Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Jie Jingling was furious. ”I’m your older sister! You’re living your life like this... I don’t want to meddle, but I’m worried.”

”Worried?” Jie Jingwei scoffed. ”What’s there to be worried about? I think my life is pretty great right now.”

’A beautiful wife at home, an ex-wife out there... How great is that.’

Jie Jingling felt like she was going to die of anger. ”Of all the people to get tangled up with, you just had to pick Lin Yaru.”

”Older Sister, I didn’t get tangled up with Lin Yaru—she got tangled up with me,” Jie Jingwei said, feeling wronged. He then added sarcastically, ”And we have our fourth brother and his wife to thank for their immense contribution.”

”The main culprit was Xu Chunyan,” Jie Jingling reminded him.

Jie Jingwei froze, crossing his arms and sizing up Jie Jingling with a scrutinizing gaze. ”Older Sister, so you knew the inside story all along. Then you must also know their target was our fourth brother, and that he was the one who was switched...”

”Our fourth brother was on guard against Lin Yaru. Why weren’t you?” Jie Jingling cut in.

Jie Jingwei laughed in exasperation. ”Older Sister, the person Lin Yaru has a crush on is our fourth brother, not me. What was I supposed to be on guard for?”

Jie Jingling was speechless.

”Older Sister, aren’t you secretly glad that I was the one who fell into the trap, not our fourth brother?” Jie Jingwei said. ”If I hadn’t come home early, the one with Lin Yaru would have been him. The one getting a divorce would have been him. And the one marrying Lin Yaru would have been him, too.”

”Our fourth brother wouldn’t,” Jie Jingling said, enunciating each word clearly.

”Not if he wasn’t drugged, no. But if he was, he would have,” Jie Jingwei retorted.

”Even if he was drugged, as long as he had a shred of sanity left, our fourth brother would have sooner harmed himself than let himself make that mistake,” Jie Jingling said with conviction.

Jie Jingwei had no rebuttal. He thought back to that moment. ’It would be a lie to say I completely lost my mind. Between my reason and my body, I gave in to my body. The Lin Family was in the wrong on this. I slept with her, and that should have been that. But who knew they could be so shameless? Especially with Qin Mei fanning the flames, which only emboldened them.’

”Jing Ling, Jing Er,” Mr. Xie said as he approached.

”Dad,” said Jie Jingling.

”Dad,” said Jie Jingwei.

”Jing Ling,” Mr. Xie said, coming to stand before Jie Jingling. He said bluntly, ”Yaru really did have a pregnancy scare.”

”Dad, you believe an excuse like that?” In any case, Jie Jingling didn’t.

Mr. Xie explained the situation to Jie Jingling. Afterward, she gave Jie Jingwei a complicated look, said nothing, and silently turned to leave.

When Qin Mei saw Jie Jingling return, she thoughtfully poured her a bowl of herbal tea. ”Sister, have some tea.”

Jie Jingling took it, had a sip, and made a decision on the spot. ”I’m going to the train station to buy tickets.”

”Sister,” Qin Mei said in surprise. ”Didn’t we say we were going to buy them tomorrow?”

”There’s no difference between buying them today or tomorrow,” Jie Jingling said with a smile.

To Jie Jingling, it made no difference, but to Qin Mei, it was a big deal. Qin Mei guessed that the conversation between the brother and sister had been unpleasant, and now a disappointed Jie Jingling wanted to leave a day early.

Jie Jingling wouldn’t change her mind once it was made up, and Qin Mei knew she couldn’t dissuade her. ”I’ll go with you.”

”No, it’s too hot outside,” Jie Jingling refused.

”I’m worried about you going alone,” Qin Mei said.

Jie Jingling smiled gently. ”What’s there to worry about? I know my way around Shijiu City. I won’t get lost.”

Qin Mei frowned. She knew, of course, that Jie Jingling was more familiar with Shijiu City than she was.

”Meimei, can you watch Tongtong for me?” Jie Jingling gave Qin Mei a task.

”Alright. Be careful, Sister,” Qin Mei urged.

Granny had been watching Jie Jingling the whole time. When she saw Jie Jingling walk out of the state-run restaurant, her tense nerves eased slightly.

Grandpa sat beside Granny. Zhang Hongyan’s death had clearly taken a psychological toll on the old woman; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so frightened by Jing Ling, who bore such a resemblance to her.

Sun’s mother subtly shot Sun Dexiang a look. She had already found an excellent young man for her daughter. Upon inquiry, she learned the man worked for the grain bureau. The words ”grain bureau” were music to Sun’s mother’s ears. She instantly made up her mind. ’He’s the one.’

Sun Dexiang wanted to ignore her, but she couldn’t stand her mother’s incessant nudging and winking. Relenting, Sun Dexiang poured two bowls of herbal tea and handed them to Grandpa and Granny. ”Grandpa, Granny, have some tea to cool off from the heat.”

”Oh, lovely, lovely,” Granny said, taking the bowl with a smile. She showered Sun Dexiang with praise, which made Sun’s mother’s heart swell with delight.

”Oh, Granny, you can’t praise Ah Xiang that much. She’ll start to believe it,” Sun’s mother said with false modesty.

”But I am being sincere, my dear,” Granny said. ”This old lady means every word. The more I see of your daughter, the more I like her. By the way, have you found a match for Ah Xiang yet?” Granny asked.

This was exactly what Sun’s mother had been waiting for Granny to say. ”Ah Xiang is still young. Her father and I were thinking of keeping her at home for a few more years. We’re in no rush to find her a husband. I’ve already sent away all the matchmakers who’ve come calling.”