Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Qin Xiang’s head was buzzing. ’Can I still get a train ticket if I pack my things and head back to Yangcheng City right now?’

”Jing Qi, I’ll walk you back to your room.” Qin Mei supported Jie Jingshan as they headed toward her room.

”I’m going to heat up some bathwater,” Jie Jingchen said, about to head for the kitchen, but Qin Xiang grabbed him.

”What bathwater?” Qin Xiang gripped Jie Jingchen’s wrist tightly. ’You want to ditch me? Dream on.’

”What do you mean, ’what bathwater’? It’s bathwater for taking a bath, of course.” Jie Jingchen deliberately misinterpreted Qin Xiang’s question.

Qin Xiang glared at him, gritting his teeth. ”I’m not taking a bath.”

”We need to take a bath.” Jie Jingchen tried to pull his wrist from Qin Xiang’s grasp, but Qin Xiang only squeezed harder, refusing to let go.

”Heat it up later.” Qin Xiang pulled Jie Jingchen over to Granny, moved a rattan chair, and forcefully pushed him down into it. He then sat on a stone stool, keeping a hand on Jie Jingchen’s shoulder to prevent him from escaping.

Granny glanced at her grandson. ’With him here, I’m not sure he won’t ruin An Qi’s matchmaking prospects.’

”Jing Si, weren’t you going to heat up the bathwater?” Granny clearly didn’t want Jie Jingchen there.

”Granny, I wanted to go, but my brother-in-law won’t let me.” Jie Jingchen gave Granny a helpless look. ’Can’t she see that Qin Xiang is forcing me to stay?’

”Granny, Jing Si and I are good brothers. We have no secrets between us. It’s fine, go ahead and speak. We’re listening,” Qin Xiang urged. ’The sooner she says it, the sooner this will be over.’

Granny didn’t insist on Jie Jingchen leaving. She looked at Qin Xiang with a kindly smile. ”Xiao Xiangzi, I hear you’re from Yangcheng. Are you getting used to the food here in Shijiu City?”

”I am,” Qin Xiang replied with a smile.

Granny nodded repeatedly. ”That’s good, that’s good. Xiao Xiangzi, what do you think of that granddaughter of mine?”

”She’s great. Well-behaved, sensible, and she hasn’t been defeated by her setbacks. She hasn’t lost hope in life because of the disability in her legs...”

”I’m not talking about Jing Qi,” Granny interrupted. ”I’m asking about An Qi. What do you think of An Qi?”

”Granny, don’t you already know what your granddaughter An Qi is like?” Jie Jingchen asked.

”Shut up.” Granny glared at Jie Jingchen. ’This grandson really is trying to sabotage me.’

”They’re not a good match,” Jie Jingchen said bluntly. Qin Xiang was too reserved to refuse directly, but Jie Jingchen had no such qualms.

”How are they not a good match? I think they’re perfect for each other. A talented man and a beautiful woman—they’re a perfect match.” Granny glared at Jie Jingchen. ’I could just strangle this grandson. There’s a reason I don’t like him. If Jing Si could just treat me the way An Lin does, it would be impossible for me not to dote on him.’

”Our cousin An Qi isn’t good enough for Qin Xiang,” Jie Jingchen said.

Granny was furious. She demanded, ”How is An Qi not good enough for Xiao Xiangzi?”

”In every way,” Jie Jingchen’s tone was harsh.

Granny glared angrily at Jie Jingchen and waved her hand dismissively. ”I’m not going to argue with you. You can’t make decisions for Xiao Xiangzi anyway. Xiao Xiangzi, are you interested in my granddaughter An Qi?”

”I...” Qin Xiang shot Jie Jingchen a look that pleaded for help.

”It doesn’t matter if he’s interested or not; nothing would come of it even if he were.” Jie Jingchen glanced at Qin Xiang, then added, ”He’s already seeing someone.”

”Nonsense. I asked him, and Xiao Xiangzi said he wasn’t seeing anyone.” Granny didn’t believe her grandson. ’I only thought about setting him up with An Qi because he told me he was single. I even hosted this dinner for that very reason!’

”Granny, he wasn’t seeing anyone before you tried to set him up with our cousin An Qi. Now that you’re trying, suddenly he is. He’s giving everyone a way to save face. You’d be wise to take it, or An Qi is the only one who will be embarrassed in the end,” Jie Jingchen warned.

Granny understood Jie Jingchen’s meaning. It seemed they had figured out her intentions. ’So they’re telling me Xiao Xiangzi isn’t interested in An Qi.’ She waved her hand. ”If he’s not interested, he’s not interested. You could have just said so. Why beat around the bush?”

Qin Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. ’Jing Si’s grandmother seems more reasonable than I thought.’ ”Granny, I’m sorry. Your granddaughter and I... we just didn’t click.”

”It’s fine if you’re not interested in An Qi. I’ll arrange for you to meet another one of my granddaughters tomorrow,” Granny said.

Qin Xiang instantly regretted speaking. He looked at Jie Jingchen with a pained expression.

”Granny, what is it about this kid that you like so much? Why are you so dead set on making him your grandson-in-law?” Jie Jingchen asked directly.

Granny glared at him. ’Could she really admit it was because of his generosity? The first-meeting gift from Qin Xiang had contained a whole hundred yuan. So generous! And he’s a soldier, too—his future is boundless!’

”I like his looks, and I like his character,” Granny lied.