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He Tiantian and the others were relieved after receiving the telegram from Niu Dajun.
As long as we get through this difficult time, there's nothing to worry about.
With the Chinese New Year approaching, He Tiantian went to Huai City to buy a lot of New Year's goods.
Qi Shuliang and Bai Qiongyu were unable to return to China, but they still sent them large and small packages. Because of their contributions, the authorities did not stop them.
The children of Qijia Village love to visit He Tiantian's house for the New Year because they can get delicious snacks and candies.
This time, I bought ten jin (5 kg) of White Rabbit milk candy. We planted some sunflowers in our family's private plot and harvested a lot of sunflower seeds, so we roasted more than ten jin (5 kg) of sunflower seeds, as well as several jin (1 kg) of pumpkin seeds, and also made several jin (1 kg) of peanut brittle and sesame brittle.
To prevent it from being eaten by rats, it was placed in a large water tank and covered with a thick iron lid.
Just as He Tiantian was busy preparing for the New Year, Huo Yingjie, Huo Zhekun, and Jiang Lifang arrived at Qijia Village.
They were still riding in Old Liu's oxcart. Because it was the New Year, Huo Yingjie gave Old Liu a dollar and a bag of candy.
Old Liu didn't stand on ceremony, after all, he had three people and so much stuff to carry.
It's cold, so He Jingyu has been staying at home with his wife, warming themselves by the fire!
Hearing the noise outside, he went out to open the door and was overjoyed to see Huo Zhekun, Jiang Lifang, and Huo Yingjie.
Things must have been resolved, otherwise they wouldn't have come to Qijia Village at this time.
"Brother Huo, Sister-in-law Huo, Yingjie, why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have picked you up at the station," He Jingyu said happily, and then helped carry the three large bags of things inside.
"Hehe, now that things are over, we should come and see for ourselves," Huo Zhekun said. "I'm really sorry for breaking our promise time and time again. I won't feel at ease unless I come in person."
"We had no choice!" He Jingyu said. "Hurry inside! Tian Tian, Shu Ping, Brother Huo, and Sister-in-law are here."
He Tiantian opened the door and saw Huo Yingjie's family. Her face lit up with joy, and she said, "Uncle Huo, Aunt Jiang, Brother Yingjie, please come in quickly. I'll make you some ginger soup right away."
"Then thank you for your hard work, Tian Tian." Jiang Lifang, Huo Zhekun, and Huo Yingjie came in.
As for their belongings, they were all moved to the room where Huo Yingjie used to live.
Wang Shuping stood up, and Jiang Lifang stepped forward, took Wang Shuping's arm, and said, "Shuping, you're really amazing! I never thought you could give Tiantian a younger brother or sister."
Wang Shuping blushed, but was also happy to see her good friend, saying, "Hehe, you're making fun of me as soon as you arrive."
"I'm not making fun of you, I'm just envious of you, aren't you, Auntie?" Jiang Lifang asked Grandma Qi San with a smile. Seeing that Grandma Qi San looked very well, she was happy for the old lady.
"Yes, many children bring many blessings; everyone envies that," Grandma Qi said with a smile. "You must have had a long journey!"
“It’s not hard work. We came here as soon as we settled things in Yanjing,” Jiang Lifang said. “My mother-in-law originally wanted us to spend the New Year in Yanjing, but I was thinking about how Yingjie and Tiantian’s wedding had been delayed because of our situation, and I felt really bad for Tiantian. So, I discussed it with Lao Huo and we decided to spend the New Year here and also discuss getting their wedding done.”
"Hehe, that's good too." Grandma Qi said with a smile, "They are both good children, and they are very compatible. We elders are happy to see this happen."
“If it were someone else’s family, I would feel sorry for Tian Tian, but I trust Sister Lifang’s character; she definitely didn’t do it on purpose,” Wang Shuping said. “The two children are good, and they’re not young anymore. Since you and Brother Huo have come all this way, we won’t put on airs or seem insincere. Godmother, you know how to pick a good day; please help the two children choose a suitable time!”
“That’s right, Auntie is an elder and highly respected, so please choose a date for us,” Jiang Lifang said with a smile. Once the date is set, they can hold the wedding.
Grandma Qi did the math for a moment, then said, "There are only two days left until the New Year, so it's not an option before the New Year. As for after the New Year, it used to be that people didn't get married during the first month of the lunar calendar, but that's no longer the case. How long can you stay here?"
"To be honest, Auntie, Lao Huo and I have taken a lot of leave this year, and we can only hold out until the tenth day of the first lunar month next year at most," Jiang Lifang said. Time is a bit tight, but they were engaged a long time ago, and they had also agreed to hold the wedding at the end of this year, so it is not in a rush.
"Alright, let's make it the eighth day of the first lunar month then," said Grandma Qi. "We'll hold the wedding banquet here first, and then you can decide whether to take the children to Nanshi or Yanjing. Is that alright?"
Jiang Lifang nodded and said, "Auntie, you've thought this through perfectly. This arrangement is wonderful. We also brought some things with us. If there's anything we need, let Yingjie go and buy it."
Grandma Qi smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. There are many people in Qi Family Village, so arranging a wedding is not a difficult task."
He Tiantian made brown sugar ginger soup, gave each of them a bowl, and said, "Aunt Jiang, have some ginger soup!"
After escaping the chill, a bowl of ginger soup warmed all three of them.
The women were discussing their wedding plans, while He Jingyu was talking to Huo Zhekun about what had happened in Yanjing.
Feeling embarrassed, He Tiantian slipped away after everyone finished their ginger tea.
Huo Yingjie couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he followed He Tiantian out.
Once outside, Huo Yingjie picked up He Tiantian and spun her around in the yard.
He Tiantian quickly covered her mouth, worried that her scream would disturb the adults inside.
"Put me down," He Tiantian warned in a low voice, Huo Yingjie was too bold.
Huo Yingjie kissed He Tiantian several times on the cheek before putting her down and asking, "Tiantian, did you miss me?"
"I don't want to!" He Tiantian said, not wanting to be too eager and make Huo Yingjie think she was not reserved.
"If you don't want to, then I'll kiss you until you do." Huo Yingjie pretended to continue kissing He Tiantian.
Worried that the adults would come out of the house and see their impudent behavior, He Tiantian quickly changed her words, saying, "I miss them, I miss them so much that I can't sleep at night."
“Me too,” Huo Yingjie said, resting his chin on He Tiantian’s forehead, the rough stubble making He Tiantian’s forehead a little itchy.
He Tiantian stretched out her little hand and placed it on her forehead, saying, "Your beard is really stiff. Go shave it quickly, and we'll make dumplings for dinner tonight, okay?"
"Okay!" Huo Yingjie said, "But aren't you happy to hear that we're getting married soon?"
"I'm happy," He Tiantian said shyly, her head down. "But in front of my parents, I can't act too eager to get married, can I? After all, I'm young and beautiful, so I need to be a little reserved."
"Hehe!" Huo Yingjie chuckled. "You're too funny. I can't take it anymore. You shave me."
“Shave yourself.” He Tiantian frowned. The razors these days are the manual blade type, and you can easily cut yourself if you’re not careful.
"No, if you don't shave me, I'll keep scratching you." Huo Yingjie was being shameless. After saying that, he used his chin to scratch He Tiantian's tender little face.
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