The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 454 - 425: Mother-Son Argument, Memorial Service in Nan City_1

Chapter 454: Chapter 425: Mother-Son Argument, Memorial Service in Nan City_1

Qi Dazhu began arranging for people to clear the wilderness, hoping to get the hilltop in good shape as soon as possible to facilitate the transplanting of saplings next year.

In another ten days, they would need to start dredging the river, so they had to make the most of their time and not delay.

He Jingyu and Wang Shuping, as the overall commanders, were also busy running around.

Most of the housework fell on He Tiantian, and Qi Daniu also came over to help when she had some free time.

He Tiantian had previously brought a pair of brown leather shoes from Country M for Qi Daniu. Actually, red or white shoes would look prettier on a girl, but given the current national conditions, flashy attire for girls was not allowed, so she had chosen a style that was nicer, with a darker color for the shoes.

Qi Daniu often came over, so she became friends with Qi Zhengmin too.

Sometimes, Anna helped with washing vegetables, but asking her to cook in the kitchen was too much to ask of her.

Village Chief Qi’s prestige in the village was now higher than ever, and everyone’s enthusiasm for clearing the wilderness was especially high; they had completed the task in eight days.

Village Chief Qi counted the number of people and led the able-bodied men of the village to dredge the river, leaving some women at home to use the dead grass and branches to compost fertilizer as per He Jingyu and Wang Shuping’s instructions for use the following year.

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, Qi Shuliang and his people had already been here for more than twenty days.

Seeing that the departure date was fast approaching, Qi Shuliang felt somewhat agitated, as his mother refused to leave.

"Mom, we will all be gone, and we won’t be at ease if you stay here alone," Qi Shuliang said, trying his best to persuade his mother to leave with him.

Third Grandma Qi had already made up her mind not to go this time.

"Son, I won’t go," Third Grandma Qi said, "As long as I know you’re doing well, that’s enough for me. Although I was happy in Country M, I’m still accustomed to the life here. Now that you’re successful, my days here are even better, and no one makes things difficult for me."

"But Mom, your son misses you!" Qi Shuliang said, "If you stay here alone, I won’t be able to rest easy no matter where I am!"

"Fine, you’ve been away from home for so many years, and I have been just fine," Third Grandma Qi said, "Besides, in the village, there are your Big Brother Dazhu, his wife, and others who can take care of me. Tiantian and her parents are also by my side, so I’m not alone. People are here to care for me; you don’t have to worry."

Qi Shuliang scratched his meticulously combed hair, clearly distressed.

Just then, Qi Zhengmin entered from outside and said, "Dad, I’ll stay and pay respect to grandma for you."

"Ah?" Qi Shuliang was taken aback. Before he even managed to persuade the elder, another disobedient young one had come forth; really, his hands were full!

"Dad, I’ll stay to accompany grandma," Qi Zhengmin said, "I like it here, and I want to stay."

"No, Zhengmin, aren’t you going to school anymore?" Third Grandma Qi was touched, but she would not agree to her granddaughter staying behind.

Now was the time for her to attend school; she couldn’t let her education be neglected.

"Grandma, I can self-study," Qi Zhengmin said, "You’re getting older and don’t want to leave your homeland. Since you can’t stay by grandma’s side to honor her, then let me stay."

Hearing her daughter’s words from outside, Anna wanted to intervene but was afraid of provoking her daughter’s displeasure and upsetting both her husband and mother-in-law.

In this place, Anna really wasn’t accustomed, she wanted to go back to New York.

"Zhengmin, grandma knows you’re a good child, but you are still young, you must go to school, when you grow up and have completed your education, you can come over and keep me company," Third Grandma Qi said. She also wished her granddaughter could stay by her side, but that would be to the child’s detriment.

After thinking for a moment, Qi Shuliang said, "Mother, let Zhengmin stay, the study material can be self-taught."

"No way!" Third Grandma Qi said. Anna was very uncomfortable here, and she could see it.

Zhengmin was Anna’s daughter, and she probably didn’t want her daughter to stay either. She couldn’t let her own stubborn opinions upset her daughter-in-law, nor could she delay her granddaughter’s education.

While Third Grandma Qi and Qi Shuliang were discussing whether to stay or go, Bai Qiongyu also called He Jingyu, Wang Shuping, and He Tiantian over.

"In a few days, I will be leaving. The business in New York can’t go on without someone, and I wanted to ask, what are your plans?" Bai Qiongyu said hopefully, in her heart, she hoped her son and his family would come back with her.

Her vast family business needed an heir after all!

After thinking it over, He Jingyu said, "We’ve discussed this, Shuping, Tiantian, and I. My thinking is this: Tiantian is still young, and since she hasn’t married Huo Yingjie yet, we are not at ease with her staying in China by herself. Once she marries Huo Yingjie, someone will be there to take care of her. Then, we will go to Country M to show our filial piety to you."

Bai Qiongyu was a bit disappointed, but her son hadn’t refused to go to Country M, which was already a very good outcome.

"Yes, Tiantian, the girl, doesn’t want to go, and it’s not reassuring for her to stay in China alone," Bai Qiongyu said. "Okay then, I will go back first and wait for you in Country M."

Seeing that his mother didn’t insist, He Jingyu felt less tense and smiled, "Mother, please take care of your health."

"Sure, I can hold on for a few more years before I retire," Third Grandma Qi said. "That settles it then, I won’t make it difficult for you. By the way, since I’m back, I want to make a trip to Nan City to pay homage to your father."

A couple’s bond, the love they once had for one another, since she was here, she couldn’t not visit.

"Sure, whenever you think it’s suitable, I will take you there," He Jingyu said. His father cared about his mother until his last breath, perhaps his father also wished for her to visit him.

"Let’s do it tomorrow," Bai Qiongyu said. "Then we’ll wait for Mr. Qi in Nan City." Bai Qiongyu added, the special train needed to be coordinated to stop in Nan City.

After deciding on the plan, He Jingyu went to find Qi Shuliang to talk about his mother’s wish to go to Nan City to pay respects to his father, and he happened to hear his brother-in-law and adoptive mother arguing.

"Brother-in-law, sorry to interrupt," He Jingyu said with a smile. "Don’t worry, Shuping and I, and Tiantian are still here to take good care of adoptive mother."

Both Third Grandma Qi and Qi Shuliang were surprised.

"Jingyu, are you not going with your mother to Country M?" Third Grandma Qi asked, guessing the outcome, Sister Bai must be quite upset.

He Jingyu smiled, "Not now, Tiantian and Yingjie are too young. Once the two of them are married, Shuping and I will go to look after mother."

Third Grandma Qi understood and nodded, "Yes, it’s indeed inconvenient for Tiantian to go now. Shuliang, you see, your brother-in-law and his family are here, what do I have to fear?"

Seeing his mother so resolute, Qi Shuliang had no choice but to agree, saying, "Mother, you must take good care of yourself, and I’ll come to see you whenever I have the time."

"That’s a deal," Third Grandma Qi said with a smile. "By the way, Jingyu, you have other matters to attend to, don’t you?"

"Yes, my mother wants to go to Nan City to pay respects to my father, and I would like to take her to Nan City first. Then, when you pass by Nan City, the train can stop for a while and pick up my mother," He Jingyu said, after all, the distance from Nan City to Yanjing was too far, and a regular sleeper wouldn’t give his mother a good rest.