Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”Chief, does little Qiu have someone in her heart?”

”Unfortunately, the other person doesn’t like her!” Chief Qiu said with frustration, pointing at his daughter. ”She’s really thick-headed!”

”Dad—” Qiu Xinyi’s proud self-esteem was bruised by her father’s words in front of outsiders, causing her face to flush with embarrassment and anger. ”Don’t meddle in my affairs. I’m already at this age, not like it’s easy to get married...”

”If I don’t, who will? You’re already this age and still worry me... cough cough cough...” Chief Qiu couldn’t finish his sentence before a violent fit of coughing took over.

”Chief! Are you alright? Quickly, have some water.”

”Dad! Are you okay?”

Chief Qiu patted his chest, took a breath, and said, ”I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s this girl that gets me worked up!”

With that, he squeezed his neck, swallowed a few times, feeling that the nodule pressing against his throat seemed to be getting worse.

”Dad? Are you alright?” Qiu Xinyi knew about Chief Qiu’s condition. Whenever he made this gesture, it meant he was feeling unwell.

”I’m fine.” Chief Qiu drank a few sips of water.

”How about you get the surgery?” Qiu Xinyi said with concern.

”No need, no need. We’ll talk about it later.” Chief Qiu waved his hand dismissively.

”If you have the surgery, go to the PLA Affiliated Hospital, okay? There’s a very famous surgeon there, everyone calls him Ji Yidao,” the regiment commander suggested. ”His skills are very good. If you need surgery, go find him, alright?”

”Alright! Thank you! It seems that Ji Chuan is indeed famous.”

”Of course,” Qiu Xinyi proudly said, ”he’s been in this profession for so many years, and he’s never made a single mistake!”

”Hmph, fine. As for the operations command staff your regiment commander mentioned...”

Before the chief could finish his sentence, Qiu Xinyi interrupted him: ”No, no! Dad, if you’re fine, I have work to do! I’m leaving. Oh, and think carefully about the surgery. I think it’s feasible!”

”Hey, Xinyi, Xinyi!” Chief Qiu called after his daughter several times but she was already gone, so he simply gave up.

...............

On Saturday, Ji Chuan set out early to buy gifts. Today, he was going to visit his future in-laws and was feeling incredibly excited.

After years of being single, he had saved quite a bit of money, which was now coming in handy. He didn’t hold back and prepared gifts for everyone.

He even prepared a gift for the little kid at Yan Ye’s house.

Coming out of the mall, both of his hands were full of bags.

While waiting for the green light at the crosswalk, Ji Chuan checked the time. It was already ten thirty.

He and Yan Huan had agreed on a time and place to meet so they could go home together.

As Ji Chuan crossed the street and walked a few steps, he saw Yan Huan coming toward him.

She had just come from the army base and was still in her uniform, not having changed into civilian clothes yet.

”Ji Chuan!” Yan Huan also saw him and, noticing his hands full of bags, dashed over like a joyful bird. ”My goodness, are you planning to move the whole mall here? You bought so many things!”

”It’s not that much,” Ji Chuan replied with a smile. ”It’s the first formal visit to meet the future in-laws, after all. I need to be well-prepared.”

Too much etiquette is never a fault!

”Tch! You talk as if it’s really your first time meeting them,” Yan Huan said, taking some of the bags from his hands, half concerned, half reproachful. ”In the future, don’t buy so much, especially when it’s so expensive...”