Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”Second Brother and Lin Yaru got their marriage license,” Jie Jingshan said.

”So?” Jie Jinghun wasn’t surprised. He already knew.

Jie Jingshan took a deep breath and quickly explained the situation. After hearing her out, Jie Jinghun was speechless.

Shen Qing stepped forward and rubbed the back of Jie Jingshan’s head. ”Don’t worry, Mom and Dad will handle it.”

”Lin Yaru is pregnant,” Jie Jingshan said, looking up at Shen Qing, her eyes filled with worry.

”You’re worrying for nothing. Lin Yaru is pregnant with Second Brother’s child, not Fourth Brother’s. Come on, stop making things harder for yourself. It’s too hot out here. Let’s go back inside and turn on the fan,” Jie Jinghun said.

Hearing Jie Jinghun’s words, Shen Qing shot him a glare. ’Honestly, the things he says.’

Shen Qing glanced toward Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei’s room but didn’t say anything. She headed back inside. It really was hot out; sweat had already soaked through her clothes.

Jie Jinghun handed his briefcase to Shen Qing and went to the kitchen to cook. Besides making food for himself and Shen Qing, he also had to cook for his dad and Aunt Qiao. As for Jing Wu, he ate wherever was convenient, which was usually at Jing Si’s place.

The weather was too hot, and no one had an appetite. Jie Jingchen made some congee and a pumpkin and mung bean soup, just as Qin Mei had asked. He didn’t make any stir-fries, just a cold side dish.

”Meimei, Jing Qi, time to eat,” Jie Jingchen called out from the kitchen doorway.

Jie Jinghun heard him and was speechless again. He had only just started cooking, and Jie Jingchen was already calling people to eat. ’That was way too fast.’

Jie Jinghun put down his matches, walked out of his kitchen, and went up to Jie Jingchen with a dazzlingly innocent smile.

”Don’t give me that smile. If you have something to say, just say it,” Jie Jingchen said, his voice low.

”It’s too hot, and I don’t have much of an appetite. Fourth Brother, what did you make?” Jie Jinghun asked.

”Congee, pumpkin and mung bean soup, and cold cucumber salad,” Jie Jingchen replied.

Jie Jinghun immediately decided to stop cooking and freeload off his fourth brother instead. He raised his voice and yelled toward the house, ”Honey, Fourth Brother is inviting us to eat with them!”

Jie Jingchen was silent.

’Did I invite them? I don’t think so.’

”If you don’t cook, what will Mom and Dad eat when they get back?” Jie Jingchen asked. As for Jing Wu, he didn’t really care. If there was food, he’d eat; if not, he wouldn’t.

”They can fend for themselves. Besides, if I don’t cook, can’t they cook for themselves? I’m not their nanny.” Jie Jinghun pushed past Jie Jingchen, who was blocking the doorway, and expertly went to the cupboard to get some bowls. There was half a pot of pumpkin and mung bean soup and half a large crock of congee. An enamel basin also held three bowls of congee, cooling in cold water. ”This is way more than enough for the three of you. Even with the two of us, Mom, Dad, and Jing Wu, we probably wouldn’t be able to finish it all.”

Jie Jingchen ignored him, crossing his arms and leaning lazily against the doorframe.

Jie Jinghun ladled out two bowls of congee and two bowls of pumpkin and mung bean soup. He then took the enamel basin, filled it halfway with cool water, and placed the two bowls of congee inside to chill.

There really wasn’t enough cucumber salad, so Jie Jinghun went to the yard and picked a few more. After washing them, he placed them on the cutting board, grabbed a kitchen knife, gave them a good smash, and mixed them into a new batch.

When Jie Jingchen saw Qin Mei and Jing Qi coming out of the room carrying a fan, he hurried over to take it from them. Qin Mei shook out her hands. The fans from this era were built solid, and they weighed a ton.

Shen Qing came out of her room, and seeing them with a fan, she hesitated for a few seconds before turning around and going back inside. She emerged carrying her fan as well.

The five of them gathered around the dining table with three fans blowing on them. The congee paired with cold cucumber salad was quite refreshing.

”Meimei, eat this.” Jie Jingchen pushed the cucumber salad he’d made in front of Qin Mei.

Qin Mei liked spicy food, and Jie Jingchen usually catered to her tastes. But it was too hot, and spicy food wasn’t good in this weather. They needed to eat something light, so he hadn’t added any chili to his cucumber salad.

Jie Jinghun, however, hadn’t held back. He’d thrown in whatever spices he could find. Both he and Shen Qing could handle spice, so his cucumber salad was heavily seasoned and perfectly suited to Qin Mei’s palate.

”Jing Qi, you eat this.” Qin Mei pushed the other cucumber salad in front of Jing Qi. Jing Qi couldn’t handle spicy food, so this one suited their taste.

”Hahaha! Fourth Brother, I mean, really? Was that necessary?” Jie Jinghun couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Jie Jingchen glared at him, his amber eyes glinting coldly. ’Next time,’ he vowed, ’I’ll make sure not to cook this much. I’ll make sure they won’t get to freeload here again.’

”What was necessary?” Mrs. Xie asked, standing in the kitchen doorway. She had just overheard Jie Jinghun teasing Jie Jingchen.

”Aunt Qiao, it’s nothing. Come on in and eat,” Jie Jinghun said, getting up to ladle some congee for Mrs. Xie.

Jie Jingchen felt another wave of frustration. They had already divided the family property; this was *his* kitchen.

Mrs. Xie walked into the kitchen with a smile, sat down next to Jing Qi, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and started to eat.