Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Daughter-in-law, is my son really alright?” Granny asked Mrs. Xie.

”Mom, if you’re really that worried, why don’t you stay with him tonight,” Mrs. Xie suggested, a smile on her face that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

”Me, stay with him? Then what about you?” Granny asked, pointing to herself in disbelief.

”I’ll go sleep with Jing Qi,” Mrs. Xie replied.

”No,” Mr. Xie protested, earning a cold snort from Mrs. Xie. His whole body ached, and now his scalp was tingling with dread. ”Darling, don’t go bother Jing Qi. I can’t sleep without you.”

Looking at her eldest son, Granny rolled her eyes. ’He’s forgotten his mother now that he has a wife. Ever since he married Qiao Yanqiu, my place in his heart has plummeted.’ ”Let her go sleep with Jing Qi. My son, I’ll stay with you. When you were little and got sick, I was always the one who stayed with you. You’d always kick up a fuss if I wasn’t there. And you...”

”Mom, Mom,” Mr. Xie cut Granny off. ”You’re getting on in years. Taking care of me would be too much for you. You can’t wear yourself out.”

”Our daughter-in-law is a doctor,” Grandpa spoke up. ”She’s more suited to care for our son than you are. Don’t make things more difficult.”

Granny was displeased. ”What a thing to say! What do you mean I’m making things difficult? My son took a fall, and I’m worried sick about him!”

”Our daughter-in-law already said he didn’t break any bones, and he said he’s fine himself. Us standing around here is just getting in their way. Come on, let’s go. The bathwater is ready. You go take your bath,” Grandpa said, forcibly pulling Granny out of the room.

”Jing Wu, go help,” Mr. Xie said to Jie Jingjue.

”Dad, are you asking me to help Granny bathe?” Jie Jingjue looked utterly horrified. ’Helping Grandpa bathe, maybe. But me, a grandson, helping my grandma bathe? Is that even appropriate?’

Mr. Xie glared at Jie Jingjue. ”What nonsense are you spouting? I told you to go help them ladle the bathwater and carry it to the bathroom.”

”Right.” Jie Jingjue held back a laugh, stuck his hands in his pockets, and strode off with his head held high.

”Grandpa, does it hurt a lot? Where does it hurt? Xiao You will blow on it for you,” Jie You said as he climbed onto the bed. He puckered his little lips and gently blew on Mr. Xie’s face.

Watching the little fellow’s childish yet endearing actions, Mr. Xie felt a wave of warmth. ’This grandson really cares about me. I haven’t doted on him for nothing.’ He smiled and patted the boy’s chubby cheek. ”Good boy, Xiao You. Grandpa’s not in pain.”

”Grandpa, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Grandpa, you can scold me, you can hit me,” Jie You said, his little head hung low as he anxiously twisted his fingers.

”Grandpa’s fine, and you didn’t do it on purpose. You’re Grandpa’s precious treasure. How could I ever bring myself to scold you, let alone hit you?” Mr. Xie said, giving Xiao You’s cheek another gentle pinch.

”Really?” Jie You’s eyes lit up, and overjoyed, he moved to throw himself at Mr. Xie.

”Xiao You.” Mrs. Xie reacted instantly and stopped him. ’Although he hasn’t broken any bones, that was still a nasty fall. Xiao You is a bit heavy; he wouldn’t be able to handle a tackle like that.’ ”Second Daughter-in-law Jing, take Xiao You back to his room to rest.”

Xu Chunyan froze. A flicker of malice crossed her eyes and was gone in an instant. ’So that’s how it is,’ she thought. ’Qiao Yanqiu can’t stand to see Father-in-law favoring Xiao You, so she’s doing everything she can to stop them from bonding.’

”Second Daughter-in-law Jing,” Mr. Xie began.

Seeing the serious look on her father-in-law’s face, Xu Chunyan quickly flashed a placating smile at Mrs. Xie and beckoned to Jie You. ”Xiao You, come down now. Don’t disturb Grandpa’s rest. Come back to our room with Mommy to sleep.”

”I don’t want to! I want to sleep with Grandpa!” Jie You whined.

”Xiao You, be a good boy,” Mr. Xie said, his face stern.

Jie You was good at reading the room; he obediently climbed off the bed and walked toward Xu Chunyan.

Xu Chunyan took Jie You’s small hand and said to Mrs. Xie with a smile, ”Aunt Qiao, I’ll take Xiao You back to our room to sleep now. We’ll be counting on you to take care of Dad.”

Mrs. Xie ignored her. Xu Chunyan offered a few more words of concern to Mr. Xie, then led Jie You away.

After everyone had gone, Mrs. Xie helped Mr. Xie lie down. He seized the chance to take her hand. ”Yan Qiu, Chunyan is Jing Er’s wife, and she’s given him a son. Don’t take your anger about the Xu Family out on her.”

”Hmph!” Mrs. Xie snorted in disdain, snatching her hand back. She stared at Mr. Xie, her face cold. ”Jie Jianguo, you really don’t understand me at all. If I were actually angry at her over the Xu Family’s business, do you think she would still be living in this house?”

”I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was my fault. I was being small-minded,” Mr. Xie said with an awkward laugh, lightly slapping his own cheek.

Mrs. Xie glared at him. After a long silence, she finally said, ”You’d better remind her. If she wants to keep living here, she needs to stop stirring up trouble. My patience has its limits.”

’Zhang Hongyan saved my life. I treat her children as my own, which is why I can tolerate Jing Er’s wife. But she shouldn’t test my limits. Otherwise, I won’t let her off lightly.’