing (1000+) _1

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Going Home, Missing (1000+) _1

He Tiantian was no longer a little girl; she still had a touch of youthful greenness about her body, but mentally, she was already a mature woman.

The mutual affection between them served as a powerful catalyst that could ignite the passionate fire within their hearts.

Huo Yingjie’s enthusiasm had already ignited both her psychological and physiological passion and heat. With no strength in her body, she could only cling tightly to Huo Yingjie so as not to fall to the ground.

With the support of the big elm tree behind her, she regained some strength.

"I... I missed you..." He Tiantian’s voice was sweet and soft, lacking a bit of strength, but so tender, almost like a complaint, expressing her longing.

Huo Yingjie reached out to touch He Tiantian’s head, tilting his own slightly as he said, "Sweet Treasure, I missed you too!"

He Tiantian was utterly content, feeling the extremity of happiness at that moment.

"Tiantian, Tiantian..."

Just as they were holding each other tight, savoring the closeness, they heard Wang Shuping’s voice.

He Tiantian had not returned after going out to dispose of the trash, which made Wang Shuping very worried.

He Tiantian was greatly embarrassed, having actually lost track of time.

Is it always like this when you’re with the one you love? Always forgetting the passage of time?

He Tiantian struggled; she couldn’t let her mother see her acting so improperly. She was sure to get her ears pinched.

Huo Yingjie also knew that now wasn’t the time for intimacy, so he let go of He Tiantian.

"Mom, I am here." He Tiantian called back, not wanting her mother to worry.

Hearing her daughter’s voice, Wang Shuping’s anxiety eased slightly, and she scolded, "Taking out the trash has taken you so long, dilly-dallying around. Hurry up and come home with me."

Having already freed herself from Huo Yingjie’s embrace, He Tiantian walked toward Wang Shuping, saying, "Mom, Brother Yingjie is back."

"Ah!" Wang Shuping exclaimed in surprise, "So Yingjie is back. Your mother has been mentioning these past few days, wondering when you’d return! Now that you’re back, you shouldn’t loiter around the entrance of this alley, with the cold wind howling. It could freeze you to death; don’t stand outside."

Huo Yingjie stepped forward with a smile, "It’s alright, Aunt Wang, I’m not cold."

At that moment, heat radiated from his body. Thankfully it was winter, and also night; otherwise, he would have made a fool of himself in public.

But as a self-disciplined person, he wouldn’t let such a thing happen.

"This child is so sincere. You might not be cold, but our Tiantian could be," Wang Shuping beckoned them, "Hurry home. I bet you haven’t had dinner yet; have Tiantian cook something tasty for you."

Huo Yingjie smiled. He knew He Tiantian couldn’t cook well; even in the countryside, her cooking was not particularly delicious.

Seeing Huo Yingjie smiling, He Tiantian felt annoyed inside, sure that he thought she couldn’t cook.

Today, she would showcase her skills and let Huo Yingjie understand that one must look at her with new eyes after three days’ absence!

"Alright then, I’ll taste Tiantian’s cooking," Huo Yingjie graciously replied. In the presence of his future mother-in-law, he would certainly not say anything negative about He Tiantian.

Wang Shuping took them by the hand, one on each side, leading them into the alley.

He Tiantian remained silent, while Huo Yingjie used the walk to calm the excitement in his heart.

Once home, Jiang Lifang was knitting on the side, with Third Grandma Qi helping her wind the yarn. Huo Zhekun and Old Man Qi were playing chess, with He Jingyu watching by their side.

"Lifang, guess who’s back?" Wang Liping said with a laugh, raising her voice before even entering the room.

Jiang Lifang put down her knitting needles and looked up towards the door.

"Mom, I’m back," Huo Yingjie said as he stepped forward, setting down his luggage and giving Jiang Lifang a hug.

Jiang Lifang was taken aback and blushed with embarrassment as her son embraced her, not knowing how to react.

"You child!" Although Jiang Lifang loved the closeness with her son, she felt a bit embarrassed in front of so many people. "Why have you come back so early? I thought you wouldn’t return until the end of the year!"

Huo Yingjie let go of his mother and smiled, "I swapped shifts with someone else; excluding today, I have a fourteen-day holiday so I can stay until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year."

"That’s great, wonderful," Jiang Lifang was delighted, "Come, let’s go home and I’ll cook for you. The journey must have been tiring, right?"

Wang Shuping, listening to the conversation, pretended to be reluctant and said, "Your house is all cold and unused; it would be midnight by the time you finish cooking. Eat at my place. Tiantian has already started cooking, so don’t be shy."

Once Jiang Lifang heard this, she was touched, though she knew Wang Shuping was right, and replied, "Alright, we’ll eat at your place today."

He Tiantian, seeing Huo Yingjie being pulled into the house by his mother, didn’t dare to follow suit and instead went to the kitchen.

Huo Zhekun stopped playing chess. Seeing his son return made him very happy, he nodded at Huo Yingjie without making a big show of it. As a father, even if he was overjoyed inside, he wouldn’t display it too outwardly.

Maternal love is like water, evident in expression.

Paternal love is like a mountain, steady and calm.

Huo Yingjie approached, saying, "Dad, Uncle He, I’m back."

"Good!" Huo Zhekun nodded, "It’s good you’re back."

He Jingyu, seeing Huo Yingjie’s warmth, asked, "Are you getting accustomed to it there?"

"Acclimated. It’s all for the revolutionary cause," Huo Yingjie said, "Although it’s remote, the work environment isn’t bad. The food is decent, and the meals are ample."

"That’s good, just focus on your work and give back to the nation and society," He Jingyu said, "Do more, talk less and you won’t make mistakes."

"I understand, Uncle He," Huo Yingjie said, "These must be Grandpa Qi and Grandma Qi?"

He Tiantian had mentioned them in the letters she sent with the packages, so Huo Yingjie recognized them.

Now, He Tiantian was staying at Grandma Qi’s at night and working at Grandpa Qi’s livestock farm during the day. He Tiantian received their care in Qijia Village, and now she even recognized Third Grandma Qi as a relative.

Old Man Qi had been observing Huo Yingjie carefully since he entered. He was a good young man with a pure heart.

Third Grandma Qi squinted at Huo Yingjie, noting his youthful face, tall stature, neat haircut, clean and refreshing appearance. Through Huo Yingjie, she was reminded of the time her own son left home to study in Nan City; he had looked just like this.

"Grandma Qi?" Huo Yingjie called out again.

Grandma Qi snapped back to reality and said, "Ah, you’ve grown into such a fine young man! I was lost in my thoughts. My son was about your age, eighteen or nineteen, in the prime of his youth when he left for Nan City. Seeing you makes me think of my son."

"I’m sorry to have upset you," Huo Yingjie responded, already aware of the situation with Third Grandma Qi’s son and feeling regretful about it.

Third Grandma Qi chuckled and waved her hand, "I was very upset in the past, but twenty years have passed, and I’ve come to terms with it. My son, Qi Shuliang, if fate allows, will come back alive."

Qi Shuliang?

Huo Yingjie frowned slightly; the name seemed familiar.