The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 676 - 645: Reluctance and Grimness_1

Chapter 676: Chapter 645: Reluctance and Grimness_1

Qi Fangfang was puzzled and saddened for her brother.

"You’re all grown up and still crying," Qi Jianguo said, "Alright, in a few days it’s grandma’s birthday. I happen to have some money on hand, let’s buy a chicken to nourish her."

"There’s no need, brother," Qi Fangfang said, "We have plenty of grain at home, and life has been pretty good. You should save your money and maybe change to a bigger, drier room."

"No worries, let’s get through grandma’s birthday first," Qi Jianguo insisted. He felt he had been too unfilial.

Eventually, Qi Fangfang couldn’t help it and burst into loud sobs.

"What’s wrong? Fangfang?" Qi Jianguo was somewhat flustered, "Did I embarrass you by coming back to the village?"

Qi Fangfang shook her head, "No, brother, that’s not it. No matter what, you are still my brother."

"Then why are you crying?" Qi Jianguo asked dryly, "Although my leg isn’t good, I still have my skills and can make money."

Thinking that her brother would learn about He Tiantian’s visit upon returning to Qijia Village, Qi Fangfang decided it was best to tell him first, so he could be mentally prepared and not seek revenge again.

They were in no position to fight others right now; they were outmatched.

"Yes, it was He Tiantian who visited Third Grandma Qi with her child and husband," Qi Fangfang said, "I’m afraid you might get upset when you go back and do something rash that gets you locked up again."

Upon hearing his sister’s words, Qi Jianguo was stunned and fell silent for a long time.

He Tiantian had returned!

The woman he despised was back!

Because of He Tiantian, he had become this, neither human nor ghost!

Seeing her brother lost in thought and not speaking, Qi Fangfang hastily called out, "Big brother, big brother, please, snap out of it. You can’t be so impulsive anymore. They have more people and power, money and influence—we can’t fight them."

Qi Jianguo still remained silent for a long time.

He had spent his prime years, his youthful days, in prison.

One could say that He Tiantian had ruined his life.

Qi Jianguo was inherently selfish, and his years in prison, enduring torment and ridicule, had further twisted his psyche.

He thought about returning to the village and the odd looks from people, the laughter behind his back.

The nightmares that haunted him at midnight often left Qi Jianguo tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

"It’s okay, it’s okay!" Qi Jianguo came back to his senses, lowering his head, not wanting his sister Qi Fangfang to see the rage and madness in his eyes.

"Big brother, can we just let it go, please?" Qi Fangfang said, "You’re out now, and in two years, I’ll graduate. Then, we can get a big house in Taoyuan County, bring our parents and grandma over, and live a good life together, okay?"

Qi Fangfang knew they couldn’t win against He Tiantian; they hadn’t in the past and wouldn’t in the future.

If that was the case, then they should bury their hatred and lead a peaceful life. Silently cursing them to their fate was enough; Heaven would deal with the evil-doers.

Qi Jianguo’s heart was bitter, yet filled with far more resentment.

If he forgave He Tiantian, what would that make of his past? Just a ridiculous joke?

"Fangfang," Qi Jianguo said sorrowfully, but he still nodded his head.

"Big brother, let’s let go of the past. Once I graduate, I’ll marry and have kids. The first child, I will adopt to you, so we can have a good life together, okay?" Qi Fangfang knew her brother wasn’t the type to give up easily, so she kept persuading him.

Qi Jianguo knew that with his current condition, it was unlikely for him to find a wife.

His sister’s words moved him, but they also made him feel more sad and angry.

If at that time, He Tiantian had accepted his pursuit, there wouldn’t have been so many things happening afterward, let alone a prison disaster. Maybe by now his children would already be running around everywhere, instead of him, a bachelor, having to adopt from his sister.

All the good things were ruined because of He Tiantian.

Qi Jianguo’s thoughts became more and more paranoid, and upon hearing that He Tiantian was back, this news drove him even crazier.

"Hmm, I know," said Qi Jianguo, "You can go back now."

Qi Fangfang was slightly relieved to see that her brother wasn’t as agitated as she had imagined and said, "I’ll wash your clothes for you first, clean up, make food, and then go back in the evening."

Qi Fangfang brought grain, vegetables, and eggs from home and made food for Qi Jianguo.

In the evening, when Qi Fangfang went back, she tried to reason with her brother, hoping he would remain calm and composed.

However, Qi Jianguo couldn’t stay calm and composed.

The following day, he returned to Qijia Village.

From a distance, he saw He Tiantian and her husband with their two plump children, talking and laughing happily.

A family, so warm, harmonious and happy.

This was all supposed to be his, but now it belonged to someone else.

The darkness and resentment in Qi Jianguo’s heart were infinitely magnified in the face of this blissful affection, teetering on the brink of explosion.

Qi Jianguo didn’t go home but slunk back to the county town, locking himself in his house, not eating or drinking for two whole days.

Qi Jianguo got all his savings in order, leaving half under the pillow. His sister knew his habit of hiding money, so she should be able to find it.

Then he used the rest of the money to buy all the kerosene he could get.

Since Qi Jianguo fixed bicycles, he needed oil, so as long as he had money and tickets, he could get it.

At night, he filled a big plastic tub with all the gasoline and kerosene in his house, tied it to his tricycle, and rode towards Qijia Village under the cover of darkness.

He didn’t want to live anymore, so let’s all be destroyed together.

All the way, Qi Jianguo rode the tricycle with his head down.

Old Man Liu, without business as it got dark and ready to head home, received a new customer.

Since it was an ox-cart, Old Man Liu had a lantern in front of his cart. When he passed Qi Jianguo, he glanced at the pedestrian on the roadside and recognized Qi Jianguo.

Old Man Liu was known in Taoyuan County as a man who knew everything, involved in many matters, whether true or false, especially those concerning Qijia Village, which he knew even more about.

Naturally, he also knew about the grudge between Qi Jianguo and He Tiantian.

However, Old Man Liu also knew that Qi Jianguo had been released because of good behavior and thought perhaps the man had really reformed.

Where was Qi Jianguo going at this late hour?

Though curious, Old Man Liu didn’t ask.

But Qi Jianguo’s expression looked somewhat grim, not like someone going home to dutifully take care of his parents.

Old Man Liu wanted to get home early, so he sped up his cart, soon passing Qi Jianguo.

Far from Qi Jianguo now, a passenger quietly said, "Old Liu, did you see that? That young man’s expression just now was terrifying, like a madman, as if he was going to kill someone."

"Ah? You didn’t see wrong, did you?" Old Man Liu was busy with his driving and had only glanced over, recognizing Qi Jianguo but not really noticing his expression.

"My eyesight is pretty good, how could I see wrong?" said the passenger. "Anyway, just by looking, he doesn’t appear to be a good person. Let’s hurry up and not let him catch up with us."

"Right, I’ll speed up," agreed Old Man Liu, speeding up and dropping the passenger off at home.