Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Half an hour later, the bicycle was gone from where they had parked it. Qin Mei was dumbfounded—the bike had been stolen again.

Qin Xiang slapped his forehead. He felt like they were being taunted. ’How dare they steal his bicycle? They must have a death wish.’

He was furious, but also embarrassed. ’If word of this got back to his unit, he’d be laughed to death.’

”What should we do?” Qin Xiang asked Qin Mei. The bicycle belonged to Jie Jingjue.

”Report it?” Qin Mei asked in return. Even if they did, the chances of getting it back were almost zero. The bike she and Jie Jingchen had lost at the hospital was reported, but it was like a stone dropped into the ocean—gone without a trace.

”Report it?” Qin Xiang agonized for a few seconds before slumping his head and saying to Qin Mei, ”I can’t afford the embarrassment of going to the police to report it.”

”Losing a bike isn’t embarrassing. Stealing is what’s shameful,” Qin Mei said, reaching out to pat Qin Xiang’s shoulder.

Since Qin Xiang was insistent, Qin Mei didn’t press the issue. Chalking it up to bad luck, the two of them started walking home.

Qin Xiang accompanied Qin Mei as they walked, stopping frequently. Eventually, Qin Mei was too exhausted to go on. She sat down on the curb, massaging her aching legs.

”Meimei,” Jie Jingchen said, stopping his bicycle in front of them.

Qin Mei looked up at Jie Jingchen. His tall, imposing figure blocked the sun. His face was exquisitely handsome, almost demonic in its beauty, and his smile was utterly captivating.

His amber eyes were especially deep, and the affection that unintentionally showed in them was both charming and lethal.

”Off work?” Qin Mei asked.

”Yeah, I’m off,” Jie Jingchen nodded.

Qin Mei was a little confused as to why Jie Jingchen was getting off work so long after the evening rush hour, but it wasn’t important. She had a feeling that his job at the machinery factory was just him ”experiencing life.”

”I can’t walk anymore,” Qin Mei said, holding her hand out to Jie Jingchen.

Jie Jingchen took her hand firmly and pulled her up. Once Qin Mei was seated securely on the back, he rode off on the bicycle.

Qin Xiang stood there, stunned. Jing Si had left with his little sister. What about him?

”Where did you and Qin Xiang go?” Jie Jingchen asked curiously.

Qin Mei wrapped her arms around his firm waist, pressing her face against his back. ”The black market.”

”To buy medicine?” Jie Jingchen asked. If Qin Mei went to the black market, it would only be to buy herbs. ”You didn’t get any?”

Qin Mei thought for a moment, then told him everything that had happened. After listening, Jie Jingchen said nothing.

”Jie Jingsi, do you have a bicycle coupon?” Qin Mei asked. They had lost Jie Jingjue’s bike, so they had to buy him a new one as a replacement.

”Not at the moment.” Jie Jingchen shook his head. He really didn’t have any bicycle coupons on hand, but if Qin Mei needed one, he would find a way.

Qin Mei pressed her lips together and didn’t speak. Bicycle coupons were very hard to come by. Qin Mei’s first thought was to find Second Auntie and have her get one at a high price.

”The bicycle coupon, I’ll figure something out.” It was as if Jie Jingchen had guessed what Qin Mei was thinking.

Qin Mei froze. ’Is this man a mind-reader?’

If Jie Jingchen wanted to figure it out, she’d let him. She was happy to take it easy.

When they got home, Qin Mei was exhausted from all the walking and went to her room to rest. Jie Jingchen went to the kitchen to cook.

As soon as Jie Jingchen stepped into the kitchen, he smelled the aroma of cooked food wafting from the cupboard. He walked over, opened it, and found a large bowl filled to the brim with food. Jie Jingchen was deeply moved. ’My wife is so good to me,’ he thought, ’she even saved me some food.’

It wasn’t the delicious food that made his mouth water, but the touching thoughtfulness of his wife.

To repay his wife, Jie Jingchen decided to stir-fry some shredded potatoes for her. The large bowl of food was already enough for the few of them to eat.

”Fourth Brother,” Jie Jingjue called out, standing at the kitchen door.

”What’s up?” Jie Jingchen was in a wonderful mood, so his tone with Jie Jingjue was much gentler than usual.

”I’m going to take the car to Dad,” Jie Jingjue said, jingling the car keys in his hand.

”Are you coming home for dinner?” Jie Jingchen asked.

Jie Jingjue was flattered by the unexpected concern. It was rare for his fourth brother to show he cared. ”I’m meeting a friend, so I won’t be home for dinner.”

Jie Jingchen didn’t press him. He had only asked casually anyway. He had no interest in the good-for-nothing friends Jing Wu hung out with. He closed the cupboard door, lit the honeycomb briquette stove, and started cooking rice on it.

He only needed to cook rice, reheat the food, and stir-fry the potatoes, so there was no need to fire up the large stove.

As Jie Jingjue passed by Qin Mei’s room, he saw her inside. He hesitated for a few seconds before speaking up. ”Fourth Sister-in-law, I’m heading out.”

”Jing Wu,” Qin Mei called out to him. ”Wait a second.”

Jie Jingjue didn’t enter the room. He leaned against the doorframe, watching Qin Mei with a grin.

”I’ll write out a few prescriptions. You can drop them off for Jie Anlin at the machinery factory on your way.” Qin Mei found a pen and paper and wrote out several prescriptions, making sure to note the date on each one. If Jie Anlin still managed to mess things up, it wouldn’t be her fault.

Jie Jingjue knew that Qin Mei was treating Jie Anlin for a private ailment, so he didn’t ask any questions. He took the prescriptions from her, folded them neatly, put them in his pocket, and turned to leave with a casual flair.