626
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, everyone returned from visiting relatives.
Madam Huo suggested that Huo Yingjie take He Tiantian out for some fun and relaxation, instead of keeping her cooped up at home all day.
With a large family and someone to help take care of the child, Huo Yingjie was happy to take He Tiantian out to play.
He Tiantian brought money and overseas Chinese coupons, and planned to go on another big shopping spree today.
"Aren't we going out for a walk?" Huo Yingjie asked, a little aggrieved. What happened to their supposed romantic time together?
He Tiantian looked at the dark sky outside, the cold wind carrying snowflakes, and asked, "Are you sure you want to go out in this kind of weather?"
Huo Yingjie's eyes were only on He Tiantian, and he didn't care about the weather at all. Since He Tiantian was afraid of the cold, he could only say, "Okay then, let's go to the Overseas Chinese Store to buy things. At least there is heating inside, so it won't be cold."
This time, He Tiantian brought a full 2,500 yuan and 3,000 yuan in overseas Chinese vouchers, hoping to spend all of it.
He Tiantian continued picking out items, while Huo Yingjie followed behind, carrying a shopping basket and acting as her porter.
The salesperson was very enthusiastic when Huo Yingjie saw He Tiantian. This young couple had come before the New Year and bought over a thousand yuan worth of things – quite a big spender!
This time, He Tiantian spent over a thousand yuan on food alone, and then bought some light-colored silk to make dresses for summer. She also bought several pretty silk scarves.
He Tiantian also liked the handicrafts and other items here, and bought some to give as gifts when she visits others in the future.
This time, it cost a total of two thousand two hundred yuan.
These items were sorted and sent together to my home in Nanshi.
Anyway, on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, they took the train back to Nanshi.
They've arrived home, and the supplies should be almost here too.
At noon, as they left the Overseas Chinese Store, several salespeople watched them go.
“Wow, they’re really rich,” one of the salespeople exclaimed. “We only make fifty yuan a month. The money they’ve spent on these two purchases is enough for us to earn for several years.”
“They are overseas Chinese, they have money.” One of them chimed in, “In the past, if you had relatives overseas, you would be criticized and denounced. But not anymore. If you have relatives overseas, that’s a big deal. I really wish I had such wealthy relatives.”
"Who wouldn't want wealthy relatives!"
······
From these salespeople's conversations, it's clear that not only the upper echelons but also ordinary people have undergone a drastically different change in their attitudes toward the outside world.
The shadows of the past are gone, and spring is coming.
"Brother Yingjie, we won't be going home for lunch. I'll treat you to lunch at the Overseas Chinese Hotel. Let's have a romantic lunch," He Tiantian said with a smile, trying to make Huo Yingjie happy.
Yingjie had been longing to find a romantic place to spend time alone with his brother.
Sure enough, Huo Yingjie's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said, "Great, I can't wait!"
“Okay, I still have money and coupons. Let’s spend them today.” He Tiantian was in high spirits. If you have money, spend it. Life is short, what’s the point if you don’t enjoy it?
Huo Yingjie was taken aback, suddenly realizing that if he didn't work hard to earn money, he was destined to be a kept man in the future.
As a grown man, he's not used to being supported by his wife all this time. It seems he'll have to think about how to earn money when he gets back.
The two arrived at the Overseas Chinese Hotel, which has several restaurants offering different kinds of food.
"Brother Yingjie, which country's food do you like to eat?" He Tiantian asked, seeking Huo Yingjie's advice.
Huo Yingjie thought for a moment and said, "I don't have any particular favorites, you can choose whatever you like."
"How about French food then?" He Tiantian asked. "I guess you won't be used to food from other countries!"
"Okay, I'll listen to you," Huo Yingjie said, following behind He Tiantian.
The French restaurant has very elegant facilities.
In 1972, He Tiantian and Grandma Qi San returned from the United States and transited through France. They were fortunate enough to have an authentic French meal there, which He Tiantian has never forgotten.
The atmosphere here is nice, with a touch of the romance and comfort of a French restaurant.
He Tiantian smiled and asked, "Do you like it here?"
“It’s nice and quiet.” Huo Yingjie smiled. “He pointed to a table by the floor-to-ceiling window not far away. “Let’s sit there and enjoy the view while we eat.”
“Okay!” He Tiantian agreed and followed Huo Yingjie to the bedside.
It's heated inside, so it's very warm.
He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie took off their coats, and a waiter wearing a vest and bow tie came over to help them take the coats.
He Tiantian was wearing a light yellow fitted sweater underneath, while Huo Yingjie was wearing a light blue sweater, both looking very fresh and youthful, like a touch of early spring in winter.
French cuisine is notoriously slow.
However, the couple doesn't just go out for meals; they enjoy these moments alone, face to face, with only each other's reflections in their eyes.
A sweet smile, gentle words, the image of the two of them together is a beautiful one in the eyes of others.
The lunch was delicious, and the two had a very pleasant conversation.
"Cousin?" Just as He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie were chatting happily, a woman at a table not far away called out softly.
The direction the woman was calling out to was He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie's side.
Huo Yingjie frowned slightly and looked towards the source of the voice. Oh, it was indeed a distant relative. He said, "Hello, Wenhui, this is my wife, He Tiantian. He Tiantian, this is my mother's second uncle's daughter, Jiang Wenhui."
"Hello," He Tiantian greeted, standing up and extending her hand to shake hands with Jiang Wenhui.
"Hello, cousin-in-law," Jiang Wenhui said with a smile. "I thought I would see my cousin and cousin-in-law yesterday, but only my aunt and uncle came. You didn't come."
Huo Yingjie politely replied, "We have children at home, so we can't all leave."
“Then you can bring your child along,” Jiang Wenhui said. “My dad and my grandpa have been talking about you!”
"Hehe." Huo Yingjie chuckled, his tone distant. "Thank you for your concern, Second Grandfather and Uncle."
They weren't really close friends, just related by kinship, so Huo Yingjie treated them with polite but distant manner.
“Then, cousin and cousin-in-law, if you have time, you can come over to our house as guests,” Jiang Wenhui said, looking the two people opposite her up and down. No wonder her mother often said in front of her that her aunt’s family was well-off; it was no exaggeration.
"Well, let's talk about it another time," Huo Yingjie said politely, without specifying a date, indicating that he wouldn't be going back.
We came here hoping for a quiet, elegant atmosphere to spend some quality time together.
Now that the sweet atmosphere has been ruined, Huo Yingjie doesn't want to stay here any longer.
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