Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang thought the same way: rich people lived in apartment buildings, unless they were poor.

Housing in the city was tight. Multiple generations were often crammed into tiny houses, with some living conditions even worse than in the countryside. But people from the countryside still envied city dwellers, especially those living in apartment buildings—it was something many rural people yearned for.

Jie Jingling had been a sent-down youth. Sun’s mother heard her family was well-off, and that she was pretty, honest, and hardworking, so she had a matchmaker introduce her to her second son. Jie Jingling refused at first, so Sun’s mother sent different matchmakers to persuade her. After a few more tries, Jie Jingling agreed.

”First, have your second sister-in-law’s dad arrange a job for you,” Sun’s mother said.

”I don’t want a job, I want to get married,” Sun Dexiang said.

”Are you stupid? With a job, people in the city won’t look down on you. With a job, you’ll have a chance to marry into the city and live in an apartment building,” Sun’s mother said.

”What about the household registration?” Sun Dexiang asked, then continued, ”Without a city household registration, you definitely can’t find a good job. I heard from the other girls in the village that without a city registration, you can only do the hardest, dirtiest jobs, or work as a maid for a rich family. I’m the one who gets waited on at home. I’m not doing a servant’s work.”

Sun’s mother couldn’t bear the thought of her youngest daughter doing servant’s work, nor could she stand her doing hard, dirty labor. She thought for a moment and said, ”Have your second sister-in-law ask her dad to sort it out for you.”

”Can Second Sister-in-law’s dad really solve my household registration problem?” Sun Dexiang was skeptical.

Sun’s mother fell silent. It was hard to say.

She didn’t know much about Jie Jingling’s family. She had only heard from Jie Jingling that after her biological mother died, her father married another woman. Her father was a factory director, and her stepmother was a doctor. Jing Er and Jing San were her full siblings, while Jing Si, Jing Wu, and Jing Qi were her stepmother’s children.

”If Second Sister-in-law’s dad is so powerful, why didn’t he find a way to get her back to the city when she was sent to the countryside as a sent-down youth? Mom, I’m telling you, don’t get your hopes up. The bigger the hope, the bigger the disappointment,” Sun Dexiang said.

”Alright, stop overthinking it. We’ll take it one step at a time,” Sun’s mother said.

Hearing the mother and daughter’s conversation, Qin Mei was speechless, while Jie Jingling was mortified.

Jie Jingling knew full well their real reason for insisting on coming to Shijiu City with her. But hearing them discuss it so openly in her family’s home still made her feel deeply embarrassed.

”Amie.” Jie Jingling gazed at Qin Mei.

Qin Mei gave her a reassuring smile and pulled Jie Jingling into her room to cool off by the fan.

”Amie, I’m sorry.” Qin Mei sat on the edge of the bed while Jie Jingling sat on a chair, the fan blowing toward them.

”Sister, they are who they are, and you are you.” Qin Mei frowned at Jie Jingling, a hint of displeasure in her eyes. She had lived with the Sun Family for half a year and had gotten to know them a little.

Sun’s mother was petty and greedy, but while she arranged Qin Mei’s three meals a day for the money, at least she never gave her a hard time. As for the others... Qin Mei did no chores and was still fed and clothed. It would be a lie to say they didn’t have a problem with it. But for the sake of the ten yuan a month from Jie Jingchen, and with Mr. Sun and Sun’s mother keeping them in check, they dared not voice their anger.

The only ones who treated her with genuine kindness were Jie Jingling and Sun Tong.

Qin Mei knew that on top of the ten yuan from Jie Jingchen each month, Jie Jingling also gave Sun’s mother an extra five yuan.

”I shouldn’t have given in and brought them here.” Jie Jingling was filled with regret.

”Sister.” Qin Mei took Jie Jingling’s hand. ”They’re already here. There’s no point in saying this now. It’s not like you can just buy two train tickets and send them back.”

Jie Jingling gave a bitter smile. Even if she did buy two train tickets, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law wouldn’t leave.

Her mother-in-law had raised hell at home just to come with her. She had originally planned to arrive on the tenth, but because of her mother-in-law’s antics, she had been delayed until now.

Jie Jingling had a real headache when it came to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, but she was completely helpless.

”I’ve caused you so much trouble,” Jie Jingling said.

”Sister, you’re my sister, and more importantly, you’re Jie Jingchen’s sister. This is your family’s home, so it’s perfectly normal for you to bring your mother-in-law and sister-in-law here for a visit,” Qin Mei said.

”Amie.” Jie Jingling wasn’t comforted. She looked at Qin Mei, hesitating to speak.

”Are you worried about my mom?” Qin Mei asked tentatively.

A sour feeling welled up in Jie Jingling’s heart, and her expression grew complicated. ”It’s not just Aunt Qiao. I’m also worried about Second Brother’s wife and Third Brother’s wife.”

”Sister.” Qin Mei gripped her shoulders and said with a smile, ”You’re worrying for nothing. My mom won’t cause any trouble, and neither will Third Sister-in-law. As for that Second Sister-in-law, she and Second Brother don’t even live here.”

Jie Jingling fell silent. Jing Er had called her to complain about being sent to the machinery factory. She didn’t know Second Brother’s wife or Third Brother’s wife well. As for Lin Yaru... honestly, she had been shocked to learn that Jing Er had divorced Xu Chunyan and that his second wife was Lin Yaru. Lin Yaru had been in love with Jing Si, yet she had married Jing Er. ’Aunt Qiao was right to make Jing Er move to the machinery factory.’

’Otherwise, how awkward would it be for them to live in the same courtyard! What if...’

’No, no, no! There is no ”what if.” Knowing Jing Si’s character, now that he’s married Amie, he’ll be completely devoted. He would never be fickle and do something to betray Amie.’

Jie Jingling wasn’t up-to-date on the situation between Jie Jingchen and Lin Yaru. She had thought they were in love and that it was only a matter of time before Jie Jingchen married her, but then Qin Mei had come into the picture.

As for why Jie Jingchen married Qin Mei, Jing Si had never told her, and she had never asked. She could tell that Jing Si had been forced into the marriage; there was even an inexplicable anger in him. There wasn’t a trace of love in his marriage to Qin Mei. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have just dumped her on Jie Jingling for half a year.

When Qin Mei went to Shanghai to take care of the injured Jing Si, Jie Jingling had been very worried. She had even mentally prepared herself for Qin Mei to return with their divorce papers. She had already decided that if Jing Si really did divorce Qin Mei, she would take care of Qin Mei as her sister.

But then Jing Si had called her to say that he was bringing Qin Mei back to Shijiu City.

Seeing them this time, she was so relieved. The way Jing Si looked at Qin Mei was filled with deep affection. ’Jing Si has fallen in love with Qin Mei. This is a good thing.’ She was happy to see it happen.

As for the matter between Lin Yaru and Jing Si, since they didn’t bring it up, she naturally wouldn’t ask. She lived far away, and her family’s affairs were beyond her reach. They would only tell her the important things.

For example, that their aunt had been driven away by Granny and sent back to the countryside, that Jing Er had divorced Xu Chunyan and married Lin Yaru, that Jing Er had moved to the machinery factory—they wouldn’t tell her the reasons, only the results.

”Amie, do you love my fourth brother?” Jie Jingling squeezed Qin Mei’s hand, her expression gentle and serious.

Jie Jingchen happened to hear this. He froze, hesitated for a second, and then, before they could spot him, decisively pulled his foot back, spun around, and hid outside the door to eavesdrop.

’His parents gave him life, but his eldest sister was the one who truly knew him.’ He desperately wanted to ask Qin Mei: *Do you love me?* They had been married for a year—separated for six months, together for six. As they slowly got to know each other, his heart had gradually surrendered. He had fallen in love with her. But what about her?

Jie Jingchen leaned against the wall. The usually calm and composed man was anything but calm now. He was thirty percent nervous, thirty percent expectant, and forty percent terrified.

”Ah!” Qin Mei froze, not expecting Jie Jingling to suddenly ask if she loved Jie Jingchen. The topic had shifted so quickly she couldn’t quite follow Jie Jingling’s train of thought.

”You’ve fallen in love with my fourth brother,” Jie Jingling said with a smile. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

Qin Mei fell silent for a moment, flustered. ”Sister,” she said helplessly.

”My fourth brother is a good man. He’s worthy of your love,” Jie Jingling said, unconditionally supporting her own brother.

A blush crept onto Qin Mei’s cheeks, and she shyly avoided Jie Jingling’s gaze. Her eyes weren’t sharp; on the contrary, they were very gentle, yet they seemed to see right through her.