Chapter 17: Introducing Objects
"Well, you're my uncle's friend, so I should call you uncle, but... you don't look much older than me, so..."
"I understand." He Tingjun understood her thoughts. After all, he was only 22 years old this year. He himself felt uncomfortable to let a little girl who was only a few years younger than him call him uncle.
"It doesn't matter. It's just a matter of address. You can call me whatever you want. It's up to you."
Yun Qiao rubbed his hands awkwardly: "Then I'll just call you Brother He."
He Tingjun nodded: "Okay."
Yun Qiao asked him curiously, "Brother He, where did you serve in the army? Was it also in the Great Northern Wilderness?"
He Tingjun nodded: "In Songjiang Province, not far from your uncle."
Yun Qiao finally remembered that Ye Yuanzhang had mentioned to his family that he had a friend serving in the army in Songjiang Province. However, Yun Qiao didn't know He Tingjun's name. He just thought he was a friend around the same age as his uncle Ye Yuanzhang, but he didn't expect him to be so young.
It was thanks to his connections that I was able to be transferred to the Beidahuang Farm.
Compared to being sent down to the countryside, the living environment in the Great Northern Wilderness was better. Because the area was in ruins and waiting to be redeveloped, the treatment of the intellectuals sent down there was not overly harsh.
However, the overall environment is there, and even if it is good, it is limited.
He Tingjun wasn't a talkative person, so he had no intention of chatting with Yun Qiao. He asked Yun Qiao directly, "Where are you going to the countryside in Songjiang this time?"
He Tingjun is a soldier. Even if he doesn't show it deliberately, he has a firm and serious temperament just by sitting.
When facing him, Yun Qiao always had the illusion of being in charge of teaching. He became nervous and didn't dare to make any small movements.
She clasped her hands together and placed them on her knees obediently, and answered somewhat nervously, "It's right next to Farm 52 where my uncle is. It's Farm 58. I wanted to go to Farm 52, but it was full."
"Farm 58. That place you'll be staying in from now on is closer to me than to your uncle's."
"Huh?" Yun Qiao was confused.
He Tingjun explained, "Farm 58 isn't far from the military camp. As for Farm 52, while it's right next to Farm 58, there's a swamp between them, so it takes at least two hours to walk there. You'll understand when you get there."
"Ah!" Yun Qiao lowered his eyes in disappointment. "I chose Farm 58 just to be closer to my uncle."
"You don't have to. Farm 58 is indeed the closest to Farm 52." A smile flashed in He Tingjun's eyes. "The other farms are farther away."
"All right."
"How many days will you leave?"
Yun Qiao answered honestly, "About four or five days. The ticket they gave me is for the morning train five days from now, but it's a standing ticket. The people from the Youth League Office said I can buy a seated ticket myself. As long as I get there on time and don't miss the registration time, it'll be fine."
"It's just right. My vacation time is up. Come with me." He Tingjun stretched out his hand towards Yun Qiao: "Give me the household registration book."
Yun Qiao was stunned for a moment: "What?"
He Tingjun explained, "Sleeper berth tickets are hard to come by. If you go by yourself, you might not even be able to get one even if you queue up for a whole day. So, let me buy it."
"Oh, okay." Yun Qiao handed him the household registration booklet: "Thank you for your help."
"You don't have to be so polite." He Tingjun put away the household registration booklet and said to her, "Since your uncle entrusted you to my care, we are now a family. I will take care of you as if you were my own junior. Please don't bother me all the time. It bothers me just by hearing it, okay?"
Yun Qiao nodded: "Okay, Brother He."
He Tingjun took out his wallet again, pulled out two big unity banknotes and stuffed them into Yun Qiao's hand: "Take this money first, and buy whatever you want. The conditions in Songjiang are not good, and some rare things can only be bought in Shanghai in advance. There are not many available there. Come to me again if you don't have enough."
Yun Qiao was stunned by the money he stuffed into her. After a few seconds, she realized what was happening and quickly declined, "No, I have money."
He bought the train ticket, so shouldn't she give him money?
Why did he give her money in return?
"You have money, it's yours. This is what I give you." He Tingjun forcefully stuffed the money into her hand: "This is our first meeting, and I didn't prepare a gift for you. This is just some pocket money. Take it and spend it."
Although Ye Yunqiao didn't call him uncle, he was a good friend of Ye Yunqiao's uncle Ye Yuanzhang, and he consciously treated Yunqiao as his junior.
Isn't it right to spend money on your younger generation?
He Tingjun gave the money very generously and didn't feel that there was anything wrong at all.
Yun Qiao couldn't refuse, so he had to accept it temporarily.
"Thank you, Brother He."
However, Yun Qiao did not plan to spend the money. She thought that when she returned to the Great Northern Wilderness, she would give it to her uncle and ask him to help her return it to He Tingjun.
He Tingjun stood up and told her his home address. Finally, he said, "Okay, if there's nothing else, I'll leave first. I'll buy you the train ticket and send it to you later. If you need anything urgently, you can come to my house to find me."
"Okay." Yun Qiao secretly wrote down his home address, stood up, and saw him out: "Then please drive slowly."
"No need to see me off." He Tingjun waved at her, took a step forward with his long legs, and strode away.
Yun Qiao watched He Tingjun's figure disappear into the alley, then he withdrew his gaze and turned back home.
"Yun Qiao, wait a moment."
At this moment, the voice of Aunt Chen, the alley cadre, suddenly came from behind.
"Aunt Chen, is there anything wrong?" Yun Qiao turned around again and saw Aunt Chen walking towards him from the direction where He Tingjun disappeared.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
