The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 378 - 349 "Fiancé"_1

Chapter 378: Chapter 349 "Fiancé"_1

If He Tiantian were an ordinary girl, she might have felt a bit disappointed, but she wasn’t, and she understood these social intricacies!

Qi Zhengmin, supporting Third Grandma Qi, walked ahead, pointing out the scenery around them and explaining it to her.

He Tiantian followed behind, looking and listening with great interest.

Qi Zhenghan walked side by side with He Tiantian. He had grown accustomed to the scenery of home and didn’t find it novel anymore, but what did feel new and intriguing was He Tiantian at his side.

Feeling someone’s gaze, He Tiantian turned her head and whispered, "Your family’s place is really big!"

"Yes, this estate was left by my maternal grandfather. Although my father has houses in other places, we’ve gotten used to living here, so we’ve never moved," Qi Zhenghan replied, with a shy smile on his face.

He Tiantian suddenly realized and it was no wonder – the villa and the courtyard, though elegant, looked like they had some years on them. So, they weren’t new but rather handed down from the older generation.

"This place is very nice; I like it a lot," He Tiantian praised. "Living in such a nice environment every day must make you feel very happy!"

Qi Zhenghan looked around; he had been living here all his life and was used to it, so he didn’t think there was anything particularly special.

However, hearing He Tiantian’s praise made him truly feel that it was indeed a nice place!

"Yeah, if you like it, you could stay here for good!" Qi Zhenghan said without a second thought, simply hoping she would stay.

"Thank you!" He Tiantian said. "I came to accompany grandma this time, but I might have to go back after a while. No matter how nice it is here, I won’t stay without my parents and fiancé."

"That’s really a pity," Qi Zhenghan said regretfully, when suddenly the word "fiancé" flashed through his mind.

Good heavens, He Tiantian was already engaged?

How old was He Tiantian, anyway? Could it really be as his classmates from Country M said, that men and women in Country H got married so early?

"You... you’re already engaged?" Qi Zhenghan stammered, sounding a bit nervous.

He Tiantian nodded and said, "Yes, grandma has met him too. He’s a very talented person. Our parents know each other, and we’ve been childhood sweethearts, two innocent souls without a care."

Qi Zhenghan felt immensely disappointed. He had learned idioms with his father before, and "childhood sweethearts, two innocent souls without a care" was among them.

This referred to lovers who began a relationship from childhood and whose affection ran deep, ultimately leading them to the altar.

"Then... congratulations," Qi Zhenghan said, feeling downcast. However, the nobility education he had received didn’t let him lose his composure due to disappointment.

"Thank you!" He Tiantian smiled and looked ahead to continue listening to Qi Zhengmin’s explanations.

Alas, she didn’t actually want to mention her fiancé right from the start, but He Tiantian felt she had to.

The sensitive He Tiantian had caught the often-stealthy glances from the handsome Qi Zhenghan.

Such gazes were very familiar to her. Before she and Huo Yingjie had clarified their relationship, she too would often look at him in the same way.

It was a gaze of inquiry, of admiration, and even a touch of sweet excitement.

Better to clarify things early on than to wait for the other person to sink too deep. That way, constrained by reason and morality, that bit of admiration would gradually fade over time until it vanished!

Or perhaps it could transform into friendship.

Just like Qi Ling before!

He Tiantian wasn’t unaware, but since she had someone in her heart, there was no need for ambiguity with others, as that would harm both parties.

Since she wouldn’t fall for someone else, she wouldn’t give anyone any mixed signals to speculate about.

Walking behind He Tiantian, Qi Zhenghan felt somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that having just met, the flutter in his heart couldn’t represent love!

After more than an hour, Qi Zhengmin led everyone around and got a general understanding of the estate.

Third Grandma Qi also learned about the origins of the estate from Qi Zhengmin’s explanations.

Her son had found a good daughter-in-law, a rare find from a reputable family, yet so approachable and respectful to her mother-in-law whom she had only met once.

As they watched a few small dogs play with a frisbee, Qi Shuliang came over with a smile on his face.

"Mom, how was your rest?" Qi Shuliang asked with a smile, supporting Third Grandma Qi on her other side.

"I rested well, the bed was very soft, I liked it very much," Third Grandma Qi said with a laugh, "Have you finished talking with Yingjun?"

"It’s done," Qi Shuliang replied, "I’ve settled my affairs here, now we just have to wait for the situation in Yanjing to clear up."

"Good child," Third Grandma Qi praised, "Tell me, where have you been all these years?"

Qi Shuliang’s face showed a hint of shame as he said, "At that time I was in Nan City. I had packed my things, ready to leave, but then I ended up on T Island following the big retreat. I wanted to come back but couldn’t. Fortunately, I had some skills and a pretty high education, so I found a job. After saving up some money, I started doing business. Later, I couldn’t stand the atmosphere there, so I took some savings and went to Country M. After proving my capabilities and achieving some success, I then married Anna. With the help of my father-in-law, my business developed further, and that’s how I achieved what I have now."

Although her son recounted his experiences lightly, Third Grandma Qi could sense the harrowing journey in his words.

"You’ve worked hard," Third Grandma Qi consoled, "Fortunately, the hard times have led to good. I am living well now. Your father was unfortunate; he can’t see his capable son and enjoy these good days!"

Qi Shuliang felt a deep sorrow and said, "I failed to mourn for my father properly, I have let him down."

"Heh, don’t be sad. Your father thought you were dead, and now that you’re alive, he must be laughing so hard he can’t straighten up down there," Third Grandma Qi said with a laugh, "If you were to wallow in guilt all day and not face the issues, turning it into a heartache, then your father would be unhappy!"

Third Grandma Qi always knew just what to say when consoling others.

"By the way, how is Uncle doing now?" Qi Shuliang asked, having learned from Huo Yingjun that his uncle had been taking care of their mother all these years.

"Your uncle is in good health, except he’s missing an arm, which makes everything inconvenient," Third Grandma Qi replied, "Fortunately, there are always people around him; he’s not lacking care. When he can no longer look after himself, Shuliang, you must be filial to your uncle. Without your uncle’s overt and covert help, I couldn’t live as comfortably as I do now. I might have left the world much earlier."

"I will, Mother," Qi Shuliang said, walking and chatting with her about the situation in Qijia Village.

Behind them, He Tiantian was talking and chatting with Qi Zhengmin.

Qi Zhenghan, not feeling too well, listened on the side without speaking.

It was only when Anna came over calling everyone for dinner that they all went back inside.

The dinner was lavish, with the home cook skilled in making Suzhou dishes like pine-flavored mandarin fish, colorful stuffed fish, spring bamboo shoots with salted pork, lion’s head meatballs, cold lotus slices, stir-fried choy sum, and so on.

Such an extensive table prepared in an afternoon was truly rare!

There were also some Western dishes, and everyone could choose whatever they liked to eat.