The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 73 - Hope, Perseverance (Monthly Ticket 60+)_1
Chapter 73 -73 Hope, Perseverance (Monthly Ticket 60+)_1
Chapter 73 -73 Hope, Perseverance (Monthly Ticket 60+)_1
When winter arrived, the scarcity of materials became even more evident.
In winter, people starved or froze to death in greater numbers than in the other three seasons.
Qijia Village’s grain harvest this year was just enough to fill bellies, barely comparable to last year, but these people who were sent down to the countryside were to be pitied.
Once these individuals arrived at the Qijia Village livestock team, Old Man Qi would do his utmost to ensure they survived the winter safely.
“You know how to make this?” Old Man Qi’s eyes lit up, “Is it a specialty from your area?”
He Tiantian nodded and replied, “Yes, I guess Professor Wang will make some as well.”
In a previous life, nobody in Qijia Village made these things; the wooden clogs and quilted felt blankets were all made by Professor Wang.
After the villagers saw how useful they were, they all learned to make them.
“Alright, I’ll make some when I have time,” Old Man Qi said.
Those things were not used normally, but since they could protect against the cold, it was worth a try.
He Tiantian drank a bowl of chicken soup here and brought a pot back for Grandma Qi.
Aunt Liu was also very happy; the bamboo basket contained three wild chickens and a basket of eggs, which meant her son could eat well for a while.
When Grandma Qi saw He Tiantian bringing over chicken soup, she knew that Tiantian must have caught wild chickens again today.
Upon hearing that Tiantian had already eaten, Grandma Qi did not hesitate to polish it off completely.
“In the past, we could only get a taste of meat during the New Year.
Now it’s wonderful, getting to eat it every few days.
I’ve even put on weight in my face,” Grandma Qi wiped the corner of her mouth and laughed heartily, “I, this old woman, am fully aware that all this is thanks to you, and I haven’t forgotten!”
He Tiantian filled a basin with water, washing her face and hands while softly laughing, “Grandma Qi has also been very good to me, giving me a big house to live in, advising me on the details of daily life; I’ve been grateful in my heart too.
Let’s not say anything else and just live well; in the future, I will take care of you in your old age and see you off when the time comes.”
He Tiantian wasn’t just being polite with these words; even if Grandma Qi’s son couldn’t be found, He Tiantian would still take care of Grandma Qi in her old age and handle her funeral affairs.
After all, she would be living here for several years, and with time, affections would naturally develop.
The affection and bonds formed during hard times were precious beyond measure.
Taking care of someone in their old age and handling their funeral affairs were things He Tiantian meant sincerely.
However, these words, upon reaching the ears of Third Grandma Qi, came as a big shock.
She had lived to a ripe age, not fearing death itself, but the idea of her corpse being abandoned to the wilderness, with no one to collect it for a proper burial, did terrify her.
“Girl Tian, are you serious about what you said?” Grandma Qi asked cautiously.
If it were possible, she wanted to take He Tiantian as her adopted granddaughter; this way, she could rightfully leave all her belongings to Tiantian.
He Tiantian nodded earnestly and looked at Grandma Qi, “Grandma Qi, everything I’ve said is true.
I will take good care of you and handle your affairs after you pass away.
If I get the chance to return to the city, I’ll take you to my home.
My parents are very easygoing, and they will be very happy to welcome you.”
To live with He Tiantian’s family in the city wasn’t something Grandma Qi insisted upon; she just wished to have company while alive and someone to collect her body when she died.
After giving it some thought, Third Grandma Qi said, “Girl Tian, what do you think about this?
I don’t have a granddaughter.
How about I acknowledge you as my god-granddaughter, would that be okay?”
“Sure!” He Tiantian replied.
She did not have a grandma, so having an additional grandma to love her wasn’t bad at all.
“Don’t agree so hastily; first, you should write a letter back home and inform your parents.
If they agree in their reply, then I will go to Village Chief Qi and Director Zhao to settle this matter.
We can even have a ceremony to acknowledge our relationship in front of everyone as witnesses.
If you take care of me until the end of my days, all of my belongings will be yours in the future.”
He Tiantian thought it over and did not really want Grandma Qi’s possessions.
She added, “Grandma Qi, I will write the letter to my parents tonight.
As for what I promised you, I will certainly do it, and it would be good for everyone to come and bear witness.
Also, you should keep your belongings safe.
Who knows, your family members might come back one day.
These items can be a keepsake for them; I don’t need them.”
Hearing He Tiantian’s words, Grandma Qi’s face showed a deep melancholy.
Although she told herself time and again that she must see her son alive or his body in death, and that without seeing his body, she wouldn’t believe he was dead, so many years had passed without his return that deep down she, like everyone else, believed her son was dead.
“Alas, if he were going to come back, he would have done so by now,” Grandma Qi sighed.
“It’s not as if there’s any hope left at this point…”
When He Tiantian saw the door was tightly shut, she leaned close to Grandma Qi’s ear and whispered cautiously, “Grandma Qi, consider this: your son was studying in Nan City, and afterwards, he worked for an organization in Nan City.
Back then, those organizations in Nan City were under the control of that political figure.
After liberation, that person fled to Taiwan Island.
Maybe your son was taken there for some reason as well.
With the tension between the two straits and ongoing blockades, there’s been no communication…”
Grandma Qi quickly covered He Tiantian’s mouth, her expression turning uneasy as she spoke in hushed tones, “You reckless girl, you dare to say anything, not afraid of who might overhear.
I’m just an old woman; it doesn’t much matter for me since I’ve lived so long already.
But you’re still young, with your whole life ahead of you.
You can’t be so indiscreet; it could lead to serious trouble in the future.”
He Tiantian knew Grandma Qi was worried about her and smiled as she explained, “I only speak such words in front of you.
There’s still hope, and all these things only have meaning if one is alive.
Who knows, it might come true one day!”
Grandma Qi was moved in her heart.
Girl Tian had said such things just to encourage her, clearly with the best of intentions.
“Alright, alright, I’ll remember that, to live well until my son comes back,” Grandma Qi murmured to herself.
This was her conviction, and she would not change it even at the moment of death.
“Exactly, that’s how we should be,” He Tiantian said with a smile.
In fact, becoming strong wasn’t so difficult as long as there was hope, which gave one the power to keep going. freeweɓnovel.cøm
He Tiantian had learned “perseverance” from Third Grandma Qi, and now she was giving those words back to her.
The two of them encouraged and supported each other, perhaps truly able to wait for that day to come.
With her past life’s experiences, He Tiantian knew that Third Grandma Qi’s perseverance had led to the return of her long-lost son.
He Tiantian also learned from this event that “perseverance” was an exceedingly important virtue.
He Tiantian hoped that her own perseverance might also lead to a good outcome, just like Third Grandma Qi’s did.
The once withering heart of Third Grandma Qi was now filled with a fresh spring of water, nourishing her parched heart and giving her the strength to keep persevering.
After lunch, He Tiantian went back to work at the Back Mountain Pasture Team.
Thanks to Professor Wang’s promotion, everyone knew that the giant underpants hanging in the yard were made from cotton cloth provided by He Tiantian.
These people felt awkward about discussing such matters with a young girl, but their gratefulness towards He Tiantian could be seen in their attitudes.
