The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 692 - 661: Waiting for the East Wind, Searching for Relatives_1

Chapter 692: Chapter 661: Waiting for the East Wind, Searching for Relatives_1

Sun Sihao was lively and well-suited for doing business; Qian Shikun knew his own shortcomings.

Qian Shikun chuckled and said, "I’m not cut out for business. When the time comes, I’ll just contract a hillside and raise pigs nearby to sell to you all."

"Haha, if that happens, it would be wonderful," He Tiantian laughed, hoping that day would come soon.

At noon, they talked for a long time, dreaming about the future.

It wasn’t until after three in the afternoon that they finally took their leave.

He Tiantian felt even more confident about the business now; everything was ready—she just needed the right opportunity!

In the evening, He Tiantian mentioned Qian Shikun and Sun Sihao at home, also showing photos of the two men to her father-in-law.

Huo Zhekun glanced at the photos and asked, "Tell me, what are these two people’s names?"

"This chubbier uncle is Qian Shikun; the thinner one is Sun Sihao," He Tiantian replied. "Dad, did you know them before?"

Huo Zhekun shook his head and said, "I don’t know the thin one, but I do know this chubby one, Qian Shikun. Three days ago, we received a letter from Xiangjiang, a letter seeking relatives. However, this was unofficial, not through government channels."

"Ah?" He Tiantian was surprised. "Uncle Qian once told me that before the revolution, his Qian family was involved in the tobacco business and had ties to organized crime, so right after the revolution, they were immediately crushed, and many of its members scattered. He was young then and had quite a few wives and concubines, who all disappeared later on."

"The person who wrote the letter is named Qian Zhigao, his father Qian Shikun, his mother Liao Furong, and his grandfather Qian Wantong. Their old house before the revolution was in Qian Family Alley," Huo Zhekun said. "When you have time, could you discreetly find out if this is true?"

This was something Huo Yingjun had sent over through special channels.

Huo Yingjun didn’t trust anyone else to investigate, so he directly asked his second uncle.

"Okay, the day after tomorrow is the weekend, I’ll have some free time to ask around," He Tiantian said, knowing the pain of not being able to reunite with family.

Since Qian Shikun had relatives, she was happy to help.

Huo Yingjie took He Tiantian to Qian Family Alley. Because it was evening, Qian Shikun was at home, sorting through the vegetables he had purchased from the countryside. Removing some of the wilted leaves, he bundled them up; each bundle weighed a pound and sold for five cents. In actuality, the purchase cost was just two cents per pound. Taking into account the yellow leaves that were thrown away, he could earn a two-cent profit per pound. Selling a hundred pounds a day, he could make two or three dollars, enough to cover his own food and drink.

"Tiantian, Yingjie, what brings you here?" Qian Shikun asked as he opened the door, happy to see the younger generation.

Qian Shikun’s home was simple, but it was clean, which showed that Qian Shikun was a man with plans in his heart.

He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie placed the snacks and sour jujubes they had brought onto the table and answered with a smile, "Uncle Qian, I’m here to ask about something, and I’ll just come out with it; do you know Liao Furong?"

"Liao Furong?" Qian Shikun was taken aback. "Furong, I know her, she was my first wife! But I was a scoundrel back then, favoring concubines over my wife, neglecting her completely. Later her whereabouts became unknown."

As he spoke, Qian Shikun felt somewhat guilty. He didn’t tell the whole truth; in reality, he didn’t want to implicate his first wife and never told anyone about her.

He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie exchanged glances—they could tell that Qian Shikun was lying about what came afterward.

"Uncle Qian, I’ll tell you the truth; my father-in-law asked me to come and ask about this. He said he received a letter from high up seeking relatives. The person writing is named Qian Zhigao, his father Qian Shikun, and his mother Liao Furong. Whatever mistakes you made in the past, you’ve already served time and atoned for them, and nobody is going to dredge up your old errors to trouble you," He Tiantian said, hoping Qian Shikun would tell the truth so she could complete her task.

"Tiantian, are you serious?" Qian Shikun looked at He Tiantian with hope. He had been a rascal when he was young, but in his old age, he longed for a home, a family.

"It’s true," He Tiantian said. "The letter came from Xiangjiang."

Upon hearing this, Qian Shikun’s body shook, and he let out a wry smile, "Ah, when Furong persuaded me to leave, I didn’t believe in omens. I just gave her some money and told her to leave. But back then, she was alone, she hadn’t had children!"

"Not having given birth doesn’t mean she wasn’t pregnant!" He Tiantian said. "This person named Qian Zhigao came looking for his father Qian Shikun, sharing your surname. Whether he is your son, you’ll know once you get in touch and meet. Maybe then you can be sure."

"Oh, oh!" Qian Shikun was somewhat excited, even more so at the thought that if it was true, he had a son. As for a wife, he didn’t expect his estranged wife to wait for him.

After all, he had been a complete scoundrel in his youth!

"Uncle Qian, this is a letter from Qian Zhigao. Take a look. If possible, you should write back," He Tiantian suggested, quite convinced that this matter was almost certainly true.

Qian Shikun, trembling, took the letter. The handwriting was graceful and nimble, instantly bringing tears to Qian Shikun’s eyes.

"This is Furong’s handwriting," Qian Shikun said. Though he had been irresponsible in his youth, he had a year or two of affection with Liao Furong, and he recognized her writing.

Qian Shikun wrote a letter while tears streamed down his face.

What he had intended to be a thousand words ended up being just a simple sheet of paper.

"Do you have any keepsakes or something like that?" He Tiantian asked, aiming for a conclusive identification.

Qian Shikun wiped away his tears. Even if he was to be criticized again, he would acknowledge his son, his wife.

After all, he had reached an age where life would be meaningless if he couldn’t reunite with his family.

Before, in ignorance, he could console himself, indulge in distractions.

But now that he knew, he was ready to pay any price to be recognized by his kin.

"Tiantian, wait for a moment," Qian Shikun said, turning around and pulling out a square wooden box about a foot in size from the corner of the wall. It contained many aged items, all of which Qian Shikun had secretly stashed away in the past.

Qian Shikun carefully searched the box and at the very bottom, he found a beautifully preserved silver hairpin with a jade-embellished lotus flower design.

It had developed some black oxidation marks due to not being used for a very long time.

Qian Shikun carefully packed away the box and then meticulously wiped the hairpin, taking some time before the hairpin regained its original, delicate beauty.

"This is Furong’s hairpin. When she sees it, she’ll know it’s me," Qian Shikun said, his voice filled with excitement, hope, and guilt.

"Alright, I’ll take this with me. I’ll notify you as soon as there’s any news," He Tiantian said, receiving it. Her own family had kept saved items from the past, let alone Qian Shikun who had been even more affluent.

"I’m entrusting this to you," Qian Shikun said.

"Uncle Qian, perhaps you will be reunited with your family before long. During this time, you must take good care of yourself," He Tiantian reminded, lest Qian Shikun become distracted and meet with an accident.

"I’ll be careful," Qian Shikun nodded repeatedly. "By the way, I also have some photographs, should I give you one?"

He Tiantian’s eyes lit up, and she nodded, "That would be perfect!"

Qian Shikun took out the photographs, picked the most spirited one, and handed it to He Tiantian.