The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 538 - 509: Regret, A Sweet Journey_1

Chapter 538: Chapter 509: Regret, A Sweet Journey_1

On the train, the scenery on either side of the tracks rapidly retreated through the window.

He Tiantian sat on the bunk with Huo Yingjie, looking at the trees outside and whispering to each other.

What a coincidence that He Tiantian ran into Zhang Runan, who was attending the labor conference.

"Auntie Zhang, I didn’t expect to run into you again here," He Tiantian said when she went out to use the restroom and saw Zhang Runan in the next compartment.

Zhang Runan was also happy to see He Tiantian.

From strangers to acquaintances, their relationship had grown closer because of Niu Dajun and Qi Xiaoyan. Now, thanks to He Tiantian, they had found a long-lost elder who had been away from home for decades.

"Tiantian, did you get on the train in Nan City?" Zhang Runan asked, clasping He Tiantian’s hand without letting go. "Oh, such a fine girl, why didn’t she take a fancy to my son?"

Because of her son, Zhang Runan also knew He Tiantian’s parents.

Be it family background or appearance, they were quite well-matched!

However, He Tiantian was already betrothed to someone else, and she had no feelings for her son.

"Yes, I had some matters to attend to and had to return to my hometown," He Tiantian said with a light laugh. "As for you, you must be going to another commendation ceremony, right?"

Zhang Runan was quite a talent herself, with an easy command of various tractor technologies, making her a yearly model worker for her factory and a representative of the workers from Huai City at meetings in Yanjing.

"Yes, all thanks to the leaders," Zhang Runan said with a smile. "Are you here by yourself? Where are your parents?"

"My father went back earlier, and this time I’m going back with my boyfriend to visit my parents," He Tiantian smiled. Just then, Huo Yingjie came out, "Brother Yingjie, come here."

Huo Yingjie smiled and walked over.

"Tiantian, did you run into an elder you know?" Huo Yingjie asked softly, the epitome of grace.

"Yes, this is Captain Qi’s mother, Zhang Runan, a national labor model," He Tiantian introduced. "Auntie Zhang, this is my boyfriend, Huo Yingjie."

The moment Huo Yingjie appeared, Zhang Runan already understood that her son stood no chance.

Huo Yingjie’s demeanor, appearance, and his childhood connection with He Tiantian were not something her son could match.

Yet her son, in pursuit of He Tiantian and in expectation of her, had been reluctant to marry.

When she got back home, Zhang Runan was determined to have her son meet Huo Yingjie so he could completely give up.

"Nice to meet you, ma’am. A woman who does not yield to men, impressive," Huo Yingjie complimented, extending his right hand.

Zhang Runan smiled and said, "You flatter me! A young talent, elegant and handsome, what a pleasure. When you get married, make sure to send me an invitation, I will definitely attend your wedding."

He Tiantian blushed slightly, a little embarrassed.

Huo Yingjie gave a hearty laugh, "Certainly, certainly!"

"Alright then, you two go back and rest; standing here all this time must be tiring," Zhang Runan said. After all, this was the aisle, and standing here too long would obstruct others. Besides, there were others in their little compartment, so it wasn’t appropriate to invite He Tiantian to sit there.

"Okay, we’ll get together another time once we’re in Huai City," He Tiantian said politely, then she and Huo Yingjie returned to their seats.

When it was time to eat, He Tiantian brought over some scallion pancakes she had made.

Zhang Runan also gave He Tiantian a few eggs, being very friendly and polite.

If one were traveling by train alone, it might feel like an eternity, but now with Huo Yingjie, they could sleep soundly when tired and whisper sweet nothings and share fun stories when awake.

The train stopped at Nan City; before getting off, Zhang Runan said, "Tiantian, come visit my home. After we eat, I’ll arrange a car to take you back to Qijia Village."

He Tiantian knew this was just Zhang Runan being polite and didn’t take it seriously, smiling, "We won’t bother you this time, Auntie Zhang. You must be tired too; hurry home and rest."

"Fair enough, do take care, and come visit when you have time," Zhang Runan said politely, then got off the train.

However, once home, Zhang Runan would surely arrange for her son to visit Qijia Village to meet He Tiantian’s boyfriend, so that he could give up for good.

The sooner he gave up, the sooner he could start a new romance, get married, and have children, so she could hold her grandsons and granddaughters sooner.

After seeing off Zhang Runan, He Tiantian felt thrilled and said, "Soon, in just two more hours, we’ll arrive at Taoyuan County."

"Great," Huo Yingjie said with a smile. "I can’t wait either."

There were quite a few people getting off at Huai City.

All the passengers in He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie’s compartment disembarked, leaving just the two of them.

"Hot soup, hot dishes, rice..." Lunchtime had arrived, and the dining car rolled by.

He Tiantian swiftly nudged Huo Yingjie, her face flushed, "I’m hungry."

Having finished their packed food, He Tiantian bought some vegetables and rice, as well as egg soup.

After they finished eating, washed the lunch box, and tidied everything away, it was already one o’clock.

The train was running late today, and by the time they got off, it was already two-thirty in the afternoon.

He Tiantian carried a crossbody bag and held a few small items in her hands, with all the heavy luggage on Huo Yingjie, amounting to more than a hundred pounds.

At first, He Tiantian worried Huo Yingjie wouldn’t be able to carry it, but he could lift it with one hand, so he continued to carry it.

He Tiantian, who frequently traveled between the county town and Qijia Village, directly found a bullock cart, the same one previously recommended to her and Huo Yingjie by Niu Lili.

Seeing He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie, Old Man Liu said, "Girl Tian, your boyfriend has come to see you again."

"Mmm-hmm," He Tiantian smiled. "Grandpa Liu, I can’t wait to go home; how soon can we leave?"

"We can go right away," Old Man Liu laughed, finishing his large bowl of tea, picked up his whip, and walked in front of the bullock cart.

After boarding the bullock cart, Old Man Liu whipped the ox into motion.

Thanks to the improved roads, the speed of the bullock cart was much faster than before.

"Grandpa Liu, you’re so skilled with the bullock cart. Now that the roads are better, how long does it take to go back and forth between Qijia Village and the county?" He Tiantian asked, chatting with him sentence by sentence.

Bored with driving the cart and knowing the roads well, Old Man Liu saw that He Tiantian wanted to chat and replied cheerfully, "I know the roads like the back of my hand, and my bullock cart is quite sturdy and light. It takes less than two hours to reach your Qijia Village."