Chapter 154 - 65: Jie Jingchen, I Won
"You really don’t have any money?" Qin Mei found that hard to believe.
"I really don’t," Jie Jingchen said. He thought for a moment, then added, "I spent all my money last time buying medicine for Jing Qi and clothes for you."
Qin Mei was speechless. ’It’s true that I spent a lot of Jie Jingchen’s money last time. But still, he’s been a soldier for so many years. Has he really not saved anything?’
"I’ll have money once I start working," Jie Jingchen added.
Qin Mei glared at him. ’Relying on his job? I’d be better off relying on myself. I’ve always thought Jie Jingjue was unreliable, and now I’m starting to think Jie Jingchen isn’t much better.’
"Move, you’re in my way." Qin Mei pushed Jie Jingchen aside, went back inside, and grabbed two packets of medicinal herbs. She handed them to Jie Jingchen. "This one is yours, and this one is for Jing Qi. When you’re brewing the medicine, don’t leave the stove. Once it’s done, if it leaves your sight for even a single second, you’d better not drink it."
’Before, with no outsiders at home, I didn’t have to be so guarded. But now there are two of them. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. A little caution can’t hurt.’
"Okay." Jie Jingchen nodded seriously and took the herbs to the kitchen to brew them.
Qin Mei rubbed her stomach, went to Jie Jingshan’s room, and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Sister-in-law." Jie Jingshan invited her in before Qin Mei could even speak.
Qin Mei opened the door but didn’t rush inside. She leaned against the doorframe, smiling at Jie Jingshan, and asked curiously, "I didn’t make a sound. How did you know it was me?"
"She doesn’t knock when she enters my room." Jie Jingshan gave a bitter smile. The "she" she spoke of was clearly Aunt Zhang.
Qin Mei nodded in understanding and asked, "Jing Qi, have you had breakfast?"
"I have," Jie Jingshan nodded, then added, "Third Sister-in-law brought it to me."
Thinking of Shen Qing, Qin Mei stepped into the room. When she saw that the chamber pot had already been emptied, Qin Mei smiled. She didn’t have to guess who had done it; it was either their mother-in-law or Shen Qing. "You and Third Sister-in-law are close?"
Jie Jingshan’s gaze flickered. She looked up, meeting Qin Mei’s eyes. "Third Sister-in-law is genuinely kind to me; she truly doesn’t look down on me. Sister-in-law, I’m not a fool. I can tell who is sincere with me and who is faking it."
Looking at Jie Jingshan, Qin Mei felt a pang of sadness. ’You can never truly know what’s in a person’s heart. How could you tell sincerity from pretense at a single glance? That’s something you can only figure out after living with someone day in and day out.’
"You’re sincere with me, too, Sister-in-law," Jie Jingshan added.
"Heh." Qin Mei chuckled and sat down at the desk, casually flipping through Jie Jingshan’s neatly arranged books. "Jing Qi, do you understand all of this?"
’If she understands these books, she’s essentially completed a middle school education. High school is next. I’ve had Jing Qi try some high school problems before, and the results were excellent. She has a very sharp mind. No wonder she’s destined to become a wealthy businesswoman.’
"I know them like the back of my hand," Jie Jingshan said, tilting her head back confidently.
Qin Mei was extremely pleased. Her eyes darted cautiously outside to make sure no one was eavesdropping before she lowered her voice and said, "Jing Qi, don’t go back to school. Just study here at home and be ready to take the college entrance exam."
"Sister-in-law!" Jie Jingshan flinched, startled. She also glanced cautiously outside and whispered, "Sister-in-law, the college entrance exam was canceled. The only way to get into a university now is with a letter of recommendation."
Qin Mei gave a mysterious smile and whispered, "Trust me. One day, the college entrance exam will be brought back."
Jie Jingshan sized Qin Mei up with a suspicious look. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then snapped it shut and simply hummed a noncommittal, "Mhm."
Qin Mei didn’t explain any further. ’It’s only natural that Jie Jingshan finds my words unbelievable. If I hadn’t transmigrated from the future, I wouldn’t believe it either until the official policy was announced.’
"Besides, whether they bring back the exam is secondary. The most important thing is to study hard. You need to have the skills to ace the exam, not just the hope of taking it." Qin Mei had faith in Jing Qi. As long as Jing Qi was willing to put in the effort, Qin Mei was sure that with her help, Jing Qi would pass with flying colors.
"Okay," Jie Jingshan hummed, much more firmly this time.
Seeing her reaction, Qin Mei shook her head with a helpless smile. ’Looking at Jing Qi, why do I feel like I’m corrupting an innocent?’
"Sister-in-law, have you eaten breakfast?" Jie Jingshan changed the subject.
"Not yet." Qin Mei shook her head. ’I used to sleep in until the sun was high without feeling a thing, but since I woke up early today, I’m starving. On the bright side, Jie Jingjue butchered that noisy rooster, so I’ll finally get a good night’s sleep tonight.’
Qin Mei reflected on her recent track record. ’I’ve made two bets, and neither went my way. The last incident blew up so big I never even found out the final outcome, and the bet with Jie Jingjue was just forgotten. This time, I won, but I still haven’t gotten the money. Jie Jingchen isn’t refusing to pay, just owing me for now.’
’Sigh. The debtor is king!’
"Wait a second, Sister-in-law." Jie Jingshan turned her wheelchair, retrieved a sponge cake from a cabinet, and offered it to Qin Mei. "This is really good, Sister-in-law."