The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 245 - 244: The Formidable Old Man and Old Lady (1580+) _1

Chapter 245: Chapter 244: The Formidable Old Man and Old Lady (1580+) _1

Let’s talk about Grandpa Huo, Grandma Huo, and the couple Huo Zheqian who had received Huo Yingjie’s letter; they simply couldn’t believe what they were reading.

"Did... Did the Zhou Family girl really go to Yingjie’s research institute?" Huo Zheqian hesitated to say, obviously somewhat incredulous. Over the New Year, Huo Yingjie had firmly refused Zhou Yuanyuan, and generally, after a rejection like that, any sensible girl would back off.

"Ah, the Zhou Family girl is not simple at all!" Sister-in-law Huo mused, her mouth puckered; her daughter Huo Yingqi was good friends with Zhou Yuanyuan, she wondered if Yingqi might be influenced by her as well.

Old Master Huo didn’t say anything but picked up the letter to read it again, and finally said slowly, "That girl, she’s a calamity!"

Old Madam Huo also nodded, "Indeed, she even dared to forge Yingjie’s handwriting; what else wouldn’t she do? We really underestimated that girl Yuanyuan!"

Huo Zheqian frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "How about I go to the Zhou Family and talk to them?"

"Talk about what?" Old Master Huo said irritably, "Would you tell them their granddaughter shamelessly keeps pursuing Yingjie? Or perhaps you’d say their granddaughter has lost her mind?"

"So what do we do?" Old Madam Huo said helplessly, "We can’t just sit back and do nothing! Yingjie has a heavy workload and now he has to deal with all this mess. Even worse, that boy of ours is also stubborn. Once he sets his mind on something, he must see it through. He doesn’t like Zhou Yuanyuan, so he’ll never like her in the future. He likes He Tiantian, and if he can’t be with He Tiantian, he will regret it for the rest of his life!"

Old Madam Huo knew her grandson very well.

If Huo Yingjie truly couldn’t be with He Tiantian, his regret wouldn’t just last a lifetime!

"To be honest, the Zhou Family girl isn’t bad, just a bit too obstinate," Sister-in-law Huo commented, feeling somewhat relieved that her own home was free of this kind of trouble; now that Huo Yingjie was the one in a messy situation.

"What’s good about her? Such a woman, if married into the family, would be nothing but trouble." Huo Zheqian spoke, having not a shred of a good impression of Zhou Yuanyuan.

In his memory, Zhou Yuanyuan was quite a lovely girl; it was unimaginable that she had grown up to be like this!

"So Zhao Huanhuan isn’t a troublemaker?" Sister-in-law Huo retorted, dissatisfied. Although her son was engaged to Zhao Huanhuan and was preparing to get married at the end of the year, she just didn’t feel at ease.

Seeing that his elder daughter-in-law was getting serious again, Old Master Huo shook his head and said, "Huanhuan has a strong sense of independence, but at least she wouldn’t do anything to tarnish her own or her family’s name. Look at what Zhou Yuanyuan has done; who knows who she learned that from?"

"Heh, of course, she learned it from her grandma, a bad example right at home," Old Madam Huo scoffed maliciously. "Always claiming to do it for love, throwing out arranged marriage in favor of becoming revolutionary partners!"

"Mom, there’s more to the story?" Sister-in-law Huo asked, curious. She had always thought of Aunt Zhou as a woman of integrity; to think there was such a past!

Old Madam Huo and Old Madam Zhou had never gotten along, likely because the former disapproved of Grandma Zhou’s behavior.

"It’s nothing more than the cliché of the faithless man and the literary woman. Initially, Old Zhou was against it, but she as a young woman was relentless, chasing and blocking him until, over time, she managed to make it happen," Grandma Huo said laughing, "Since we can’t go to the Zhou Family directly, then Zhou Yuanyuan cannot stay at the research institute. If we can’t deal with Zhou Yuanyuan directly, then we should transfer Yingjie out. If we allow Zhou Yuanyuan to stick to Yingjie, trouble is bound to arise."

And indeed, Grandma Huo’s prediction was spot on!

All present agreed with her assessment.

Just as they were starting to arrange for Zhou Yuanyuan’s return, another letter from Huo Yingjie arrived.

This time, upon seeing the letter, Old Madam Huo cursed outright, "Old shameless wretch has raised another shameless one, only knowing how to climb into bed, typical concubine material; despicable creatures!"

In everyone’s impression, Old Madam Huo was very gentle; even when angered, she would stay silent, never resorting to nasty words or cursing!

But this time, she was truly infuriated.

"Drink some water, don’t be so angry, ruining your health over it isn’t worth it," Old Master Huo personally poured his wife a glass of water, "Grandchildren have their own blessings. Yingjie is a clear-headed child, he wouldn’t do something foolish."

"We can’t just let this slide, I’m going to the Zhou Family right now," Old Madam Huo said, "Even if we don’t say anything, the Zhou Family will find out soon enough. We can’t let them get away with acting all high and mighty without giving us an explanation!"

"If you rush over there all worked up, and they turn it around and say, Zhou Yuanyuan was the one at a disadvantage, what then?" Old Master Huo held his wife back as she tried to leave, "In such cases, even if a woman takes the initiative, she still appears vulnerable and gains everyone’s sympathy. Initially, people might feel Yingjie was hard done by, but as time goes on, no one will believe Yingjie would spit out the meat that’s already in his mouth."

"Ah!" Old Madam Huo sighed, "So this won’t do, that won’t do, what in the world are we supposed to do then? Yingjie is a sensible child, he wouldn’t have written such a stern letter if he wasn’t pushed to the edge."

"Heh heh, don’t worry, don’t worry!" Old Master Huo noticed his wife’s hair had become slightly disheveled from the commotion and reached out to tuck a few strands behind her ear, consoling her, "Things are not as serious as you think..."

"How can it not be serious!" Old Madam Huo glared, "You’ve always been so indecisive, I don’t know how you managed to lead soldiers into battle in the past?"

"If I were really indecisive, would you have borne me two sons?" Grandpa Huo said with a roguish grin, making a comical face.

Old Madam Huo was momentarily taken aback, then understood her husband’s meaning and scolded, "You old flirt, always misbehaving, I’m trying to discuss serious matters with you, don’t change the subject. Lucky there are no children around, or I’d die of embarrassment!"

"Haha!" Old Master Huo laughed heartily, wrapping his arm around his wife’s shoulder, "There are some things I can’t tell you, but rest assured about the Zhou Family..."

"Come on, just tell me what’s going on with the Zhou Family?" Grandma Huo was anxious, she felt like scratching the old man a bit, always stalling at the crucial moment.

"Some people have already begun to move against the Zhou Family..." Grandpa Huo raised four fingers, whispering, "I’ve been fanning the flames, adding fuel to the fire, kicking them when they’re down!"

As someone who had been through countless trials, Old Madam Huo was not a pushover and had keen intuition, she instantly understood.

"Heh heh, then there is indeed no need for me to say anything. With Zhou Yuanyuan there, it was inevitable that we would fall out with the Zhou Family sooner or later. Rather than letting them catch us off guard with a stab in the back, it’s better for us to strike first," Old Madam Huo chuckled, confident that her grandson was not easily manipulated, "The Zhou Family has been up to no good for years, and they deserve a lesson. But the Zhou Family has been serving those people all along, how could they turn against them?"

"It’s a bit complicated and I can’t explain it in just a few words," Grandpa Huo didn’t want to bother his wife with those disheartening scheming details, "Just know that Zhou Yuanyuan no longer has the chance to bother Yingjie in the future."

"Alright, I trust you. If you won’t tell me, I won’t ask," Old Madam Huo nodded, she had faith in her husband.

Years ago during a retreat, everyone had pulled out, and due to her slow pace in helping the wounded, she and a few medics had fallen behind. Everyone thought Old Huo had left with his troops, but to their surprise, he returned to rescue them when they were surrounded by Japanese soldiers.

At that time, she knew Old Huo was a man of his word, and she could trust him for a lifetime.

As for their granddaughter, Huo Yingqi, let her stay at her job in Nan City! Cut her ties with Zhou Yuanyuan, let her endure hardship for a few years, and hopefully, she would realize her mistakes. She was very disappointed with her granddaughter, who always seemed to rebel!

The matter of Zhou Yuanyuan climbing into Huo Yingjie’s bed also caused Huo Zheqian and Sister-in-law Huo much sighing.

The two had talked it over in private numerous times.

"In the future, keep Yingqi away from that Zhou Yuanyuan. We can’t let them continue this association," Huo Zheqian instructed, not wanting his daughter influenced by Zhou Yuanyuan.

Little did he know, his daughter had become just like Zhou Yuanyuan.

One is influenced by the company one keeps; they had been together for over a decade, not just a day or two. Even the cleanest pot bottom now had several thick layers of soot.

"I understand, I will arrange to have her work somewhere farther away," Sister-in-law Huo replied, agreeing with her husband.