Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Jing Chen, Qin Mei, Jing Qi, are you ready? I’m back to pick you up for dinner at the state-run restaurant. Granny and Grandpa are treating.”

”Qin Mei, you guys go ahead and get in the car. I’ll go get Jing Qi.” Jie Jingchen stood up and walked toward Jing Qi’s room.

”Let’s go, Brother.” Qin Mei stood and led Qin Xiang toward the courtyard gate. She didn’t lock the door, as Jie Jingchen was right behind them and would do it.

”Sister-in-law.” Seeing Qin Mei come out, Jie Jingjue opened his car door, got out from the driver’s seat, and opened the rear door. He waited for Qin Mei and Qin Xiang to get in before closing it and returning to the driver’s seat.

Only after getting into the car did Qin Mei make the introductions. ”Jing Wu, this is my little brother, Qin Xiang. Brother, this is Jie Jingjue, Jie Jingchen’s younger brother.”

”Brother Xiang,” Jie Jingjue said.

”I know of you. Jing Si told me about you,” Qin Xiang said with a smile.

”Really?” Jie Jingjue was a little surprised, smiling as he looked at Qin Xiang. ”My brother must have said plenty of bad things about me to you.”

”He certainly didn’t hold back,” Qin Xiang chuckled, then added, ”Jing Si is quite disappointed in you.”

”...” Qin Mei really wanted to ask Qin Xiang, ’Are you sure you’re not just trying to stir up trouble between the brothers?’

Jie Jingjue was also speechless. ’Did he have to be so honest?’

Jie Jingchen came out supporting Jing Qi. Jie Jingjue, ever observant, quickly got out of the car and went to help her. ”Jing Qi, I drove. Should we put the wheelchair in the car?”

”No need.” Jie Jingshan shook her head. ”I want to walk more.”

”Jing Qi, don’t push yourself. Qin Mei said you need to balance exertion and rest.” When it came to Jing Qi, Jie Jingjue remembered every little detail.

”I can do it.” Jie Jingshan pushed away Jie Jingjue’s supporting arm and took a step toward the car.

Jie Jingjue jumped in alarm and quickly steadied her, opening the car door and helping her get seated.

Jie Jingchen locked the courtyard gate and sat in the front passenger seat. Jie Jingjue started driving toward the state-run restaurant.

At the state-run restaurant, Jie Jingjue parked the car. Everyone got out. Jie Jingjue supported Jie Jingshan, Jie Jingchen held Qin Mei’s hand, and Qin Xiang walked behind them.

”Xiao Xiangzi, over here!” Granny waved enthusiastically at Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang walked behind Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei, his face darkening. ’Can’t she just stop calling me Xiao Xiangzi?’

Qin Xiang pretended not to hear, but Granny was persistent. She stood up and walked enthusiastically toward him. ”Xiao Xiangzi.”

”Granny,” Qin Xiang replied, bracing himself. Jie Jingchen had said Granny’s target was him. She hadn’t even done anything yet—just called him Xiao Xiangzi—but it was already making his skin crawl. ’I regret coming. I’m not eating. I want to go home.’

Granny and Grandpa were hosting the meal. Mr. and Mrs. Xie weren’t there, nor were Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing. Xu Chunyan and Jie You were present, as was Jie Anlin, and a young woman Qin Mei had never seen before.

Granny was a master planner. She pulled Qin Xiang down to sit next to her. Jie Jingjue helped Jing Qi get seated, and Qin Mei sat beside Jie Jingchen. Looking at the shy-faced young woman sitting next to Qin Xiang, she asked in a low voice, ”Who is that young lady?”

”Second Uncle’s younger daughter, Jie Anqi,” Jie Jingchen replied softly.

”Oh,” Qin Mei murmured, asking no more questions. Granny was pulling Qin Xiang into a conversation, asking him about this and that.

Just as Qin Mei expected, there was no grand feast, only simple fare. Qin Mei’s pork rib noodles had been swapped for pork rib fried rice, Jing Qi had dumplings, and Qin Xiang wasn’t a picky eater—he’d eat whatever was put in front of him.

After dinner, everyone left the state-run restaurant. Jie Anlin gave Jie Anqi a ride back to the machinery factory on his bicycle. Jie Jingjue drove off, first taking Grandpa, Granny, Xu Chunyan, and Jie You home, with plans to come back for Jie Jingchen and the others afterward.

”Jie Jingchen, didn’t you say your granny’s invitation had an ulterior motive? It seemed pretty straightforward to me.” Qin Mei reached out and poked Jie Jingchen’s chest. The entire dinner had been calm and uneventful from start to finish.

Jie Jingchen patted Qin Mei’s head, smiling without a word.

”What about you?” Jie Jingchen looked at Qin Xiang.

”I just felt like your granny was a little too enthusiastic toward me.” Qin Xiang hadn’t noticed anything fishy either. Granny’s questions had all been normal pleasantries.

Jie Jingchen fell silent. ’Was Granny just too old and cunning, or were this brother and sister pair just too naive?’

’It was so obvious, yet they completely missed it. With Jie Anqi’s appearance, Granny’s objective should have been crystal clear.’

”An Qi is twenty this year,” Jie Jingshan pointed out. Seeing Qin Mei’s still-confused expression, Jie Jingshan added, ”And she isn’t married yet.”

Qin Mei froze for a second, then realization dawned. She blurted out, ”Matchmaking.”

’This wasn’t a welcome dinner; it was clearly a matchmaking dinner.’

”No way.” Qin Xiang finally caught on, too. He thought back to the dinner, how Granny had made a point of introducing him to Jie Anqi. She had even asked him what he thought of her. What had he answered? He couldn’t remember.