Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Yes.” Second Auntie nodded numbly, her eyes fixed on the walking Jing Qi.

’Thank the heavens, fate has been kind to Jing Qi.’ This was out in public, so Second Auntie only dared to repeat this silently in her heart.

Jie Jingchen helped Jing Qi onto a bicycle, and Qin Xiang rode off. Jing Qi gripped Qin Xiang’s clothes tightly with one hand, turning his head to wave at Second Auntie. ”Second Auntie.”

Second Auntie called back in acknowledgment and raised her hand to wave at Jing Qi.

Qin Mei walked over to Jie Jingchen and got on the bicycle. Jie Jingchen called out to Second Auntie, then rode the bike home.

Second Auntie sniffled, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

Back home, Jie Jingshan went to her room, and Qin Mei went to hers as well. Jie Jingchen pulled Qin Xiang into the kitchen.

”Jing Si, I’m a guest,” Qin Xiang said with resignation. He hated going into the kitchen whenever Jing Si was around.

”What’s our relationship? How could I possibly treat you like a guest?” Jie Jingchen tossed an apron to Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang caught it and skillfully tied it around his waist. ”Jing Si, all I want to do is drink tea and enjoy the sun in the courtyard.”

”Dream on.” Jie Jingchen immediately assigned the tasks. ”You handle the dishes, I’ll cook the rice.”

Qin Xiang was not at all happy with this arrangement. ”No way. I’ll cook the rice, you make the other dishes.”

”My cooking isn’t as good as yours.” Jie Jingchen had no talent for cooking; his food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. Qin Xiang, on the other hand, had a natural gift for it, even though he disliked being in the kitchen. No matter what he made, it was always delicious.

”I don’t feel like cooking, even if it turns out delicious.” Qin Xiang picked up a cleaver and gave it an elegant flourish in the air.

”Meimei wants to eat your cooking,” Jie Jingchen said, sitting down in front of the stove to light the fire.

”Jing Si, I don’t mean to criticize, but how have you been taking care of her? My little sister has lost weight under your roof,” Qin Xiang complained. He picked up the ribs Jie Jingchen had bought, washed them, and then deftly chopped them into small pieces. ”What are we cooking with the ribs?”

”Potatoes.” Jie Jingchen got the fire going, washed the wok, and set some water to boil. Then he opened the rice container and scooped two bowls of rice into an enamel basin.

Qin Xiang watched Jie Jingchen wash the rice. ”My little sister doesn’t like potatoes.”

Jie Jingchen’s hands stilled for a moment. Without looking at Qin Xiang, he resumed washing the rice. ”I don’t know if she liked them before, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that now, she loves ribs with potatoes.”

Qin Xiang didn’t argue. He had sensed it too; his sister had changed a great deal since losing her memory. She was like a completely different person.

When Qin Mei came out of the restroom, she saw that the courtyard was empty and headed toward the kitchen.

Qin Mei entered the kitchen and saw the two men bustling about. ”Need any help?” she asked.

”Wash the vegetables,” Qin Xiang said.

”Tend the fire,” Jie Jingchen said.

The two spoke in unison.

”...” Qin Mei lifted her gaze slightly to glance at Jie Jingchen.

’Who am I supposed to listen to? Seriously. I was just asking to be polite, but they actually assigned me a chore. If I wash the vegetables, I’ll offend Jie Jingchen. If I tend the fire, I’ll offend Qin Xiang.’

Qin Xiang shot Jie Jingchen a cold glare. ”You’re burning coal; you don’t need anyone to tend the fire. Little Sis, come help me wash vegetables.”

”I’ll peel the potatoes.” Between washing vegetables and tending the fire, Qin Mei chose to peel potatoes.

”Little Sis, don’t peel the potatoes. It’s easy to cut yourself. Washing vegetables is safer,” Qin Xiang urged.

Qin Mei rolled her eyes. ’Who is he looking down on? My hand doesn’t even shake when I’m holding a scalpel, and he thinks I’m going to cut myself peeling a potato? What a joke.’

”Jing Si’s wife!” Granny shouted for Qin Mei the moment she stepped over the threshold.

Hearing Granny call for Qin Mei, Jie Jingchen’s expression darkened, a fierce look flashing across his face. He put down the spatula and said to Qin Xiang, ”Qin Xiang, watch the rice. I’m going to go check on this.”

”She’s calling for me, why are you going?” Qin Mei stopped Jie Jingchen, her brow furrowed. ”I’ll go.”

Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at Qin Mei. ”Whatever she wants, just ignore her.”

”Don’t worry, I’m not stupid,” Qin Mei said with a small smile.

”Not even if she offers you money,” Jie Jingchen reminded her seriously. ’Qin Mei loves money too much; she can’t resist its temptation.’

Qin Mei didn’t like the sound of that. ’He makes it sound like I’d sell my own soul for money.’

”I know,” Qin Mei replied, her tone a bit dismissive.

Qin Mei walked into the courtyard and saw Granny panting for breath. Behind her stood Grandpa and Jie Anlin.

Jie Anlin was holding several packets of Chinese medicine. Qin Mei was confused. They’d gotten the prescription filled, but instead of going home to brew the medicine, they had brought Jie Anlin back here. ’What is Granny up to?’

”Granny, I’m dying of thirst,” Jie Anlin said, placing the medicine packets on the stone table and plopping down onto a stone stool.

”Old man, hurry and get An Lin some water.” Granny clearly doted on her grandson, her gaze full of indulgence as she looked at Jie Anlin.

Grandpa hadn’t even had a chance to rest before Granny was ordering him to get water for their grandson. Remembering that this was their eldest son’s house and that An Lin wouldn’t know his way around, Grandpa headed for the room where he and Granny were staying.

A glint flashed in Qin Mei’s eyes. Granny hadn’t asked *her* to get the water. Casting a cold glance at the packets of medicine on the table, she turned to leave.

”Jing Si’s wife!” Granny, seeing Qin Mei turn away, immediately called out to stop her.

The corner of Qin Mei’s eyebrow twitched. She stopped walking but didn’t turn around, keeping her back to Granny and waiting silently for her to continue.

”Jing Si’s wife, we’ve brought the medicine back. Go brew it for your cousin,” Granny said, her tone commanding.

’Just as I expected.’ Qin Mei let out a contemptuous sneer and refused outright. ”I won’t.”

Granny was stunned. She hadn’t expected Qin Mei to disrespect her so brazenly, and her expression immediately soured. ”You took our money, so you’re responsible for brewing the medicine.”

Qin Mei’s eyes swept over them as she spoke coolly. ”I accepted payment for the prescription, not for brewing the medicine.”

Granny was speechless for a moment. Then, she decided to be difficult. ”I don’t care. You took our money, so you have to brew the medicine for us.”

Qin Mei sneered, turning to fix Granny with a sharp gaze. ”Fine. You want me to brew it? Give me one hundred yuan, and I will.”

”One hundred?” Granny gasped, digging a finger in her ear as if she’d misheard. ”Jing Si’s wife, is money all you think about?”

’A hundred just for opening her mouth. The prescription was a hundred, and now brewing it is another hundred. Does she think money is that easy to come by?’

”Jing Si’s wife, this isn’t right,” Jie Anlin couldn’t help but interject. ”We’re all family, after all. You charged me for a consultation, and we tolerated it. You made us go buy the medicine ourselves, and we tolerated that, too. But now you’re demanding more money just to brew it? That’s going too far.”

’A hundred yuan was two months’ salary for him. For that price, he might as well brew it himself.’

”Exactly! Jing Si’s wife, this is just shameless. We’re supposed to be family!” Granny chimed in.

Qin Mei glanced at them with contempt, her attitude utterly cold. ”I am not my mother-in-law, someone you can just exploit. With me, it’s simple: if you want my help, you pay. If you’re unwilling to pay, then find someone more capable.”

Jie Anlin started to argue, but Granny stopped him. Qin Mei had cured Jing Qi’s leg, so Granny firmly believed she could also cure An Lin’s private ailment. For An Lin’s sake, they had to endure this. They absolutely could not burn their bridges with Qin Mei.

Granny was starting to understand. Jing Si treasured Qin Mei, and Qiao Yanqiu protected her, too. As long as those two were in her corner, she couldn’t just demand whatever she wanted from Qin Mei. Besides, Qin Mei didn’t have the kind of personality that let others walk all over her.

”Little Sis,” Qin Xiang’s voice called out.

Qin Mei ignored them and strode back toward the kitchen.

”Jing Si, what is your grandmother thinking? Why does she insist on my sister brewing medicine for them?” Qin Xiang’s eyes were filled with anger. ”Forget that you’ve already split from the main family; even if you hadn’t, my sister would have no obligation to do that for them.”

Helping them is a kindness, not a duty.

A dark cloud settled over Jie Jingchen’s features. He looked at the furious Qin Xiang without saying a word. When Qin Mei returned to the kitchen, Jie Jingchen put the rice in the pot and handed her the spatula. ”Meimei, watch the pot. I’m stepping out for a moment.”

Qin Mei froze, watching Jie Jingchen walk out of the kitchen. She looked down at the spatula in her hand, then at the pot. ’Did he just hand the task of cooking the rice over to me?’

’But I don’t know how to cook rice this way!’

”Big Brother,” Qin Mei said, looking pleadingly at Qin Xiang, who was busy chopping vegetables.