He Tiantian treated everyone around her with a grateful heart. However, reaching middle age, she discovered she had been living inside a full-bodied lie.
Returning to the year 1970, He Tianti...
352
He Tiantian didn't know the name of the animated film. She could vaguely understand the dialogue, but when she tried to savor it, that particular line just slipped through her fingers.
He Tiantian was having a hard time watching, but with snacks around, the time passed quickly.
After watching the movie, they went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, and then went to the amusement park.
Qi Zhenghan and Qi Zhengmin thought He Tiantian liked these things, but apart from being able to ride the carousel twice, He Tiantian didn't dare to go on anything else.
Qi Zhengmin dragged her over to drive bumper cars for a while. Sure enough, if the game had the same name, she would bump into any car that was there.
After one round, He Tiantian refused to play anymore and stood outside watching Qi Zhengmin play "Time Travel Scientific Notes".
When Qi Zhenghan saw that He Tiantian had stopped playing, he stayed by her side, keeping her company and watching his little sister play.
"Zhenghan, do you know where Chinese opera is performed?" He Tiantian asked. Although she couldn't play many games and only half understood the movies, she had learned a lot that day and was very happy.
Grandma Qi must be a little bored at home.
I chatted with Grandma Qi before, and she mentioned that she likes listening to traditional opera.
Nowadays, apart from model operas, we can't hear or see anything else in China.
Now that we're out here, maybe we can hear it from outside!
“There are opera performances in Chinatown, and Dad sometimes goes to listen to them,” Qi Zhenghan said. “Do you like listening to them too? Although I listened attentively, there were many parts I didn’t understand, but I could feel how beautiful the intonation was!”
“Actually, I don’t understand it very well either,” He Tiantian said. “And it’s not that I want to watch it, but I want to take my grandma to see the opera. You know, in China, because of a political factor, we can’t understand these operas, so my grandma hasn’t heard them for a long time.”
"Huh?" Qi Zhenghan asked, puzzled. "That's art, why can't we listen to it? Why can't we perform it?"
“Uh…” He Tiantian didn’t know how to explain. Chinese people like Qi Zhenghan, who were born and raised in the United States, have a very low level of awareness of their motherland. Most of their knowledge is based on hearsay and slander against China.
"Is it hard to answer?" Qi Zhenghan asked doubtfully. "I heard from my father that you didn't have enough to eat and couldn't go to school back in China?"
"Uh..." Although this question can be answered, it's not fair to say that she can eat her fill while most people can only eat until they're half full!
"I knew it wasn't a good place. Please don't go back, okay?" Qi Zhenghan said in a muffled voice. He already knew from his father that He Tiantian didn't want to go to school there, and he felt sorry for her.
He Tiantian turned her head to look at Qi Zhenghan. A few strands of her hair were blown by the wind and covered her face. She reached out and brushed some away, saying, "It's not good there. Material life is scarce, but that's my motherland, and my family is there. It may not be good there now, but it will get better in the future."
"Is it really necessary to leave?" Qi Zhenghan asked, feeling deeply disappointed. He had his own thoughts: if He Tiantian stayed here, perhaps she would break up with her fiancé because of the time and distance.
“Yes, I have to go,” He Tiantian said. “Once the two countries establish diplomatic relations, we can probably travel back and forth normally. I’ll invite you to my home then.”
"Okay, okay!" Qi Zhenghan smiled. "You have to take me to see the Great Wall then..."
"Uh..." He Tiantian was speechless, wanting to say that her home wasn't in Yanjing...
No further explanation needed. If Qi Zhenghan really goes, she can simply take him for a stroll and be a good host.
“Alright, we’ll take Grandma to see a play tomorrow,” Qi Zhenghan said, showing his filial piety to his third grandmother in his own way.
"That's great!" He Tiantian exclaimed happily, finally having the chance to see a Chinatown abroad.
After playing enough, Qi Zhengmin pulled He Tiantian on one side and Qi Zhenghan on the other, and they went home.
When passing by a cake shop, Qi Zhengmin also bought the shop's signature cookies, chocolates, and other items.
Although they were still enjoying themselves, they had to be back before dinner.
After arriving home and having dinner, He Tiantian and Qi Zhengmin accompanied Grandma Qi for a walk, and He Tiantian told her about what she had seen and heard that day.
Grandma Qi listened attentively, and asked questions when she understood something.
"Grandma, Sister Tian Tian said you like listening to opera. Dad has already booked a private box at Ji Xiang Lou in Chinatown. We'll go with you to the opera tomorrow," Qi Zhengmin said excitedly. Although she couldn't understand the opera, it didn't stop her from enjoying the local snacks!
Besides, with her grandmother around, she'll spoil her.
Grandma Qi was taken aback and looked at He Tiantian, asking, "You said that?"
"It was me who suggested it. Didn't you want to see a play? I asked Zhenghan, and he said there were some in Chinatown. I guess I'll tell Uncle when I get back." He Tiantian smiled. "Since we're here, let's not leave any regrets!"
"Yes, you know what I'm thinking," Grandma Qi said with a smile. Today, she was still thinking to herself about having her son take her to see a play tomorrow.
"Haha, yes, I'll dress you up beautifully tomorrow, and we'll go to the theater together," He Tiantian said, taking a stroll outside before returning to the bedroom.
The next morning, after breakfast, Qi Shuliang led everyone to Chinatown to watch a play.
Upon arriving in Chinatown, Grandma Qi was astonished to see the familiar traditional Chinese characters and the buildings with distinct Chinese characteristics.
"Oh dear, if I hadn't seen foreigners passing by, I would have thought this was pre-liberation China." Grandma Qi sighed, having not seen such a scene for so many years.
Grandma Qi recognized all the small vendors on both sides of the street who opened their doors to do business.
"I want to go for a walk!" Grandma Qi said softly; she loved the atmosphere.
"Okay, I'll go down with you," Qi Shuliang said with a smile. He had many bodyguards with him, and he had also spoken to a police chief friend in the area, asking him to pay close attention to the security situation.
As for the local Hongmen, Qi Shuliang also made arrangements.
Grandma Qi got off the car and strolled down the street.
"Oh my, those are sugar figurines!" Grandma Qi's eyes lit up. "Can I make one for myself and the children?"
"Mom, if you like it, I'll make it for you right away," Qi Shuliang said with a smile, then turned to an old man making sugar figurines and said, "Uncle, make six sugar figurines!"
"What shape do you want?" The old man was surprised to hear that there were six of them. It was a large order, and the whole family looked like wealthy people. He thought he might even earn some tips.
Grandma Qi thought for a moment and said, "I was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so make me a little rabbit. Shuliang, you were born in the Year of the Ox, so make you a yellow ox. Tiantian was born in the Year of the Sheep, so make her a little lamb..."
Six people made sugar figurines according to their own zodiac animal.
Anna saw that everyone else had one, and although she didn't know what the Chinese zodiac sign was, the little tiger in her hand looked majestic, like a work of art.
The old man who makes sugar figurines must be an artist. (To be continued.)