Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Yeah, Jing Si. Who are you trying to kidnap?” Gao Yang asked, then added teasingly, ”With your looks, all you’d have to do is wink at those young ladies and they’d be head over heels. You wouldn’t even need any sweet talk; they’d take the bait all on their own.”

”If Jing Si really became a human trafficker, you police officers would have your hands full,” Jie Jinghun chimed in with a laugh.

Jie Jingchen ignored them and turned to leave, but Gao Yang grabbed his arm. ”Hey, man. You were in Xiangjiang for so long, and now you’re back. The three of us should go to the state-run restaurant to catch up. My treat.”

Jie Jingchen shook Gao Yang’s hand off his arm. His brow furrowed deeply, a flicker of worry in his eyes. ”I have to go to the movie theater.”

”The three of us going to the movies? Wouldn’t that be a little weird?” The very thought of it made Gao Yang shudder.

”You two can go if you want. I’m not going. By the way, Jing Si, where’s Xiao Duo?” Jie Jinghun asked.

”She’s at the movie theater with my wife.” Jie Jingchen sounded uncertain. Qin Mei had taken Xiao Duo to the restroom and never came back. They weren’t in there, either. ’Did they get lost? Or did something happen to them?’

The deep furrow of Jie Jingchen’s brow betrayed his anxiety.

”Let’s go to the movie theater,” Jie Jinghun said decisively.

”No need. Your wife and Xiao Duo are here,” Gao Yang said, immediately walking up to meet them.

Jie Jingchen and Jie Jinghun both looked over at the same time. The sight gave them a shock. Qin Mei’s right hand was in a cuff, held by one police officer, while another officer was holding Jie Duo.

When Qin Mei saw Jie Jingchen, she broke into a grin so wide her eyes nearly disappeared, and she even raised her cuffed hand to wave at him.

”Behave,” the officer holding her said, giving her a tug.

A wise person knows not to pick a fight they can’t win. Qin Mei behaved.

”WAAAHHH!” Seeing her father and her fourth uncle, Jie Duo burst into tears, her little face a picture of misery.

”Xiao Duo!” Jie Jinghun’s heart broke. He rushed over and took his daughter from the officer’s arms.

State Security and Public Security often worked together, so almost everyone on the police force knew Jie Jinghun. When he reached for the little girl, the officer naturally handed her over.

Jie Jingchen walked up to Qin Mei. Staring at the handcuff on her wrist, his amber eyes blazed with a savage light. ”What’s going on?”

Qin Mei’s lips moved, but no words came out. She lowered her head and stared at the tips of her shoes.

’This is so humiliating.’ She was too ashamed to say anything.

’If you’re outskilled, you have to accept defeat.’

Jie Duo sobbed in Jie Jinghun’s arms. He was completely focused on comforting the little girl, oblivious to everything else.

”What’s all this about?” Gao Yang asked.

”Captain, she—” The officer was nudged in the arm by his colleague, and his voice died in his throat.

”Xiaoqi, hurry up and release Mr. Qin,” Police Li said. He was sharp. The little girl was Mr. Jie’s daughter, and the captain’s reaction was off.

”She’s a bike thief,” Qi Gong’an said stubbornly.

Police Li yanked Qi Gong’an aside. Qi Gong’an stumbled, reflexively letting go of Qin Mei. Police Li corrected him, ”What do you mean, a bike thief? She’s a *suspected* bike thief. We haven’t finished the investigation, so we can’t convict Mr. Qin.”

”Whose bike did you have your eye on?” Jie Jingchen’s voice was gentle, his gaze overflowing with affection. He looked as if he’d buy her whichever one she pointed to, no questions asked.

Qin Mei knit her brows. After a moment of silence, she uttered a single word. ”Yours.”

Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed heavily as his gaze shot toward Gao Yang.

”It’s a misunderstanding! Xiaoqi, hurry and unlock the cuffs for Mr. Qin,” Gao Yang urged. ’Did this couple have some kind of bad luck curse on them today?’ he wondered. ’One gets arrested as a human trafficker, the other as a bike thief.’

’Tsk! What am I thinking, an almanac? Can’t be giving in to feudal superstitions.’

”But Captain, she already confessed,” Qi Gong’an insisted. When it came to being stubborn, he was in a class of his own.

Gao Yang pressed a hand to his forehead. Police Li kicked Qi Gong’an and hissed through gritted teeth, ”The captain told you to unlock them, so unlock them! What are you arguing for?”

”Captain, she confessed! She stole his bike,” Qi Gong’an said, pointing at Jie Jingchen.

”They’re husband and wife,” Gao Yang said, utterly defeated by his idiotic subordinate.

”Even if they’re husband and wife, you can’t just— Wait, they’re husband and wife?” It finally dawned on Qi Gong’an. He looked at Qin Mei accusingly. ”Seriously? Why didn’t you explain yourself properly? You wasted our time and the state’s resources.”

”Oh, I didn’t explain?” A small smile played on Qin Mei’s lips. ’I did explain. They just didn’t believe me. What else could I do?’

”If it’s your own family’s bicycle, why didn’t you have the key? Why did you insist on using silver needles to pick the lock?” Qi Gong’an grumbled.

”I have the key,” Jie Jingchen said, pulling it from his pocket.