Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Qin Mei said nothing, simply tilting her head to lean on Jie Jingchen’s shoulder. He held a palm-leaf fan and thoughtfully fanned her.

A deeply mocking expression crossed Jie Jingwei’s face. ”Coming to my mother-in-law’s house to rest? What are you two plotting?”

This couple had completely destroyed his family’s happy life and even kicked him out of his home. It would be a lie to say he didn’t hate them. No matter how tempting his father’s promises were, he still felt deeply resentful.

’Everyone in the family sides with them. Even my own sister is on their side.’ The feeling of being isolated by his closest relatives made him feel utterly helpless.

He didn’t care about that courtyard of Qiao Yanqiu’s, but her actions chilled him to the bone. His sister, who had married far away, still got a piece of the pie, while he, the eldest son of the Jie Family, didn’t even get a bathroom.

”Is this your mother-in-law’s house?” Jie Jingchen asked, his tone infuriatingly nonchalant.

Qin Mei glanced at Jie Jingchen. ’That man is doing this on purpose. How could he not know this is the Lin Family’s home?’

”Fourth Brother, don’t tell me you don’t know this is the Lin Family’s home.” Jie Jingwei wanted to throw a punch, but he knew full well he was no match for Jie Jingchen.

”I don’t,” Jie Jingchen said, pulling Qin Mei to her feet. ”Meimei, this is Second Brother’s mother-in-law’s house. Since he doesn’t welcome us, let’s not be an eyesore. Come on, we’re going home.”

”Jie Jingchen, stop right there! You’re not leaving until you explain yourself,” Jie Jingwei wasn’t about to let them off so easily. ’Qiao Yanqiu kicked me out of the house to avoid trouble, yet this couple is sitting right outside the Lin Family’s gate. They’re definitely up to no good.’

Sensing that Jie Jingwei was about to get off the bike, Lin Yaru reacted instantly. She threw her arms around his waist, holding on for dear life and burying her face in his back, retreating into her shell like a turtle.

Jie Jingwei froze. He finally realized how strangely Lin Yaru was acting. ’Normally, she can’t wait to throw herself into Jie Jingchen’s arms the moment she sees him. But now, with him sitting right outside her home, she’s just sitting on the back of the bike, clinging to me to keep me from getting off.’

’Is she trying to make Jie Jingchen jealous by being so clingy with me in front of him? Has she lost her mind? Her feelings for Jie Jingchen have always been completely one-sided.’

Qin Mei let Jie Jingchen lead her by the hand, matching his pace. ’Are we just leaving empty-handed?’ she thought, a little disappointed. ’I haven’t even confirmed whether Lin Yaru has actually gone mad or not.’

Leaving in disappointment like this would drive her crazy.

As they passed by Lin Yaru, Qin Mei pulled Jie Jingchen to a halt and called out, ”Lin Yaru.”

Hearing Qin Mei call her name, Lin Yaru turned her head reflexively. Their eyes met, and then she caught sight of Jie Jingchen. Lin Yaru froze for a second before quickly whipping her head back around, burying her face in Jie Jingwei’s back.

Her mind raced in a panic. ’What do I do? What do I do? Jing Si saw me looking like such a mess!’

Qin Mei made her diagnosis at a glance. ’Granny Li must have made up that story about Lin Yaru just to get on my good side. The woman isn’t mad at all.’

’Still, Lin Yaru has changed a lot. Marriage and pregnancy can really take their toll, making a woman lose her youthful glow.’

’Some women are clearly younger than their mothers-in-law but end up looking older. It’s not just from living in the countryside; it’s also due to the endless friction between a wife and her husband’s mother. And when those conflicts escalate, it’s usually because the husband fails to act as a mediator.’

A hint of pity entered Qin Mei’s gaze as she looked at Lin Yaru. ’It’s a good thing her back is turned. If she saw the pity in my eyes, she’d probably have a complete breakdown right here.’

For a rival in love, vicious slander is nothing to fear. The true insult, the ultimate humiliation, is the victor’s pity for the loser.

After all, Qin Mei thought, she was the one who had played matchmaker for Jie Jingwei and Lin Yaru. Out of the ’goodness of her heart,’ she decided to offer a reminder. ”I’ve heard that when a woman is pregnant with a girl, her skin gets better and better. But if it’s a boy, her complexion gets terrible. Your skin is all sallow, and you’re getting spots... Congratulations. It’s almost certain you’re having a boy.”

A woman adorns herself for the one she loves. To Lin Yaru, Qin Mei’s ”well-intentioned” reminder was a poison that shattered her composure. She began to tremble with rage, her gaze turning sharp and cold.

The corner of Jie Jingwei’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. As her husband, he knew just how much Lin Yaru loathed her current appearance; she couldn’t even bear to look in a mirror. Qin Mei’s words had just stripped her bare and flogged her raw.

’If she just wanted to hint that Lin Yaru was having a son, why not mention the old saying about craving sour foods for boys and spicy for girls?’

”Jie Jingsi, look,” Qin Mei twisted the knife. ”Second Sister-in-law is so happy to hear she’s having a boy that she’s trembling all over.”