Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Qin Mei collected her thoughts and watched Qin Xiang unhurriedly. ”What exactly are you trying to say?”

Qin Xiang’s mouth twitched. ’Was my hint that subtle? I thought I was being obvious.’ ”In our village, there are two major family names: Jiang and Qin.”

She and Jiang Yuan were from the same village. Thinking about the way Jiang Yuan looked at her, combined with Qin Xiang’s hint, Qin Mei would have to be an idiot not to see what he was getting at.

Her mouth fell open in surprise. Qin Mei took a long moment to process this, then swallowed and asked tentatively, ”Brother, the person Jiang Yuan likes... it couldn’t be me, could it?”

Qin Xiang’s silence was his answer.

”Brother, was it my unrequited love for him, or his for me?” Qin Mei asked.

A strange, complicated look appeared in Qin Xiang’s eyes. ’How was he supposed to answer that?’ Their relationship hadn’t originally been that complicated, but Qin Mei had gone and made it so.

The man Qin Mei had married to ward off ill fortune was Jiang Yuan’s older cousin. This involved Qin Mei’s first marriage, and Qin Xiang had promised Jie Jingchen he wouldn’t tell Qin Mei that she had been married before.

After a brief internal struggle, Qin Xiang brazenly said, ”He was the one who loved you and couldn’t have you.”

Qin Mei was instantly smug. ”He’s not as handsome as Jie Jingsi. Definitely not my type.”

Qin Xiang was speechless. He wanted to retort that back when she was running around the village in split-crotch pants, Jie Jingchen was still living it up as a rich young master in Xiangjiang.

Jiang Yuan had seen her toddling around like that. Jie Jingchen certainly hadn’t.

If his little sister hadn’t become a bride to ward off bad luck, she would have married Jiang Yuan, and Jie Jingchen would have been out of the picture.

”When it comes to looks, besides me, no one else can compare to Jing Si,” Qin Xiang said shamelessly.

Qin Mei fell silent. ’Qin Xiang’s looks really can rival Jie Jingchen’s,’ she thought. ’I’m a sucker for a pretty face. My soul transmigrated into this body. If I’d ended up in Jing Qi’s body, I’d have chased Qin Xiang to the ends of the earth.’

”Little sister, don’t meet with Jiang Yuan anymore,” Qin Xiang said, his tone turning serious.

Qin Mei asked with a smile, ”Why? Worried Jie Jingchen will get jealous?”

Qin Xiang gave her a sidelong glance. ”I’m worried it will be awkward if you two meet.”

”Don’t worry, I have amnesia. It won’t be awkward for me to see him,” Qin Mei said. ’Thinking about the way Jiang Yuan looked at me... it wasn’t awkwardness, but hidden affection. He was the original owner’s childhood sweetheart, but I’m not her. I won’t divorce Jie Jingchen for his sake.’

”I’m not afraid you’ll be awkward seeing him. I’m afraid you’ll... make a mistake.” Qin Xiang forced himself to say ”make a mistake” instead of the ”rekindle old feelings” that was on the tip of his tongue.

”As long as Jie Jingchen doesn’t make any mistakes of principle, our marriage is indestructible,” Qin Mei said firmly. ’Make a mistake? That definitely won’t be me.’

”Jing Si won’t make any mistakes of principle,” Qin Xiang said with certainty. He was very clear on Jie Jingchen’s character.

Qin Mei didn’t press the issue. The two chatted idly for a bit longer before she left Qin Xiang’s room. She was wandering aimlessly through the hospital when she ran into Dean Zhang. Her first instinct was to spin around and make a run for it.

”Xiao Mei,” Dean Zhang called out, stopping her. His normally serious face softened into a kind and friendly expression upon seeing her.

”Heh heh, Uncle Zhang.” Qin Mei turned back around, beaming at Dean Zhang.

”Xiao Mei, come on, let’s go to my office,” Dean Zhang said, beckoning to her.

”Uncle Zhang, I have something to do,” Qin Mei said, not wanting to go. She was in no mood for one of the dean’s motivational lectures.

”Let’s go to my office to discuss Jiali’s follow-up treatment plan.” Dean Zhang gave her a reason she couldn’t refuse. After all, the reason she was still at the hospital after the surgery was to observe Xu Jiali’s postoperative reaction.

A follow-up treatment plan was, indeed, very necessary.

A middle-aged woman was sitting in Dean Zhang’s office. When Dean Zhang introduced them, Qin Mei was stunned. ’This woman is a titan in the world of traditional Chinese medicine! In front of her, I feel like an amateur showing off in front of a master.’

”Doctor Li,” Qin Mei said respectfully.

Li Mei paused, her scrutinizing gaze studying Qin Mei intently. Compared to being called the modern ’Doctor Li’, she much preferred the more traditional form of address Qin Mei had used.

A complex emotion flickered in Li Mei’s otherwise cold eyes. She deliberately softened her tone. ”Xiao Mei, no need to be so formal. You’re my junior sister’s daughter-in-law, and I’m her senior sister. You can just call me Aunt Li.”

”Alright, Aunt Li,” Qin Mei replied, poised and graceful, though inwardly she was ecstatic.

”Xiao Mei, you’re very skilled,” Li Mei said. She wasn’t one to give praise lightly, but with Qin Mei, she was being completely sincere. ”Even I was at a loss with Jing Qi’s leg, yet you managed to heal it.”

”Aunt Li, you’re too modest,” Qin Mei said with a smile. ”In the world of traditional medicine, it’s not a matter of your skills being inferior or mine being superior. It’s just that my specialty is acupuncture.”