Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

She needed a favor from Qin Mei, so she had to swallow her rage. For An Lin’s sake, she couldn’t lose her temper. Qin Mei was the only hope of curing him.

”Your grandpa and I don’t have that much money on us,” Granny said.

”Granny, you can write an IOU,” Jie Jingchen reminded her.

”An IOU?” Granny thought she must have misheard, cleaning out her ear. ”Jing Si, what did you just say? I didn’t quite catch that.”

”You can write an IOU,” Jie Jingchen repeated. ’Granny was a total skinflint when it came to them. All the money his mother gave her and Grandpa went to subsidizing his second uncle’s family. She especially doted on her grandson, Jie Anlin, granting his every wish.’

’Jie Jingchen knew exactly what kind of person Jie Anlin was. When it came to taking money from their elders, Jing Wu had principles, but Jie Anlin had none. He was a leech, sucking Granny dry. Every penny she saved, Jie Anlin squandered.’

”Jing Si, how could you make Granny write an IOU for you?” Jie Anlin demanded.

’Hearing Jie Anlin speak up for her, Granny felt a surge of gratification. She hadn’t spoiled this grandson for nothing; he would always protect her.’

”Fine, no IOU then. Just give us the cash,” Jie Jingchen sneered, his icy gaze fixed on Jie Anlin.

”Granny is our elder! How dare you ask an elder for money?” Jie Anlin demanded again.

Jie Jingchen’s expression was frosty, a mocking smile playing on his lips. ”My mom has given Granny plenty of money. Why would she be broke?”

A guilty look flashed across Jie Anlin’s face, and he didn’t dare to meet Jie Jingchen’s gaze.

”It’s my money. I’ll spend it on whoever I please, and it’s none of your business,” Granny said, aggressively defending her grandson.

’Hearing Granny’s words, Jie Anlin was instantly emboldened. He lifted his head, puffed out his chest, and stared at Jie Jingchen. He was older than Jie Jingchen, after all. Now that Jie Jingchen was out of the army and stuck working at some machinery plant, there was no reason to be afraid of him anymore.’

”And who gave you that money?” Jie Jingchen asked coldly.

”Your mother gave it to me. She’s the Jie Family’s eldest daughter-in-law. It’s her duty to be filial to her in-laws. If she’s not going to be here to take care of us, then she has to give us money. If you don’t provide the labor, you provide the cash. She can’t just provide neither; she wouldn’t have a leg to stand on,” Granny said imperiously.

Jie Jingchen fell silent. Qin Xiang was flabbergasted. ’Is this woman really Jing Si’s grandmother?’ he wondered. ’Thinking back to his own grandparents... The comparison is just brutal.’

’In their family, the elders doted on the younger generation. Qin Xiang hated the atmosphere in the Jie household. His little sister was the apple of their family’s eye; a toxic environment like this wasn’t right for her. Suddenly, a thought surfaced in his mind: he should make his sister divorce Jing Si and take her home.’

A faint, mocking light flickered in Qin Mei’s eyes. Her tone was placid as she spoke. ”’How a mother-in-law treats her daughter-in-law is how she will be treated in turn.’ A good daughter-in-law only comes from a good mother-in-law. If you haven’t shown any kindness yourself, what right do you have to demand filial piety? Granny, ask yourself honestly, have you been a good mother-in-law?”

’Qin Xiang was stunned for a second before a new thought struck him. His sister may have lost her memories, but she hadn’t lost her wits.’

’His worrying was pointless. He should be more concerned about her bullying others, not the other way around. Who could possibly bully her? It would be a miracle if she *didn’t* fight back when provoked.’

’Granny froze. She had never been particularly kind to any of her daughters-in-law. In her mind, once a woman married into the family, her only purposes were to produce heirs and serve her.’

”Granny, have you been a good mother-in-law?” Jie Jingchen echoed Qin Mei, pressing the question.

’Granny felt like they had her backed into a corner, but she didn’t dare show her anger. She had to endure it for An Lin’s sake. Once Qin Mei cured An Lin’s... condition, it wouldn’t be too late to deal with them.’

”Old man, write the IOU,” Granny relented.

”Grandpa, write ten of them,” Jie Jingchen reminded him.

”Ten yuan each?” Grandpa asked Granny. ’The eldest son had given a meeting gift of one thousand yuan. It was only reasonable for them, as the grandparents, to give a hundred in return.’

’A hundred yuan was doable; he had two hundred on him right now in ten-yuan bills.’

”One hundred each,” Jie Jingchen cut in.

”One hundred each? Ten IOUs would be a thousand!” Granny gasped. ”Jing Si, why don’t you just go rob a bank?”

”Fine, if you won’t give it, then forget it. It’s not like we’re desperate for it. It’s just a shame my wife won’t be able to cure my cousin’s... condition,” Jie Jingchen said, putting an arm around Qin Mei and making a show of turning to leave.

”Are you threatening me?” Granny was losing her mind.

”Yes, I am,” Jie Jingchen admitted without hesitation.

Granny gritted her teeth and snapped at Grandpa, ”Write.”

Grandpa always did as Granny said, and this time was no exception. He went into the house and came back out with a pen and paper. He sat down on a stone stool and began writing on the stone table.

After the ten IOUs for one hundred yuan each were written out, Granny pressed her thumbprint on them and handed them to Jie Jingchen. ”Satisfied?”

”Thank you, Granny and Grandpa, for my wife’s meeting gift. You really outdid yourselves. Going straight to a thousand yuan—Granny, you’re so generous.” Jie Jingchen took the IOUs and slipped them into his pocket.