The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 967 - 936: Women Must Be Strong

Because of Yuan Hua’s arrival, He Tiantian introduced Yuan Hua to Qi Xiaoyan, Jiang Wenwen, and Wang Ying, giving Yuan Hua friends in Yanjing.

He would often come over for meals.

The gatherings were usually held at He Tiantian’s home.

Yuan Hua quickly integrated into life in Yanjing, work, and formed his own social circle.

Yuan Hua also found a house to buy—for 150,000, he got a one-and-a-half-entry Siheyuan that was inhabitable. The main house had five rooms and there were four rooms on both the east and west sides. The yard was quite large. The back was only as big as the front yard and could be converted into a garage and so on.

At such a price, the house was more than worth it.

Yuan Hua was very pleased and energetically went to transfer the ownership.

He wouldn’t move in right away, planning to renovate next year. Once everything was sorted, he would bring his father over.

That way, he could take care of his father nearby without worrying about his father back in his hometown.

It was the cold winter months, and the New Year was approaching.

He Tiantian received a few signed books—it turns out they were sent over by Tang Ping’an.

After "Wind and Cloud," Tang Ping’an had published two more books, totalling six volumes.

From Xie Wanying, He Tiantian learned that Tang Ping’an was somewhat famous in Xiangjiang and his royalties were much more than before.

He Tiantian was happy for Tang Ping’an. After receiving the signed books, she wrote a letter to Tang Ping’an, encouraging him to strive for even greater success.

At the same time, she also reminded him that Xiangjiang was full of temptations, and she hoped he would keep himself clean and not indulge in those bad habits.

Being a teacher, it was normal for He Tiantian to remind Tang Ping’an like this.

Tang Ping’an, like Yuan Hua, was one of the students He Tiantian was most proud of having taught that year, and she wanted her students to be well.

Yuan Hua visited He Tiantian’s home and saw the new books from Tang Ping’an.

"Teacher He, could I borrow these books to read?" asked Yuan Hua. He had let go, but he still wanted to know what this person had written.

He Tiantian smiled, "Sure, I’m currently reading ’Young Emperor.’ You can take the other books home to read. Once you’re done, we can exchange."

"Great!" said Yuan Hua as he took the other three volumes of "Swimming Dragon Jingfeng."

"By the way, didn’t you say you were going to show me the novel you wrote?" He Tiantian asked. "Did you bring it with you?"

Since she didn’t have to go out to work, He Tiantian had more free time and wanted to read books.

Heavy academic works were not to her taste; she preferred novels.

She liked both romance and martial arts novels.

Yuan Hua smiled and took out a stack of manuscript paper from his bag, saying, "Teacher, here it is. It’s only about 90,000 words. It’s a love story from the end of the Cultural Revolution up to the present."

"Hmm, not bad, I do like love stories," said He Tiantian. "Leave it here. After I read it, I’ll talk to you about it!"

"Okay," Yuan Hua replied with a smile. "If Teacher He thinks it’s good, then I’ll start submitting it for publication."

In the evening, after finishing her work, He Tiantian began reading Yuan Hua’s manuscript.

It told the story of a female educated youth, including a slight political background. To avoid censorship, the description was light and not too detailed. The focus was on the love story between the woman and another male educated youth.

Two educated youths met, became acquainted with each other, fell in love, and got married in a strange place.

However, word of the college entrance exam came, bringing hope for returning to the city. But since the woman was pregnant and still had to do labor, the man started studying and went to college.

They had hoped that the man going to college would allow them to return to the city together, but once the man got to the school, he fell in love with a younger and more beautiful girl from a good family.

The woman went to find him, only to face such an outcome. She tried various ways to save the marriage, but couldn’t win back her husband’s heart, and returned with her child.

But the woman couldn’t cope, and in the end, she committed suicide.

The writing was very good at the beginning, portraying the helplessness of that era and the woman’s deep love.

But this was too much devotion—ending her life over a man who had changed heart was simply not worth it.

After reading the novel, He Tiantian fell into deep thought.

This novel likely aimed to criticize the era’s test of love and human nature, mocking how love was worthless in the face of interests during that time.

This was good.

However, the woman in the story started strong but became despairing, giving a sense of decadence.

At the same time, He Tiantian was reminded of herself in her previous life.

But He Tiantian’s weakness and the era she lived in didn’t match the time period in the novel.

That was from the end of the Cultural Revolution to the onset of the Reform and Opening-Up policy, namely the early 1980s.

The Reforms were not just economic, but also involved changes in people’s thinking and actions.

This novel only depicted the decadent side, not the active, positive aspect, so it couldn’t be considered a good book.

At least, from He Tiantian’s perspective, she didn’t like the novel.

Especially after the Reforms, if a woman became strong, why fear the abandonment of a heartless man?

Seeing He Tiantian frown deeply, Huo Yingjie asked, "What have you read that’s making you so gloomy?"

Reading this novel made me think of my past life—if I had been stronger, we wouldn’t have ended up like that," He Tiantian said wistfully. "People should always rely on themselves, no matter when."

Huo Yingjie looked surprised, then guiltily said, "I was at fault too, I let you down."

"Yes, we were both too weak and idealistic back then, so we have regrets. This life, we have no fear, we march forward bravely and so we can be together," said He Tiantian, embracing Huo Yingjie from the side.

Huo Yingjie chuckled and replied, "Let the past go. If we keep thinking about it, it will only bring pain. Whether it’s you or me, our past life was a tragedy."

"Alright, let’s not talk about it anymore," said He Tiantian with a laugh. "But this novel, I need to ask Yuan Hua to change the ending. It can’t be so bleak. It should encourage women to be strong and independent, not suicidal at every turn."

"Let’s rest," Huo Yingjie said, helping to put away the manuscript papers.

He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie exchanged sweet nothings, devoid of passion but filled with understated happiness, understanding each other’s innermost thoughts.

Now that their child was grown and Huo Yingjie was busy with work, they didn’t have time to talk properly during the day. They could only wait for the evening to lie in Huo Yingjie’s arms and feel immense happiness.

A few days later, Yuan Hua came over.

He Tiantian discussed the novel with her.

"Yuan Hua, what are you trying to express with this novel, what are you trying to promote?" He Tiantian asked. Only by identifying this could they determine the plot and direction of the novel.

After thinking for a while, Yuan Hua replied, "I want to show the test of love and the critique of human nature during that era."