Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 208: Chapter 83: What’s with Jie Jingchen?

Xu Chunyan was speechless. ’Is Hu Wan’er young? She’s already twenty-one! In the countryside, people marry early. By rights, Hu Wan’er should have been married long ago, with kids old enough to be running around. But Aunt Zhang was dead set on marrying her off to a city man, so she kept delaying and delaying. Now that Hu Wan’er is twenty-one, she’s finally starting to panic and is desperately looking for a city family for her to marry into.’

’Marrying into the city is one thing, but why set her sights on Jing Si? What kind of status does Jing Si have? Is he someone Hu Wan’er can aspire to marry?’

’Forget the fact that Hu Wan’er is no longer a virgin and has had an abortion. Even if she were a pure, untouched maiden, she would still be unworthy of Jing Si.’ In Xu Chunyan’s opinion, no one was good enough for Jing Si except for Teacher Lin.

”Jing Si is on his second marriage, and Wan’er isn’t a virgin. Neither of them is in a position to be picky about the other. They’re a perfect match,” Aunt Zhang said.

”Aunt Zhang, marriage is about matching social status. Be honest with yourself, can the Hu Family really marry up into the Jie Family?” Xu Chunyan asked.

Aunt Zhang glared at Xu Chunyan, fighting the urge to strangle her.

”I won’t cooperate with you on anyone but Wan’er,” Aunt Zhang threatened. Without her cooperation, it would be wishful thinking for Xu Chunyan to succeed.

”And I won’t cooperate with you on anyone but Teacher Lin.” Xu Chunyan had the same thought; without her cooperation, it would be wishful thinking for Aunt Zhang to succeed.

The two were at a stalemate, neither willing to back down.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! There was a knock on the door.

”Who is it?” the two asked in unison, their wary gazes simultaneously fixed on the bathroom door.

”It’s me,” came Jie Jinghun’s gentle voice.

It wasn’t Jie Jingchen, it wasn’t Qiao Yanqiu, and it certainly wasn’t Qin Mei. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

With an unspoken understanding, they both composed themselves. Xu Chunyan went to open the door. Seeing Jie Jinghun standing outside the bathroom, she offered a small smile. ”Third Brother, what’s up?”

Jie Jinghun’s mouth twitched. ’What would I be doing at the bathroom if I didn’t have business here?’ If he wasn’t about to burst, he really wouldn’t have wanted to disturb them. ”You two have been arguing in here for so long that the happy couple has already made up.”

”What?” Aunt Zhang and Xu Chunyan said in unison. They exchanged a look. ’Have they made up that quickly?’

”Aunt Zhang, please hurry up and come out. I’m desperate,” Jie Jinghun urged.

”Ah! Oh!” Aunt Zhang put down Jie You’s shorts, shook the water from her hands, and stood up to exit the bathroom.

Jie Jinghun rushed into the bathroom and, with a SLAM, shut and locked the door.

”Did they really make up that fast?” Aunt Zhang wondered aloud, her eyes glued to the door of Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei’s room.

Xu Chunyan looked around but couldn’t see Jie Jingchen anywhere. ”Aunt Zhang, you go scout things out.”

”Are you ordering me around?” Aunt Zhang raised an eyebrow, displeased. Because Xu Chunyan looked down on her daughter, there was a rift between them.

To be precise, there were no familial bonds between them; they were merely allies for the sake of a common interest.

”Aunt Zhang, the Xu Family is on bad terms with Jing Si and his wife. If I go near them, they’ll suspect me of having ulterior motives,” Xu Chunyan said helplessly. She knew they couldn’t afford to turn on each other or go their separate ways just because of a disagreement.

”I just had a fight with Qin Mei this morning. You think they *won’t* suspect me of having ulterior motives if I go near them?” Aunt Zhang rolled her eyes so hard they nearly popped out of her head.

”But you’re an elder, after all,” Xu Chunyan tried to persuade her.

”They don’t recognize me as an elder,” Aunt Zhang retorted. She wasn’t a fool; she wouldn’t be persuaded by a few simple words from Xu Chunyan.

”Mom, Grand-aunt, my tummy hurts.” After his bath, Jie You had run to the kitchen looking for a snack. Aunt Zhang had saved a chicken leg for lunch the next day, but Jie You found it. After devouring the whole thing, his stomach felt uncomfortably full.

Aunt Zhang saw the chicken bone still clutched in Jie You’s hand and knew instantly that the little rascal had found and eaten the chicken leg she’d been saving. The boy was the Jie Family’s only grandson for now, and Mr. Xie doted on him, so she didn’t dare get angry or say a word.

Seeing Jie You gave Xu Chunyan an idea. She smiled and beckoned to him. ”Xiao You, come here.”

Jie You ran to Xu Chunyan. ”Mom.”

Xu Chunyan crouched down, wiped the grease from his mouth, took the bone from his hand, and casually tossed it on the floor. ”Xiao You, your tummy hurts, right?”

”Uh-huh,” Jie You nodded.

”Go ask your Fourth Uncle for some medicine. He has something for upset stomachs,” Xu Chunyan coaxed.

”Really?” Jie You asked with a grin. When he saw his mother nod, he happily took off running, shouting, ”Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle!”

”Jie Jingchen, your nephew is calling for you,” Qin Mei yelled toward the bathroom. She was soaking her feet.

Jie Jingchen was in the middle of a shower. He’d heard Jie You’s voice, but it wasn’t like he could just run out and open the door for him. ”Tell him to wait a minute.”

KICK KICK KICK! Jie You kicked the door, shouting, ”Fourth Uncle, open up!”

”Your Fourth Uncle says to wait a minute,” Qin Mei relayed.