Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Second Aunt had gotten addicted to making money. With her so motivated, how could Qin Mei possibly crush her enthusiasm?

Jie Jingchen raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose, his expression somewhat grave.

”Don’t worry. Second Aunt is just coming to pick up the herbs. She’ll go back to her own house to brew the medicine, she won’t be doing it in our kitchen anymore.” Qin Mei got up, slipped on her shoes, and walked out with her keys.

Second Aunt was cooking the main dishes, Jie Jingchen was in the kitchen making rice, Qin Mei was in the dispensary preparing herbs, and Jie Jingshan was studying in her room.

After she finished cooking, Second Aunt didn’t even stay to eat with them. She just took the medicine Qin Mei had prepared and went home, grinning happily.

At the Xu Family residence, Xu Chunyan looked with distress at Jie Jingwei’s bandaged hand. ”How could Yaru dare to hurt you?”

”I suppose I pushed her too far.” Jie Jingwei reflected on his actions. ’Even a harmless little rabbit will show its claws when cornered.’

Xu Chunyan lowered her head, a cold, cunning smile playing at the corners of her eyes. ’The only person who can provoke Lin Yaru is Jie Jingchen. It’s a good thing her obsession with him runs so deep, otherwise, she wouldn’t be so easy to manipulate.’

”It’s a good thing it’s just a scratch on the back of your hand. If she had cut your neck... Jing Er, I can’t even imagine what would have happened. If something really happened to you, what would Xiao You and I do?” Xu Chunyan looked up at Jie Jingwei, her eyes swimming with tears.

”Don’t cry. She doesn’t have what it takes to deal me a fatal blow.” Jie Jingwei raised his uninjured hand and used his fingertips to wipe away the tears spilling from Xu Chunyan’s eyes.

’This is the kind of wife I like,’ he thought. ’Delicate and pitiable, a damsel in distress who awakens my desire to protect her.’

”Jing Er, you’re living with the Lin Family now, and Li Axiu prepares all your meals. You have to be on your guard. What if they try to poison you?” Xu Chunyan said worriedly.

Jie Jingwei paused in the middle of wiping her tears. He thought about the spoiled food Li Axiu had served him. ’Li Axiu wouldn’t dare tamper with my food even if her life depended on it, but Lin Yaru... she would.’

Xu Chunyan’s words served as a warning, and Jie Jingwei took it seriously. ”I’ll be careful.”

”Jing Er, don’t provoke Yaru anymore. I don’t want her to hurt you.” Xu Chunyan threw herself into Jie Jingwei’s arms, pressing her face against his chest and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

”Don’t worry, I know my limits,” Jie Jingwei said, patting Xu Chunyan on the back.

A sarcastic sneer touched Xu Chunyan’s lips, her eyes filled with resentment. ’I’ve already hinted that the Lin family might poison him, yet he has no intention of leaving. He still wants to live there. Lin Yaru doesn’t even love him. Even pregnant with his child, she would never be content to just make do with him.’

’Why won’t he just divorce her?’

Xu Chunyan bit her lip, her voice tinged with helplessness and tears. ”Jing Er, my mother has already started arranging matchmaking dates for me.”

Jie Jingwei sneered inwardly. ’Considering the Xu Family’s current situation, and the fact that she’s a divorced woman, who would want to marry her?’

’After so many years together, I can see right through her schemes,’ he thought, but he didn’t call her out on it.

”Your mother is just looking out for you. If she really finds a man whose qualifications are better than mine in every way, I think you should consider it,” Jie Jingwei said.

Xu Chunyan was seething. She had wanted to ignite his possessiveness, but it had clearly backfired. ’He doesn’t care at all whether I go on dates or not.’

’Someone with better prospects than him? The Jie Family is one of the most prominent families around, and his father has already promised him the factory director position. Forget about me, a divorcée; even if I were a beautiful, untouched maiden, I’d never find a man with better prospects than Jie Jingwei.’

Xu Chunyan let go of Jie Jingwei and stared at him, her face streaked with tears and etched with sorrow. ”Jie Jingwei, we were married for so many years and have a wonderful son together. Do you really want to see me marry another man?”

”Chunyan, I can’t be that selfish. I’ve already remarried, so for you to remarry...”

”You were forced into it!” Xu Chunyan cut him off.

Jie Jingwei pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Xu Chunyan took a deep breath and said in an almost pleading tone, ”Jing Er, for Xiao You’s sake, and for mine... can we get back together?”

Jie Jingwei’s brow furrowed. ’Get back together? For that to happen, I’d have to get divorced first. I only just married Lin Yaru, and now she’s pregnant with my child. Even if she agreed to a divorce, would her parents?’

’They’re still counting on me to persuade Dad to use his connections to get their son a post back in the city.’

An image of his first time with Lin Yaru flashed through his mind. Back then, she had been irresistibly charming, a world away from the slovenly woman she was now.