Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 171: Chapter 71: Dad, Mom, I Want to Split the Family

”Jing Si, don’t tease Jing Wu. He has a girlfriend,” Xu Chunyan couldn’t help but say. ’Jing Wu is unmarried. If Hu Wan’er really sets her sights on him, what will Aiyun do?’

’Since they all live in the same courtyard, with Aunt Zhang secretly fanning the flames, it would be easy for Jing Wu and Hu Wan’er to get together.’

”Yes, that’s right! I have a girlfriend. Fourth Brother, don’t just pair people up randomly. It’s bad for our cousin Wan’er’s reputation.” Jie Jingjue shot Xu Chunyan a grateful look.

Mrs. Xie watched Jie Jingjue, lost in thought. ’If Jing Wu marries Bai Aiyun... One Xu Chunyan is already more than I can handle. Adding a Bai Aiyun on top of that...’ Mrs. Xie got a headache just thinking about it.

”I’m really fine, no need to waste the burn cream. Everyone, eat.” Aunt Zhang seized the opportunity to speak. ’The son-in-law I want is Jing Si, not Jing Wu. My daughter has her eyes on Jing Si, too.’ At the thought of Jing Si being married, Aunt Zhang’s gaze on Qin Mei turned increasingly hostile. With a beaming smile, she urged, ”Fourth Wife of Jing, drink your chicken soup.”

Qin Mei glanced at the large bowl of chicken soup before her, the corners of her lips curling into a smirk. She stated bluntly, ”This chicken soup you made? I wouldn’t dare eat it.”

This was tearing all pretense of cordiality apart in public. Aunt Zhang’s face went deathly pale, and her voice was laced with anguish. ”Fourth Wife of Jing, what do you mean by that?”

Qin Mei sneered. ”You can’t stand me, and I don’t like you either. Who knows, you might have spit in my chicken soup. You’d watch me slurp it down with relish and be laughing your head off on the inside. I’m a germaphobe. I’m not eating your spit.”

A flicker of panic flashed across Aunt Zhang’s face, gone in an instant. Suppressing her guilt, she pinched her own thigh hard. The pain brought tears to her eyes, and she looked at Qin Mei with an aggrieved, heartbroken expression. ”Nonsense! I’m your aunt.”

”No.” Qin Mei chuckled and shook her head. She pointed at Jie Jingwei and Jie Jinghun and said to Aunt Zhang, ”You’re *their* blood-related aunt, not ours.”

Aunt Zhang was rendered speechless, her eyes pleading with Xu Chunyan for help.

Xu Chunyan was conflicted. ’I’ll put the issue with Jing Wu aside for now. Right now, I need to team up with Aunt Zhang to deal with Qin Mei.’ ”Fourth Sister-in-law, what you said is too hurtful to Auntie. Yes, I admit that Jing Si, Jing Wu, and Jing Qi are not related to Auntie by blood. But she treats them better than her actual blood relatives, Jing Er and Jing San. Especially Jing Qi—Auntie raised her personally. They have the closest relationship. Aunt Qiao, have I spoken a single word of falsehood?”

Mrs. Xie paused mid-chew. After slowly finishing what was in her mouth, she was silent for a few seconds before her red lips parted. ”One does not speak at the table.”

Qin Mei’s lip twitched. ’The war of words started the moment we sat down. For Mrs. Xie to say this now is just plain perfunctory.’

At this, Aunt Zhang wiped her eyes and started to cry. ”I swear to God, forget spitting—I don’t even dare to talk when I’m cooking, for fear a drop of spit might land in the pan! Brother-in-law, am I really that kind of person?”

Mr. Xie glanced at Mrs. Xie, then his gaze swept past Aunt Zhang before finally landing on Qin Mei. He sighed. ”Xiao Mei, once you trust someone, you shouldn’t doubt them. And if you doubt them, you shouldn’t trust them.”

Qin Mei smiled and carefully pushed the bowl of chicken soup in front of Xu Chunyan. Xu Chunyan’s face fell. Glaring at Qin Mei, she demanded, ”What do you think you’re doing?”

”I haven’t touched it. You drink it,” Qin Mei said succinctly.

Xu Chunyan froze, her eyes flicking to the chicken soup with a trace of disgust. ”Auntie made this soup just for you, to help you recuperate. *I* didn’t have a miscarriage, so why would I drink it?”

”I didn’t have a miscarriage either, so why would I drink it?” Qin Mei shot back, mimicking Xu Chunyan’s tone. Xu Chunyan was left speechless. Qin Mei continued, ”See? You won’t even drink it. Aunt Zhang clearly added some ’special ingredients’ to this soup, and you’re obviously in on it.”

’Of course I’m in on it,’ she thought. ’I’m not just in on it, I’m a participant. Besides my spit and Aunt Zhang’s, we added something even more disgusting.’

”Fourth Wife of Jing, we have no quarrel with each other. Must you slander me like this?” Aunt Zhang looked at Jie Jingchen, deeply hurt, and demanded tearfully, ”Jing Si, are you just going to let your wife make these wild accusations against me?”

A sharp glint flashed in Jie Jingchen’s eyes. He picked up the bowl of chicken soup and raised it to his lips.

”Jie Jingchen!” Qin Mei grabbed his wrist. ’What is this guy doing? He’s not actually going to drink it, is he? Isn’t he disgusted?’

Jie Jingchen gave Qin Mei a reassuring smile and gently pulled her hand from his wrist. He wasn’t planning to drink it; he just took a sniff. Then, looking at Aunt Zhang, he said, ”It smells wonderful. Honey, you should smell it.”

Jie Jingchen held the soup out to Qin Mei again. Under his expectant gaze, Qin Mei took a perfunctory sniff and nodded dismissively. ”Yes, it’s quite fragrant.”