Kapitel 17: Chapter 17 A Letter_1

Translator: 549690339

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Being vigilant is not just about talking the talk, He Tiantian took every matter seriously and saw every person clearly.

"Oh, which families exactly are we talking about?" He Tiantian pretended not to understand and asked, as she had been strictly controlled by Mother Qi before, she was not very familiar with some people in the village. In order to not be taken advantage of in the future, she wanted to inquire in advance.

Third Grandma Qi glanced at He Tiantian's youthful face and saw how well-behaved she was, thought for a moment, and said, "I really shouldn't be talking about the rights and wrongs of fellow villagers, but since you have asked, I will explain in detail to you. However, these words are to stay between us; I won't acknowledge them outside."

Despite the fact that Third Grandma Qi had a bad family background, her son had disappeared, and her husband had died, she was still highly respected in Qijia Village. It was evident that she was thorough in her dealings and was not just an average rural granny who constantly gossiped about her daughter-in-law.

"Alright then, we'll just talk between us, I won't tell anyone else. I'm not familiar with those educated youths either, I've only met them today," He Tiantian explained, promising not to tell others.

"That's good." Third Grandma Qi nodded, "Our Village Chief Qi is a good person, as long as you follow the village's arrangements and work honestly, he won't make things difficult for you. Right below the village chief is Accountant Qi Shuli, who is a bit stingy. Be careful around him, work diligently, or else he might dock your work points. Zhao Dajiao, who is Er Gou's mother, is our village's women's director, a decent person but tends to be attracted to small gains. If you want to ask for her help, you'll need to give her some benefits..."

Third Grandma Qi informed He Tiantian about the characters and behaviors of the main figures in the village, allowing He Tiantian to be prepared. It had to be said that Third Grandma Qi's summaries were very thorough, He Tiantian truly hadn't realized these people could be like this. It wasn't just because Mother Qi had shielded He Tiantian from the outside world, but also because He Tiantian was reluctant to interact with others, always hiding in her own shell. Only forced by life's demands did she have to crawl out of her shell to make a living.

Listening to all this was greatly beneficial to He Tiantian.

After applying medicine to Third Grandma Qi, she could get up and walk around slowly. After freshening up, given the frailty of old age, Third Grandma Qi went back to her room to sleep.

He Tiantian was staying in the west wing room of Third Grandma Qi's house, while the room facing the sun to the east was used for storing miscellaneous items.

Third Grandma Qi's house was much better than the rooms provided for the educated youth, not only more spacious but also furnished. What pleased He Tiantian most was the bed that was wide enough at one-meter-eighty. By noon, she had cleaned the mats, aired them outside, and tidied up the room as well; Third Grandma Qi gave He Tiantian a mosquito net, so she could have a good night's sleep today.

He Tiantian began to organize the items her mother had brought for her, taking out the clothes she would wear the next day: a white shirt, dark green pants, and a pair of blue cloth shoes.

Thinking of the package Huo Yingjie had given her, she hadn't looked at it during the ride and now that she was alone, she could take it out and look.

Wrapped in a blue-striped handkerchief were actually Grain Coupons, and there was also more than ten yuan. The Grain Coupons were likely from his family, and the money was probably Huo Yingjie's own savings. Next to it was a piece of printed cloth, probably one and a half meters, enough to make clothes. There was also a book, inside which was a letter that read:

Tiantian, I'm sorry that I didn't have enough time to prepare more things for you, please forgive me.

The reason I'm giving you this book is so that you can commit it to memory and use these elegant phrases. You can't be lazy anymore. The Grain Coupons are from my mom, and the money is my savings. You must keep it, especially since you'll be going so far away, it's not good to be without money.

When you're out in the world on your own, you must take good care of yourself.

Lastly, once you settle down, you must write to me. I've already put the postage stamp in the envelope for you.

Distance will test our revolutionary feelings. But please believe in my sincere heart, it won't change. The situation in Nan City is very grave, which is also why I agreed to let Uncle He send you away. Don't worry about home; I'll have Dad look after Uncle He and Aunt Wang, so you don't have to be concerned.

That's all for now, I hope to hear from you, to know about your situation.

Sincerely,

Salutations!

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Huo Yingjie

19XX Year X Month X Day

As He Tiantian read the heartfelt letter, tears streamed down her face, not only moved by Huo Yingjie but also by the opportunity to change her fate that lay before her, an opportunity she could not miss.

A seven-cent oil coupon had fallen out of the envelope, a postage stamp valid nationwide.

It was now dark, and He Tiantian didn't want to waste lamp oil by lighting a lamp, planning to write a reply first thing the next morning.

Lying under the mosquito net, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan, she thought about Huo Yingjie's letter and sweetly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, He Tiantian wrote a reply to Huo Yingjie, and included a letter to her parents. When she saw Village Chief Qi, she would mention if anyone was going to the county town to help mail a letter.

He Tiantian made maize porridge; just two small handfuls made two bowls of thick porridge, which, paired with the salted vegetables Third Grandma Qi had made, tasted good.

Seeing such a breakfast, Third Grandma Qi nodded inwardly, this girl He Tiantian knew how to live frugally. With such meals, the village's rationed grain would be enough.

"Tiantian, you rest at home today, I'm off to work," Third Grandma Qi said. Without working, there were no work points, and without work points, no grain could be distributed. If an old woman like her didn't work, there wouldn't be enough food.

He Tiantian was taken aback and looked at Third Grandma Qi's foot. "Grandma Qi, your foot hasn't healed yet, how can you go to work?" she asked.

"It's fine, it's fine, I'm old and don't need to go into the fields, I just have to shell cotton," Third Grandma Qi said. "As long as I can sit and move my hands, I can do this work."

He Tiantian nodded and replied, "Alright, I will carry you there."

"I can walk, I can walk," Third Grandma Qi refused, not letting He Tiantian carry her, fearing that she might hurt Tiantian.

He Tiantian smiled and said, "Grandma Qi, I am strong enough to carry you. If you don't let me carry you, I wouldn't feel right staying here and eating vegetables from your garden."

Third Grandma Qi, touched, replied, "Alright, try it. If you can't carry me, I'll walk by myself, taking it slow won't matter."

He Tiantian crouched slightly and easily hoisted Third Grandma Qi onto her back.

"See, I can carry you," He Tiantian said, picking up a basket from the ground with her other hand. "Grandma Qi, hold the basket."

Inside were the tools for shelling cotton. He Tiantian was not busy, so she spent the day working alongside Third Grandma Qi.

Following Third Grandma Qi's directions, He Tiantian arrived at the two large houses in the middle of the village, where a group of elderly ladies was already chatting and laughing merrily inside.

The women noticed He Tiantian as she entered and then saw Third Grandma Qi on her back.

"Third Aunt, you should rest at home with your sprained foot," Zhao Dajiao said, already aware of Third Grandma Qi's situation from her son the day before. It wasn't serious, which is why she hadn't come to visit.

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