Chapter 288 - 109: Qin Mei Washes the Bedsheet
Jie Jingjue picked up Jing Qi and walked over to the wheelchair. He gently placed her on the seat, his eyes fixed on her legs.
"Jing Qi, am I dreaming?" Jie Jingjue asked.
"Fifth Brother, push me back inside," Jie Jingshan said. ’She needed to talk to her Fifth Brother. In fact, she had wanted to for a long time. She didn’t want him to live with this guilt. Before, she never dared. Neither of them could bring themselves to face her crippled legs directly. But now that her Fourth Sister-in-Law had healed them, the topic was no longer depressing or cruel. She could finally talk to her Fifth Brother calmly.’
"Yeah, okay." Jie Jingjue pushed Jing Qi into the room and closed the door.
Seeing this, Granny patted her chest and let out a long breath. "That scared me to death," she said to Grandpa.
"Don’t bring up Jing Qi’s crippled legs in front of Jing Wu," Grandpa warned. ’It’s a good thing her legs are healed. Otherwise, Jing Wu would have definitely lost it just now. The eldest son isn’t home, and neither are the other grandsons. If Jing Wu went on a rampage, he wouldn’t be able to stop him.’
"I know." Granny flinched. The memory was so vivid that even after four years, it was still fresh in her mind. It had even left her with some trauma.
Qin Mei looked at Granny and Grandpa, who were sitting by the door. ’Jing Wu and Jing Qi have left,’ she thought. ’What are these two old folks still lingering here for?’
"Fourth Wife of Jing! Have you had breakfast?" Granny’s face was wreathed in smiles, her gaze overflowing with affection as she looked at Qin Mei.
"Old woman." Grandpa saw her about to go inside and quickly grabbed her arm. ’Remembering what Jing Si had said, he didn’t dare let Granny get near Qin Mei.’
"Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble." Granny gave Grandpa a reassuring smile, then glanced at Qin Mei and whispered, "If she can heal Jing Qi’s legs, she should be able to cure An Lin’s... delicate issue."
Grandpa froze. ’The eldest son of their second child... their favorite grandson.’ He thought. "Old woman, you talk to the Fourth Wife of Jing nicely. Whether she agrees or not, do not get into a fight with her."
"Relax, I know what I’m doing," Granny promised, patting her chest.
Grandpa was still worried. ’He knew her too well. Her so-called ’discretion’ only existed as long as people did what she wanted. The moment they didn’t, she’d flip out.’ "Old woman, this is our eldest son’s home, his wife’s courtyard. We’re living under their roof."
The phrase "living under their roof" grated on Granny’s ears, and she immediately shot back. "Old man, what kind of talk is that? Have you lost your mind? I’m living in my own eldest son’s house, how is that ’living under their roof’?"
"Our eldest son’s assigned house is at the machinery factory," Grandpa reminded her. "This is his wife’s courtyard."
"Hmph!" Granny snorted. "His wife’s courtyard is his courtyard, and he’s my son. My son’s courtyard is my courtyard. I’m living in *my* courtyard, so my conscience is clear."
Grandpa stared at her, speechless. ’Arguing with her logic just fueled her fire.’ "Fine, forget it. I’ll talk to the Fourth Wife of Jing myself."
"Oh, please. As if she’d listen to you. Go on, get out of here. Go make lunch. You’re already slow as molasses, and you haven’t even started. Are you trying to starve me to death? Old man, be honest with me. Have you taken a liking to some other little old lady? Are you trying to find a way to get rid of me so you can marry her?" Granny demanded.
"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Grandpa said, completely exasperated.
Granny didn’t press the issue, instead urging Grandpa to go make lunch. Grandpa could only feel exasperated.
Qin Mei watched Granny enter, her expression wary.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, did you hurt yourself when you fell?" Granny asked, feigning concern.
Qin Mei saw the ulterior motive behind the "concern" in Granny’s eyes and smiled. "If I was, would you give me money for treatment?"
Granny froze, not expecting such a response. She gave an awkward laugh. "You’re a doctor yourself. You can just check it on your own. Why waste money at a hospital?"
Qin Mei fell silent. ’She just couldn’t understand the people of this era, especially the older generation.’
’Diagnose the small illnesses yourself, and let the big ones finish you off.’
’So many incurable diseases started as minor ailments that were ignored. They were reluctant to spend on food, on clothes, on doctors... and they didn’t even end up saving that much money.’
"Fourth Wife of Jing, are your medical skills better than your mother-in-law’s?" Granny asked. ’In her eyes, Qin Mei’s skills were clearly superior to Qiao Yanqiu’s. Qiao Yanqiu had been helpless to do anything about Jing Qi’s crippled legs, but Qin Mei had healed them. Qiao Yanqiu had also been powerless against An Lin’s delicate issue, so Qin Mei must have a solution.’
"Granny, I’m not a doctor. I don’t have a license to practice medicine," Qin Mei said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.