The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 151 - 150: He Ziqing Is Back

A few days later, He Ziqing came home for summer vacation.

Mr. and Mrs. He had already forgotten all about He Ze’s affair. They pulled He Ziqing over and peppered her with questions about her life in Beijing City.

When they heard from Ziqing that He Lang and Xue Yue had bought a house in Beijing City and that Ruanruan was already in preschool, they were overjoyed.

Mr. He clapped his hands. "Good, good. Buying a house means they’re settled. How are you doing at school?"

He Ziqing smiled and nodded. "Grandpa, I’m doing great. The university provides a living stipend, so we don’t have to spend our own money at all. I get to eat my fill every day, and I even get to eat meat."

Mrs. He patted He Ziqing’s hand. "That’s wonderful."

"How are Shiyi and Ruanruan? Is Daya doing okay?"

"They’re great, Grandma. I heard from Third Aunt that Daya is doing really well. Plus, I visited Third Uncle’s place before coming back. Daya has gained a lot of weight and gotten taller."

Only then did Mrs. He feel relieved. "That’s good, that’s good."

Mrs. He had been unable to let the matter rest. She’d had her own selfish reasons for letting the third son and his wife take Daya with them. If Daya had turned out to be a burden instead of a help, she would have felt terrible. Now, hearing that Daya was doing well, it was as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart.

While Mr. and Mrs. He were still talking with He Ziqing, He Ziniannian was already staring with wide eyes, his gaze darting back and forth to the packages she had brought back.

Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer. "Grandpa, Grandma, can you ask your questions later? Sister, what about the tasty snacks from Beijing City you promised to bring me?"

He Ziqing turned to Xiao Nian and laughed. "I have them. And I also have things Third Uncle and Third Aunt asked me to bring for all of you. Go get Little Chen, Xiao Yang, and the others. There’s something for everyone."

Hearing there were treats, He Ziniannian bolted out the door and quickly returned with the three brothers from the second branch of the family.

He Ziqing opened her package and started taking things out one by one.

"These are the short-sleeved shirts Third Aunt bought for Grandpa and Grandma. They’re dacron, perfect for this weather. Also, Third Uncle specifically told me to tell you: now that you have new clothes, wear them. Don’t just stuff them away at the bottom of a chest. He’ll buy you more when these wear out."

Mrs. He stroked the fabric, her eyes full of mirth, though she said, "They’re spending too much money. We have clothes to wear."

He Ziqing then pulled out several pairs of shoes. "These shoes are for you boys. Your shoe sizes haven’t changed, have they? Third Aunt asked me before she bought them. They’re called Warrior sneakers. Everyone in Beijing City wears them."

"We all get a pair?" Xiao Yang’s eyes lit up as he stared happily at the row of sneakers by the edge of the kang.

He Ziqing nodded. "Of course, all of us. There are snacks, too. This is Yili bread, trough cake, and canned meat. Oh, right, this is chocolate. It’s very expensive. You can only buy it at the Friendship Store, and you need foreign exchange certificates. Third Aunt let me try a piece, and it was delicious. She bought these specially so you could all try some. She also wanted to buy you two whole roast ducks, but Third Uncle said they would definitely spoil on the way back in this heat."

He Ziming from the second branch was already drooling as he stared at the delicious treats on the kang.

"Sister Ziqing, when can we eat?"

Looking at He Ziming, He Ziqing laughed so hard she almost couldn’t breathe. "Go on, eat. I was afraid if I kept talking, I’d drown in all your drool."

"This is so good! It melts the moment it’s in your mouth..."

"This bread is so fragrant. Here, Brother, have a bite."

"I have my own. You eat yours."

Watching the children eat, Mrs. He sighed. "Knowing you’re all doing well in Beijing City puts our minds at ease. But... has your third uncle still not found a job?"

He Ziqing shook her head. "Jobs in Beijing City are even harder to find than in our town. But before I left, I heard Third Uncle say he might have an idea. Grandma, you know my third uncle, don’t you? He’s very capable. Just look at the fact that he bought a house in Beijing City—wouldn’t you say he’s the first in our family to do something like that? I really admire him. If you have time, Grandpa and Grandma, you have to go see it. The house is really, really nice."

Her words made Mrs. He a little tempted to go.

That evening, when He Nan came home from work and saw his daughter was back, he was so happy he had a couple of drinks with Mr. He. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Knowing that his third brother, his wife, and his own daughter were all doing well in Beijing City filled him with an indescribable joy.

Back in their room, He Ziqing handed the money He Nan had given her before she left for school back to him. "Dad, you gave me all the family’s money, but after I got there, I found out the university provides a stipend for meals and things. Not only can I eat my fill, but I even have some left over. So you should keep this money for the family. And don’t be reluctant to spend some on yourself. Look at the shirt you’re wearing; it’s so many years old and has so many patches. Even if you’re not thinking about yourself, you should consider your image now that you’re working for the transportation team. Won’t it look bad when you go out?"

He Nan glanced down at his clothes. "It’s fine. We still have money at home, and I’m earning a decent amount each month now. I’ll go buy new clothes another day. You should keep this money. Beijing City isn’t like our town; you have to spend money on everything there."

He Ziqing forcefully pushed the money into He Nan’s hand. "Dad, I told you, I have enough. Besides, I live in a dorm with so many other people. It’s not safe for me to carry so much money around, right?"

Hearing this, He Nan took the money. "Alright then. If you run out, you must write to me, and I’ll mail you more. If it’s an emergency, go find your third uncle."

He Ziqing nodded. "I know. Third Uncle and Third Aunt are so good to me. Every Sunday, Third Uncle comes to school to pick me up, and I stay at their house for two days before he brings me back. Oh, and I have my own room at their place. Dad, you can rest assured. When I start earning money, I’ll bring you and my little brother to Beijing City so you can have a good life too."

He Nan nodded. "Good. I believe in you. My daughter is the most promising one."

After her laughter subsided, He Ziqing added, "Oh, right. Third Uncle was worried about my trip back. He asked you to send him a telegram to let him know I arrived safely."

"Okay, I’ll go tomorrow."

"..."

He Nan grinned as he listened to his daughter chatter on and on about her life at school, his face alight with a smile.

In the second branch’s home, Xiao Yang and He Ziming were wearing their new shoes and refused to take them off even to get on the kang. They kept reaching down to touch them. Watching them, Gao Cuiyun felt a pang of sadness but didn’t scold the children.

Finally, Little Chen couldn’t stand it anymore. "Take them off. No one’s going to steal them. Look, you’re getting the kang dirty."

Xiao Yang stroked his shoes. "Where is it dirty? My shoes are perfectly clean." He then looked at the bottom of He Ziming’s shoes and saw there was indeed dirt. "Third Cub, take yours off! The bottom of your shoes are dirty."

He Ziming shook his head. "I don’t want to. I’m going to wear them to sleep."

Little Chen frowned and said in a low voice, "Both of you, take them off. If you don’t, I’ll throw you both out into the yard."

Under Little Chen’s threat, the two brothers reluctantly took off their shoes, placing them right next to their pillows when they went to bed.

After He Ziqing returned, whenever she went out, everyone she ran into would ask her about life in Beijing City and about He Lang’s family. He Ziqing was very clever and was selective about what she said. She didn’t tell outsiders that her third uncle had bought a house in Beijing City because she had heard from her grandmother that her second uncle’s family had been reported and lost their jobs for being too high-profile.