The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 561 - 532

Chapter 561: 532

Huo Zhekun and Jiang Lifang had carefully prepared gifts and were ready to go to Qijia Village to discuss the marriage of their children with He Jingyu and Wang Shuping.

If possible, they would settle the marriage during this visit.

As the holiday was fast approaching, Jiang Lifang counted the gifts on the list every day, taking it very seriously.

However, as it happens in life, plans cannot keep up with changes. A telegram from Yanjing arrived: "Huo Family in danger, return immediately!"

Just five simple words threw Huo Zhekun and Jiang Lifang into anxiety and fear, leaving them completely disoriented.

Receiving such a telegram indicated that the Huo Family in Yanjing had reached a critical moment of life and death.

Everything else had to be set aside; they had to get through the Huo Family crisis first.

"What should we do?" Jiang Lifang wiped her eyes, not knowing what exactly had happened in Yanjing, "Our son’s marriage has to be postponed again."

Huo Zhekun’s hands were trembling. He couldn’t even strike a match to light his cigarette and finally, gave up smoking and tossed the cigarette away.

After a while, Huo Zhekun spoke slowly, "This time, Tiantian will have to wait a bit longer. Receiving such a telegram, we must hurry to Yanjing. I’m not very familiar with the situation in the Capital City. The old man must be at his wits’ end, and the Huo Family must have fallen into a desperate situation to send such a telegram."

"Alas!" Jiang Lifang sighed, "Then you’d better send a telegram to Yingjie at once and tell him to come back earlier."

"Hmm," Huo Zhekun nodded, preparing to send a telegram to his son, "You pack up at home. After sending the telegram, we’ll take the earliest train and leave."

"Alright!" Jiang Lifang said. She took some time to write a letter of apology to the He Family, explaining the situation and asking for their understanding.

The person in charge of the post and telegraph office, who was a former colleague of Niu Dajun and knew something about Qijia Village, immediately informed Niu Dajun upon receiving the telegram and asked him to help with the delivery.

Even with bad weather, Niu Dajun, upon seeing those five words, could not be bothered by such concerns and rode his bicycle straight to Qijia Village.

As the road was slippery, Niu Dajun let out one-third of the air from his bicycle’s tires to enhance friction between the tires and the road, preventing a fall due to the slippery ground.

Upon arrival in Qijia Village, Niu Dajun did not go to his father-in-law’s house but directly to Third Grandma Qi’s home.

Receiving the telegram left He Jingyu’s family dumbfounded.

They had been waiting for the Huo couple to come over and discuss the marriage. Now, the people had not arrived, but the Huo Family’s telegram had.

The Huo Family was not known for making alarmist statements. Seeing the telegram, He Jingyu said, "Tiantian, hurry up and pack Yingjie’s luggage. If we leave now, we can catch tonight’s train."

The moment Huo Yingjie saw the contents of the telegram, he secretly calculated with his fingers and cursed under his breath, "Another idiot!"

"I’m sorry, Uncle He, Aunt Wang, there’s a situation at home, and discussing the marriage will have to be delayed once more," Huo Yingjie said guiltily, feeling that the Huo Family had repeatedly dragged the He Family along, which was indeed unseemly.

"The timing of the marriage doesn’t matter, but the Huo Family is in trouble now, and as a member of the Huo Family, you need to go and handle it," He Jingyu said. "Go with peace of mind. Once you have dealt with your issues, we can discuss the marriage properly."

"Yes, Yingjie, don’t worry about us here, we’re safe in Qijia Village," Wang Shuping added. "But you, going to Yanjing this time, must be careful with your words and actions and be cautious."

"Thank you, Uncle He, Aunt Wang," Huo Yingjie stood up to apologize to his future parents-in-law.

"Enough of that, no need to fuss so," He Jingyu said. "First deal with the Huo Family’s matters."

The year was about to step into 1976.

He Tiantian had already packed Huo Yingjie’s luggage, and He Jingyu offered his own thick cashmere overcoat.

He Jingyu, He Tiantian wanted to see off Huo Yingjie, but he refused.

"Uncle He, Tiantian, I don’t have much luggage. I can just ride my bike to the county town," Huo Yingjie said, determined not to let them accompany him. "I’ll leave my bike at Dajun’s place and then head straight for the train."

It was so cold; one trip by himself would be enough.

If He Tiantian and He Jingyu were to see him off, they would have to endure the cold twice, there and back.

He Tiantian felt sad inside, the wedding that was going so well now had to be postponed again.

"Once in a blue moon" no longer described the hardships of their marriage matters.

He Jingyu thought about it and agreed, saying, "Alright, I won’t go then. You can look out for each other with Dajun on the road, and we can rest assured."

Seeing her daughter’s spirits low, Wang Shuping quickly said, "Tiantian, go make some hot soup noodles. Let Dajun and Yingjie get something warm in them before they set off on the road."

"Oh!" He Tiantian agreed repeatedly and hid in the kitchen.

Huo Yingjie offered an apologetic smile to everyone and followed He Tiantian into the kitchen.

While making the dough, He Tiantian wiped her tears with her sleeve.

She actually didn’t want to cry, but for some reason, she couldn’t help the soreness in her eyes that brought tears.

Perhaps it was because she had too many good days before, and she had been loved by so many, she had become rather delicate.

"Tiantian, don’t cry," Huo Yingjie said, taking a ring out of his pocket. "I was planning to give it to you in a couple of days, but since I’m leaving now, I’ll give it to you first. Wearing my ring means you are my wife."

"Who is your wife!" He Tiantian did not let Huo Yingjie put the ring on her finger, feeling a bit resentful inside.

"Of course, it’s you," Huo Yingjie stated. "I made it myself for you."

Huo Yingjie insisted, slipping the ring onto the ring finger of He Tiantian’s left hand, not minding the flour still dusting her fingers.

"I’m still kneading the dough!" He Tiantian looked at the rose-shaped ring. It was not made of gold or silver, but rather a purple-gold color, and it was very beautiful.

He Tiantian took off the ring and put it in her pocket.

"Rest assured, I will come back as soon as possible," Huo Yingjie affirmed. "Wait for me!"

He Tiantian frowned and said, "I will wait for you this one time, but if you break your promise again, I won’t wait for you anymore."

He Tiantian’s unreasonable behavior was also due to the anxiety and fear in her heart.

"Okay, the last time," Huo Yingjie agreed, kissing He Tiantian’s forehead. "I’ve calculated that the fortunes of the Huo Family have not yet run out; there is surprise but no danger. Don’t worry about me or the Huo Family, and just wait peacefully for me in Qijia Village."

"Alright!" He Tiantian whispered softly. "Go check your room to see if you need to take anything else. Once I’m done here and you and Brother Dajun have eaten, you can set off on your journey."

"Mm," Huo Yingjie nodded, heading to his room.

After eating the hot soup noodles and taking a short rest, Huo Yingjie and Niu Dajun mounted their bikes and hit the road.

He Jingyu and He Tiantian saw them off to the edge of the village, until their figures disappeared into the biting cold wind.

With this parting, who knew what would happen to Huo Yingjie in Yanjing, or how long it would be before they could be reunited.

All He Tiantian could do was pray in her heart for Huo Yingjie’s safety and his swift return.