Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 88: Chapter 44: Fourth Sister-in-law, Fifth Brother Has No Money

Jie Jingjue didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Bai Aiyun. ”Aiyun.”

”I’m heading back to the song and dance troupe,” Bai Aiyun said with a smile.

”I’ll walk you,” Jie Jingjue offered.

”No need,” Bai Aiyun refused, then turned to the others. ”Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law, Jing Qi, I’m off. See you next time.”

”Sister Aiyun, take care on your way back,” Jie Jingshan said with a smile, waving at Bai Aiyun.

Qin Mei didn’t know Bai Aiyun well, and because of Xu Chunyan, she couldn’t bring herself to be warm toward her. Jie Jingchen’s attitude was even more distant.

”Jing Wu, I’m off,” Bai Aiyun said to Jie Jingjue before running in the direction of the song and dance troupe.

Qin Mei watched her run off. Seeing that Jie Jingjue truly had no intention of walking her, she couldn’t help but ask, ”Didn’t you two break up?”

”Hehe.” Jie Jingjue rubbed the tip of his nose, a fawning smile on his face. ”I wasn’t the one who reached out to make up this time.”

Qin Mei rolled her eyes. Not bothering with Jie Jingjue, she began pushing Jie Jingshan’s wheelchair.

”Fourth Brother, where are you all going?” Jie Jingjue asked Jie Jingchen.

Jie Jingchen shot him a sidelong glance, the corner of his mouth twisting into a mocking sneer as he strode after Qin Mei.

”Aren’t you going home?” Jie Jingjue pressed.

”Second Sister-in-law’s mother and her brother are at the house,” Jie Jingshan spoke up.

”They’re here again.” Jie Jingjue wasn’t surprised. ”Second Sister-in-law injured her face, so she’s definitely using it as an excuse to call her family over to the Jie Family’s home to cause a ruckus. It’s been almost a year since they last came to make trouble. It’s a rare opportunity, and her family will definitely seize it.”

The thought of Liu Guihua and Xu Chunwang made Jie Jingjue’s head ache. If he and Bai Aiyun were to marry, he would have to call Liu Guihua ”Auntie.” The very idea made his skin crawl.

”Fourth Brother, take a guess. How much money do you think Liu Guihua will ask Mom for this time?” Jie Jingjue asked, slinging an arm over Jie Jingchen’s shoulder as they walked.

”Get it off.” Jie Jingchen’s brow twitched, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Jie Jingjue removed his arm, moved past Jie Jingchen, and fell into step beside Qin Mei. ”Fourth Sister-in-law, do you know Liu Guihua? Second Sister-in-law’s mom. She’s notoriously shrewish. I think she’s coming for you this time.”

”So what?” Qin Mei asked.

Jie Jingjue froze for a moment. ”You’re not scared?”

Qin Mei glanced sideways at him. ”I’m not.”

”’Not scared?’ You’re hiding out here, afraid to go home, yet you say you’re not scared? Fourth Sister-in-law, it’s okay to be scared. Why act so tough?” Jie Jingjue teased. ’Heck, he felt immense pressure just from having Liu Guihua stand in front of him.’

’She’s huge.’

Qin Mei raised an eyebrow, looking askance at the teasing Jie Jingjue. ”Care to make a bet?”

”What’s the bet?” Jie Jingjue asked.

A faint smile touched Qin Mei’s lips as she said, ”This time, not only will Liu Guihua fail to get any money from Mom, she’ll end up spitting some back out.”

Jie Jingjue thought that was unrealistic. ’Qin Mei only says that because she’s never experienced how formidable Liu Guihua can be.’ ”You don’t know Liu Guihua,” he said. ”She’s greedy as hell. For money, she’ll throw a fit and roll on the ground without a care for her image. Getting her to spit money back out would be harder than drawing blood.”

”So, are we betting or not?” Qin Mei asked, clearly not wanting to waste her breath on him.

”What are the stakes?” Jie Jingjue asked, his interest piqued.

”Money,” Qin Mei stated practically. ”If I win, you give me the same amount of money Liu Guihua spits out. If you win, I’ll give you however much money Mom gives her.”

”Can we double it?” Jie Jingjue was eager. ’He was going to win anyway, so it didn’t matter even if he lost. If Qin Mei could make Liu Guihua cough up even ten yuan, he would be in absolute awe of her.’

”Fine by me,” Qin Mei said nonchalantly. ”Double? Triple?”

Jie Jingjue tilted his head back, actually considering it.

”Fourth Sister-in-law, Fifth Brother doesn’t have any money,” Jie Jingshan reminded her.

Qin Mei knew to quit while she was ahead. ”Alright, no multiplier then.”

”No multiplier it is.” Jie Jingjue didn’t insist. He sized up Qin Mei and asked, ”Fourth Sister-in-law, do you even have money?”

”I don’t,” Qin Mei said. She wasn’t in the habit of flaunting her wealth.

Jie Jingchen was speechless. ’What about the money Mom gave her? Isn’t that money?’

Jie Jingshan was also speechless. ’And the one thousand yuan she got this morning? Isn’t that money?’

”Jie Jingchen has money,” Qin Mei said.

”My brother certainly does,” Jie Jingjue agreed, then asked in a low voice, ”Fourth Sister-in-law, are you sure my brother will give you the money?”

Qin Mei fell silent and snuck a glance at Jie Jingchen. So far, aside from buying things for her, he hadn’t given her a single cent.

Jie Jingchen fought the urge to ask Jie Jingjue if he was deliberately trying to drive a wedge between them.

The four of them wandered around aimlessly. Qin Mei took the opportunity to familiarize herself with the area, paying special attention to the neighborhoods around the train station and the hospital.

’If I want to make money riding the wave of the Reform and Opening-Up,’ she thought, ’I have to plan ahead to reap the rewards.’