The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 248 - 247: Visiting, Zhang Runan_1

Chapter 248: Chapter 247: Visiting, Zhang Runan_1

Now it is early summer, so there’s no need to bring cotton clothes, only summer wear.

As for winter clothes, just like what He Tiantian did last time, after arriving in Huai City and settling down, she would have Jiang Lifang send them over.

He Jingyu and Wang Shuping hadn’t mentioned this to He Tiantian, so when Tiantian later saw her parents, she was overjoyed!

At the same time, after being grounded for a while, Zhou Yuanyuan returned to her home in Yanjing, where she was initially harshly criticized by her family. However, as the cherished daughter of the household, it didn’t take long for her to receive everyone’s forgiveness. But Yuanyuan dared not mention Huo Yingjie again and had to honestly stay at home for a month before starting work at the community hospital.

The Zhou Family and the Huo Family had started a grudge, with petty actions continuing unabated.

Huo Yingjie, in the research institute, threw himself into his work with all his heart, making swift progress and living up to the expectations of Chief Engineer Sun and Director Liu.

His hard work was actually all about finishing as soon as possible so that he could go find He Tiantian.

He wanted to tell He Tiantian himself that he was committed for life!

Let’s talk about the naive He Tiantian who was now wandering around Huai City with Qi Ling, Niu Dajun, and Qi Xiaoyan!

They didn’t eat out at noon, but at Qi Ling’s house instead.

Once He Tiantian arrived at Qi Ling’s house, she met a person she had encountered by chance before. It was the model worker she met on the train when she was hastily returning home to get her certificate last time—Zhang Runan, the workshop director of the Huai City Tractor Factory.

"Sister Zhang, it’s you?" He Tiantian had a good memory and recognized Zhang Runan instantly.

Zhang Runan was momentarily stunned, sizing up He Tiantian, and then suddenly realizing who she was, exclaimed, "Oh my, oh my, the young lady from the train..."

Zhang Runan didn’t remember her name at once, so He Tiantian guessed she may have forgotten it.

After all, they had only met briefly on the train, so it was normal not to remember her name!

Upon hearing this, He Tiantian smiled cheerfully and said, "Yes, my name is He Tiantian, and you have always been my role model!"

Zhang Runan had already liked He Tiantian, and hearing her praise now made her even happier. She smiled and said, "Oh dear, you’re too kind. Please sit, please sit! Qi Ling, come, introduce these two young people to me again."

Curious, but not wanting to ask too many questions in front of friends, Qi Ling smiled and said, "Mom, this is my friend Niu Dajun, and this is my friend Qi Rongjun’s sister, Qi Xiaoyan who’s here to audition for the cultural work troupe. Comrade He Tiantian, you’ve already met, so no need for introductions."

"Oh, so this is Dajun and Xiaoyan!" Zhang Runan said warmly, "All good kids, sit down. Qi Ling, take care of them, I’ll go cook. Two more dishes and we can eat."

"You shouldn’t bother, Auntie," said Xiaoyan, "We’re not outsiders; anything simple will do."

"It’s just simple home cooking; there’s nothing fancy," Zhang Runan said with a smile as she went to the kitchen to hustle about.

Even though Zhang Runan said that, the aroma coming from the kitchen let everyone know she was being modest.

Now, with material scarcity, preparing a meal of fish and meat wasn’t easy!

Luckily, Niu Dajun and Xiaoyan brought some grain when they came, probably more than ten kilograms of rice.

It was fortunate they brought something; otherwise, it would have been awkward to eat at Qi Ling’s home.

"Please sit, I’ll go pour some tea for you," Qi Ling invited everyone to the living room as he went to serve tea.

The Qi Ling household was independent, with the main house consisting of four tiled rooms and three wing rooms on the east side. In the yard, there was about half a fen of land planted with vegetables.

Since they grew their own, there was no need to buy any.

That was in Huai City; if it had been in Nan City, you couldn’t plant vegetables in the yard.

"Have some tea," Qi Ling said politely, "make yourself at home, no need to be shy."

"I think the one being courteous here is you," Niu Dajun said. "By the way, how’s work been since your recovery? Everything smooth?"

"Not bad, I haven’t let our brothers down," Qi Ling smiled, "just solved a tomb-robbing case and got credited with a minor merit. What about you?"

Niu Dajun grinned honestly and said, "You and Rong Jun are the clever ones, suited for that kind of work. I’m just not cut out for that. After recovering, I got a job as a postal worker in the commune, now transferred to a clerical position, just a small-time employee, nothing as impressive as your job."

"You shouldn’t say that," Qi Ling laughed, "whatever job it is, we’re serving the people. By the way, I heard you’re engaged to Xiao Yan, you sly dog!"

Qi Rongjun cherished his little sister and never expected Niu Dajun to whisk her away.

"Hehe," Niu Dajun chuckled heartily, "What about you? You’re three years older than me, you must have someone in mind, right?"

Qi Ling smiled, glancing casually at He Tiantian, "I’m so busy I barely see daylight, where would I find the time for a relationship? If you know a nice girl, feel free to introduce me!"

When Qi Ling said this, it seemed like a joke, but only he knew that half of it was serious.

Niu Dajun knew about He Tiantian’s situation, so when he heard Qi Ling say this, he didn’t think of her at all.

"All the people around me are guys, no good girls," Niu Dajun laughed, "Rather than looking to me, you’d be better off having Auntie Zhang pick out someone for you!"

This bumbling idiot, still as simple-minded as always!

Despite how obvious he had been, this guy didn’t catch on at all.

Just then, Zhang Runan came out of the kitchen with two dishes in hand and said, "Go wash your hands in the bathroom; we’re about to eat."

Today, she made six dishes: sweet and sour fish, braised pork, scrambled eggs with chives, and three vegetable dishes—quite a plentiful meal.

To accommodate her son’s guest, Zhang Runan also cooked a big pot of rice.

"My cooking isn’t great, so don’t mind it," Zhang Runan said politely, "We also have some wine at home. Qi Ling, you’re on leave, so have a few drinks with Dajun."

Niu Dajun waved off the suggestion, "No need, Auntie Zhang, we still have to go check the announcements later, so we won’t be drinking."

"Since you boys have important matters, I won’t insist on the drinks," Zhang Runan said, "No wine then, but be sure to enjoy the food!"

"Thank you, Auntie Zhang," Niu Dajun said with a smile.

He Tiantian, like everyone else, addressed her as Auntie Zhang, feeling a bit awkward to continue calling her Sister Zhang.

The meal was enjoyed by all, and Zhang Runan had to rush out for work before they could clear the table since there was an issue at the Huai City Tractor Factory.

He Tiantian, together with Qi Xiaoyan, began clearing the table and took the dishes to the kitchen.

As Qi Xiaoyan and He Tiantian went into the kitchen, Qi Ling whispered to Niu Dajun, "Were you playing dumb just now?"

"What do you mean, Big Brother Qi?" Niu Dajun was baffled; he hadn’t been playing dumb!

"You know what I’m like, and you also know that I don’t have a significant other. Xiao Yan has such a pretty sister, and you wouldn’t introduce her to me?" Qi Ling, quick-witted as always, had been attracted the moment he saw He Tiantian.

Qi Ling admitted to himself that He Tiantian’s looks had caught his eye.

After a brief half-day’s acquaintance, he noticed that He Tiantian was well-mannered, a good girl indeed!

Since he was single, naturally, he wanted to give it a shot.