Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

’She just didn’t get it. What was so wrong with having An Qi marry Qin Xiang? It was one thing for Jing Si to side with an outsider, but now the eldest son was doing the same, egged on by them.’

”Second Daughter-in-law Jing, give it to me,” Grandpa said to Xu Chunyan with a smile.

”It’s alright, Grandpa. If you could just give me a hand and put it on my shoulder, I can carry it,” Xu Chunyan said, smiling at Grandpa. She was furious inside, but she wouldn’t show a hint of displeasure right now.

Seeing her insist, Grandpa didn’t argue. ”If you can’t carry it, just say so.”

”Okay,” Xu Chunyan nodded.

With Grandpa’s help, the bundle was successfully placed on Xu Chunyan’s shoulder. It was so heavy that Xu Chunyan’s back bent under the weight, and she struggled to take a step.

”Granny, and Grandpa, can you please not go? I like you, I’ll miss you, I don’t want you to go,” Jie You whined, hugging Granny’s leg.

Hearing her son’s words, Xu Chunyan’s footing became unsteady, and she almost fell. ’Is that what I taught him to say?’

’She had taught her son to put on a good show for Granny, preferably by crying and making a scene about how much he’d miss them. But she’d never told him to ask them to stay.’

”My precious great-grandson, Granny’s love for you wasn’t wasted after all.” Granny squatted down and hugged Jie You, pressing her wrinkled face tightly against Xiao You’s cheek.

Granny had a certain smell about her, and she loved to eat garlic, so her breath was especially strong. The overpowering odor was almost too much for the little guy to bear, but he endured it, remembering his mother’s words.

”Granny, I don’t want you to go! Please stay, okay?” Jie You cried and fussed.

”Precious great-grandson, it’s not that Granny wants to leave. It’s that *they* can’t stand to have me here.” Granny cupped the little one’s soft cheeks and, puckering her lips, planted kisses on his face.

Slobbered on, Jie You felt disgusted. He wriggled out of Granny’s embrace and grabbed her arm instead, shaking it. ”I don’t care! I don’t want Granny to go! I don’t want Granny to go!”

Xu Chunyan’s scalp prickled. ’Oh, you little troublemaker! Stop talking! If you actually manage to convince them to stay, your mom’s wallet is going to take a major hit.’

But Xu Chunyan didn’t dare stop him; it would look too deliberate. Granny and Grandpa were both sharp. How could they not see through her little scheme?

Seeing Qin Mei standing in the doorway, an idea struck Xu Chunyan. Shifting the bundle on her shoulder, she shouted, ”Fourth Sister-in-law, I’m having a little trouble keeping this steady! Help me hold it for a second. I’m afraid it’s going to fall off my shoulder.”

”Sorry. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Qin Mei refused flatly.

This was expected, so Xu Chunyan wasn’t surprised. She reminded her, ”This is Grandpa and Granny’s bundle. They’re getting old. We can’t let them carry it themselves, can we?”

”You could carry it when they arrived, but you can’t carry it now that they’re leaving. Second Sister-in-law, what exactly are you trying to say?” Qin Mei leaned lazily against the doorframe, flicking her nails. Her gaze on Xu Chunyan was full of amusement.

’It wasn’t me who invited Grandpa and Granny over. Besides, there are men in the house, and Jie Jingjue is right outside. Xu Chunyan didn’t ask any of them for help, but she singled me out. What is she scheming? As if I wouldn’t know.’

’She’s just trying to use me to show off how filial she is in front of Grandpa and Granny. I really don’t know what Xu Chunyan is thinking. When Grandpa and Granny moved in, Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing moved out to his mother-in-law’s house. Jie Jingwei is away on business. As Jie Jingwei’s wife, she’s falling all over herself to suck up to Granny. Isn’t she afraid that her own deceased mother-in-law is watching from the heavens?’

Xu Chunyan’s heart sank. She whipped her head around to look at Granny and, sure enough, Granny’s expression had changed. Xu Chunyan quickly turned back, glaring daggers at Qin Mei. ”Fourth Sister-in-law, you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t say I couldn’t carry it. I said I couldn’t keep it steady and asked you to help me balance it.”

”Is there a difference?” Qin Mei’s expression was placid, her deep almond eyes fixed on Xu Chunyan.

’Jingchen’s complaint certainly had a remarkable effect!’

’And now, Grandpa and Granny are moving back out.’

Xu Chunyan wanted to curse. ’No difference? The difference is huge!’ ”Fourth Sister-in-law...”

”Alright, that’s enough. You could have asked anyone for help, but you asked her? It’d be a miracle if she actually helped you,” Granny interrupted Xu Chunyan and walked towards her. ”I’ll help you.”

”Granny, don’t! You’re getting on in years. If anything were to happen, I couldn’t bear the responsibility,” Xu Chunyan hastily refused.

”What could happen? Is the bundle going to fall and kill me? That would be even better! It would save me from being despised by everyone,” Granny said viciously.

Xu Chunyan didn’t dare to respond. Hoisting the bundle, she walked quickly toward the main gate.

”Xiao You, stop crying now. Study hard in school, pay attention in class, and listen to your dad and the others at home,” Grandpa said to Jie You.