After giving the gift, He Tiantian felt that Niu Lili was even more approachable.
"I didn't bring much this time, but I'll definitely bring more delicious food from Nanshi for Sister Lili next time," He Tiantian said with a smile, making a promise that maintaining her friendship with Niu Lili would be very helpful to her in the future.
"Then I won't be polite." Niu Lili took a box of pastries and left, leaving He Tiantian alone in the dormitory.
After taking Niu Lili's washbasin to the bathroom to wash up, He Tiantian took off her outer clothes and lay down on the bed to sleep.
Meanwhile, Niu Lili took the pastries to the kitchen. The chef, a fat man surnamed Wang, gave her a thumbs up and said, "This is the best hibiscus cake in Nanshi. It comes from the most famous Xinghualou in Nanshi. Ordinary people can't buy it even if they have money. You need a ticket."
"Brother Wang, you're not lying to me." Niu Lili also took a piece, took a bite, and exclaimed, "Wow, it tastes really good, delicious!"
“Your friend’s family must be very powerful,” Fatty Wang whispered. “I went to Nanshi with my master before and ate there once. Back then, only high-ranking officials and nobles could afford it.”
You can tell a person's social class just by looking at a box of pastries.
Niu Lili made a note of it and decided to be more polite to He Tiantian in the future.
Mountains don't move, but rivers do; fortunes change every thirty years! He Tiantian is a young intellectual now, but who knows what she will achieve in the future! These are all uncertain things; just be kind to others.
That evening, Niu Dajun returned to his dormitory at the commune post office. Upon hearing from a colleague that his cousin had come looking for him, he rushed over to check on her. Seeing He Tiantian back, he breathed a sigh of relief. Without even checking the mail, he ran over to talk to He Tiantian and tell her the latest news.
"Sweetie, you're finally here! How did things go in Nanshi?" Niu Dajun asked anxiously. Every time he passed through Qijia Village, Xiao Yan'er would ask him about He Tiantian's situation. Actually, apart from taking He Tiantian to the train station, he didn't know anything else! But every time he saw Qi Xiaoyan's worried look, he would keep comforting her, saying that He Tiantian was fine.
He Tiantian patted her military green schoolbag and said, "My dad has already found the commune director and obtained a certificate, as well as a certificate from the street office. As for the official letter being sent to Huai City, it's probably already in Taoyuan County."
"That's good." Niu Dajun was relieved. "You don't know how worried Xiao Yan'er has been about you these past few days. She hasn't been eating or sleeping well, and she's even lost weight."
"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Dajun and Xiaoyan. I will thank her properly when I get back." He Tiantian said with a smile, "Brother Dajun, these are some snacks that my mother asked me to bring back. Take two boxes with you."
“These are things you girls like to eat, give them all to Xiaoyan, I don’t need them.” Niu Dajun smiled honestly. “Alright, now that you have proof, it can last for a while. If anyone causes trouble, you can explain the situation. Don’t worry, in our Taoyuan County, there is justice.”
How could He Tiantian tell that every word Niu Dajun said mentioned Xiao Yan'er? Was she overthinking it?
"Yes, I believe you," He Tiantian said. She didn't want to ask too much about something that wasn't true yet, as she hadn't sorted out her own affairs yet. "It's just that I'll have to trouble Brother Dajun again tomorrow to take me back."
"It's alright, I'm going to deliver a message in that area anyway, so it's on my way." Niu Dajun said, "Okay, you rest, I'll go get something to eat up ahead, I still have things to do."
After eating something, Niu Dajun went to the post office to sort the new mail that had arrived that day.
Niu Lili served He Tiantian a large bowl of rice topped with hot and sour shredded potatoes, which was very appetizing. He Tiantian tried to give Niu Lili money, but Niu Lili refused. Niu Lili said she would go to the commune to inquire whether the official document had arrived when she had time.
He Tiantian felt she owed Niu Lili even more favors.
There's plenty of time; we'll pay it back slowly!
The next morning, Niu Dajun drove He Tiantian across the commune's cement road and left the county town.
As they passed the newly built public square in the commune, He Tiantian's gaze unconsciously fell on the stone statue of the guardian beast along the river. It was placed in a corner, its surface very shiny, probably worn down by children riding on it.
He Tiantian sighed. She hadn't resolved her own issues yet, so she'd better put the matter of the guardian beast statue on hold for now.
Niu Dajun only rested for a short while on the way and arrived at Qijia Village in four hours. Because he was riding fast and carrying people and things, his legs were sore, so he went directly to Secretary Qi's house to rest.
Upon seeing He Tiantian's certificates, Secretary Qi nodded and said, "Hmm, I didn't expect you to have not only certificates from the city but also those from the subdistrict office. It's very detailed. Keep it safe. With this, no one will dare to bully you."
"Thank you, Secretary Qi," He Tiantian said. "Grandma Qi has a pheasant. I'll bring it over and hope Secretary Qi can help me entertain Brother Dajun."
At Secretary Qi's house, Niu Dajun could rest for a while after finishing his meal, which was inconvenient at Grandma Qi's house.
"You don't need to bring anything, I'll take care of you." Secretary Qi smiled and said casually, "You must be tired, go back and rest."
He Tiantian took out four boxes of pastries from the wicker box and said, "These are pastries from my hometown. I gave two boxes to Brother Dajun yesterday, but he didn't want them and said they were for Xiaoyan. So I put them here."
Qi Xiaoyan had been wanting to talk to He Tiantian, and now, hearing what He Tiantian said and seeing the four boxes of pastries, her face flushed and she blushed with embarrassment.
"Little Swallow, I'm going back now. I'll come find you to play again later." He Tiantian looked at Qi Xiaoyan, whose face was flushed with embarrassment, and blinked. It seemed like there was really a chance!
Staring at her with He Tiantian's expressive eyes, Qi Xiaoyan didn't dare to speak. Did Sister Tiantian see something?
When He Tiantian returned home, Grandma Qi was twisting thread! She used a chopstick with a copper coin attached to the bottom to pull cotton fibers from a cotton ball and twist them into a fine thread by rotating it through the chopstick. Ordinary families used this kind of thread for making clothes and sewing quilts, saving money by not having to buy it.
"Grandma Qi, I'm back," He Tiantian said cheerfully, placing a box of pastries on the table.
Since He Tiantian left, Grandma Qi has been living alone in the quiet. She's gotten used to having someone at home, and sometimes she unconsciously calls He Tiantian's name. When no one answers, she realizes He Tiantian had an urgent matter and went back to her hometown, and hasn't returned yet, making her feel even more lost.
"It's good to be back. Did everything go smoothly?" Grandma Qi asked with concern. "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll go make you something."
“I haven’t eaten yet. Oh, by the way, Grandma Qi, there’s still a pheasant at home. I wanted to take it to Secretary Qi so he could help me entertain Brother Dajun. I left in a hurry the other day, and Brother Dajun took me to the train station. He also brought me back today. Secretary Qi wouldn’t let Niu Dajun come over for dinner, but insisted on hosting him at his house. I felt bad about it, so I wanted to send something over,” He Tiantian explained, hoping that Grandma Qi would understand.
There are still some on the back mountain; He Tiantian will catch some more later to nourish Grandma Qi! (To be continued.)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com