Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Jie Jingchen paused, glancing at the nervous-looking Ah Bing and raising a slight eyebrow. ’What’s he so nervous for?’ ”Meimei, you forgot. We didn’t brew any herbal tea today.”

”No need, I brought my own herbal tea in my water bottle,” Ah Bing said quickly.

He’d made a lot of money from Qin Mei. ’Could it be she’s not buying my herbs anymore?’ he thought. ’Is my source of income about to be cut off?’

’Sigh. I’ll have to go back to selling on the black market. It’s risky and slow, unlike selling to Qin Mei. This way is so safe and fast.’

”Then just get him a bowl of cold water,” Qin Mei whispered, leaning close to Jie Jingchen’s ear. ’This guy’s brain usually spins like a motor. Why isn’t it turning today?’

”He brought his own,” Jie Jingchen said, feeling wronged. He had already offered Ah Bing some water, but the man had refused.

”What he brought is his own, but what we offer is a gesture of goodwill. You have to show sincerity when you’re asking someone for a favor,” said Qin Mei.

Seeing the two of them whispering, Ah Bing grew even more anxious. He mistakenly thought they were too embarrassed to tell him the bad news directly. And he wasn’t the type to pester someone and make things difficult for them.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, then shot up from the stone stool. His sudden movement startled the couple, and they both turned to look at him in unison.

”Brother Jie, Sister-in-law, it’s fine. If you’re not going to buy the herbs I gather anymore, I’ll just sell them on the black market. I won’t make things difficult for you,” Ah Bing said in a rush.

Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei froze for a second, then exchanged a look. Confused, Qin Mei asked, ”Who told you I wasn’t going to buy your herbs anymore?”

’I’m trying to grow this business,’ Qin Mei thought. ’How am I supposed to do that without any herbs?’

”Weren’t you just talking about it?” Ah Bing asked, raising an eyebrow. ’Did I misunderstand?’

”Of course not,” Qin Mei said. Her gaze fell on the two urea sacks to the side, and she asked directly, ”How much?”

Ah Bing rubbed his nose and held up one hand, spreading his fingers. ”Fifty.”

Qin Mei was decisive. Without haggling, she took out the money she had prepared, pulled out five ten-yuan notes, and handed them to Ah Bing.

”Thank you, Sister-in-law.” Ah Bing took the money, but his expression wasn’t joyful. He asked tentatively, ”Sister-in-law, will you still be buying next time?”

”Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Qin Mei asked in return.

Hearing this, Ah Bing’s face lit up. He promised Qin Mei he would absolutely guarantee the quality of his herbs.

’Trust those you employ, and don’t employ those you don’t trust.’ Qin Mei was confident in Ah Bing; he wasn’t foolish enough to try and pass off shoddy goods as high-quality ones.

”Brother Jie, Sister-in-law, I’ll head out now,” Ah Bing said, preparing to leave.

”Ah Bing,” Qin Mei called out, stopping him. She looked at him, hesitating.

Ah Bing wasn’t slow; he could tell Qin Mei had something to ask him. This time, he didn’t jump to conclusions. ”Sister-in-law, if you need something, just say it.”

”There is something I was hoping you could help with,” Qin Mei said, shooting a look at Jie Jingchen, wanting him to be the one to speak.

”Sister-in-law, don’t be so formal. Whatever it is, just tell me. I can’t promise to go through fire and water for you, but as long as it’s something I can do, I won’t refuse,” said Ah Bing.

”In a few days, a distant relative of hers is coming to Shijiu City,” Jie Jingchen explained. ”He’s an expert with herbs. We were hoping you could take him into the mountains with you to gather some, and maybe provide him with a place to stay.”

”Huh?” Ah Bing was surprised.

”Is that a no?” Qin Mei asked. ’If Ah Bing refuses, I’ll have to find another arrangement for Zhang Haoyuan. He isn’t cut out for city life; the countryside is the safest place for him. But if Ah Bing isn’t willing, I can’t force him.’

”I can do that,” Ah Bing agreed. ’An expert in herbs? That’s exactly the kind of person I need.’ He couldn’t help asking, ”Is it a man or a woman?”

”A man,” Qin Mei said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Ah Bing broke into a grin. ”A man is no problem. He can stay at my house.”

’That’s exactly what I was hoping for,’ Qin Mei thought, glancing at Jie Jingchen. ’People who’ve been soldiers are always so straightforward. Even though Ah Bing was only in the army for a single day before Jie Jingchen ended his military career, one day as a soldier still makes you a soldier, right?’

Thinking of the Zhang family’s situation, Qin Mei gave Ah Bing a subtle warning. ”His background is a little... complicated.”

”How complicated? Is he a murderer? A drug offender? A human trafficker?” Ah Bing asked. ’If he’s a criminal, I can’t help. I’m not bringing a menace back to my village to cause trouble for everyone.’

”Nothing like that,” Qin Mei said, choosing her words carefully. ”He just... liked to gamble. But he’s already washed his hands of it. He cut off a finger to prove it.”

”A gambler!” Ah Bing thought for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively. ”That’s no problem. A prodigal’s return is more precious than gold, as they say. Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll help you keep an eye on him. I guarantee he’ll kick the habit for good.”

”Thank you,” Qin Mei said, standing up. ”On behalf of his parents, I thank you for offering him a helping hand and giving him a chance to put his talents to use in the mountains.” She moved to shake Ah Bing’s hand, but Jie Jingchen stopped her.

”Sister-in-law, it’s just a small favor. With him coming along, I won’t be so lonely in the mountains. Besides, you said he’s an expert. Maybe now I won’t pick the wrong herbs and get an earful from my grandma,” Ah Bing said, scratching the back of his head with an honest smile.

”As long as you don’t try to pass off low-quality herbs as good ones, I promise I’ll buy as many as you can gather,” Qin Mei assured him.

After seeing Ah Bing off, Qin Mei went back inside and flopped onto the bed. With Zhang Haoyuan’s situation taken care of, the weight on her heart was lifted, and she felt much lighter.

Jie Jingchen came into the room to find Qin Mei lying on the bed, staring up at the canopy of the mosquito net. The electric fan was off.

”You’re really invested in this Zhang Haoyuan matter,” Jie Jingchen said, sitting on the edge of the bed. His tone was tinged with an unreadable emotion.

Qin Mei rolled her eyes at him. Pillowing her head on her arms, she crossed her left leg over her right and swung it idly, striking the pose of a young punk. ”You’re jealous of Zhang Haoyuan? Jing Si, you’re unbelievable. Why don’t you just go soak in a vat of vinegar?”

Jie Jingchen’s expression turned a little unnatural, and a hint of guilt flickered in his deep eyes, but he stubbornly retorted, ”I’m not jealous of him. I just don’t like you thinking about any man who isn’t me.”

Qin Mei shot up, her eyes, full of meaning, fixed on his. ”Jing Si, that’s a dangerous way of thinking. I strongly suggest you volunteer for some ideological re-education.”

’I’m all about looks, and Zhang Haoyuan’s face doesn’t hit a single one of my aesthetic criteria.’

’Getting jealous over someone like Zhang Haoyuan... he must have zero confidence in himself.’

’Of all the men I’ve met so far, not a single one has made me feel the slightest impulse to give up on Jie Jingchen, let alone kick off my shoes and chase after them.’

A mischievous glint flashed in Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes, and his lips curved into an enigmatic smile. ”We’ll go together.”

”You’re insane,” Qin Mei muttered, falling back onto the bed. ’Is getting re-educated something to be proud of? And he wants to go *together*! He’s got a screw loose.’ ”Jing Si, do you think your sister has boarded the train yet?”

She thought about what Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang had been up to these past few days—especially Sun Dexiang’s desperate, last-ditch gamble before she left. ’I wonder if that final stunt of hers will leave Shen Qing with some lasting trauma.’

’I bet the next time Jie Jingling comes back to Shijiu City, she won’t dare to bring that mother and daughter with her.’

Jie Jingchen lifted his watch-clad wrist and glanced at the time. ”The train departed ten minutes ago.”

”Sigh.” Qin Mei let out a breath. ’Jie Jingling has had such a hard life. I told her so much... I hope she really took it to heart.’

”Meimei, aren’t you curious what your older brother and I talked about?” Jie Jingchen asked, changing the subject. ’I was talking with my new brother-in-law for so long. Is she really not the least bit curious about our conversation?’

”I don’t know him that well,” Qin Mei said dismissively.

Her words made him choke. ’That’s her own brother,’ he thought. ’Then again, she has amnesia... and I’m the one who caused it. I have no right to criticize her.’

”I know your brother even less than you do,” Jie Jingchen said, a helpless expression appearing on his devilishly handsome face. ’At least Qin Mei and Qin Zhao are related by blood. He and I were complete strangers. Now that I’ve married her, he’s suddenly my brother-in-law.’