Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Shen Qing returned to her room and didn’t come out. Jie Jingjue went to Jie Jingshan’s room.

Mrs. Xie wanted to say a few more words to Qin Mei, but Mr. Xie pulled her back to their room.

Some of the neighbors secretly took note that Qin Mei could determine a baby’s gender just by checking a pulse.

"What a mess," Qin Mei sighed.

"People will definitely come to our door asking you to find out their baby’s gender for them," Jie Jingchen said as he helped Qin Mei into a wicker chair. Standing behind her, he began to gently massage her shoulders.

Qin Mei knew how to enjoy herself. When Jie Jingchen offered a shoulder rub, she simply let him, closing her eyes. "So they keep it if it’s a boy and kill it if it’s a girl?"

"Most hope for a boy, but a few hope for a girl," Jie Jingchen said. ’He, for instance, would prefer a girl.’

Qin Mei said nothing. ’Having a boy or a girl is a matter of fate. Is it really possible for everyone’s wishes and dreams to come true?’

"Qin Mei, what will you do if a neighbor brings a pregnant woman to see you?" Jie Jingchen asked, looking down at her closed eyes.

Qin Mei kept her eyes closed and snorted. "If they’re coming to find out the baby’s gender, I’ll turn every last one of them away."

"Turning them away isn’t a long-term solution," Jie Jingchen reminded her. "People can get almost fanatical when they’re desperate to know the baby’s gender."

Qin Mei opened her eyes and looked at Jie Jingchen. "Then I’ll just hop the wall and run for it! Hmph! If I can’t afford to provoke them, I can at least hide from them, can’t I?"

"Hiding isn’t a long-term solution, either." Jie Jingchen shook his head.

Qin Mei sat up straight and asked, exasperated, "This isn’t a long-term solution, and that isn’t a long-term solution. Do you have a better plan, then?"

"Money," Jie Jingchen said, uttering a single word.

"Money?" Qin Mei understood.

"That’s right. Money. We’ll set a clear price," Jie Jingchen said, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"How much?" Now Qin Mei was interested. ’She liked money. As long as money was on the table, they could have a proper discussion.’

"One thousand," Jie Jingchen said, holding up his index finger.

The corner of Qin Mei’s mouth twitched. "So greedy. A normal family would be lucky to scrape together a hundred yuan, let alone a thousand. I doubt anyone would be willing to pay that much just to know their baby’s gender."

Jie Jingchen pressed his thin lips together. After a long moment, he finally said, "The willing will take the bait."

Qin Mei fell silent. ’It’s not like I’m some ancient sage fishing for followers, with all this "willing will take the bait" talk! It’s obvious he doesn’t actually want to earn the money. But then again, earning it this way would make me feel awful, too.’

’Money should be earned happily. If it makes you miserable, it’s better not to earn it at all.’

"The left side, press harder. No, a little more to the left. Yes, yes, yes, right there. Harder! Ah! Jie Jingchen, are you trying to crush my bones? Lighter! Yes, yes, that’s the spot. That’s the right pressure." Qin Mei commanded Jie Jingchen, directing him from one spot to another. If his touch was too light, she’d snap at him. If it was too heavy, she’d yell. And when he got the pressure just right, she offered no praise.

Meanwhile, in Mr. and Mrs. Xie’s room, Mrs. Xie sat in a chair by the window. Mr. Xie stood behind her, doing the exact same thing as Jie Jingchen—massaging his wife’s shoulders and back.

"Pathetic," Mr. Xie sneered, glancing at Jie Jingchen in the courtyard.

Hearing that, Mrs. Xie opened her eyes. She watched her fourth son in the courtyard massaging his wife’s shoulders, her own eyes filled with pleasure. Turning to Mr. Xie, she smiled mockingly. "If your son is pathetic for massaging his wife’s shoulders, then what, may I ask, are you doing right now?"

"Heh," Mr. Xie chuckled, leaning down to give Mrs. Xie a kiss on the cheek. "We’re different. We’ve been married for over twenty years; they haven’t even been married for one. How can their relationship compare to ours?"

What Mr. Xie really wanted to say was that he doted on his wife in the privacy of their room, while that brat Jing Si was doing it out in the courtyard for all to see. If the neighbors saw him, there was no telling what rumors they’d spread.

"They’re blissful newlyweds," Mrs. Xie said, her stunning face full of smiles. She was happy to see her son and daughter-in-law getting along so well.

"Blissful newlyweds?" Mr. Xie rolled his eyes. "They’ve been married for almost a year."

"If the love is real, you’re newlyweds no matter how many years you’ve been married," Mrs. Xie replied.

Mr. Xie fell silent. He couldn’t refute her words; in fact, he agreed with them.

Mrs. Xie shifted into a more comfortable position, closed her eyes, and continued to enjoy her husband’s massage.

"They’ve been married for almost a year, but there’s been no news from Xiao Mei’s side. Yan Qiu, do you think there might be a health problem with them?" A trace of worry crossed Mr. Xie’s stern face.

Jing Er and Xu Chunyan had been married for years and only had Xiao You. Jing San and Qingshen had been married for quite some time, and they only had Xiao Duo. Jing Ling and her son-in-law also had just one daughter. He’d had three children with his first wife and four with Yan Qiu, though unfortunately, their sixth child hadn’t survived.

’Four sons and two daughters—so many children, yet they had only given him one grandson, one granddaughter, and one granddaughter from his daughter’s side. The drop in "production" was staggering.’

Mrs. Xie didn’t open her eyes, not bothering to respond.

"Yan Qiu," Mr. Xie persisted.

"Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t meddle in the young couple’s affairs after Jing Si split from the family?" Mrs. Xie asked sarcastically.

Mr. Xie paused, then frowned. "Having children is a major event for the Old Xie Family. No matter how angry I am, how could I not be concerned about them having a child?"

"Jing Si isn’t your only son. Besides, Jing Er has already given you a grandson," Mrs. Xie reminded him.

"How is that the same?" Mr. Xie stopped massaging her shoulders. ’When you get old, you hope to be surrounded by children and grandchildren.’

Mrs. Xie said nothing. She simply stood up, put on a jacket, and left the room.

Aunt Zhang was washing the dishes. When she saw Mrs. Xie enter the kitchen, she froze for a second before calling out with a smile, "Doctor Qiao."

Xu Chunyan was also in the kitchen helping Aunt Zhang. When Mrs. Xie came in, she hesitated for a few seconds before calling out, "Aunt Qiao."

"Thank you for your hard work." Mrs. Xie wore an elegant smile, but inwardly, she was a bit repulsed to see them washing dishes in the cooking wok. Jing Si and his wife used separate pots for cooking and for heating bathwater. Influenced by Qin Mei, Mrs. Xie wanted to do the same and had even given Aunt Zhang money to buy another pot, but Aunt Zhang kept putting it off.

"Doctor Qiao, just a moment. I’ll heat the bathwater as soon as I finish the dishes," Aunt Zhang said with a smile.

"Mm," Mrs. Xie replied coolly, saying nothing more before turning and leaving the kitchen.

Seeing Aunt Zhang let out a sigh of relief, Xu Chunyan rolled her eyes. "Auntie, what are you so afraid of her for?"

Aunt Zhang shot Xu Chunyan a sidelong glance, rendered speechless by her niece’s flippant remark. ’Qiao Yanqiu favors Qin Mei, and Qin Mei can’t stand me. And Jing Qi listens to everything Qin Mei says. I’m terrified Jing Qi will tell Qiao Yanqiu that I’ve mistreated him. Qiao Yanqiu’s breaking point is her three children. If she finds out I’ve been cruel to Jing Qi, she’ll throw me out of the Jie Family for sure.’

’If I leave the Jie Family, where will I find another job? I’d have no choice but to tuck my tail between my legs and go back to the countryside. But I’m used to life in the city now. In my heart, I’m a city person. Forcing me to go back to the village would be a fate worse than death.’

’I’ve had time to think things through. Rather than live in constant fear, I need to find another way forward.’

"Jing Er’s wife, if... I’m just saying, if..." Aunt Zhang was still wrestling with herself. ’Honestly, I don’t trust Xu Chunyan, but if this is going to work, I need her help.’

’In the entire Jie Family, only Xu Chunyan would ever help her. Shen Qing was too aloof and deliberately kept her distance; hoping for her help was out of the question.’

"If what?" Xu Chunyan asked impatiently when her aunt didn’t continue.

Aunt Zhang took a deep breath, leaned close to Xu Chunyan’s ear, and whispered, "Between me and Qiao Yanqiu, who would you rather have as your step-mother-in-law?"

Xu Chunyan froze, completely stunned. Her mind buzzed with her aunt’s words, and she gasped, "Auntie, you..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Aunt Zhang clamped a hand over Xu Chunyan’s mouth.

Xu Chunyan didn’t struggle. She didn’t even notice the grease on her aunt’s hand as she stared, wide-eyed, thoroughly terrified by what she had just heard.

"Have you calmed down?" Aunt Zhang whispered. When Xu Chunyan gave a numb nod, she finally released her hand.

But Xu Chunyan couldn’t calm down. Her voice rose in a shriek, "Aunt Zhang—Mmph!"