The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 762 - 731: Offering Help in the Snow, Not Giving Up Hope_1

Chapter 762: Chapter 731: Offering Help in the Snow, Not Giving Up Hope_1

Due to the good business at Sanfeng Bridge, one generally had to work until 8:30 in the evening.

This required someone to be on duty, and He Tiantian could arrange for Zhang Mengmeng to work the evening shift from five-thirty to eight-thirty for three hours, earning two yuan and fifty cents a day, roughly seventy-five yuan a month.

"Then... Teacher He, may I ask about the payment?" Zhang Mengmeng inquired, her face blushing slightly. "Don’t take this the wrong way, Teacher He, but my parents’ workplace is not doing well, and I also have younger siblings at home, and grandma is not in good health. Sending half of my allowance home doesn’t solve the problem," she confided.

"It’s no problem at all!" He Tiantian said. "Earning money through one’s own labor is very honorable. As for the payment, you can work the evening shift from five-thirty to eight-thirty, three hours each day, earning two yuan fifty. On weekends, you can work a full shift, including a meal for lunch."

Zhang Mengmeng did the math, she could take four days off a month, and working ten hours a day would earn her six yuan, which totaled twenty-four yuan for four days. Added to the regular evening shifts, that would be over eighty yuan a month—about the same as the combined salary of her parents.

"Really?" Zhang Mengmeng was half in doubt.

"Really," He Tiantian nodded. "The most important thing for you right now is to study hard. I will help you solve these life problems as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Teacher He," Zhang Mengmeng nodded repeatedly in gratitude.

Afterward, He Tiantian took Zhang Mengmeng for a health check-up. The results came back indicating that she was healthy and had no infectious diseases.

He Tiantian discussed Zhang Mengmeng’s situation and had Sun Sihao draw up a short-term contract specifying the work hours, duties, and compensation.

From then on, Zhang Mengmeng started working at Sanfeng Bridge in the southern part of the city.

When Sun Sihao heard about Zhang Mengmeng’s family difficulties, he advanced her half a month’s salary to send home, leaving her deeply moved and grateful.

For her, a student finding part-time work was difficult. The help from Teacher He was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

He Tiantian’s job was going smoothly; it had become much easier than at the beginning.

He Tiantian rode her bicycle home and saw a crowd gathered at the entrance of the alley.

Peering in, she saw a Rolls-Royce car with a dark body and a rustic emblem.

In Nan City, where bicycles crowded the streets, the most one would see were those green jeeps. Cars like this were simply not to be found.

He Tiantian sighed wistfully, wondering when she too might own a car.

Pushing her bicycle, He Tiantian walked into the alley.

People kept coming out of the alley to look at the car.

He Tiantian shook her head and chuckled to herself; no wonder the car could only be parked at the entrance to the alley—it was much too narrow.

Back home, Qi Zhengmin said with a grin, "Sister Tiantian, you’re off tomorrow, I’ll take you out for a drive."

"Driving?" He Tiantian, upon seeing the car keys in Qi Zhengmin’s hand, asked, "That car at the entrance to the alley, is it yours?"

Qi Zhengmin laughed, "Actually, it’s not really my car, it’s my brother’s. I wanted to drive, so I grabbed the keys."

"Oh!" He Tiantian had a sudden realization—of course, living in the materially abundant society of Country M, one naturally couldn’t stand the routine of bicycling and walking. "But do you have a driving license?"

"I have a driving license in the United States, but not in Huaxia Country," Qi Zhengmin also paused for a moment, realizing she had forgotten an important detail.

"In that case, you’d better wait. After you get your license, then you can drive," He Tiantian suggested. "Also, the steering wheel and driving habits are different here; you should familiarize yourself with them before you start driving."

"Oh, oh." Qi Zhengmin nodded, "That’s right, I should do that, but where do I go to get a driver’s license?"

"I’m not sure, I’ll ask for you later," He Tiantian said—asking Secretary Guo would yield faster results than asking Grandpa.

Qi Zhenghan, listening on the side, also felt quite troubled.

The car was snatched away by his sister, and now he had to get a driver’s license!

Secretary Guo was startled, but then immediately agreed to take them for their driver’s license since there was no explicit rule in place and they had to rely on temporary provisions.

Qi Zhenghan and Qi Zhengmin had conducted an in-depth survey of Nan City in private, combining some incentives from the municipal government, which gave them many more ideas.

With negotiations approaching, Qi Zhengmin suggested, "Brother, we siblings should move into the guesthouse arranged by the municipal government."

"Why?" Why move into a guesthouse when they were comfortably settled here?

If they moved into the guesthouse, he would not be able to see He Tiantian.

"To avoid suspicion!" Qi Zhengmin said, "We’re staying at Huo Zhekun’s home, and he’s the mayor. It doesn’t look good for the two families to be negotiating deals like this. It’s not good for you, or for Mayor Huo."

On hearing this, Qi Zhenghan breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully his sister hadn’t noticed.

Qi Zhenghan’s behavior did not escape Qi Zhengmin’s notice. Moving out was imperative, as she couldn’t let her brother become further entangled.

However, her brother had his pride, so Qi Zhengmin couldn’t say it directly to him.

"All right," Qi Zhenghan nodded, this was a very important project, and he didn’t want any mishaps, "What about grandma?"

"Grandma, Grandpa Qi will stay here with Sister Tiantian!" Qi Zhengmin said, "It’s fine for us young people to live in a guesthouse, but the elderly aren’t used to it. Besides, in a few days, we’re moving to the lakeside house; by then, we’ll be able to see grandma often."

"Good!" Qi Zhenghan was delighted, smiling.

When He Tiantian heard that Qi Zhenghan and Qi Zhengmin were moving to the guesthouse, she originally wanted to dissuade them. But on second thought, it seemed inappropriate; moving out was actually for the best. At the least, she wouldn’t have to face Qi Zhenghan’s ambiguous and elusive gazes.

If Huo Yingjie were here, He Tiantian wouldn’t worry.

But Huo Yingjie wasn’t around, and if Qi Zhenghan made an untimely move, it would be hard for her to speak up, especially with Third Grandma Qi and Grandpa Qi about.

On the weekend, He Tiantian took Third Grandma Qi, Grandpa Qi, and the children to the lakeside house.

Yet the place was somewhat distant from where He Tiantian worked, making her commute inconvenient.

Third Grandma Qi and Old Man Qi sat together, drinking tea and speaking in soft voices.

"Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, stop worrying needlessly," Old Man Qi counseled.

Third Grandma Qi sighed; in front of others, she never dared reveal her thoughts and could only discuss them with Old Man Qi.

"But it’s hard for me to watch Zhenghan getting in deeper and deeper," Third Grandma Qi said, "I thought Tiantian getting married would make him give up hope, but to this day, he’s still hanging on!"

"Ah, the more unattainable, the more he wants it," Old Man Qi remarked with a sigh, "Zhenghan is grown up now; he probably won’t make any inappropriate moves."

"Yes, this child, really," Third Grandma Qi said, "Tiantian finally found happiness, and I don’t want anyone to ruin it, not even my own grandson. We’ll stay here, not going back to the courtyard house with Tiantian, to save her any discomfort."