Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Meimei, you’re wronging me,” Jie Jingchen said, his face darkening. ”You can’t just falsely accuse someone like that.”

”If your feelings for each other aren’t mutual, then why are you so reluctant to see her get together with your second brother?” Qin Mei pressed aggressively.

”It’s because I don’t want to interact with her, and I especially don’t want to use my charms on her. Meimei, you’re the only one I’m willing to use my charms on,” Jie Jingchen said, desperate to prove his loyalty, his deep eyes brimming with affection.

”This won’t work without your ’handsome man’ act. Without the bait, how will the fish take the hook?” Qin Mei said, smiling at Jie Jingchen. ’If he’s not there, why would Lin Yaru bother drugging anyone?’

Through a combination of coaxing, threats, and temptations, Qin Mei finally managed to persuade Jie Jingchen.

”Give it to me,” Jie Jingchen relented.

”Give you what?” Qin Mei asked, looking blankly at Jie Jingchen’s outstretched palm.

”The drug,” Jie Jingchen said, his face cold. ’Drugging someone is a despicable act, but to make my woman happy, I’ll do it no matter how much I despise it.’

Qin Mei slapped Jie Jingchen’s palm. ”I don’t have any drug.”

”You don’t have a drug? Then how am I supposed to drug them?” Jie Jingchen raised an eyebrow. ’I have a feeling she’s just playing with me.’

”Who told you to drug them?” Qin Mei retorted, then explained, ”All you have to do is secretly switch the food Lin Yaru gives you with your second brother’s. Then you just take Xiao You and leave. The rest can be left to your second sister-in-law.”

”It’s that simple?” Jie Jingchen asked doubtfully.

”Yes, it’s that simple,” Qin Mei nodded.

Jie Jianguo hadn’t gotten off work yet, so Mrs. Xie went to the machinery factory to find him. Later, when Jie Jingjue finished his shift, Jing Qi secretly told him something.

”Fifth Brother, Mom’s treating us to dinner at the state-run restaurant tonight.”

Jie Jingjue glanced toward the kitchen and was surprised to see Lin Yaru cooking. He lowered his voice and asked, ”Second Brother is back. Is he going?”

”Second Brother isn’t going, and neither is Fourth Brother,” Jing Qi replied in a low voice.

”Why not?” Jie Jingjue was confused. He could understand why Second Brother wasn’t going, but he couldn’t understand why Fourth Brother wouldn’t. ’Could it be that Fourth Sister-in-law isn’t going either?’ ”Is Fourth Sister-in-law going?”

”She is,” Jing Qi answered.

Jie Jingjue was baffled. ’Is there some special arrangement? Everyone knows how Lin Yaru feels about Fourth Brother. Leaving Fourth Brother at home but taking Fourth Sister-in-law to dinner... what on earth is Mom planning?’

”Jing Qi,” Jie Jingjue started, wanting to ask for a clearer explanation, but Jing Qi was already pulling him toward the main gate. ”Let’s go, let’s go! Stop dawdling. Fourth Sister-in-law and her younger brother have already gone ahead.”

Jing Qi had trouble with her leg, so Jie Jingjue had no choice but to go along with her.

Jie Jingchen stood outside a window, his expression somber. His amber eyes were chillingly cold.

Mrs. Xie had invited everyone to dinner and even specifically asked Lin Yaru if she wanted to come along to thank her for taking care of Xiao You. Lin Yaru was about to agree, but then she heard Mrs. Xie mention with regret that Jie Jingchen had a sudden stomachache and wouldn’t be able to join them at the state-run restaurant.

Lin Yaru instantly felt that this was a heaven-sent, golden opportunity and decisively turned down the invitation.

The reason Mrs. Xie gave for the dinner was to welcome Qin Xiang. Although Jie Jingchen couldn’t make it, Qin Mei, as Qin Xiang’s sister, couldn’t be absent from her own younger brother’s welcoming meal.

Jing Er had just returned from a business trip and was exhausted, so they didn’t disturb him, letting him rest. As for Jie You, Lin Yaru told him not to go, and since he was very obedient to her, he stayed behind.

Now, only Jie Jingwei, Jie Jingchen, Jie You, and Lin Yaru were left in the house.

Once the food was ready, Lin Yaru set the bowls and chopsticks in the main hall. There were three meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a simple rice-water soup. Lin Yaru looked at her masterpiece with satisfaction. ”Xiao You.”

Hearing Lin Yaru call him, Jie You, who had been playing in the courtyard, ran into the main hall. His eyes lit up at the sight of the dishes on the table. Without even checking if his hands were dirty, he reached out, grabbed a piece of half-fatty, half-lean braised pork from a bowl, and popped it into his mouth. ”Yummy! Teacher Lin, this braised pork you made is delicious!”

”Really? Then you should eat more in a bit. Xiao You, go to your Fourth Uncle’s room and call him for dinner,” Lin Yaru said, stroking the little boy’s head.

”Okay!” The little boy was overjoyed. He ran gleefully toward Jie Jingchen’s room, shouting as he went, ”Fourth Uncle, time for dinner! Teacher Lin made braised pork, it smells so good! It’s super yummy, Fourth Uncle!”

Jie Jingchen opened the door and came out, letting Jie You pull him toward the main hall.

”Teacher Lin, my Fourth Uncle is here! Can we eat now?” Jie You let go of Jie Jingchen’s hand and was about to plop down onto a stool.

Seeing this, Lin Yaru’s heart skipped a beat. ’Oh no,’ she thought. She rushed forward and lifted Jie You off the stool. Goodness, he was heavy; she could barely lift him. ”Xiao You, you can’t sit here. This is your Fourth Uncle’s seat. Be good and sit next to me, so I can serve you food.”

Jie You didn’t make a fuss. To him, as long as there was good food, it didn’t matter where he sat.

Jie You sat down, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and started eating.

”Jing Si, sit down and eat. Come try my cooking,” Lin Yaru said, welcoming Jie Jingchen as if she were the lady of the house.

Jie Jingchen was inwardly scornful. ’If I hadn’t promised Qin Mei I’d cooperate, I would never be eating a meal with her.’

Jie Jingchen looked at Lin Yaru’s beaming smile and found it jarring. Remembering Qin Mei’s warning, he calmly sat down and picked up his bowl and chopsticks. Seeing this, Lin Yaru’s heart began to race, pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat.

As if he had suddenly remembered something, Jie Jingchen put down his bowl and chopsticks. ”Didn’t Second Brother get back from his trip? I’ll go get him for dinner.”

”Jing Si,” Lin Yaru called out, stopping him. She said urgently, ”You and Xiao You eat first. I’ll go get him.”

Afraid Jie Jingchen would beat her to it, Lin Yaru quickly hurried out of the main hall, also hoping to use the moment to calm her flustered heart. The instant she was gone, Jie Jingchen swiftly swapped his rice bowl with the one beside it, and his chopsticks with the pair that had been laid out next to Xiao You.

He moved so quickly that Xiao You barely registered it. He saw his Fourth Uncle do something, but he didn’t understand what it was.

Lin Yaru had just reached Jie Jingwei’s room and was about to knock when she suddenly realized what she was doing. ’Look at me, what am I doing?’

’I’m not Jing Er’s wife. For an unmarried woman like me to call him for dinner... my god! What will Jing Si think of me?’

Full of regret, Lin Yaru turned and went back to the main hall. She said to Jie Jingchen with extreme embarrassment, ”Jing Si, you should go get him. It’s not appropriate for me to do it.”

Jie Jingchen mirrored Jie You, picking up pieces from the same serving dishes. He then said to the boy, ”Xiao You, go get your dad for dinner.”

’For safety’s sake, I can’t let my own bowl and chopsticks out of my sight—not even for a second, let alone put them down to go get Second Brother.’

Jie You was very obedient. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, hopped off his stool, and ran to his room to call Jie Jingwei for dinner.

Jie Jingwei was hungry anyway, so when his son called him for dinner, he woke up immediately. He followed his son to the main hall and was shocked to see Jing Si there. ”Jing Si, what are you doing here?” he asked, his eyes wide.

Jie Jingchen didn’t answer, just kept eating. Worried that Xiao You might say the wrong thing, Lin Yaru quickly explained, ”Aunt Qiao is treating everyone to dinner, but Jing Si had a stomachache, so he didn’t go.”

”Aunt Qiao is treating?” Jie Jingwei was surprised. He looked at Jie Jingchen, his brow furrowing. ”Why didn’t anyone call me?”

Jie Jingchen gave Jie Jingwei a sidelong glance and said flatly, ”You were sleeping.”

This only soured Jie Jingwei’s mood further. ”I was sleeping, but you could have woken me up.”

’Aunt Qiao is so biased.’ Because Jie Jingchen was there, Jie Jingwei held back his curses. He silently sat down, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat.

No one spoke any further, and they all ate in silence. Lin Yaru secretly observed Jie Jingchen. Seeing that he didn’t seem to have his guard up around her, she was blooming with joy inside.

’He must still have feelings for me,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, there’s no way he’d be eating the food I made so happily.’

After Jie Jingchen finished one bowl of rice, Lin Yaru offered to get him another serving, but he refused. Citing his upset stomach, he had Jie You help him back to his room to rest.

Lin Yaru watched them leave, her heart filled with anticipation.