The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 531 - 502: The Memory Persists, Diced Chicken with Hot Peppers_1

Chapter 531: Chapter 502: The Memory Persists, Diced Chicken with Hot Peppers_1

As the train pulled away, He Tiantian’s heart ached with reluctance, and she couldn’t help but let the tears fall.

Jiang Lifang saw He Tiantian’s tears and felt guilty, but didn’t know how to comfort her. All Jiang Lifang could do was promise herself to be even kinder to He Tiantian in the future.

Seeing He Tiantian cry, Huo Yingjie took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

"Don’t cry, Sweet Treasure, I’m still here to cherish you," Huo Yingjie said gently, consoling He Tiantian just as he had when she was upset as a child.

Jiang Lifang smiled and walked ahead, as if she hadn’t heard their conversation.

He Tiantian took Huo Yingjie’s handkerchief, looked into his eyes, and said, "Thank you, Brother Yingjie."

Once they left the train station, Jiang Lifang said, "Tiantian, here are the house keys. If you don’t feel like walking around outside, you can go home first. I have to go to the hospital now."

He Tiantian took the keys and replied, "I understand, Aunt Jiang. You’re busy with work, and I’ll take care of Brother Yingjie at home, so you don’t have to worry."

"Then I’ll leave it to you, Tiantian." Jiang Lifang was moved and took out some money and grain coupons from her bag. "Buy whatever you like to eat; don’t skimp."

"Hmm, I understand," said He Tiantian, not standing on ceremony with Jiang Lifang. She had money on her, but no coupons.

She was going to familiarize Huo Yingjie with things from the past, and sometimes, that required money.

Jiang Lifang rode her bike off to the hospital, while He Tiantian held Huo Yingjie’s hand, walking alongside the road.

As they walked, He Tiantian explained things to Huo Yingjie, hoping that these familiar buildings would help awaken his memories.

By the time they returned to Dayu Tree Alley, it had already been an hour and a half.

He Tiantian’s throat was parched; she sought shade under the big elm tree to cool off.

Huo Yingjie followed her lead and leaned against the trunk of the big elm tree to rest.

But when Huo Yingjie turned around, he saw He Tiantian had disappeared.

"Tiantian, Tiantian, where are you?" Huo Yingjie called out in distress, his voice filled with urgency.

He Tiantian peeked out from behind another big elm tree and said, "Brother Yingjie, I’m here!"

Then she quickly ducked back behind the tree.

This game had been one of their favorites as children, but now, so much older, He Tiantian felt somewhat self-conscious playing it.

But for Huo Yingjie’s sake, she endured!

Yet Huo Yingjie was utterly unromantic; he didn’t want He Tiantian to disappear from his sight and didn’t play along with hide-and-seek. He followed a straight path and caught up to He Tiantian in just a few steps.

"Ah!" He Tiantian exclaimed, dismayed. Couldn’t he have been a bit slower?

With such direct haste, how could they have any fun playing games?

"Don’t leave me behind," Huo Yingjie said plaintively, his dark eyes seeming to accuse He Tiantian.

Under such a gaze, even if He Tiantian had a hundred thousand reasons to continue playing, they were extinguished.

"Alright, I won’t leave you behind," He Tiantian said. "Let’s go, are you hungry? Let’s go home and cook."

"Yes, I’m hungry," Huo Yingjie nodded repeatedly, pulling He Tiantian’s hand as they headed back.

Fortunately, it was daytime, and the neighbors were all at work, the children at school, leaving the alley mostly deserted.

He Tiantian brought Huo Yingjie back to the Huo family’s home, telling him to play in the courtyard while she cooked.

But Huo Yingjie wouldn’t stay put; so He Tiantian let him pick chives, finding something for him to do.

Jiang Lifang, worried, went home to visit her son at noon, just in time for lunch.

"Aunt Jiang, the hospital is quite far from here; you shouldn’t tire yourself with all this back and forth. I’m here to take care of everything at home. You don’t need to worry," He Tiantian consoled, knowing Jiang Lifang had been frightened and was exhausted.

Jiang Lifang nodded and said, "Yingjie has just returned to Nan City. I worry that he isn’t adjusting well and can’t settle down in the hospital, so I came back to check on him."

He Tiantian served Jiang Lifang some food and urged her to eat quickly.

After eating, Jiang Lifang rushed back to the hospital.

He Tiantian arranged for Huo Yingjie to take a nap at noon, then she lay down beside the bed to rest her eyes for a while.

In the afternoon, He Tiantian took Huo Yingjie to a nearby small park to play. All the way there, it was He Tiantian talking while Huo Yingjie listened.

On their way home in the evening, they happened to come across someone at home.

It turned out that Huo Yingjie had suffered such severe injuries due to a work accident. Given Huo Yingjie’s commendable service, the subsidies awarded to him were extremely generous. The authorities in Nan City received orders from above and personally delivered various allowances and coupons.

With these, the Huo family’s life improved even further.

The next day, at three in the morning, He Tiantian crouched on the wall, cupped her hands around her mouth, and softly called out, "Meow, meow..."

There was a stir in Huo Yingjie’s room: "Cuckoo... cuckoo..."

This was the secret code He Tiantian shared with Huo Yingjie.

Sometimes He Tiantian wasn’t sure what was really going on with Huo Yingjie.

Since she had to get up early in the morning to buy goods at the supply and marketing cooperative, she needed to wake up early, but she hadn’t mentioned it to Huo Yingjie beforehand. She wanted to test if Huo Yingjie still remembered their secret code!

Standing on a stone bench, He Tiantian leaned on the wall and whispered softly, "Brother Yingjie... let’s go buy vegetables..."

"Okay!" Huo Yingjie responded succinctly.

Once He Tiantian had grabbed the documents and the pocketbook she had prepared the day before, along with a basket, she took Huo Yingjie to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Jiang Lifang and Huo Zhekun in the house were overjoyed.

"Old Huo, did you hear that? Our son still remembers the secret code with Tiantian," Jiang Lifang exclaimed with delight, "Could it be that our son is starting to remember past events?"

Although Huo Zhekun was excited, being a man, he was much more composed and said, "Anyway, remembering is better than not remembering. For now, don’t get excited, and don’t ask Yingjie about it. Let’s take it slow."

"Right, I won’t ask, lest I scare Yingjie," Jiang Lifang said, feeling relieved that returning to Nan City had been the right decision.

"Alright, let’s go to sleep," said Huo Zhekun, "The two of us have to provide support for Yingjie. If we fall, the quality of Yingjie’s life will decline too. Instead of helping Yingjie, we’d end up being a burden."

"You’re right; we need to stay strong," Jiang Lifang said, knowing that no one cared for her child like she did.

The couple had their own thoughts, but their son’s condition had improved significantly compared to before, so they weren’t as worried as they used to be.

He Tiantian led Huo Yingjie through the alley paved with bluestones.

"Brother Yingjie, walk slowly; watch your step," He Tiantian reminded softly.

"Oh!" Huo Yingjie, or rather, the Changling Supreme God, responded briefly.

"Brother Yingjie, what do you like to eat?" He Tiantian asked. They used to chat nonstop while getting up early to buy goods together.

"I’m happy with whatever you like," the Changling Supreme God said. These days, he felt like an outsider watching He Tiantian take wholehearted care of Huo Yingjie, feeling a mix of envy and jealousy.

"Brother Yingjie, you love Spicy Chicken Cubes the most. Shall I make it for you?" He Tiantian asked, approaching the supply and marketing cooperative. Bathed in the dim light of the cooperative, she turned her head to look at the Changling Supreme God’s face.

"Okay!" The Changling Supreme God said, gazing enraptured at He Tiantian’s face.

!