Chapter 400 - 145: Jing Si, I Want to Take a Bath Too
"Jie Jingjue, how dare you curse my son to die? Are you even human? You’re his fifth uncle! How can you be so utterly depraved?" Xu Chunyan’s eyes were filled with venom.
Jie Jingjue ignored her, turning back to wash the dishes.
Xu Chunyan exploded with rage at Jie Jingjue’s dismissive attitude. She couldn’t beat him in a fight and wouldn’t dare get physical, but she could certainly use her words. "No wonder my cousin Aiyun stopped liking you. Who could possibly put up with a temper like yours?"
It was a personal attack. Jie Jingjue slammed the loofah sponge into the bowl and spun around to confront Xu Chunyan angrily. "Second Sister-in-law, it wasn’t your cousin who stopped liking me. It was me who stopped liking her."
"You’re a regular Chen Shimei, toying with my cousin’s feelings! A morally bankrupt man like you hurt my cousin—you won’t meet a good end," Xu Chunyan cursed. But since Jie Jingjue was Jing Er’s younger brother, she didn’t dare to spew anything more vicious.
Over a roast duck, the argument between Jie Jingjue and Xu Chunyan in the kitchen grew increasingly fierce.
Jie Jingchen, Qin Mei, and Qin Xiang sat in the courtyard, listening to the sounds of the argument spilling out from the kitchen. Qin Mei looked at Jie Jingchen and asked, "Aren’t you going to go break it up?"
"No," Jie Jingchen said, shaking his head.
"Your sister-in-law... she’s a real piece of work." Qin Xiang spat out the words with obvious sarcasm. He stared at Jie Jingchen and asked with great curiosity, "Jing Si, where does your sister-in-law work?"
Jie Jingchen shot Qin Xiang a sideways glance, hesitated for a few seconds, then answered, "A school."
"A school?" Qin Xiang asked, somewhat surprised. "In the school cafeteria?"
’Working in a school cafeteria is a decent job.’
"A teacher," Jie Jingchen said.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH." Qin Xiang choked on his own spit. He stared at Jie Jingchen in disbelief. After a moment’s thought, he said with a sigh of pity, "Corrupting the youth!"
Jie Jingchen said nothing. Qin Mei remained silent.
Qin Xiang added, "Jing Si, Little Sis, whatever you do, make sure your future kids never end up in her hands."
Again, Jie Jingchen said nothing, and Qin Mei remained silent.
A moment later, Xu Chunyan emerged from the kitchen, dragging a whimpering Jie You by the hand and muttering curses. When she saw the three of them sitting in the courtyard, her expression froze. She stopped her tirade and gave the crying Jie You a shove.
"Cry, cry, cry! Is that all you know how to do? What have I always taught you? How many times have I told you that your Fourth Uncle’s family is separate from ours now? I told you not to go begging for food at his place, but you just won’t listen! You let my words go in one ear and out the other. Just wait until your dad gets back from his business trip. We’ll see if he gives you a beating then!" Xu Chunyan screeched.
Anyone could tell that Xu Chunyan was making an indirect jab.
"Mama, it was you who..."
"You who what? Get back to your room and stand in the corner! I’m going to the kitchen to make you dinner," Xu Chunyan snapped, cutting Jie You off.
Xu Chunyan was filled with regret. ’I never should have turned on her. When my aunt was in this house, at least I never had to worry about meals. This is all Qin Mei’s fault. If it weren’t for her, the Xu Family would never have fallen into such a miserable state.’
’My younger brother was crippled, my mother went mad, and my father was sent to the Northwest for labor reform. My own status in this family has plummeted.’
’My life is so miserable, so why does Qin Mei get to live like a fish in water? I can’t accept this.’
Xu Chunyan glared at Qin Mei with venomous eyes. Qin Mei, who had her back to her, sensed the hostile gaze and turned her head. But Xu Chunyan had already averted her eyes and was walking toward the kitchen.
"Jing Si, I have a feeling your sister-in-law is going to stir up some trouble," Qin Xiang said. "The way she was just looking at Little Sis... her eyes were full of venom."
"She’s just a sore loser. Nothing to be afraid of," Qin Mei said. ’I’m not afraid of Xu Chunyan causing trouble. In fact, I’m rather hoping she tries something. Then I’ll have a reason to have my mother-in-law kick her and her family out.’
’Living in the same courtyard, I don’t want to have to be on guard all day. The relationship between Xu Chunyan and me is beyond repair.’
"Don’t get careless," Qin Xiang warned.
Qin Mei just smiled without saying a word.
Qin Xiang didn’t press the issue and stretched lazily. "Ah, peace and quiet. Feels great."
"Qin Xiang," Jie Jingchen said, "Meimei doesn’t know how to ride a bicycle. Starting tomorrow, you’re going to teach her."
"What did you just say?" Qin Xiang looked at Jie Jingchen, stunned. Then, his expression turned strange as he looked at Qin Mei. "You don’t know how to ride a bike?"
"I don’t," Qin Mei answered honestly.
Qin Xiang opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again without a word.
’An image flashed through his mind: a ten-year-old Qin Mei, weaving through the fields on the bicycle their parents had bought her. She had looked so carefree and confident, daring to ride on even the narrowest of dirt paths between the paddies.’
"Meimei gets motion sickness. Learning to ride a bike would make it easier for her to get around." Jie Jingchen’s gaze was scrutinizing as he looked at Qin Xiang.
"Motion sickness?" Qin Xiang was taken aback again. ’My little sister doesn’t get motion sickness. She never has, in any kind of vehicle.’