The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 66 - Obviously Bullying People_1
Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Obviously Bullying People_1
Chapter 66 -66 Obviously Bullying People_1
Qi Jianguo was quite the promising figure among the younger generation.
If it weren’t for his leg injury back then, no one in Qijia Village could have outshone this lad.
“You’re doing well, boy,” praised Village Chief Qi.
“Sometimes you need to delve deeper.
People need to eat, so they must farm, which means using those machines.
These tasks are technical and can provide a livelihood for a lifetime.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Qi.
I will work hard in the future,” Qi Jianguo said with a smile.
Then he promised, “I definitely won’t let down Qijia Village.”
In public, Qi Jianguo truly was a polite, diligent man with a good appearance.
Within ten miles, he was considered a rather excellent youth, which was why matchmakers often came to propose marriages.
“You have the right attitude, and that’s really good.
Study hard; you’ll be of great use in the future.” Village Chief Qi always cared about face, and Qi Jianguo’s words were exactly in line with the village chief’s thoughts.
In the past, the commune would allocate one or two university spots, but this year there has been no news.
Will it be possible next year?
Qi Jianguo has completed high school; if possible, recommending him to attend university wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Compared to those city youngsters, Qi Jianguo was born and raised in Qijia Village.
If he made something of himself in the future, it would be the pride of Qijia Village.
As for those city youngsters, once they went to university, they stayed in the city.
Who would return to the countryside?
They had nothing to do with Qijia Village.
Now, to attend university, one had to apply to the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University.
The enrollment process was based on voluntary application, recommendations from the masses, and a final review and approval by the school leaders.
This wasn’t Village Chief Qi playing favorites.
In reality, almost all village officials thought this way.
If Qi Xiaoyan had finished high school instead of just junior middle school, Village Chief Qi wouldn’t have thought of Qi Jianguo.
If Village Chief Qi knew it was Qi Jianguo who had reported him, he certainly wouldn’t think this way anymore.
Village Chief Qi, Qi Shuli, Qi Jianguo, and Niu Dajun were sitting at one table, sharing the half bottle of liquor, taking sips as they drank.
Third Grandma Qi, He Tiantian, Qi Xiaoyan, and Zhao Dajiao sat at another table, eating separately, which was somewhat more comfortable.
At this time, when visitors came to the house, children and women did not sit at the table.
Firstly, there was concern there might not be enough food, and secondly, this had always been the etiquette in the countryside.
If men are not at the table, how could women sit and eat!
Eating in the same courtyard as Qi Jianguo again reminded He Tiantian of the oppressive days she had lived through in her past life.
Back then, He Tiantian in the Qi Family worked as a cook, cleaned, and did fieldwork.
It was bearable on normal days.
She could eat at the same table as Mother Qi and Qi Fangfang.
But whenever there were guests, He Tiantian had to toil alone to feed the whole family.
By the time she finished her chores, the guests had eaten up, leaving her to eat the leftovers.
Once she saved some food for herself, only to be scolded by Qi Jianguo’s grandma, who accused her of being a glutton!
He Tiantian was so angry that she fell ill, did nothing, didn’t get up, and didn’t speak.
Seeing He Tiantian like this, Qi Jianguo knelt and begged for forgiveness, and her heart softened again, returning her to her previous miserable state.
Night after night, He Tiantian harbored resentment, but she could not escape the web of lies she had woven, nor did she have the courage to break free.
“This food tastes really good,” complimented Qi Jianguo.
“He Tiantian is truly a virtuous woman.”
Qi Shuli had long known his nephew’s intentions.
He took a sip of his drink and said, “Jian Guo is right.
Comrade He Tiantian is a good colleague.
Her merit is well-known in our Qijia Village.
She could be nominated for the end-of-year award for outstanding achievement.”
This was something that could be discussed behind closed doors, but it was mentioned in front of everyone, and during the meal He Tiantian hosted, no less.
If word got out, what would others say about He Tiantian?
Even if she was qualified for the award, people might gossip that she got it because she hosted a meal for the village leaders.
“Hehe, Girl Tian is indeed quite good, but such matters concern the entire village and need to be decided after discussion by the whole village committee,” said Zhao Dajiao, eager not to continue the topic, as it would be of no benefit to He Tiantian.
“Heh, Director Zhao is right,” Qi Shuli said with a hollow laugh, “My nephew is well-known in the surrounding villages for being studious, hardworking, and skillful with his hands.
He can even fix tractors and is surely a good prospect.
Since Director Zhao has been working with women for a long time, perhaps you could help my nephew out by recommending a nice girl to him.”
Zhao Dajiao snorted inwardly, knowing all too well that this uncle and nephew duo were up to no good, setting their sights on He Tiantian.
“Uncle, let’s keep this conversation private; it’s not something to talk about in front of everyone,” Qi Jianguo said shyly, his eyes occasionally darting toward He Tiantian to signal to everyone that he was interested in her.
To Qi Jianguo’s disappointment, He Tiantian didn’t even glance in their direction, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
Qi Jianguo felt utterly deflated!
Others noticed it too, but they felt it was He Tiantian’s own business, and besides, free love was now encouraged.
Qi Jianguo might be interested in He Tiantian, but if He Tiantian wasn’t interested in him, it was of no use.
“Heh, the secretary has already said that Jianguo is one of our village’s finest young men, but I certainly don’t have the capability to matchmake,” Zhao Dajiao chuckled, and besides, Qi Jianguo wasn’t a bad person, but his mother and grandmother were truly tough nuts to crack.
Whoever married off their daughter to Qi Jianguo would be cursing their luck for eight generations!
“Auntie, in the future, I might indeed need to trouble you,” Qi Jianguo said softly, this time turning his gaze straight to He Tiantian.
Zhao Dajiao saw this and just smiled without saying a word.
She’s eyeing He Tiantian, who is still so young.
And since He Tiantian showed no interest at all, she certainly couldn’t butt in.
Seeing that his nephew was being quite direct, yet Zhao Dajiao seemed not to understand, Qi Shuli was annoyed and blurted out, “Actually, my nephew took a liking at first sight to…”
Before Qi Shuli could finish his sentence, Village Chief Qi accidentally dropped his glass on the table, hastily interjecting, “Oh dear, what a waste of good wine, such good wine!”
Niu Dajun realized what was going on when he saw Village Chief Qi’s reaction.
The guest of honor was He Tiantian, and this man was straightforwardly seeking a matchmaker for a proposal—at He Tiantian’s own invitation no less.
Talk about cutting corners.
At the very least, he shouldn’t have spoken so directly in front of the girl herself, especially during He Tiantian’s hosted event.
If things worked out, that’d be one thing, but if not, how awkward would it be to meet in the village afterward!
The whole point of having a matchmaker was to avoid facing such embarrassment directly, wasn’t it?
Qi Jianguo was young and might not understand, but how could Qi Shuli not see this at his age?
It was clear he was bullying He Tiantian, a young girl with no one to rely on!
“Heh, Second Brother Qi, let’s discuss this some other time.
Let’s drink and eat,” Zhao Dajiao said, steering the conversation away.
If Qi Shuli finished what he was saying, it would embarrass He Tiantian.
Zhao Dajiao came today to enjoy He Tiantian’s hospitality and couldn’t help but speak up for her.
Qi Shuli and Qi Jianguo, from uncle to nephew, were visibly embarrassed; they would not get their way today.
The two had planned from the start to get it all out in the open today; in front of so many people, they thought He Tiantian would be too embarrassed to refuse and would agree out of politeness.
But they hadn’t expected He Tiantian to show no reaction, and Zhao Dajiao cut them off before they could even make their move.
