Chapter 600 - 210: Jie Jingsi, You Just Have Too Much Time on Your Hands
Jie Jingling went to Jie Jinghun’s room and got straight to the point. "Jing San, I want to go to the mechanical factory. Are you coming with me?"
"The mechanical factory?" Jie Jinghun was very surprised.
"Yes, to see Grandpa and Granny," Jie Jingling said.
Jie Jinghun frowned and refused decisively. "I’m not going."
"Alright then." Jie Jingling gave a bitter smile and didn’t try to force him.
When Jie Jingling came out of Jie Jinghun’s room, she nearly ran into Qin Mei.
"Sis, I’ll go with you," Qin Mei volunteered.
Jie Jingling froze for a moment, then shook her head with a smile. "No need. The mechanical factory isn’t some dragon’s den. I don’t need you to come with me."
"Sis, come on, let’s go now." Qin Mei pulled Jie Jingling toward the room she shared with Jie Jingchen. Standing outside the window, she said to him, "Jie Jingchen, Sis and I are going to the mechanical factory to see your grandpa and granny. Do you want to go?"
Jie Jingchen’s brain seemed to short-circuit for a moment. He raised a slight eyebrow and asked, "What for?"
"We miss them," Qin Mei said with a grin. ’That should be a reasonable excuse, right?’
’Having to find an excuse for the younger generation to visit their elders... Qin Mei was speechless.’
Her wish was his command. Jie Jingchen went to Mr. Xie to ask for the car keys. When he heard they were going to the mechanical factory to see the two elders, Mr. Xie instantly became reluctant to hand them over.
Seeing Mr. Xie’s reluctance to give him the car keys, Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed slightly. "Dad, we’re taking the initiative to visit Grandpa and Granny at the factory. Shouldn’t you be happy about that?"
Ordinarily, Mr. Xie would have been overjoyed. But today, he couldn’t bring himself to be happy. Looking at the three of them, it was clear they had an ulterior motive. "It’s only been a short while since you last saw them..."
"Dad," Jie Jingchen cut him off, "Big Sis is leaving tomorrow. If she doesn’t visit Grandpa and Granny before she goes, they’ll just complain to you that she’s unfilial after she’s gone."
Mr. Xie fell silent. Knowing his old mother, she would indeed complain to him about it afterward. Jing Ling looked too much like Hong Yan. The memory of his mother’s expression upon seeing Jing Ling yesterday gave Mr. Xie a headache.
"Are you sure you’re going to visit them, and not to scare them?" Mr. Xie asked with a stern expression.
"Dad, what are you thinking? They’re our grandpa and granny, not some mortal enemies. Besides, a clear conscience fears no accusation." Jie Jingchen raised an eyebrow, the slight curve of his lips revealing a hint of derision.
Mr. Xie’s brow furrowed deeper, his expression turning grim. He clutched the car keys, even more hesitant to give them to Jie Jingchen. But he also knew that if they were dead set on going, they could just ride their bikes if he refused them the car.
After much deliberation, Mr. Xie finally handed over the car keys, repeatedly warning them to take it easy. Granny was old; she couldn’t handle being frightened.
Jie Jingchen, Qin Mei, and Jie Jingling headed to the mechanical factory, while Mr. Xie went to the Lin Family’s home.
「The mechanical factory’s family courtyard.」
Neighbors watched the three of them arrive, carrying bags of all sizes filled with gifts. They recognized Jie Jingchen but not Qin Mei or Jie Jingling. The older uncles and aunties just thought Jie Jingling looked very familiar, but with their aging memories, they couldn’t quite place her.
"Jing Si, here to see your grandpa and granny again! Such a filial grandson," a neighboring uncle said with a hearty laugh.
"Grandpa Li, you’re looking healthier and stronger than ever," Jie Jingchen said.
Qin Mei looked at Jie Jingchen in surprise. ’So this guy knows how to flatter people, too.’
"Hehe." Grandpa Li was grinning from ear to ear. His bright, sharp eyes turned to Qin Mei. "Jing Si, and this young lady is?"
"My wife, Meimei. This is Grandpa Li," Jie Jingchen introduced them simply.
"Hello, Grandpa Li." Qin Mei’s voice was sweet. She took a waxed-paper-wrapped sponge cake from a mesh bag. "Grandpa Li, have a sponge cake."
"Fourth Wife of Jing, this is expensive. I can’t take it. Save it for your grandpa and granny," Grandpa Li refused instinctively.
The older generation had survived hard times. Just having enough to eat was a great satisfaction, so they were reluctant to buy any snacks that cost money.
Qin Mei saw there were a few other old uncles and aunties besides Grandpa Li, so she simply took out all the sponge cakes and pushed them into his arms. "You can all share them."
"I really can’t! Oh, you child." Seeing Qin Mei run off, Grandpa Li shook his head helplessly. He wanted to return the cakes to Jie Jingchen, but saw him striding away. He looked at Jie Jingling, who just smiled at him, called out "Grandpa Li," and then ran to catch up with the other two. Grandpa Li froze for a second. "Why does she look so familiar to me?"
"I remember now!" someone exclaimed. "Don’t you all think she looks a lot like someone?"
"Who?" they all asked in unison.
"Zhang Hongyan."
The crowd was stunned. After a moment of thought, realization dawned on them, and a buzz of discussion began.
Someone said she was Zhang Hongyan’s younger sister, but they’d forgotten her name.
Someone said she was Zhang Hongyan’s daughter, Jie Jingling, but then thought she looked a bit too old.
Someone else said...
"Do you visit your grandpa and granny often?" Qin Mei couldn’t help but ask Jie Jingchen. She remembered the scene where he had confronted Granny, his every word sharp, showing no mercy just because she was his grandmother.
"When I’m home, I’ll come by for the New Year and other holidays." Jie Jingchen didn’t visit often, but he came more frequently than the others.
Considering Jie Jingling’s feelings, Qin Mei didn’t press the topic. Even before they got out of the car, she had sensed a change in Jie Jingling’s mood. She couldn’t understand it. ’If she hates coming here so much, why force herself?’
The courtyard gate was open. The three of them didn’t knock or call out, simply walking straight into the yard.
Grandpa, Granny, Jie Jianjun, Chen Xiuhua, Jie Anlin, and Zhao Hong were all at home, still discussing the wedding banquet.
"Ma, I heard that the one Lin Yaru adores is Jing Si," Chen Xiuhua said, cracking sunflower seeds, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
No one responded. It was common knowledge.
Chen Xiuhua continued, "Lin Yaru adores Jing Si, but she married Jing Er. Jing Si and Jing Er are both Big Brother’s sons, but Jing Si is Qiao Yanqiu’s child. Their statuses are as different as night and day. Do you think Lin Yaru is really content with marrying Jing Er?"
"Content? I’d be surprised," Jie Jianjun snorted. "Today’s banquet was a complete joke."
"Enough, stop talking," Grandpa snapped, his face dark. What kind of banquet has a missing bride? The Lin Family was clearly trying to embarrass the Jie Family.
"Dad, aren’t you worried? What if... I’m just saying, what if something happens between Jing Si and Lin Yaru? Their relationship now is uncle and sister-in-law. My god! If that were to..."
"Xiuhua," Jie Jianjun scolded. "Dad told you to stop, and you’re just getting more worked up."
Seeing the father and son getting angry, Chen Xiuhua knew to shut her mouth. She went back to cracking sunflower seeds. She had shamelessly packed up the sunflower seeds, peanuts, and wedding candy to take home herself.
"Second son, why are you being harsh with your wife? Jing Si and Lin Yaru are capable of doing such shameless things, so why can’t your wife talk about it?" Granny shot Jie Jianjun a glare.
Chen Xiuhua was surprised. ’What’s gotten into the old lady today? She’s actually taking my side.’
In the courtyard, Jie Jingchen’s previously indifferent expression turned sinister and terrifying the moment he heard that sentence. Anger slowly rose on his face, and his amber eyes narrowed dangerously.
Qin Mei clicked her tongue. ’There was absolutely nothing to it, yet they were determined to fabricate a story.’
’If they keep talking like this, they’ll probably have the kids’ names picked out soon.’
The color drained from Jie Jingling’s face. A resentful sheen filled her eyes, and her voice trembled. "They’ve gone too far."
"Sis." Qin Mei grabbed Jie Jingling’s wrist. Her own eyes were filled with displeasure, but she whispered, "Let them talk."
"Amie." Jie Jingling frowned at Qin Mei.
A scornful sneer flickered in Qin Mei’s eyes, but her voice was perfectly calm. "I enjoy listening."
"We really should have made Dad come with us," Jie Jingchen said, his low voice laced with a sinister chill.
Qin Mei looked up at Jie Jingchen’s devastatingly handsome face. ’No wonder Lin Yaru is so obsessed with him.’