Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Gao Yang, don’t be so loud. This is a hospital,” Mrs. Xie reminded him. Gao Yang was the kind of person who could be incredibly steady but also incredibly impetuous.

”Aunt Qiao, where’s my wife?” Gao Yang’s expression was filled with worry. He scratched his short hair, a little embarrassed. His eyes flickered when he saw Qin Mei standing next to Mrs. Xie. ”You’re here too, sister-in-law?”

”If she hadn’t been here, you would’ve had to choose between your wife and your children,” Jie Jingchen said, taking the opportunity to explain things to Qin Mei. Just now, when Qin Mei came out, she had avoided his supporting arm, and her distant gaze had truly scared him for a moment.

Qin Mei froze, a little bewildered.

Gao Yang clenched his fist and thumped Jie Jingchen on the chest. Seeing the cut on Jie Jingchen’s lower lip, his eyes twinkled. As someone who’d been there, he quickly understood. He glanced at Qin Mei out of the corner of his eye. ’This sister-in-law is really something else.’

Gao Yang cleared his throat. ”You have the nerve to say that? My wife is far along in her pregnancy, and with twins, no less. I asked you to look after her at the factory, and what do you do? You let her get knocked into the hospital. How are you going to take responsibility for this?”

”Didn’t I have my wife save your wife and the babies in her belly? My wife is incredible. When she decides to save someone, she could probably bring the dead back to life,” Jie Jingchen said with great exaggeration.

Qin Mei covered her face. ’I can’t bring the dead back to life.’

’So that’s what he meant by responsibility?’ Her gloomy mood instantly lifted. He hadn’t been clear, which caused her to misunderstand. Qin Mei strongly suspected Jie Jingchen had deliberately misled her.

Remembering how yesterday, he had been driving while she gave Old Zhang acupuncture in the car, it all clicked for Gao Yang. He thumped Jie Jingchen on the chest again and asked Qin Mei, ”Sister-in-law, where’s my wife?”

Qin Mei pointed inside. Gao Yang didn’t thank her; between him and Jie Jingchen, there was no need for formalities.

Before going in, Gao Yang turned to Qin Mei and said with great seriousness, ”By the way, sister-in-law, if this ever happens again and I’m not here, I hope you’ll save the mother.”

”Huh?” Qin Mei let out a small sound, then said solemnly, ”A situation like that won’t happen.”

Hearing this, Gao Yang let out a hearty laugh and went in to see his wife without another word.

Because of his work, he didn’t have much time to spend with his wife. They had been married for many years, and she had finally gotten pregnant—with twins, at that. They cherished these two children, but their mindset was remarkably stoic. If they were to lose the children, they would see it as their fate—to be childless—and wouldn’t blame anyone.

”Meimei.” Jie Jingchen stepped forward, his eyes overflowing with deep affection as he reached out to take Qin Mei’s hand.

Qin Mei ignored Jie Jingchen’s deliberate attempt to curry favor and shook off his hand. She then affectionately linked her arm with Mrs. Xie’s. ”Mom, where’s Old Zhang?”

Mrs. Xie glanced at her rebuffed son out of the corner of her eye before giving Qin Mei a loving smile. ”Don’t worry, Old Zhang’s condition is very stable. I heard from the nurse that he woke up in the middle of the night.”

”Mom, you go on with your business. I’m going to check on Old Zhang.” Qin Mei let go of Mrs. Xie. She knew where Old Zhang’s room was and didn’t need her mother-in-law to show her the way.

”Xiao Mei.” Mrs. Xie stopped her, the smile on her face replaced by a solemn expression.

”What’s wrong?” Qin Mei asked, feigning confusion. She knew exactly what her mother-in-law was worried about: Old Zhang had a complicated background, and getting too close to him could easily attract trouble.

The words were stuck in her throat; Mrs. Xie just couldn’t bring herself to say it. She raised a loving smile instead. ”It’s nothing. Just do whatever you feel you need to. Don’t worry so much. If anything happens, Mom will have your back.”

Qin Mei felt a sting in her nose, her heart warm and deeply moved. Her mother-in-law had clearly wanted to caution her, but the words that came out were ones of encouragement.

”Mom, you’re the best. With a rock-solid backer like you, I wouldn’t be afraid even if I walked sideways.” Qin Mei hugged Mrs. Xie and nuzzled her cheek.

’Wow! Mom’s skin is so nice. For a woman her age, it’s as smooth as cream. She really takes good care of it.’

Watching the mother- and daughter-in-law, who were as close as a real mother and daughter, Jie Jingchen felt a pang of jealousy. Qin Mei had never hugged him so affectionately in public.

’A backer... I’m her indestructible backer, too.’

Mrs. Xie had a real soft spot for this kind of affection from Qin Mei. When Jing Qi was little, he had been closer to Zhang Hongying and had rarely hugged her to act cute. She had only spent a few years with Jing Ling before their bond could truly form, as Jing Ling was sent to the countryside to be an educated youth. Her original plan had been to let Jing Ling stay in the countryside for a year or two and then find a way to bring her back.

In the end, however, Jing Ling married a young man from the countryside.

As for the wives that Jing Er and Jing San married... sigh! One was two-faced, and the other was as cold as ice.

The two were affectionate for a little while longer before Mrs. Xie headed to the operating room. Qin Mei went to Old Zhang’s ward, and Jie Jingchen quietly followed behind her.