Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

The expression on Qin Xiang’s face stiffened slightly. He scoffed, ”Tch! Our Qin family is nothing like your Jie Family, with all your damn problems. And each one of you is more difficult and more of a piece of work than the last.”

Jie Jingchen didn’t argue, because what Qin Xiang said was true.

Of all the people to scheme against, they had chosen his brother-in-law, and in such a despicable way. The very thought made him feel too ashamed to face his parents-in-law in Yangcheng City.

In truth, what Qin Mei had done was even more despicable. She had drugged Jie Jingchen. Jie Anqi had only framed Qin Xiang; nothing physical had actually happened between them. But Qin Mei and Jie Jingchen had slept together, forcing him to take responsibility and marry her.

Both were victims, but Qin Xiang had a chance to argue his case. Jie Jingchen hadn’t even had the opportunity to defend himself.

The next day, as dawn broke, Mrs. Xie rode her bicycle home. She casually propped it by the entrance and saw Qin Xiang exercising in the courtyard. Her face still held its elegant smile, but it was tinged with awkwardness. ”Xiao Xiang,” she called out.

Qin Xiang was in the middle of a push-up. Hearing Mrs. Xie’s voice, he paused for a moment, then stopped and stood up. He smiled at her and said, ”Auntie.”

”Exercising?” Mrs. Xie asked with a smile. Seeing him in a tank top, she added, ”The weather in Shijiu City isn’t like back in Yangcheng City. It’s still quite chilly in the early morning. You could catch a cold.”

”It’s fine, Auntie. When I was stationed up north, we’d dress like this to work out in the dorms even when it was snowing outside.” Despite his words, Qin Xiang went inside to grab a shirt and put it on. Seeing Mrs. Xie still standing in the courtyard, he knew she had something to say to him. After putting on the shirt, he walked over to her.

”Xiao Xiang, have a seat.” Mrs. Xie gestured for him to sit down. The two sat at the stone table. Mrs. Xie looked at him, opening her mouth to speak, then hesitating.

”Auntie, if you have something to say, please just come out with it,” Qin Xiang said. ”Besides being Jing Si’s brother-in-law, we’re also comrades.”

”Xiao Xiang... *sigh*.” Mrs. Xie began, her voice full of guilt. ”This whole mess they’ve created... I don’t even know how to begin. Xiao Xiang, I want to apologize to you on their behalf.”

The hospital had been chaotic. When her father-in-law brought An Qi in, she’d had a vague feeling that something was wrong. After treating An Qi’s wound, she ran a blood test on a hunch. She hadn’t expected anything, but the results were a shock: An Qi was pregnant.

An Qi wasn’t married, so for the sake of her reputation, Mrs. Xie hadn’t dared to spread the news. She called over her second sister-in-law and quietly told her. Her sister-in-law, a nurse herself, was shocked. After running the test again and seeing the same result, she gave up any hope of a mistake. She stormed into An Qi’s room and, under her mother’s harsh questioning, An Qi finally confessed the truth, but she absolutely refused to name the baby’s father.

Based on her last period, she was already three months pregnant. This was a private matter for her second brother-in-law’s family. Even though she was the wife of the eldest son, it wasn’t her place to be there, so she left them to handle it.

What shocked her was that after she’d left, An Qi had named the father: none other than Qin Xiang. Jing Si himself had rushed to the hospital to tell her. His Granny and second uncle had even gone to the house to demand that Qin Xiang take responsibility. This, especially Granny’s involvement, made her furious. She had immediately called Jie Jianguo and told him that if he dared to defend his mother and second brother, or help them in their villainy, she would divorce him.

”Auntie, don’t worry. I haven’t let it bother me,” Qin Xiang said with a smile.

Mrs. Xie looked at him. ’For him to not be bothered by something so serious... this young man is truly magnanimous.’ ”Xiao Xiang, leave this matter to your uncle. He will handle it,” she said. ”You came all the way to Shijiu City to visit Xiao Mei, only for this awful mess to happen. It’s ruined your...”

”Auntie.” Qin Xiang cut her off, a sincere smile on his face. ”I’m just really glad you didn’t go along with them. It’s my little sister’s good fortune to have such a reasonable mother-in-law.”

A smile lit up Mrs. Xie’s eyes, though she still looked ashamed. ”You’re Xiao Mei’s brother and Jing Si’s comrade. Even though An Qi is my husband’s niece, I’m well aware of her character. I’ve always sided with what’s right, not with family. How could I possibly join them in something like this? Besides, Jing Si marrying Xiao Mei is our family’s blessing. It’s the kind of good fortune that takes generations to accumulate.”

Mrs. Xie refrained from mentioning that Qin Mei had healed Jing Qi’s leg. To bring it up in front of Qin Mei’s brother would seem too deliberate, as if her affection for Qin Mei stemmed not from her being a daughter-in-law, but from her being a benefactor who had healed Jing Qi. Of course, she would never forget that debt of gratitude just because Qin Mei was now her son’s wife.

She would never, ever forget the kindness Qin Mei had shown them.

”Oh, that’s right, Xiao Xiang. I have you to thank for something, too,” Mrs. Xie said, changing the subject.