Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 36: Chapter 27: Qin Mei’s Promise

”Fourth Sister-in-law, please leave,” Jie Jingshan said, holding back with all her might. Her flushed face was twisted in a grimace.

At the sight, Qin Mei understood. Jie Jingshan needed to move her bowels. ”I can’t do that. What if you fall when I’m gone?”

Between emptying and cleaning the bedpan and cleaning the entire room, Qin Mei chose the former.

”Fourth Sister-in-law, I won’t fall. I’ll call you when I’m done,” Jie Jingshan said, her voice trembling slightly.

”Just do your business. Don’t mind me.” Qin Mei still refused to leave. She didn’t even mind the smell, but Jing Qi couldn’t stand having her in the room.

’It’s not like I have a fetish for watching people relieve themselves, but Jie Jingshan’s situation is special. If she falls, I won’t just have to clean the room; I’ll have to clean up Jing Qi, too. Jie Jingchen isn’t home, and I don’t know how to light a fire. Am I supposed to give her a bath with cold water?’

’As for any soiled clothes, I’d rather throw them away than wash them.’

”Fourth Sister-in-law, I’m begging you, please leave.” Jie Jingshan’s face was beet red. She had to move her bowels, not just urinate. Ever since becoming disabled, her self-respect had been trampled into the dust.

Jie Jingshan was a stubborn one. Seeing her unyielding attitude, Qin Mei thought for a moment before stuffing the toilet paper into Jie Jingshan’s hand. ”Call me when you’re done. And don’t fall.”

Qin Mei wanted to add a few more threats, but seeing the pained look on Jie Jingshan’s face as she struggled, she thought better of it. She turned, walked out of the room, closed the door, and stood guard outside.

’It’s so difficult to live with dignity when you’re disabled. If you can’t even perform the most basic self-care, what dignity is there to speak of?’

’Mrs. Xie is busy with work. Jing Qi has many brothers but only one older sister, who was a sent-down youth and had gotten married in the countryside. Her second sister-in-law barely pays her any mind. Her third sister-in-law is kind, but she also has her own job and can’t possibly watch over Jing Qi twenty-four hours a day.’

’I’ve never met this Aunt Zhang who takes care of Jing Qi, so I have no idea if she’s a good person or a bad one.’

’She must be a kind person, though. Otherwise, Mrs. Xie would never have felt comfortable leaving Jing Qi in her care.’

”Fourth Sister-in-law,” Jie Jingshan called out.

Pushing her thoughts aside, Qin Mei opened the door and went inside. A foul odor immediately assaulted her nostrils. Afraid of wounding Jing Qi’s pride, Qin Mei didn’t cover her nose or mouth. She didn’t even wrinkle her brow. With perfect composure, she bent down, picked up the bedpan, and carried it toward the bathroom, her expression showing not a single trace of disgust or impatience the entire time.

The basic functions of life—eating, drinking, sleeping, and using the toilet—were all things Jie Jingshan was extremely sensitive and self-conscious about, especially the latter. She took in Qin Mei’s reaction completely. The feeling of having her dignity respected was incredibly comforting, spreading a gentle warmth through her heart.

When Qin Mei returned with the clean bedpan, she saw that Jie Jingshan had already moved herself into her wheelchair and was sitting up straight.

’The girl had a fierce sense of pride. If it was something she could do herself, she would never trouble anyone for help, not unless it was absolutely impossible for her.’

’How could someone with so much pride accept the reality of her disability?’

”Fourth Sister-in-law, thank you.” Jie Jingshan was deeply grateful to Qin Mei. She hadn’t just avoided showing disgust; she had actively protected her dignity.

”If you truly want to thank me, then cooperate with my treatment for your legs. And don’t cause any trouble for me by pulling any stunts.” Qin Mei offered a small smile as she began to push Jie Jingshan’s wheelchair into the courtyard.

Treating her legs was practically a taboo subject for Jie Jingshan. She had experienced too much hope and too much disappointment. The process had not only tormented her body, it had also tortured her soul.

If she could, she really didn’t want to go through the process of hope to despair one more time. It was too painful; she wasn’t sure she could bear it.

”Fourth Sister-in-law, I...” Jie Jingshan lowered her gaze, her eyes filled with a sorrow so deep it was almost tangible.

Qin Mei pushed Jing Qi under a tree, then came around to her front and squatted down. Taking in the sorrow in Jing Qi’s eyes, Qin Mei felt her heart clench. ’Jing Qi is only fourteen, an age that should be filled with innocence and joy. A look of such deep sorrow shouldn’t be in her eyes.’

”Jing Qi, do you trust me?” Qin Mei asked gently.

Jie Jingshan looked up. In Qin Mei’s eyes, she saw her own reflection, as well as a radiant glimmer of confidence.

’Qin Mei was confident, but sadly, she herself was not. After so many failures, forget confidence; she was on the verge of despair.’

Qin Mei sighed. Looking at Jie Jingshan’s thin face, she reached out, took the girl’s small hand in her own, and promised with the utmost gravity, ”Jie Jingshan, trust me. I can heal your legs.”

Jie Jingshan was stunned, and also deeply moved. Her mother had hired countless doctors to treat her legs, but none of them had ever made a promise to her with such confidence and pride as Qin Mei had just now.

Whether from excitement or from seeing a flicker of hope rekindle from the ashes of her despair, Jie Jingshan’s frail body began to tremble. Her lips quivered as she asked in a shaky voice, ”Fourth Sister-in-law... my legs... can you really heal them?”

”I’m one hundred percent sure.” Qin Mei’s resolute voice was like a clap of thunder, ringing with absolute conviction.