Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 179: Chapter 73: Xiao Mei, Just Who Are You?

Mrs. Xie was silent for a long time. She took Qin Mei’s hand and said with the utmost seriousness, ”Xiao Mei, we’re dropping this matter.”

”Mom, but...”

”No buts,” Mrs. Xie interrupted Qin Mei. ”Hu Wan’er got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, fell, and had a miscarriage. It has nothing to do with you.”

Qin Mei felt that shifting the blame like this was dishonest. ’If I hadn’t knocked Hu Wan’er out in the restroom, she wouldn’t have miscarried. Whether Hu Wan’er would have gotten an abortion later would have been her own business, but right now, this is definitely my responsibility.’

”Xiao Mei, listen to me. I won’t do anything to harm you.” Mrs. Xie gently patted the back of Qin Mei’s hand. ”Even without your involvement, Hu Wan’er would not have carried this child to term. For the sake of her reputation, they won’t publicize the miscarriage.”

Qin Mei fell silent. Aunt Zhang had brought Hu Wan’er to the Jie Family’s home, and her objective was as clear as day.

’Getting pregnant before marriage... Hu Wan’er really is bold. Her mindset is even more progressive than mine.’

If word of Hu Wan’er’s miscarriage got out, who would dare to marry her? Aunt Zhang was counting on her daughter marrying a city dweller, using the marriage to cross class boundaries and change her fate.

Aunt Zhang had her sights set on the Jie Family. The most suitable candidate was Jing Wu, as he was the only one who was unmarried. But from the looks of it, Aunt Zhang wasn’t interested in Jing Wu. Instead, she was after the already-married Jie Jingchen.

Well, this certainly changed things. They could hide the miscarriage from outsiders, but not from the Jie Family. Aunt Zhang’s wishful thinking of marrying her daughter to Jie Jingchen was now hopeless.

Qin Mei knocking Hu Wan’er unconscious in the restroom, which led to the miscarriage, had completely upended all their plans.

”Xiao Mei,” Mrs. Xie called out worriedly. She was genuinely afraid that Qin Mei would ignore her advice and insist on confessing to them.

”Mom, I understand,” Qin Mei said, giving Mrs. Xie a reassuring smile.

Mrs. Xie breathed a sigh of relief and patted the back of Qin Mei’s hand, gratified. ’Thankfully, my daughter-in-law isn’t as stubborn as Jing Si.’ ”Xiao Mei, trust me. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Qin Mei nodded and said gratefully, ”Thank you, Mom. It’s so good to have you here.”

Mrs. Xie smiled happily. She let go of Qin Mei’s hand, but before she could even take a step, the office door was pushed open. A young nurse burst in, saying urgently, ”Director Qiao, someone from the military was brought in... He’s very seriously injured.”

Mrs. Xie didn’t dare hesitate. Leaving Qin Mei behind, she ran out after the young nurse.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Mei followed them.

Outside the emergency room, several soldiers in uniform stood guard, their expressions grave and worried as they stared inside. Besides Mrs. Xie, several other doctors were struggling to save the patient.

However, the patient’s injuries were too severe. One by one, the doctors’ faces filled with helplessness and regret.

”Director Qiao, the injuries are too severe. The spleen and the heart...”

”Take him to the operating room,” Mrs. Xie ordered, her expression grim.

”Director Qiao...” The doctor tried to argue, but a sharp glance from Mrs. Xie cut him short.

”Mom.” Qin Mei squeezed her way through the crowd at the door. The pungent smell of blood made her frown.

Mrs. Xie was startled for a second, then rushed over to Qin Mei and pulled her in front of the patient. ”Xiao Mei, take a look.”

Qin Mei glanced at the patient. He was covered in blood, his breathing was faint, and it was obvious to the naked eye that his injuries were critical.

Qin Mei didn’t hesitate. Wasting time meant missing the golden window for resuscitation. She grabbed the patient’s blood-soaked hand, placed her smooth fingertips on his pulse, and her expression grew heavier, yet she remained remarkably calm and composed.

”How is he?” Mrs. Xie asked anxiously.

Qin Mei didn’t speak. She took a needle pouch from her shoulder bag. ”Mom, cut open the clothes on his chest.”

”Scissors!” Mrs. Xie shouted.

”Director Qiao.” A young nurse at the side handed the scissors to Mrs. Xie.

Mrs. Xie took them and quickly cut open the patient’s shirt, and Qin Mei immediately began applying the needles.

”Director Qiao, who is she?” one of the doctors asked.

”My daughter-in-law. She is well-versed in traditional Chinese medicine.” Mrs. Xie answered quickly, deliberately emphasizing the last few words.

”Director Qiao, do you know who he is?” the doctor reminded her in a low voice.

”In my eyes, there are no identities, only patients,” Mrs. Xie’s voice was sharp.

”Director Qiao, if he dies in our hospital, who will be responsible?” the doctor demanded.

”I will,” Mrs. Xie bit out two words, resolute and commanding.

Qin Mei focused on applying the needles. Listening to that doctor, she found it laughable. ’So if we do nothing and just watch the patient die, the hospital won’t be responsible?’

”The director is here.”

The hospital director, having heard the news, rushed over. He saw an unfamiliar young woman applying needles to the patient while Qiao Yanqiu and several other doctors stood by and watched.

”What’s going on?” the director asked, his expression serious, his authoritative presence radiating a calm composure.

”Director, you’re finally here.” The doctor seized the opportunity to tattle, recounting the patient’s condition and specifically reminding the director that surgery was no longer a viable option. To put it bluntly, he was saying they should just let the patient die, as any attempt at resuscitation or surgery would be useless—it was as good as declaring the patient dead.

Hearing the doctor’s words, the men crowded at the door grew restless. They looked ready to charge in, but one among them held them back.

Qin Mei pulled out the last needle and raised a hand to wipe the thin sheen of sweat from her forehead.

”Xiao Mei,” Mrs. Xie said urgently.

Qin Mei looked at Mrs. Xie and parted her red lips. ”Send him to the operating room.”

Mrs. Xie let out a breath of relief and immediately said in a commanding tone, ”Quick, get him to the operating room.”

”Director, we can’t operate.” The doctor knew Director Qiao wouldn’t listen to him, so he could only place his hopes on the hospital director.

The patient’s identity was special, so the director didn’t dare to be careless. His sharp, cautious gaze locked onto Mrs. Xie. ”Yan Qiu, what are the chances?”

”None,” Mrs. Xie stated bluntly.

Hearing this, the director sucked in a sharp breath. He grabbed Mrs. Xie’s wrist and warned in a low voice, ”Yan Qiu, the patient has a special status. Trying to be a hero will only get you burned.”

”I’ll assist. There’s a thirty percent chance,” Qin Mei spoke up. ’A doctor’s heart is one of compassion. If I hadn’t come across this, it would be one thing, but now that I have, I can’t just stand by and watch.’

”And who are you?” The director exuded a solemn air, his shrewd, sharp eyes fixed on Qin Mei.

”Xiao Mei.” Mrs. Xie was stunned for a moment. ’Well, Qin Mei knows acupuncture,’ she thought. ’Combining traditional and Western medicine couldn’t hurt.’ She immediately nodded in agreement.

Inside the operating room were only Mrs. Xie and Qin Mei. At first, Mrs. Xie was the lead surgeon, but then Qin Mei took over. Watching Qin Mei’s proficient technique, Mrs. Xie was astonished. She was once again shocked by her daughter-in-law, which only strengthened her resolve to have Qin Mei come work at the hospital.

The surgery was a perfect success.

”Xiao Mei,” Mrs. Xie said, shocked and thrilled.

”Mom, you were the lead surgeon. I was your assistant,” Qin Mei reminded her.

Mrs. Xie was speechless. It was clearly Qin Mei who had led the surgery while she had assisted. ”Xiao Mei, why?”

Qin Mei thought for a moment and gave Mrs. Xie an answer that made her want to spit blood. ”My ambitions don’t lie here.”

”Your ambitions don’t lie here? Then why did you study medicine? And both traditional and Western, at that.” Mrs. Xie rolled her eyes ungracefully. Qin Mei’s technique was unconventional yet masterful, bold yet meticulous. Mrs. Xie had to admit that she couldn’t compare.

’My father, grandfather, and grandmother all passed down their finest skills to me—the essence of their knowledge, tempered like steel through countless trials and distilled from experience. They gave it to me directly, saving me from taking any detours.’

Qin Mei gave a bitter smile. ’My life was planned out by them. The path I was to walk was arranged by them. I had no choice. This is the tragedy of an only child. I don’t get to choose; I can only execute their plans.’

”Mom, I just want to live a quiet, ordinary life with Jie Jingchen.” ’Showing my true abilities now would do me more harm than good. I need to lay low and build my strength.’

”Xiao Mei, who are you, really?” Mrs. Xie immediately grew wary. The current situation was too sensitive. For Jing Si’s sake, for the Jie Family’s sake, and for the Qiao Family’s sake, Mrs. Xie couldn’t help but be on her guard.

”Mom, don’t worry. My background is clean. Otherwise, Jie Jingchen would never have married me,” Qin Mei said with a smile, not expecting her words to make her mother-in-law so suspicious.