Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Meimei isn’t a doctor.” Jie Jingchen was extremely possessive.

”Tch!” Mrs. Xie scoffed. ”As long as Xiao Mei agrees, I’ll arrange a job for her at the hospital.”

”Dream on,” Jie Jingchen bit out two domineering words.

Looking at her autocratic son, Mrs. Xie was fuming. She even suspected that the reason Xiao Mei refused to work at the hospital was that her son was secretly sabotaging it.

Qin Mei didn’t stop the mother and son from their endless argument, her mind busy with its own schemes.

After some time, Mrs. Xie changed the subject and started pressuring them about having children.

”When are you going to give me a grandson to hold?” Afraid they would think she favored boys over girls, Mrs. Xie quickly added, ”A granddaughter would be fine, too.”

”Who would raise the child?” Jie Jingchen asked.

Mrs. Xie couldn’t do it. She had to work, and she wouldn’t give up the job she loved for anyone. ”I have money. I can hire a nanny.”

Jie Jingchen didn’t respond. He just stared at her, his gaze so sharp it made Mrs. Xie squirm.

”We can send the baby to Xiangjiang, to your maternal grandparents,” Mrs. Xie said.

Jie Jingchen’s expression turned frigid. ”If you want a baby, you and Dad can have one. We’re not.”

Mrs. Xie gave Jie Jingchen an angry shove. ”You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you know how old your father and I are? Not only can we not have another child, but even if we could, we wouldn’t! I don’t want people mocking me for having a child so late in life.”

”Having a child late in life... Anyone who’d mock you would just be jealous.” Jie Jingchen sized up his mother. She took excellent care of herself. When they walked together, anyone who didn’t know better wouldn’t think they were mother and son; they’d assume they were an older sister and her younger brother.

”Is it that you won’t have children, or that you can’t?” A flicker of worry appeared in Mrs. Xie’s eyes.

”We can’t,” Jie Jingchen said coldly, spitting out the two words.

Jie Jingchen’s words pierced Mrs. Xie’s heart like a needle, causing a terrible ache.

Qin Mei pinched Jie Jingchen’s side. ’His mother already suspects he can’t have children,’ she thought. ’If he admits it like this, she’ll be heartbroken.’

”Mom, don’t listen to his nonsense. There’s nothing wrong with him,” Qin Mei explained, but Mrs. Xie raised a hand, stopping her from saying more.

”Xiao Mei, I have faith in you. I know you can find a way,” Mrs. Xie said. After all, Qin Mei had even cured An Lin’s hidden ailment, and now his wife was pregnant. Curing Jing Si was only a matter of time.

Qin Mei could only give a helpless, bitter smile.

Jie Jingjue came out from his shower and called them for dinner. Mrs. Xie, in a foul mood and with no appetite, told them to go ahead while she sat quietly for a while.

Jie Jingchen pulled Qin Mei away. She pinched his side again. ”Your mom wants a grandchild. She already suspects there’s something wrong with you, and saying that just confirms her suspicions.”

”I told her, but she doesn’t believe me.” Jie Jingchen spread his hands helplessly.

’I told her too, but my mother-in-law just won’t believe it. Not unless I get pregnant.’ Qin Mei looked down at her own flat stomach. ’Having a baby... that’s really not in the plans right now.’

’At my age, it would be perfect to wait a few years. As for Jie Jingchen, in five years he’ll be thirty. Hopefully by then he won’t be willing in spirit but weak in the flesh.’

As Qin Mei’s thoughts drifted, her gaze unconsciously drifted down to a... certain part of Jie Jingchen.

Jie Jingchen’s face darkened. He misinterpreted her questioning gaze, thinking she was doubting his abilities. Which, in fact, she was.

The family had split their households. Nothing changed on Jie Jingchen’s side, but Mr. and Mrs. Xie now ate with Jie Jinghun and his wife. Jie Jingjue ate wherever he pleased, which usually meant with Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei.

At the dinner table, Jie Jingjue’s eyes kept darting toward that same... certain part of Jie Jingchen.

Qin Mei was speechless. She thought Jie Jingchen would fly into a rage and teach Jie Jingjue a lesson, but he acted as if nothing was wrong. That is, until Jing Qi finished his meal, set down his utensils, and left the kitchen.

”Jie Jingjue.” Jie Jingchen’s voice was ice-cold, his face terrifyingly grim as he ground out the name.

Qin Mei shivered. ’So he was holding back because Jing Qi was here,’ she realized. ’The moment Jing Qi left, he let loose.’

Jie Jingjue knew he had pissed off his fourth brother. He dropped his utensils and bolted.

But Jie Jingchen wasn’t about to let him get away. He hurled the bowl in his hand right at Jie Jingjue.

”AH!” The bowl struck him in the back. Jie Jingjue cried out in pain but didn’t dare to look back, only running faster.

Still not satisfied, Jie Jingchen chased after him, kicked him to the ground, and started beating him senseless.

”Mom! Mom, help me!” Jie Jingjue yelled, lying on the ground with his hands shielding his face. ”Fourth Brother, I was wrong! I’ll stop, I swear! Fourth Brother—AH! Not the face! Mom...!”

Qin Mei ran out after them. Watching Jie Jingchen vent all his frustration on Jie Jingjue, she felt that all the anger she had directed at him was now being unleashed on his brother. Qin Mei shed a tear of sympathy for poor Jie Jingjue.