Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

She had deliberately avoided them every time she came back, especially Granny. This was the first time Granny had seen her since Jing Ling was sent to the countryside.

She had always avoided them, so this sudden, uncharacteristic visit put everyone on edge.

”I’m going back tomorrow. I’ve already bought the train tickets,” Jie Jingling replied, her voice devoid of emotion as her cold gaze locked onto Granny. She desperately wanted to ask her one thing: ’Do you regret it?’

But the words died on her lips, and Jie Jingling left the question unasked.

”Tomorrow? Why the rush?” Chen Xiuhua asked, surprised. She shot a subtle glance at Granny.

Hearing that Jie Jingling was leaving tomorrow, Granny breathed a sigh of relief. With Jie Jingling just standing there, she felt as if Zhang Hongyan’s ghost had come back to haunt her.

The older she got, the more timid she became. The sight of Jie Jingling, looking so much like Zhang Hongyan, filled her with dread.

No one responded to her, and Chen Xiuhua couldn’t continue the awkward small talk. After a moment of deliberation, she plowed on. ”Jing Ling, I saw that sister-in-law of yours is quite pretty.”

”She is quite pretty,” Jie Jingling replied.

This left Chen Xiuhua feeling awkward again. It was impossible to carry on a conversation when for every question she asked, Jing Ling gave a single, clipped answer. She cast a pleading glance at Jie Jianjun.

Jie Jianjun cleared his throat and pushed an enamel mug toward Jie Jingchen. ”Jing Si, Fourth Wife of Jing, have some tea.”

”Thank you, Second Uncle,” Jie Jingchen said politely, but he didn’t pick up the enamel mug to drink.

Qin Mei had come along to back them up, but as things stood, there was no argument to start, let alone a physical fight. She suddenly felt like a warrior with no battlefield.

Jie Jianjun found he couldn’t talk to Jie Jingchen, either. ’Chat about work? With Jie Jingchen’s lazy attitude, I’m actually, deep down, quite pleased. If he were as ambitious as Jing Er, I’d feel threatened.’

’Talk about life? With their standard of living, I’d just be setting myself up for a blow to the ego. Talk about relationships? An uncle and nephew discussing their feelings... the very thought is horrifying.’

The atmosphere grew bizarrely awkward. At last, under Jie Jingling’s deathly stare, Granny’s mental defenses crumbled, and she fainted.

”Old woman!”

”Mom!”

”Granny!”

Qin Mei’s medical skills were exceptional, but Jie Jianjun ignored the convenient option, insisting on taking Granny to the hospital. Naturally, Jie Jingchen ended up being their driver.

As she watched the car drive away in a cloud of dust, Jie Jingling raised her head to the sky. Her eyes began to ache and sting, and a faint sense of melancholy washed over her. After a long moment, her complex emotions finally melted into a single, quiet sigh.

”It’s over, Sis.” Qin Mei took Jie Jingling’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

She tore her gaze from the sky to look at Qin Mei, a wave of bitterness and sorrow washing over her. A lump formed in her throat. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what. Not wanting to worry Qin Mei, she forced a bitter smile.

”I’m fine,” Jie Jingling choked out.

Qin Mei’s heart ached as she pulled Jie Jingling into a hug. Comforting words came to mind, but she swallowed them back. ’It’s easy to preach forgiveness when you haven’t endured their suffering.’ But encouraging Jie Jingling to take revenge, to repay every grievance and settle every score, didn’t feel right either.

She had repressed her feelings for too long. Jie Jingling couldn’t hold back anymore. She clung to Qin Mei and broke down, sobbing her heart out.

Qin Mei stood rigidly, a mix of complex emotions welling up inside her as heartache filled her chest.

If Jing Qi were the one sobbing in her arms, it wouldn’t have resonated with her at all. But with Jie Jingling crying, she felt an unbearable ache. For a split second, she felt she would gladly destroy the world for Jie Jingling’s sake.

”Sis, do you want her to die?” Qin Mei said calmly, the words themselves cruel. Her gaze slowly turned sinister, the corners of her lips hinting at a thirst for blood.

The sobbing stopped abruptly. Jie Jingling froze, stunned, as she processed Qin Mei’s words. It took a full minute for her to snap out of it. She let go of Qin Mei and stared at her in disbelief. The bizarre smile on Qin Mei’s lips sent a shiver down Jie Jingling’s spine. She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. ”Amie.”

Qin Mei let out a cold, sinister laugh, her voice still perfectly calm. ”Sis, with my abilities, making her die suddenly would be child’s play.”

Jie Jingling was the first person she’d met upon arriving in this era. It was Jie Jingling who had given her warmth when she was at her most helpless. ’She gave me a drop of kindness, so I will repay her with a gushing spring.’

’See? I know all about gratitude.’

In Qin Mei’s eyes, family wasn’t about blood. ’Blood relatives with no affection aren’t family. People with affection but no blood ties? That’s true family.’

’Granny is Jie Jingchen’s grandmother, not mine. So what if I kill her? I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.’

’I’m not an idiot, either. I wouldn’t kill the old woman and then go announce it to Jie Jingchen. I’d send her on her way without a single soul ever knowing, and no one would ever suspect me afterward.’