Because Huo Yingjie needs to catch the 6 o'clock train tomorrow, He Tiantian got up at 4 o'clock to make pancakes for him to eat on the way. Since they don't live very far apart, she only needs to prepare one meal.
Dumplings for going out, storefront for returning.
He Tiantian cooked dumplings to see Huo Yingjie off. She cooked a bit too many, and she ate some herself. Huo Yingjie ate the plump dumplings, thinking that each little dumpling was as cute as He Tiantian.
It's white, tender, and fragrant.
After the two finished eating, He Tiantian took the package that had been prepared and said, "Brother Yingjie, this is the lunch I prepared for you. Take it with you."
"Okay." Huo Yingjie said without ceremony, taking it in his hand.
Huo Yingjie took He Tiantian's hand with his other hand and they went out the door. Since they didn't have much stuff, they chose to walk. Also, it was dark, and riding a bicycle wouldn't be safe.
Anyway, it was still early, and they could walk there.
Along the way, Huo Yingjie's warm, large hand held He Tiantian's slightly cool hand as they walked along the roadside.
Although they didn't speak, their feelings for each other were subtly changing. Like fermenting wine, it was becoming more mellow and fragrant with time.
When they arrived at the train station, He Tiantian wanted to buy a platform ticket to see Huo Yingjie off.
Huo Yingjie stopped He Tiantian and said, "Don't send any more in. Looking at you, I'm afraid I won't be able to leave."
He Tiantian smiled and said, "Me too, I might just hold you and not let you leave."
"The train leaves at six o'clock. It's still a bit dark outside. Wait for me to get into the station before you leave," Huo Yingjie instructed. "But whatever you do, take good care of yourself. I'll try my best to make a great contribution at the research institute as soon as possible, and then I'll come to Qijia Village to visit you."
He Tiantian's eyes sparkled as she excitedly asked, "Really? You can come see me?"
"Yes, I have annual leave, and there will be a reward if I make a great contribution." Huo Yingjie pinched He Tiantian's face, reluctant to let go of the smooth skin under his hand.
To perform a great service!
It's not that easy!
He Tiantian didn't want Huo Yingjie to overwork himself, so she said, "Brother Yingjie, don't push yourself too hard, and don't ruin your health. I'm so happy to see you, but I'm not sad if we can't. If two people are truly in love, what does it matter if they're together every day? We have each other in our hearts, and that's more important than anything else."
Huo Yingjie chuckled; Tianbao was worried about him!
But he does indeed have many research achievements; any one of them could be considered a great contribution. Such a task would be difficult for others, but not for him!
"I'll do what I can, don't worry." Huo Yingjie pressed He Tiantian's head down, tilted his head, and kissed her forehead and cheek a few times.
As for those rosy, fragrant lips, Huo Yingjie wanted to kiss them too, but he was afraid that once he did, he wouldn't want to leave.
Furthermore, although this place is somewhat secluded, it is still a train station with people coming and going, and he doesn't want him and He Tiantian to become the subject of gossip.
Just as Huo Yingjie and He Tiantian were saying their sweet goodbyes, two women spotted them not far away.
The two whispered amongst themselves, occasionally letting out disdainful smiles. To act like hooligans in broad daylight.
These two were Wang Bing and Feng Qiaoqiao. They took the same train back and forth. However, this time they both had sleeper berths because they bought different tickets, so Huo Yingjie didn't need to face those two people.
Tickets have been checked, and Huo Yingjie was at the very back; he had to leave.
He Tiantian kept smiling sweetly, seemingly carefree, while Huo Yingjie kept turning back to look at her.
Huo Yingjie kept reassuring himself that as long as they could get through the difficult year of 1972, the Huo family would be safe. He also had the ability to get He Tiantian away from that place before 1973.
Only when Huo Yingjie went inside and He Tiantian could no longer see him did she reveal the loneliness in her eyes.
Hearing the train start moving inside, He Tiantian finally couldn't hold back her tears. The train took away her lover, but it couldn't take away her longing.
It was already light outside. He Tiantian walked out of the train station and strolled slowly along the road.
Not long after I left the train station, I ran into Liu Lingli.
"He Tiantian, are you here at the train station to buy a ticket?" Liu Lingli asked, having also seen He Tiantian.
She smiled outwardly, but Liu Lingli was furious inside. He Tiantian had gone too far; she had only been joking with her, but He Tiantian had lied to her.
Although He Tiantian's family experienced some setbacks, nothing serious happened, and their living conditions were still quite good.
Contrary to what He Tiantian said, they weren't starving, nor were they making paper boxes at home. They were clearly doing very well, even bringing the old men and women from Qijia Village over for the New Year, yet He Tiantian kept crying.
He Tiantian was feeling down, but when she saw Liu Lingli, she immediately cheered up. With Yingjie not by her side, she would have to rely on herself from now on and couldn't show weakness in front of outsiders.
"Lingli, are you here to buy tickets?" He Tiantian asked. "I couldn't get any. If you can, could you get me a ticket? As for the money, I'll pay you back when I have it."
Upon hearing He Tiantian's words, Liu Lingli quickly and subconsciously pressed her hand to the pocket containing her money. However, considering He Tiantian's current history of lying, she figured these were just attempts to scare her.
"He Tiantian, is this funny? We're neighbors, and you know my family's situation. If you have money, I won't borrow from you. Why do you always say things like this?" Liu Lingli was also quite shrewd; seeing how much He Tiantian had said, she didn't hold back.
He Tiantian smiled and said, "It is quite boring. Last time I brought you a cotton coat, I heard some complaints behind your house, and I felt quite uncomfortable."
Seeing He Tiantian say that, Liu Lingli guessed that He Tiantian had overheard what she said. Her face flushed, and she said, "Hehe, I was just joking. Don't take it seriously. Okay, I have something to do, I'll go first."
The atmosphere became awkward, and Liu Lingli, not wanting to continue, made an excuse to leave. Of course, she wouldn't buy He Tiantian a ticket either.
He Tiantian watched Liu Lingli's retreating figure, somewhat puzzled. This Liu Lingli was quite different from how she acted in her previous life, and He Tiantian had repeatedly tested Liu Lingli precisely to prove this point.
After all, He Tiantian didn't take Liu Lingli's words to heart before. She was only sending things to Liu Lingli to repay the favor!
However, at that time, He Tiantian did not know Liu Lingli well. Given Liu Lingli's self-serving nature, she was clearly not a helpful person, and she would not tell her about her parents' situation without receiving any benefit in return.
But who would give Liu Lingli any benefits?
He Tiantian pondered for a moment, analyzing her past life, and finally realized that Liu Lingli was in Hujia Village, only a few miles from Qijia Village. The person who could benefit Liu Lingli and wanted to exploit her was probably Qi Jianguo. (To be continued.)
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