Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”I’ll go make the herbal tea,” Qin Mei said.

”Okay.” Jie Jingchen didn’t object. They held hands as they walked out of the house, only parting ways once they were outside. Jie Jingchen headed for the kitchen, while Qin Mei went toward the room where the medicinal herbs were stored.

Qin Mei overheard Jie Jingling warning Sun Dexiang in a hushed voice, but she didn’t stick around to eavesdrop. She simply grabbed the herbs and left. Sun’s mother felt the same way as Jie Jingling; she didn’t say a word to defend her own daughter during the warning.

If Sun Dexiang had set her sights on Jing Wu, Sun’s mother would have pressured Jie Jingling, pushing her to rack her brains to make the match happen. But as fate would have it, the one Sun Dexiang wanted was Jing Si.

Seeing that nothing was getting through to her, Sun’s mother got angry too. ”Ah Xiang, you need to listen to your second sister-in-law. Don’t be a fool.”

”I don’t care! I’m going to marry Fourth... Fourth Brother Jing.” Sun Dexiang stopped calling him ”Fourth Brother,” switching to ”Fourth Brother Jing.”

Jie Jingling was furious. She grabbed Sun Dexiang and started to drag her out. ”Let’s go. You and Mom can stay in a hotel tonight. I’ll buy you train tickets for tomorrow.”

”I’m not going!” Sun Dexiang clung tightly to the edge of the bed, her eyes pleading with her mother. ”Mom, help me.”

Sun’s mother grew anxious. Her second daughter-in-law was trying to kick them out. Before they left, she had bragged to her own sister-in-law that Jie Jingling had specially invited them to Shijiu City to find a city suitor for Ah Xiang. She and her sister-in-law were rivals, friendly on the surface but constantly competing. The woman’s son-in-law was from the city, and his family had even arranged a respectable job for her daughter. Her sister-in-law was insufferably smug about it and never missed a chance to show off.

Sun’s mother was filled with envy, jealousy, and hate. She had secretly sworn that Ah Xiang had to marry better than her sister-in-law’s eldest daughter.

Goaded by her rival’s words, she had even declared that Ah Xiang would be staying in Shijiu City for good this time. If they returned to the village in disgrace, her sister-in-law would surely mock her. She would become the village laughingstock and would never be able to hold her head high again.

”Jing Ling, staying at a hotel costs money,” Sun’s mother hastily interjected. ”And it’s not like your family doesn’t have a spare room. Why waste money like that?”

”Mom, are you still going to protect her?” Jie Jingling said, her expression stern. ”My fourth brother is already married, and he and Amie have a wonderful relationship. For my little sister-in-law to dream of getting between them will only lead to her own humiliation.”

”I’m not protecting her. Jing Ling, don’t worry. On this matter, I absolutely support you,” Sun’s mother stated clearly.

Jie Jingling breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother-in-law could be muddle-headed about other things, but on this matter, she was thinking clearly. As long as she didn’t join her sister-in-law in this foolishness, it would be manageable.

”A divorce. Make them get a divorce,” Sun Dexiang said.

SLAP! Sun’s mother raised her hand and struck Sun Dexiang across the face. Sun Dexiang was stunned, and even Jie Jingling looked on in shock.

”SOB... Mom, you hit me,” Sun Dexiang wailed.

”Shut up,” Sun’s mother snapped, her face cold.

Sun Dexiang flinched, not daring to cry out loud anymore. She just sobbed resentfully.

Sun’s mother shot her daughter a glare, then turned to Jie Jingling with an assurance. ”Jing Ling, why don’t you go chat with Qin Mei for a bit? I’ll talk some sense into your sister-in-law. I promise you, I absolutely won’t let her cause any trouble.”

With her mother-in-law’s guarantee, Jie Jingling finally relented and walked out of the room. ’I’ve said what I needed to say and given my warnings. As long as Mom doesn’t side with her, this matter will be easy to resolve.’

After Jie Jingling left, Sun’s mother shut the door. She looked at Sun Dexiang, her face filled with heartache. A red handprint was still visible on her daughter’s cheek. She had been so furious just now that she hadn’t held back.

”Mom,” Sun Dexiang cried, tears streaming down her face. She looked up at her mother with an utterly wronged and pitiful expression.

”Sigh!” Sun’s mother sighed and poked her on the forehead. ”Oh, you! I don’t even know what to say. This is your second sister-in-law’s family home. This is their territory. Can’t you use your brain before you speak?”

Hearing this, Sun Dexiang’s eyes lit up. She grabbed her mother’s hand. ”Mom, you were just pretending to oppose me, but secretly you’re on my side, right?”

”Support you? My ass!” Sun’s mother glared at her. ”I oppose this openly, and I oppose it secretly. Ah Xiang, I’m warning you. Don’t you dare get any ideas about Jing Si. If you do, your second sister-in-law will not let you off easy.”

”Mom,” Sun Dexiang said, indignant. ”I just don’t get it. What is Second Sister-in-law even thinking? She’d rather help an outsider than me. She has no relationship with Qin Mei, but I’m her real sister-in-law! She should be helping me against Qin Mei, not helping Qin Mei against me.”

”What nonsense are you spouting?” Sun’s mother frowned, glaring at Sun Dexiang. ”Qin Mei is her fourth brother’s wife.”

”If Fourth Brother Jing and Qin Mei get a divorce, then Qin Mei won’t be her sister-in-law anymore,” Sun Dexiang argued. ”But I’m different. If I marry Fourth Brother Jing, even if we eventually get divorced, I’ll still be her sister-in-law.”