The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 741 - 710: Branch Store, Sending New Year’s Gifts_1

Chapter 741: Chapter 710: Branch Store, Sending New Year’s Gifts_1

While eating, Feng Qiaoqiao listened to the surrounding gossip.

Glancing not far away, she saw Huo Yingjie and Jiang Lifang, and Feng Qiaoqiao finally understood why her aunt was unhappy.

Alas, her aunt was just like that, couldn’t stand seeing Director Jiang happy and content.

Director Jiang’s son was successful and filial, but her aunt’s own cousins were no good, though that’s no reason to be jealous of Director Jiang.

No use talking about it, her aunt was stubborn, and once she made up her mind, not even nine oxen could pull her back.

Feng Qiaoqiao didn’t think she had the ability to persuade her aunt and didn’t plan to try.

After Jiang Lifang had finished her meal, Huo Yingjie escorted her to the office and asked, "Mom, what would you like to eat tonight? I’ll cook for you."

"What can you cook, anyway? It’s all Tiantian who ends up busy!" Jiang Lifang said. "As long as Tiantian cooks it, I find it delicious. I’m not picky. Whatever we have at home, you guys make that!"

"Alright, then we’ll just make something simple." Huo Yingjie nodded and headed home with the thermos flask.

At home, He Tiantian was tidying up, getting ready to check on the shop.

Huo Yingjie wanted to go along too.

This time, it was Zhang Aijun who followed Huo Yingjie, while Li Yunzhong stayed home to help Grandma Wang look after the children.

In the shop, business was booming, with a long line of customers outside waiting to buy goods.

He Tiantian led them through the back yard into the shop, where everyone inside was also busy at work.

Sun Sihao was supervising the work. Despite being busy, he maintained strict standards, not allowing anyone to be careless or unserious about their work.

"Younger sister-in-law, this business has gotten pretty big," Zhang Aijun remarked. Before, they guessed that Huo Yingjie’s wife, He Tiantian, was too delicate to endure the closed-off life of the research institute, but now it doesn’t seem that way!

Such a large business simply can’t run without people.

"Hehe, I didn’t expect it either," Huo Yingjie laughed. "By the way, I just heard that many people came from the south and north of the city just to queue up and buy our products. Since that’s the case, shouldn’t we think about opening branches in other places?"

He Tiantian nodded, "I’ve thought about it too. Let’s forget it before the New Year. Starting from tomorrow, early spring, I’ll get started on choosing a location to open a branch in either the south, north, west, or the area outside of the city."

"Won’t that make it even harder for you?" Huo Yingjie was a bit worried, especially because he could help He Tiantian if he were present.

"Hehe, it’s alright," He Tiantian chuckled. "Business is good, and so is my mood. Over the past six months, I’ve also trained some people, so opening a new branch shouldn’t be a problem. Moreover, I’ll start my internship next semester. It’s actually just helping the teachers with some actual work at the school and writing papers, which isn’t very busy. I can manage it."

"Younger sister-in-law is really impressive," Zhang Aijun praised. "You guys look around, I’ll go check the accounts."

"Sure, go ahead," Huo Yingjie nodded, poured a hot cup of tea for He Tiantian, and then left.

Zhang Aijun and Huo Yingjie couldn’t sit still, so they found an apron, put it on, and started helping out with the work.

By the time He Tiantian finished checking the accounts, she saw Huo Yingjie and Zhang Aijun making sausages, with three large basins already filled.

He Tiantian was both amused and exasperated, but she did not stop them.

She went around the place, boosting everyone’s morale and taking the chance to inspect the cleanliness everywhere.

It had to be said, Sun Sihao was a decent manager and businessman.

The Sanfeng Bridge shop was well organized under his management.

He Tiantian glanced at her watch; it was already five o’clock, time to head home.

When she left, He Tiantian bought nine large gift boxes from the shop and went directly to ship them.

Two for Third Grandma Qi, two for Grandpa Qi, one for Qi Xiaoyan, one for Niu Lili, one for Village Chief Qi, one for Aunt Liu, and one for Chief Engineer Sun.

"Brother Zhang, could you write down the address? This one’s to be sent back to your sister-in-law," He Tiantian said with a smile. She spent quite a bit on annual gifts every year, but it was a gesture of her goodwill.

Moreover, He Tiantian wasn’t short of money now; what she needed more was fellowship.

"Sister-in-law, this really isn’t necessary! Please, let’s not," Zhang Aijun declined, afraid to accept it for fear of breaking the rules.

Huo Yingjie chuckled, "It’s just a New Year’s gift, nothing serious. Write down the address quickly. Oh, Brother Zhang, do you know Li Yunzhong’s address?"

"I know it, I helped him send a letter last time and wrote down his address," Zhang Aijun said, "I’ll accept it humbly then."

"There’s no need for courtesy," Huo Yingjie nodded and began to write the addresses for Third Grandma Qi and the others.

By the time all the gift boxes were mailed, it was nearly six o’clock, so she hurried home.

The moment the door opened, the two children ran out eagerly.

Huo Yingjie quickly scooped up the two kids who dashed over and spun around in circles with them in the courtyard.

"Haha!" The children loved this, laughing with drool running down their faces, clinging onto Dad without wanting to get down.

He Tiantian felt a mix of emotions in her heart. Although she had done her utmost in caring for the children, the role of a father was irreplaceable by anyone.

He Tiantian planned to make hand-pulled noodles today, and Li Yunzhong, who was particularly skilled at it, took over the task of rolling out the noodles.

"Sister-in-law, you make the braising sauce. Let’s have noodles with sauce today," Li Yunzhong said with a smile. "I’ll take care of the strenuous task of rolling the noodles."

"Okay!" He Tiantian agreed. "By the way, Li Yunzhong, I sent a New Year’s gift box to your family back home today."

"Ah?" Li Yunzhong was taken aback, "Isn’t that against the rules?"

"It’s not against the rules. You’re on a mission, and we are also friends. You can’t go home for the New Year, so as a friend, sending something to your parents is nothing big!" He Tiantian smiled, "I sent one to Brother Zhang’s sister-in-law too."

"Hehe, if Brother Zhang accepted it, I won’t refuse either," Li Yunzhong laughed. "When I go back to my hometown, I’ll bring you some local specialties."

"That’s great, I’m really looking forward to it!" He Tiantian said. Friends exchanging gifts with each other was a very normal, emotion-binding interaction.

It’s not about the value; it’s the thought that counts.

Li Yunzhong’s skills were indeed notable; the noodles he rolled out were very chewy.

On the other side, He Tiantian finished making the braising sauce, which was actually a beef sauce with large chunks of beef mixed in. Alongside, she had washed plenty of little green vegetables, just waiting for Huo Zhekun and Jiang Lifang to get off work to start boiling the noodles and have dinner.

And sure enough, shortly after, Huo Zhekun and Jiang Lifang finished work, and He Tiantian began boiling the noodles in a large pot. Meanwhile, they washed their hands and cooled off just in time for dinner.

"Daddy, you need to wash your hands!" Huo Ruimin reminded her dad who had walked straight into the dining room from behind.

Mom said that eating without washing hands doesn’t make a good baby.

He Tiantian covered her mouth to laugh and said, "You’re even worse than the kids!"

Feeling poked fun at, Huo Yingjie stretched out his hand and tweaked He Tiantian’s chin, "See if I don’t teach you a lesson!"

"Alright, dinner’s almost ready, don’t do that," He Tiantian scolded playfully and quickly dodged to go serve the noodles.