Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Oh well. I’ve given him what I needed to, said what I needed to, and passed on all the instructions I had for him,” Qin Mei consoled herself.

Jie Jingchen was amused by her childishness. He put his arm around her shoulder and let her rest her head on him. ”Meimei, your brother didn’t want to wake you. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from crying if he said goodbye to you. Think about it—he’s a soldier. How humiliating would it be for him to walk into the train station with tears all over his face?”

Qin Mei’s heart ached. She buried her face in the crook of Jie Jingchen’s neck. A moment later, he clearly felt the dampness against his skin. A pang shot through his heart, and he glanced sideways at the silently weeping Qin Mei, his deep eyes overflowing with heartache.

”Meimei.” Jie Jingchen wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how. He wanted to take her back to Yangcheng City to see her parents, yet he was also afraid to do so.

She had amnesia. She’d forgotten everything from her past, including the fact that she had been married before.

Here in Shijiu City, he was the only one who knew that Qin Mei had been married before. He didn’t even dare tell his mother. She was open-minded, but that didn’t mean she would support him marrying a divorcée. His mother knew all too well the hardships that came with a second marriage.

Qin Mei sobbed silently, letting out her emotions for a good while before she finally calmed down.

Jie Jingchen remained silent, taking out a handkerchief and gently wiping away her tears.

Qin Mei sniffled, looking up at Jie Jingchen with tear-filled eyes. In a choked voice, she asked, ”Jie Jingsi, will my brother... be sacrificed?”

That single word—”sacrificed”—struck a nerve with Jie Jingchen. Cruel images flashed through his mind, images of his fallen comrades... An endless tide of grief surged forth, pressing down on him so hard that even breathing became difficult.

Jie Jingchen’s expression was grave, his amber eyes filled with an inconsolable sorrow.

Normally, he wouldn’t have had such a strong emotional reaction. But in this moment of farewell, the thought of Qin Xiang heading to *that place* for a mission...

The last shred of his rationality pulled Jie Jingchen back from his grief. Fearing his reaction would only distress Qin Mei, he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the overwhelming pain in his heart.

”He won’t,” Jie Jingchen managed to force out the two words.

Qin Mei stared at him, almost blurting out the fact that Qin Xiang would be sacrificed.

With their emotions in turmoil, the two of them sat in the car. Neither spoke; they just sat there in silence. After what felt like an eternity, a GROWL broke the quiet.

Qin Mei froze, then looked down at her stomach in embarrassment.

Jie Jingchen shook off his melancholy and ruffled her hair. ”Come on. I’ll take you to get some breakfast.”

Qin Mei nodded. They both pushed their feelings aside as Jie Jingchen drove to a state-run restaurant. Qin Mei gazed out the window at the rows of two-story buildings near the train station. ’Once the Reform and Opening-up policy is announced, these ground-floor units will all become prime storefronts. Especially near the train station, where the foot traffic is so heavy. This is prime real estate!’

”Jie Jingsi, are these buildings on either side for sale?” Qin Mei suddenly asked Jie Jingchen.

Jie Jingchen, focused on driving, still spared a glance. ”They are.”

”Really?” Qin Mei’s eyes lit up.

”Only a fool would buy them,” Jie Jingchen said.

”Why?” Qin Mei was completely baffled, a million questions swirling in her head.

”It’s too close to the train station and way too noisy,” Jie Jingchen explained. ”Especially the racket from the passing trains. Anyone living around here who gets a chance to move, moves without a second thought.”

A look of dawning realization spread across Qin Mei’s face. She stroked her chin with a grin, her sly eyes twinkling with calculation.

’It might be too noisy for a hotel, but a restaurant would absolutely thrive. I’d make a killing!’

’Before the Reform and Opening-up policy is announced, I have to figure out a way to buy a few of these storefronts.’

”What mischief are you plotting in that little head of yours now?” Jie Jingchen asked, having taken in her entire reaction.

”Jie Jingsi, I want to be that fool,” Qin Mei said to him, grinning from ear to ear.

Jie Jingchen slammed on the brakes and stared at Qin Mei in astonishment. ”You want to buy a building here?”

”Mhm.” Qin Mei nodded emphatically. Then she asked, ”You’re not going to oppose it, are you?”

Qin Mei didn’t need his support, but she didn’t want him to oppose her, either.

Jie Jingchen thought for a moment, his gaze deepening. ”Meimei,” he began, ”my second brother and his family have moved out. Even if he married Lin Yaru...”

”Stop.” Qin Mei cut him off, knowing he had completely misunderstood her. ”Jie Jingsi, you don’t actually think I want to buy a place here so I can move out, do you?”

’He even brought Lin Yaru into this. He must be really grasping at straws.’

”Aren’t you?” Jie Jingchen shot back. He couldn’t think of any other reason.

”Too small. Your thinking is too small.” Qin Mei reached out and patted Jie Jingchen’s shoulder. ”I want to buy a building here because of its location. I’ll be straight with you—I want to open a restaurant here.”