Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 402 - 145: Jing Si, I Want to Take a Bath, Too

The honeycomb coal briquette stove was still burning, its top uncovered. The water in the aluminum kettle was boiling. Jie Jingchen lifted the kettle and poured the water into a thermos. After refilling the kettle, he set it aside instead of immediately putting it back on the stove. He squatted down, his tall and straight figure crouching low, and picked up an iron hook to clean out the stove. Then, grabbing the nearby fire tongs, he picked up a new honeycomb coal briquette, placed it in the stove, and adjusted it to make sure all the holes lined up perfectly.

Qin Mei watched from the side, memorizing each of Jie Jingchen’s steps. She already figured out why she had failed—she couldn’t stomp the briquette down because she hadn’t cleaned out the stove first.

When she saw Jie Jingchen lift his foot, Qin Mei immediately stopped him. "Wait."

Jie Jingchen paused with his foot in the air, balancing on one leg. He looked at Qin Mei, confused. "What’s wrong?"

To test her theory, Qin Mei stepped forward and pushed Jie Jingchen aside. "Let me."

Pushed to the side, Jie Jingchen was still trying to figure out what was happening when he saw Qin Mei raise her foot and stomp down. With a firm press, the honeycomb briquette settled into place.

Qin Mei was thrilled. She took her foot off, clapped her hands together, and declared with a sense of accomplishment, "Just as I thought."

"What do you mean, ’just as I thought’?" Jie Jingchen gazed at her tenderly, a warm smile spreading across his lips.

"It’s nothing." Qin Mei smiled, her expression radiant and lovely. ’Thinking about what I did before is so embarrassing,’ she thought.

Since she wouldn’t say, Jie Jingchen didn’t press the issue.

"By the way, Jing Si, your granny moved back home. Does that mean she’s given up on trying to set up my brother with your cousin?" Qin Mei asked, changing the subject.

"They aren’t fools," Jie Jingchen said. "They know what they should and shouldn’t do, and they’re well aware of the consequences of forcing an issue."

Qin Mei smiled with understanding. Given Qin Xiang’s background, it was obvious Jie Anqi was trying to frame him. Plus, Qin Xiang was so repulsed and resistant. This was no small matter. If it blew up, it wouldn’t end well for anyone.

If this were the ancient Imperial Family, contaminating the imperial bloodline would be a crime punishable by beheading and the extermination of one’s entire clan.

People in this day and age also took bloodlines very seriously. There were exceptions, of course. For example, if a comrade-in-arms died and left a child behind, a close friend from the service would often help raise the child.

Jie Anqi was pregnant with another man’s child and was desperate to find a patsy. Qin Xiang was just the unlucky one she set her sights on. Her parents and even Granny watched her go to such extremes, yet instead of dissuading her, they aided and abetted her.

The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.

"And Jie Anqi? Has she given up too?" ’Thinking of that psycho Jie Anqi, I doubt she’d give up so easily,’ Qin Mei thought.

A dark, unreadable emotion flickered in Jie Jingchen’s eyes. After a long moment of contemplation, he slowly uttered two words. "She won’t."

Qin Mei scoffed, her voice laced with disdain. "She couldn’t have succeeded even with their help. Now that she’s on her own, she can stir up all the trouble she wants, but it won’t amount to anything."

Jie Jingchen fell silent. He bent down, picked up the iron lid, and placed it over the holes of the coal stove before setting the aluminum kettle on top.

He could guarantee that Granny and his second uncle and aunt wouldn’t dare try anything else. But Jie Anqi... he really couldn’t be sure about her.

Once the bathwater was hot, Jie Jingchen went to bring it into the indoor bathroom. He filled two buckets, but found he couldn’t lift a full one with just his right hand. Seeing the other two chatting happily in the courtyard, he decided not to bother them and simply brought the buckets in one by one.

Jie Jingchen stood at the bathroom door. A faint smile played on his lips, and his eyes curved into a teasing arc. "Want me to help you wash?" he asked casually.

"Thanks, but no." Before the words were even out of her mouth, Qin Mei slammed the bathroom door shut. ’If I let him help me wash, things are bound to take a different turn,’ she thought.

Jie Jingchen couldn’t help but laugh. "I was just kidding."

Jie Jingchen waited outside the bathroom for a few moments before heading out of the house and closing the door behind him. Then, he went to get the buckets from the bathroom in Jing Qi’s room.

"Brother Si." Jie Jingshan called out to him.

Jie Jingchen stopped in his tracks. His dangerously handsome face was clouded with anger, and a sinister glint in his eyes was enough to make one’s heart pound with fear.

The atmosphere grew taut, like a strained bowstring.

After a long moment, Jie Jingshan took a deep breath. A bright smile blossomed on her face as she looked at Jie Jingchen, her tone light. "Brother Si, I’ve thought it through. Sister-in-law is right. The most important thing for me right now is to focus on my studies."

The tension in Jie Jingchen’s expression eased almost imperceptibly. After pondering for a few seconds, he asked, "What about him?"

"He’s a brother. Just like you’re my brother," Jie Jingshan said quickly. She met Jie Jingchen’s sharp, scrutinizing gaze with a calm and serene expression.

A faint smile touched Jie Jingchen’s lips. He walked over to Jie Jingshan and placed a large hand on her head, ruffling her hair affectionately. His gaze drifted down to her legs. ’I’m so incredibly grateful to Qin Mei,’ he thought. ’If it weren’t for her, Jing Qi would never have found her motivation. For the past four years, Jing Qi has been insecure, sensitive, listless, and short-tempered. We were all heartbroken but helpless, so we could only let her be.’

"Your sister-in-law is right. You need to focus on your studies. Jing Qi, once your legs are fully recovered, I’ll have our maternal grandparents come get you and take you to Xiangjiang," Jie Jingchen said.

"I’m going to get into college," Jie Jingshan said, looking up at Jie Jingchen with a determined gaze.

Jie Jingchen didn’t say anything more. ’Qin Mei’s words had a huge impact on Jing Qi. She told Jing Qi to study hard and get into a good university, and now it’s become Jing Qi’s sole focus.’

Jie Jingchen went to the kitchen, carried a bucket of hot water into the bathroom for her, and after a few words of reminder, he left the room and closed the door.

"Jing Si, I need a bath too," Qin Xiang called out teasingly.

Jie Jingchen raised an eyebrow, staring at Qin Xiang, who was clearly making fun of him. "What, you don’t have hands?"

"I’m the guest. The bride’s brother is the guest of honor, you know. Jing Si, with my status, I should be sitting at the head of the table at any feast in this house." Qin Xiang got up and headed for the house. He was only teasing Jing Si; he would never actually dare to make the man carry his bathwater.

’Besides, Jing Si these days loves to go tattling to my sister. He’d just play the victim, and my love-struck sister would definitely take his side.’

"Where’s Jing Wu?" Jie Jingchen glanced around the courtyard, but there was no sign of Jie Jingjue.

"He went to pick up your dad." Qin Xiang stopped and turned to face Jie Jingchen, a worried look on his face. "When your dad gets back and sees that your grandpa and granny are gone, is he going to beat you up if he finds out you’re the one who drove them away?"

"Who said I was the one who drove them away?" Jie Jingchen arched an eyebrow. ’I’m not taking the blame for that.’

"It wasn’t you?" Qin Xiang blinked. ’Is Jing Si trying to pass the buck? Who would he even blame? Me? My sister?’

"It wasn’t me." Jie Jingchen raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose. "It was my dad."

"Your dad?" Qin Xiang was stunned. ’It would have been more believable if he’d said it was his mom. After all, Jie Jingchen went to the hospital to tattle to his mother, not to the machinery factory to tattle to his father.’

Jie Jingchen had tattled to his mother, who had flown into a rage and called his father at the machinery factory to let him have it.

"Jie Jianguo, just look at the fine mess your mother has made! An Qi is pregnant, and she has the gall to insist the baby is Qin Xiang’s. We’re not idiots! This is Qin Xiang’s first time in Shijiu City, and An Qi is three months along. How could the baby possibly be his? Your mother even brought your second brother over to our home to demand Qin Xiang take responsibility! Where do they get the nerve? They’re clearly just trying to latch onto him. Jie Jianguo, your mother and your second brother have gone too far this time. I’m not going to argue with you. You have two choices: either we get a divorce, or you tell your parents to leave my house."

Faced with the choice between divorce and having his parents move out, Jie Jianguo chose the latter. His past self, blinded by foolish filial piety, would have chosen divorce without a second thought.

Then again, maybe not. The old Zhang Hongyan would never have had the courage to make him choose between her and his parents.

Jie Jianguo first calmed his wife down before giving orders to Jie Jianjun. As the eldest brother and the director of the machinery factory, his word was law, and Jie Jianjun had no choice but to obey.

Qin Xiang looked as if he’d just had an epiphany. He sized up Jie Jingchen for a long moment before giving him a thumbs-up. "Impressive. Truly impressive. I’m in awe."

’If tattling to his mom was that effective, why did I even bother trying to deal with Granny and the others for so long?’

Jie Jingchen broke into a roguish grin, casually tossing out three words. "Watch and learn."