Chapter 371 - 135: An Qi is Pregnant
Jie Jingchen shook his head with a helpless laugh, rubbing his brow. "I wouldn’t dare."
Qin Mei was extremely satisfied with Jie Jingchen’s answer. The iciness in her expression melted away as she asked in a gentle voice, "And why not?"
"You’re my wife. I don’t hit my own wife." Jie Jingchen smiled gently, his face taking on a new layer of seriousness and sincerity.
Qin Mei smiled, giving Jie Jingchen points in her head. On second thought, she realized Granny had stirred up her emotions for no good reason. Jie Jingchen wasn’t some blindly obedient man; there was no way he would actually hit her just because Granny egged him on.
"Meimei, would you ever hit me?" Jie Jingchen asked suddenly.
Qin Mei froze for a second, blinking as she looked at Jie Jingchen. She raised a hand and patted his cheek, replying with a smile, "You’re my husband. I don’t hit my own husband either."
"Meimei, you’re the best." Right in front of Grandpa and Granny, Jie Jingchen took her small hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
When Granny saw this, she was furious. "Jing Si, you spineless wretch! You forget your own grandmother the moment you get a wife! We’re your blood relatives, and you’re siding with an outsider...!"
"Meimei is not an outsider," Jie Jingchen cut Granny off, his handsome face shrouded in a grim hostility.
"If she’s not an outsider, who is? Me?" Granny roared.
Jie Jingchen lifted his eyelids, his gaze as cold as ever. Just as he was about to say something outrageous, Grandpa snapped out of his trance.
"Jing Si, I’m thirsty. Pour me a glass of water," Grandpa said.
"I’ll go." Granny volunteered. Her anger came on fast and faded just as quickly. As for sadness, the look on the old man’s face told her An Qi wasn’t dead. If she really had died, he wouldn’t have come back alone—An Qi’s parents would have come along to demand an accounting from Jing Si.
Grandpa looked puzzled. Granny shot him a glare and said irritably as she got up, "I’m afraid he’ll poison you."
Grandpa glanced at Jie Jingchen and called out helplessly, "Dear..."
"Hmph!" Granny snorted. "Who knows, he might try to silence us for good."
Grandpa fell silent. ’That woman is really going too far. Jing Si is their grandson, after all. How could she even say something like silencing them for good?’
Jie Jingchen was glad for the reprieve. He took Qin Mei’s hand, ready to head back to their room, but Grandpa stopped them. "Jing Si, Fourth Wife of Jing, sit down."
Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei looked at each other, knowing Grandpa had something to say to them. Not wanting to force Qin Mei to stay, Jie Jingchen looked at her with a questioning gaze.
Qin Mei smiled and patted Jie Jingchen’s hand. She sat down on a stone stool, leaving the rattan chairs for Grandpa and Granny. Jie Jingchen sat on the stool next to her, waiting for what Grandpa had to say next.
But Grandpa didn’t speak right away. He waited for Granny to bring him water. A moment later, Granny came out with an enamel mug. "Here. Careful, it’s hot. I made you some tea."
Grandpa forced a smile and took the enamel mug. He lifted the lid, and the fragrant aroma of hot tea wafted out. His mouth was dry, and he wanted to gulp it down, but the tea was freshly brewed. He had to resist, blowing on the surface before taking a small sip to soothe his parched throat.
Grandpa placed the enamel mug on the ground. Granny saw this and raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Seeing Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei on the stone stools, she sat down in the rattan chair next to Grandpa.
"Go on, then. How’s An Qi?" Granny asked.
Grandpa’s expression was grave, his wrinkled face filled with hesitation.
"Old man, you’re killing me with the suspense! What on earth happened? Just tell me straight, is that girl An Qi dead or alive?" Granny had lost her patience.
"Don’t worry, An Qi’s life isn’t in danger. It’s just..." Grandpa’s face was heavy, finding the words difficult to say.
"Just what?" Granny pressed.
Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei remained silent, listening quietly. They were willing to listen if he wanted to speak, but they wouldn’t press him if he didn’t—certainly not with the same impatience as Granny.
"It’s just..." Grandpa’s gaze flickered with a complex emotion, still unable to say it.
"Just what? You’re killing me! Just say it!" Granny pushed Grandpa’s shoulder. ’What is with this old man today? So hesitant and wishy-washy. Is he trying to worry me to death?’
Grandpa steeled himself and said in a rush, "An Qi is pregnant."
"What?" Granny lost her composure, shooting up from the rattan chair in a flash. The movement was so fast and sharp that even Qin Mei was startled.
’Jie Anqi is pregnant? For real?’ Qin Mei looked at Jie Jingchen beside her and saw not a trace of surprise on his face, as if he had expected it all along.
A complex and turbulent mix of emotions swirled in Qin Mei’s eyes. The corner of her mouth curved up slightly as she looked at Jie Jingchen and asked probingly, "You already knew Jie Anqi was pregnant?"
Jie Jingchen gazed at her thoughtfully and shook his head, denying it. "I didn’t know."
"I don’t believe you." Qin Mei shook her head in disbelief. The expression on Jie Jingchen’s face was one of someone who had seen it coming.
Jie Jingchen felt wronged. He reached out and took her hand, his expression earnest and serious. "I really didn’t know. I just knew that with her personality, it was only a matter of time before she got herself into this kind of trouble."
Qin Mei fell silent. She looked down at the large hand holding hers. His fingers were long and slender with well-defined knuckles, like those of a pianist. But right now, she was in no mood to admire them. She was filled with indignation. ’Jie Anqi is pregnant. Pregnant! And she still wanted to drag my little brother into her mess. She’s unbelievably shameless.’
Qin Mei suspected Jie Jingchen was wrong. Jie Anqi’s goal wasn’t the house; she wanted to find a father for the baby in her belly. And of all people, she had to pick her little brother. ’Does my brother owe Jie Anqi anything?’
"Old man, what is going on? Could the test be wrong? Our An Qi is an innocent maiden, how could she possibly be... pregnant?" Fearing that the walls had ears, Granny whispered the last word.
Qin Mei looked at Granny with contempt. ’You really don’t feel the heat until the coals land on your own feet.’ In this era, the standards for women were extremely high. An unwed pregnancy would ruin not just the woman’s reputation but that of her entire family. If word got out, she would be subjected to endless finger-pointing and gossip—enough to drown a person.
"Our eldest daughter-in-law did the examination..."
"Our eldest daughter-in-law doesn’t like An Qi! She’s probably trying to harm her, using this kind of trick to frame her! Her intentions are too vicious! This little stunt of hers will ruin our An Qi! When our eldest son gets back, I’m going to tell him to get his wife under control." Granny’s voice trailed off as she spoke, realizing even she found her own argument irrational.
’She knew what her eldest daughter-in-law was like, and she knew what An Qi was like. But she just couldn’t believe An Qi was pregnant. An Qi wasn’t even married yet. She refused to believe An Qi would have so little self-respect, getting involved with a man before marriage and even getting pregnant. It’s impossible. She raised An Qi. The child she raised couldn’t possibly have so little self-respect.’
"Woman, what nonsense are you spouting? No matter how much our eldest daughter-in-law dislikes An Qi, she would never use something like this to ruin her. You know perfectly well what kind of person she is," Grandpa reprimanded Granny with a stern face.
Granny felt aggrieved. This was the first time the old man had ever reprimanded her so harshly. Normally, she would have argued relentlessly, but right now, she wasn’t in the mood.
’If An Qi really is pregnant, what are we going to do? Qin Xiang never liked An Qi in the first place. Now this happens... he’ll despise her even more. There’s no way he’ll marry her now.’
"But what if? What if our eldest daughter-in-law did tamper with something?" Granny said stubbornly.
"Our second daughter-in-law was watching the whole time. What could she possibly have done?" Grandpa retorted irritably. At that moment, he was incredibly relieved that he had taken An Qi directly to their eldest daughter-in-law. If another doctor had handled it, Grandpa couldn’t imagine what the consequences might have been.
Granny was speechless. Their second daughter-in-law was a nurse at the hospital—a position Granny herself had gone to great lengths to secure for her, persuading their eldest daughter-in-law to make the arrangements. With her own trusted source watching, there could be no mistake about An Qi’s pregnancy.