Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Jie Jingsi.” Qin Mei stared at him, at a loss for what to say.

”Meimei.” Jie Jingchen hesitated for a few seconds. ”I’m saying this so Third Brother can be mentally prepared.”

”Prepared for what? To abandon his wife and daughter, rekindle things with his first love, and pick up where they left off?” Qin Mei shot Jie Jingchen a disdainful look.

”It remains to be seen whether it’s my third brother who abandons his wife and daughter, or my third sister-in-law who abandons her husband and daughter,” Jie Jingchen said flatly.

Qin Mei fell silent. ’It’s not a ruthless ex you should be afraid of, but one who wants to come back.’

Jie Jinghun put the items in the house. As he came out, he made a point to glance into the room where Jie Jingwei had been staying. Seeing the empty room, an indescribable and complex feeling washed over him. He went into the courtyard and sat down in one of the wicker chairs.

The courtyard was filled with the smell of medicine from Qin Mei treating Jing Qi’s leg, but he had gotten used to it.

”Fourth Sister-in-law, are you brewing that medicine for Jing Qi?” Jie Jinghun asked.

”No.” Qin Mei shook her head and shot Jie Jinghun a sideways glance. ”It’s for my younger brother.”

”Your younger brother?” Jie Jinghun was surprised and looked at Jie Jingchen. His fourth brother’s younger brother-in-law had been at the house for a few days, but he’d yet to meet him. ”Fourth Brother, what’s wrong with your brother-in-law?”

But Qin Xiang was perfectly healthy and full of life. Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed slightly as he cast a questioning gaze at Qin Mei.

Qin Mei hesitated for a moment before saying, ”For backup.”

Jie Jingchen understood at once. Qin Xiang’s current mission was highly dangerous. It was better to be safe than sorry by having medicine on hand.

’So this is the bond of blood.’ Even with amnesia, Qin Mei’s concern for her younger brother, Qin Xiang, hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Jie Jinghun smiled, his gaze fixed on Jie Jingchen. ”So, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are divorced?”

”Yeah, they are.” Jie Jingchen sat down in the wicker chair beside him.

A complex look settled on Jie Jinghun’s face. ”Second Brother moved to the machinery factory with Xiao You?”

”Third Brother, what’s the point of asking something you already know?” Jie Jingchen’s expression was grim, his thin lips pressed into a firm line.

Jie Jinghun faltered for a moment, a bitter smile touching the corners of his mouth. ”You’re right. It is rather pointless.”

Jie Jinghun pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and offered it to Jie Jingchen. Seeing that Jie Jingchen didn’t take it, his face showed a flash of realization. ”Oh, right. I almost forgot you quit.”

Jie Jingchen paid him no mind, his gaze turning to Qin Mei. She had her head down, focused on brewing the medicine. The proximity to the stove had flushed her fair skin, giving her a beautiful, rosy glow.

Even though they were in the courtyard and not indoors, Jie Jinghun still respectfully asked Qin Mei, ”Fourth Sister-in-law, my nicotine craving is kicking in. Do you mind if I smoke?”

Jie Jinghun hadn’t asked Jie Jingchen. He knew his brother well enough to be sure he would have said no.

Qin Mei was taken aback for a second. By asking her, Jie Jinghun was showing her proper respect. The man said he was having a craving; how could she be unreasonable? ”Third Brother, please, go ahead.”

”Thank you for being so understanding.” Jie Jinghun flashed a smile as warm as a spring day. He put the cigarette between his lips and pulled out a box of matches. But before he could strike one, Jie Jingchen snatched the cigarette from his mouth. Jie Jinghun froze. ”I thought you quit?”

Jie Jingchen sat up straight, reached out, and lit the cigarette directly on the flame of the medicine stove. He then pulled his hand back and stuck the lit cigarette back into Jie Jinghun’s mouth. Jie Jinghun was completely dumbfounded by this maneuver.

”Fourth Brother, I paid money for that cigarette,” Jie Jinghun complained. After Jing Si lit it on the medicine stove—holy cow—half of it had burned away in an instant. Such a waste.

Qin Mei was also looking at Jie Jingchen, completely speechless. She had thought he wanted to smoke it himself, but it turned out he was just lighting it for his third brother. And lighting it was one thing, but to do it on her medicine stove... She really had to hand it to him, he was unbelievable.

An unreadable smile played on Jie Jingchen’s lips as he asked nonchalantly, ”Are you going to smoke it or not?”

”I’m smoking it.” Jie Jinghun put the matches back in his pocket, took a long drag, and his face relaxed in satisfaction.

Watching Jie Jinghun exhale a cloud of smoke, Jie Jingchen stared at him intently for several seconds. ”Trying to drown your sorrows in smoke only makes them deeper.”

”COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!” Jie Jinghun choked on the smoke. After a moment of coughing, he held up his hands in surrender. ”Fourth Brother, knock it off. Your third sister-in-law will be home from work soon. Don’t get me into trouble.”

Qin Mei watched Jie Jingchen, who seemed to delight in stirring up trouble, and cast a sympathetic glance toward Jie Jinghun.

”Third Brother, you look like you have a guilty conscience,” Jie Jingchen said, his eyes wide with mock surprise and bewilderment.

”Y-You’re the one with a guilty conscience!” A flicker of panic crossed the depths of Jie Jinghun’s eyes. Afraid that Jing Si would say something utterly shocking and refuse to drop it, he quickly changed the subject. ”Right, is Second Brother really going to marry Teacher Lin?”

A faint hint of mockery surfaced in Jie Jingchen’s eyes as he said coldly, ”Second Brother doesn’t dare refuse.”

”Indeed,” Jie Jinghun agreed.

In the affair between Jie Jingwei and Lin Yaru, Lin Yaru and Xu Chunyan had been the primary instigators. Though their target had been Jie Jingchen, he and Qin Mei were the ones who had pushed events along, while Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing had merely fanned the flames.