Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Qin Mei’s problem wasn’t whose bike it was, but that both were high-bar roadsters. She had a hard enough time just getting on one, let alone riding it.

”Sis.” Seeing Qin Mei wasn’t responding, Qin Xiang waved a hand in front of her face. ”Sis.”

”What is it?” Qin Mei raised an eyebrow at Qin Xiang.

”What are you spacing out for? Pick one, and I’ll teach you.” Qin Xiang pulled his hand back, pointing at the two bicycles.

Qin Mei looked at the two roadsters before her. ’They’re identical. Is there any point in choosing?’

Yes, there was. One was Jie Jingwei’s bike, and if Xu Chunyan saw her on it, she would surely drag her right off.

”Brother, are these bikes suitable for me to learn on?” Qin Mei asked.

Qin Xiang stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. A man’s bike really wasn’t suitable. If she took a nasty fall, he’d feel guilty, and Jing Si would have his hide. ”Forget it. No practice today. I’ll go buy you a bike that’s right for you.”

Qin Mei didn’t object. ”I’ll go get you the money.”

”What money? Your brother has money. It’s my treat,” Qin Xiang declared magnanimously. Then, he rubbed the back of his head and asked a bit sheepishly, ”Sis, do you have a bicycle ticket?”

He had money, but no ticket.

”I do.” Qin Mei remembered that there was a bicycle ticket among the stack of coupons her granny had given her.

Qin Mei went inside, found the bicycle ticket, and gave it to Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang was a man of action. He took the ticket and immediately dashed out to buy the bike. He didn’t ask Qin Mei to come along, knowing she’d be worried about leaving Jing Qi at home by himself.

With Qin Xiang out buying the bicycle, Qin Mei was in the courtyard refining medicine while Jing Qi studied in the house.

Around noon, Qin Xiang returned, riding a brand-new bicycle. He called Qin Mei over to take a look and asked if she liked it. Absorbed in her medicine-refining, Qin Mei gave a noncommittal response. Qin Xiang didn’t get angry. Seeing how focused she was, he parked the bike to the side and went into the kitchen to make lunch.

When Qin Mei judged the heat to be just right, she put out the fire. She waited for the concoction in the pot to cool and solidify, after which she would roll it into small pills.

Qin Mei stretched languidly. The new bicycle in the distance caught the corner of her eye. With a flicker in her gaze, she stood up and walked over to it. It was a Phoenix-brand ladies’ model. ’Pretty nice.’

Qin Mei couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it when Qin Xiang’s voice came from behind her. ”Like it?”

”I like it.” Qin Mei’s smile was a bit strained. She much preferred four wheels. She only knew how to drive, not how to ride.

”Time to eat. I’ll teach you after we finish.” Qin Xiang was in a hurry. He wanted to complete the task Jie Jingchen had given him as soon as possible.

”Okay, I’ll go get Jing Qi.” Qin Mei nodded, but before she could call him, Jing Qi came out of the house.

With only the three of them in the sprawling courtyard, it felt unusually quiet.

After lunch, Jing Qi went back to his room, Qin Xiang washed the dishes, and Qin Mei sat in the courtyard, rolling the solidified medicine into individual pills and placing them in a flat basket to dry in the sun.

Just as Qin Xiang came out after finishing the dishes, Qin Mei rolled the last pill.

”What kind of medicine is this?” Qin Xiang asked.

”A panacea,” Qin Mei replied offhandedly.

The corner of Qin Xiang’s mouth twitched. He gave Qin Mei a complicated, sidelong glance. ’Can this stuff really cure anything?’ ”Seriously? How about you give me a few?”

”You can have them all,” Qin Mei offered generously. ’I refined this medicine for him anyway. I don’t know when he is supposed to die, and I have no idea if I can change his fate. Making extra for him to carry is just being prepared. It might just save his life at a critical moment.’

Qin Xiang froze, stunned. He’d only said it offhandedly, but she had taken him seriously. Seeing her earnest expression, he made up his mind on the spot: even if it were poison, he would take anything his sister gave him without a second thought. ”Thanks.”

Qin Xiang taught patiently, and Qin Mei learned diligently. They started with him holding the bike, then he let go, and soon Qin Mei could ride in a straight line without toppling over. The only problem was turning. She just couldn’t get the hang of it. She would ride the full length of the courtyard, only to fall off the bike every time she tried to make a turn.

Qin Xiang was a strict teacher. He’d watch her fall and wouldn’t rush to help, simply telling her to get back on and keep trying. After all, no one learns to ride a bike without a few tumbles.

Over at the Machinery Factory, chaos erupted in the courtyard assigned to Jie Jianguo. Shouts, sobs, and curses echoed without end.

”Jie Jianguo, you unfilial son! How could you be so cruel? An Qi is your own niece! You sent her to Xiangjiang—to a mental hospital, of all places! Are you trying to ruin her? To destroy her entire life?” In the main hall, Granny pounded her fists against Jie Jianguo. Her eldest son was infuriating her to death.

He had waited until An Qi was already gone to tell them. How could he make such a rash, arbitrary decision about something so important without even consulting them? It was infuriating.