The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 46 - Attentive Care_1
Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Attentive Care_1
Chapter 46 -46 Attentive Care_1
It wasn’t time to knock off work yet, and He Tiantian still had to stay here a little longer.
The meeting had ended, and Aunt Liu hadn’t come back.
Given Aunt Liu’s personality, she usually wouldn’t return to the livestock team and would go straight home when the workday ended anyway.
With Tiantian and Old Man Qi around, there wouldn’t be any problems.
Yesterday, He Tiantian had taken leave, and Aunt Liu had been busy all by herself, so today He Tiantian ought to work a bit more.
It was good that Aunt Liu wouldn’t be coming; she wouldn’t need to explain the origin of the wild chicken, nor would she have to share it with Aunt Liu.
Professor Gu and Professor Wang sat despondently on the dry straw inside the thatched-hut, deeply sorrowful.
Every meeting was a trampling of their dignity.
Fortunately, they hadn’t been injured this time, which was a stroke of luck.
He Tiantian, holding a basin, brought out two basins of water and placed them at the doorstep for their washing needs.
However, their sorrow didn’t last long as hunger doesn’t stop for sadness; their stomachs growled as usual, especially more boisterous upon smelling the strong scent of chicken soup.
People are like iron and food is like steel; without a meal, one is in a real panic—this moment gave that saying a deeper meaning.
“Alright, everyone, don’t be sad.
Compared to living in the city, these things are much lighter.
Don’t be ignorant of your blessings.” Old Man Bai’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceedingly resolute with a sharp look in his eyes.
The two old men beside him were younger than the speaking Old Man Bai and had injuries as well, but their condition was slightly better than that of the speaking elder.
“Yes.” They couldn’t help, and yet the two old men continued to protect them, which only worsened their injuries.
“Don’t be polite here.” The old man waved his hand and said with a bitter smile, “I need to live well, and so do you.”
“Yes.” The man answered out of habit.
“Call me Old Bai.” The old man said, “With too many people, too many opinions, changing the way you address someone.”
“Yes.” The two men agreed.
These two individuals were Old Man Bai’s subordinates, his confidants, but they didn’t treat Old Man Bai like others did.
That’s why the investigation teams didn’t find any concrete evidence against him, only trivial matters.
Old Man Bai had gotten into trouble, and these two men hadn’t escaped it either.
Fortunately, coming here allowed them to keep each other company.
To outsiders, this seemed like a coincidence.
But in Old Man Bai’s heart, he faintly suspected someone higher up was helping him.
In such times, it wasn’t appropriate for some people to come forward.
Although he couldn’t be certain of who it might be, he had his suspicions.
What he needed to do was to live on well and see how long those who committed misdeeds and stirred trouble could bask in their glory.
In the neighboring thatched-hut, a tall, thin old man named Qian Shikun had been active in Zhe Province before liberation, involved in the opium trade and had dealings with both lawful and unlawful realms, with several concubines at home.
During the liberation war, he failed to catch the ship to Xiangjiang and could only stay in the country.
Those sons and mistresses, to distance themselves from him, had abandoned him; he had spent ten years in prison.
Just released, before he could catch his breath, he had been sent to this godforsaken place.
Qian Shikun had been a tough guy before liberation, steadfast in character and physically robust, so even under great suffering, his spirits remained fairly high.
The reason he lay there unwilling to move was to gain sympathy.
Another short old man, named Sun Sihao, owned the largest foreign goods store in Nan City before the liberation.
His family sold fine silk, tea, and porcelain overseas and did a bit of smuggling antiques on the side, then brought foreign goods back to sell domestically, truly a businessman.
The last straw house was occupied by Professor Gu and the Professor Wang Couple.
He Tiantian sliced Old Man Qi’s pickled sauerkraut and stir-fried it with chicken blood, and also made soft pancakes.
In no time, the aroma in the kitchen was tantalizing.
“Girl Tian, is it ready yet?” Old Man Qi called from outside, tormented by the smell but unable to eat, his stomach uncomfortably empty.
“It’ll be ready in no time,” He Tiantian replied with a laugh, “Go call a few of the grandpas and grandmas, tell them to hurry and wash their hands, and come eat something.
“Alright!” Old Man Qi laughed heartily and hurried off to call others.
“Have you all rested enough?
If you have, come out and eat.
People are iron, but food is steel, without a meal, you’ll be in real trouble.”
“Yun Xi, let’s go out and have something to eat,” Professor Gu, ever easygoing, had quickly adjusted himself and suggested to his silently suffering wife.
Professor Wang also knew that things were better here than in the city, where they could have a meal without lifting a finger, an amenity not available elsewhere.
Plus, with her husband by her side, she could endure any suffering.
Drying her tears, she said, “Just now, I saw Girl Tian busily moving about.
We’ll remember this kindness.
If a young girl can live well in a strange place, then we, two old folks who have weathered so many storms, can do it too.”
“You’re right,” Professor Gu chuckled.
“Being content with one’s lot is also an achievement.”
As the couple stepped outside, they saw a basin of clean water at the door.
The five people from the other two rooms were also helping each other out of their straw houses.
They too saw the clean water at the door and suddenly felt that their hearts were not entirely filled with hatred.
Rinsing their mouths and washing their faces, they became upright people once more.
With so many people arriving at once, Old Man Qi’s dishes and chopsticks weren’t enough, but fortunately, Secretary Qi had delivered some old bowls and chopsticks yesterday.
Though old, He Tiantian had washed them spotless.
Unable to fit everyone inside, He Tiantian moved Old Man Qi’s table outside and went about her tasks with a beaming smile.
“Professor Gu, Professor Wang, and the other grandpas, please take a seat.
I’ll serve you some soup,” He Tiantian arranged everything and then turned to go back inside.
Old Man Qi lent a hand with serving the dishes.
Seeing He Tiantian busy alone, Professor Wang came over to help and upon seeing a large pot of chicken soup, was momentarily taken aback and asked, “Where did this come from?”
“Professor Wang, I caught it up in the mountains.
You all have weak constitutions, and you must strengthen them,” He Tiantian said as she served the soup.
Professor Wang’s heart warmed, thinking, Ah, this child is so kind-hearted, and her cooking skills are not bad either.
As the chicken soup was served outside, the others were surprised to see it and hesitated to eat.
“Hurry up and eat.
It’s lucky we’re at the foot of the mountain where we can often catch wild chickens, and since there aren’t many people around, the villagers don’t know about it,” Old Man Qi said.
“There’s plenty more in the pot, so hurry up and drink.
Girl Tian, you should have some too.”
“Okay!” He Tiantian ladled some into a small earthenware jar, covered it with a lid, and planned to take it back to Third Grandma Qi.
Upon hearing this, Old Bai chuckled and said, “This is the heartfelt gesture of Elder Brother Qi and that girl.
We won’t make a fuss!
Everyone, drink up.
Only if we’re well-nourished will we have the strength to recover and not be a burden to others.”
“That’s true,” Xiang Rong and Zuo Li agreed.
