Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 61: Chapter 35: Clueless Jingwu

”What do you mean, it’s not serious?” Jie Jinghun was unhappy. He was ready to say whatever it took to make his father uncomfortable. Had Jing Si not mentioned Xiao Duo, his anger wouldn’t have even turned on his father. But the blatant favoritism... he recalled how his father doted on Xiao You while remaining so distant with Xiao Duo. ’Isn’t that the very definition of favoring boys over girls?’

Mr. Xie sighed. Without beating around the bush, he said bluntly, ”Jing San, go to your mother-in-law’s house and bring Xiao Duo back.”

Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing were both stunned. Jie Jinghun, in particular, was shocked. His father had come to their room about Xiao Duo, not to ask him to reason with his second and fourth brothers.

He had already made up his mind: the moment his father brought it up, he would throw him right out.

He had decided to stay out of the conflict between his second and fourth brothers’ families and just watch from the sidelines.

He felt a little better knowing his father was here about Xiao Duo. But then he remembered his father’s favoritism, and his expression darkened. Jie Jinghun’s low voice was thick with resentment. ”Bring her back for what? So Xiao You can keep bullying her?”

”He won’t. I’ll have your second brother and his wife make things clear to Xiao You.” Mr. Xie thought to himself, ’It’s time I stepped in and gave my second son’s family a wake-up call. A child being young and ignorant is no excuse to let him run wild.’

”And you think that will work? Dad, you know as well as I do how spoiled rotten Xiao You is because of those two. And you... you’re practically...” Jie Jinghun didn’t finish his sentence.

”Practically what?” Mr. Xie demanded, his face turning cold. ’This brat isn’t about to say anything pleasant, I can tell.’

Jie Jinghun thought for a moment, then decided to hell with it. Better to let it all out than to keep it bottled up. ”Aiding and abetting.”

Shen Qing’s breath caught in her throat. She never imagined Jing San would say something like ”aiding and abetting” to his own father. It was true that her father-in-law favored Xiao You and neglected their daughter, Xiao Duo, but those words were just too cutting.

”Jie Jinghun, you’ve really grown some nerve,” Mr. Xie raged. The accusation of ”aiding and abetting” was far more serious than Jing Si’s comment about favoring boys over girls. ”Xiao You is just a child! He’s not some irredeemable monster...”

”Dad, Xiao You is eight years old. Xiao Duo is three. Do you think it’s normal for an eight-year-old to bully a three-year-old? Yes, Xiao You is young, he’s still a kid, but is he never going to grow up? Is he going to stay a kid forever? Dad, you know full well that if my second brother and his wife keep indulging Xiao You like this, they’re going to completely ruin him sooner or later.” Jie Jinghun wasn’t trying to be alarmist; he was telling the simple truth.

Mr. Xie’s expression grew solemn, and he fell silent. He couldn’t refute his son’s words; any attempt to argue or deflect would just be lying to himself.

After a long silence, Mr. Xie raised a hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He said to Jie Jinghun, ”Regarding Xiao You’s issues, I will personally see to it that your second brother and his wife handle it. As for you two, find a time to go to the Shen Family’s home and bring Xiao Duo back.”

”Dad, Shen Qing and I have already discussed it. We’re going to change Xiao Duo’s last name to Shen.” Jie Jinghun seemed determined to say the most shocking thing possible. The thought hadn’t even crossed his mind before this conversation with his father, but now, it was firmly planted there.

Shen Qing frowned at Jie Jinghun. ’When did we ever discuss changing Xiao Duo’s last name?’

”Nonsense! How can a child of the Jie Family take the surname Shen? Jing San, it’s not like you married into her family!” Mr. Xie felt like this son was going to be the death of him. ’Four sons and two daughters... My eldest daughter went to the countryside as an educated youth and got married there. My second son and his wife are a mess. My third son and his wife hold a grudge against me. I had such high hopes for my fourth son, but he was forced to retire from the army after an injury. My fifth son, Jing Wu, is completely unreliable, and my youngest daughter is disabled.’

Sigh. ’Not a single one of them lets me rest easy.’

”If I have to, I’d marry into her family for my daughter’s sake,” said Jie Jinghun. The usually gentle and agreeable man was resolute this time, absolutely refusing to compromise.

”You...!” Mr. Xie was livid. He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, ordering, ”Tomorrow! Go to the Shen Family’s house and bring my granddaughter back!”

”Can’t be done. Xiao Duo’s last name is Shen now, not Jie,” Jie Jinghun said curtly.

”Jie Jinghun... This is outright rebellion!” Mr. Xie, unable to contain his fury, charged toward Jie Jinghun and raised his hand to strike him.

”Dad,” Shen Qing, who had been silent until now, spoke up to stop him. ”Dad, why don’t you go back and rest first? Let me talk to him.”

Mr. Xie lowered his hand. His daughter-in-law had given him a graceful way out of the confrontation, and he took it.

”Jie Jinghun, you listen to me, and you listen good. Xiao Duo is a child of the Jie Family. You want to change her name? Over my dead body.” After delivering his ultimatum, Mr. Xie shot a fierce glare at Jie Jinghun before storming out. ”Change her name, hah! Outright rebellion! Does he really think I’m dead already?”

Jie Jinghun’s face was grim, his hands clenched tightly into fists, the light in his eyes fading.

Shen Qing’s brow was deeply furrowed, revealing her inner turmoil. ”Jing San.”

”My dear, aren’t you bitter about this?” All of Jie Jinghun’s emotions were laid bare in his narrow eyes.