Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

”I know,” Mrs. Xie replied.

”I have more shares than you do,” Qin Mei reminded her.

”That’s normal,” Mrs. Xie said nonchalantly.

Qin Mei said no more. When Mr. Xie came home from work and saw her, he was in an excellent mood.

”Xiao Mei, you’re back?” The smile on Mr. Xie’s face was genuine.

”Dad.” Qin Mei was a little baffled. ’My father-in-law is acting so strange today. Is it true that absence makes the heart grow fonder?’

’No wonder so many young people in later generations don’t want to live with their elders. Familiarity breeds contempt when you see each other daily, but occasional visits are met with overflowing enthusiasm.’

”You keep your mother company. I’ll go make dinner,” Mr. Xie said.

Only then did Qin Mei notice that in addition to his briefcase, Mr. Xie was also carrying a mesh bag filled with meat and vegetables. ’My father-in-law is cooking? The sun must have risen in the west.’

Jie Jingchen woke up. ”Dad, Mom.”

”You’re home?” Mrs. Xie asked, a little surprised. Her son looked like he had just rolled out of bed.

Jie Jingchen grunted in acknowledgement. He walked over to the sink, splashed some water on his face, and was about to head toward Qin Mei when his own father dragged him into the kitchen.

Mr. Xie’s face was beaming as he clapped Jie Jingchen on the shoulder. ”Jing Si, well done.”

’Jie Jingchen was baffled by his father’s praise. What had he done? Was it really something worthy of a ”well done” from his dad?’

”You rushed back just in time for your Granny’s birthday. She’ll be so happy. Such a good, filial son.” Mr. Xie clapped Jie Jingchen’s shoulder again, unable to contain his broad smile.

It dawned on Jie Jingchen then. He finally remembered: tomorrow was Granny’s birthday. It wasn’t a major milestone birthday, so it wouldn’t be a huge celebration, but there would be a few tables set for close family.

’A coincidence. It was definitely a coincidence.’

’He hadn’t rushed back for Granny’s birthday; he’d completely forgotten about it.’ Jie Jingchen raised a hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose. ’If I’d known, I would’ve come back two days later.’

’If he and Qin Mei were still in Xiangjiang for Granny’s birthday, no one would have said a thing if they missed it. But now that they were back, not attending would give people something to talk about.’

”Jing Si, did you two get a birthday gift for your Granny while you were in Xiangjiang?” Mr. Xie asked with a smile.

”We rushed back in such a hurry, how could we have had time to prepare a gift? Isn’t the fact that Meimei and I made it back for her birthday the best gift of all?” Jie Jingchen had completely forgotten about his Granny’s birthday, let alone prepared a gift for her.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Mr. Xie’s deep-set eyes. Still, the thought that Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei had made it back for his mother’s birthday made him genuinely happy.

”A gift is secondary. The fact that you rushed back shows your filial piety. Your Granny likes money,” Mr. Xie reminded him, all but telling Jie Jingchen to just give her cash.

”What a coincidence. The one thing I’m short on is money,” Jie Jingchen said with a perfectly straight face.

”You’re short on money?” Mr. Xie’s expression soured. ’If Jing Si is short on money, then no one in this world is rich. Jing Si is generous with everyone except his Granny.’

’He used to be quite generous, but then for some reason, he became a cheapskate. And Mr. Xie couldn’t blame Qin Mei, either. Jing Si’s stinginess toward Granny hadn’t started after he married her.’

”Dad, while I was in Xiangjiang, was the factory still paying me my salary?” Jie Jingchen asked.

Mr. Xie glared at him. ”You weren’t even working, and you expect a salary? What are you thinking? You should be glad they kept your position for you.”

Jie Jingchen shrugged. ”Well, then there’s nothing I can do.”

”Do you really need that measly salary?” Mr. Xie asked through gritted teeth.

Jie Jingchen nodded very seriously. ”I do. I have a family to support. Dad, how about this? You figure out a way for the factory to pay my salary. I won’t take it; it can all go to Granny.”

”Get out!” Mr. Xie roared.

Qin Mei and Mrs. Xie were in the courtyard. When they heard Mr. Xie’s roar, Qin Mei jumped in fright.

Mrs. Xie was perfectly calm. ”That’s just how the two of them are. They can’t exchange a few words without getting into a fight. Pay them no mind. Let’s just focus on what we’re doing.”

”Oh,” Qin Mei murmured, her worried gaze shifting to the kitchen. ’I wonder how Jie Jingchen managed to set his dad off this time.’

’Their father-son standoffs were a case of mutually assured destruction. Jie Jingchen would get hit by his father, then he’d go tattle to his mom, and his father would get a lecture from Mrs. Xie. This was probably their typical way of interacting.’

Jie Jingchen was surprisingly obedient. His dad told him to get out, so he did. But just as he turned to take a step, Mr. Xie called after him. ”Stop.”

Jie Jingchen ignored him and kept walking. Furious, Mr. Xie closed the distance in a few long strides and grabbed Jie Jingchen’s shoulder.

”Are you deaf? I told you to stop!” Mr. Xie scolded. He wanted to be a kind-faced, gentle father, but this son of his just had to provoke him.