Chapter 96 - 46: The Descendant-Ending Kick
"Yes." Jie Jingjue nodded, still wanting to put up a final struggle. "But..."
Qin Mei cut Jie Jingjue off. "I said to make Liu Guihua spit the money out. I never said she had to spit it out *to me*, did I?"
Jie Jingjue thought back. It seemed she really hadn’t said it had to be given to her. "With Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law around, she won’t pay the medical fees. She’ll definitely make them pay."
"Is there a difference?" Qin Mei asked.
"Isn’t there a difference?" Jie Jingjue retorted.
"No difference. They’re one family," Qin Mei said.
Jie Jingjue’s mouth twitched. "We’re also one family with Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law."
"It’s not the same," Qin Mei said.
"How is it not the same?" Jie Jingjue asked.
Qin Mei gave a sly smile and said, "Your second sister-in-law and Liu Guihua are mother and daughter by blood, right? Are your second brother and our mom mother and son by blood?"
Jie Jingjue was speechless. He felt Qin Mei’s logic was twisted, but he couldn’t find the words to refute her.
Jie Jingjue pushed Jie Jingshan back to her room, while Qin Mei helped Jie Jingchen back to theirs.
After finishing her work, Shen Qing prepared to go to the kitchen to boil water. Seeing Jie Jinghun still standing by the window, her eyes glinted slightly. "Everyone’s gone. What are you still looking at?"
"Aunt Qiao crippled Xu Chunwang. I’m afraid there will be no peace for the Jie Family from now on," Jie Jinghun sighed.
"He deserved it." Shen Qing’s voice was as cold as ever, but Jie Jinghun detected a hint of emotion in it.
Jie Jinghun smiled gently and said with immense relief, "Honey, thank goodness our parents are both reasonable people."
He didn’t know much about Qin Mei’s family, but Qin Mei herself was a handful. As for Xu Chunyan’s family, thinking of the Xu family’s behavior, Jie Jinghun felt a little sorry for Jie Jingwei.
Shen Qing shot Jie Jinghun a sideways glance, the corner of her eye twitching upward. "For Aunt Qiao to have tolerated it this long is impressive in itself."
Jie Jinghun couldn’t help but sigh softly, thinking of the kick Qiao Yanqiu had given Xu Chunwang. "Aunt Qiao is incredible. She doesn’t act, but when she does, it’s astonishing."
"Don’t forget, Aunt Qiao has the Qiao Family behind her," Shen Qing reminded him.
"The Qiao Family already moved their entire household to Xiangjiang." Jie Jinghun didn’t mean anything by it; he just felt that distant water can’t put out a nearby fire.
The Qiao Family of the past could command the wind and summon the rain, so to speak. When they sensed the political winds shifting, they decisively moved their entire family to Xiangjiang. Otherwise, the Qiao family today would probably... Jie Jinghun admired the Qiao family’s foresight.
Shen Qing didn’t discuss the topic further with Jie Jinghun. She left the room and went to the kitchen to boil water.
"Doctor Qiao, Director Jie," called the voice of Second Auntie.
Inside her room, Qin Mei heard Second Auntie’s voice and was about to go out to see what was happening, but Jie Jingchen stopped her.
"Don’t go out."
"Why not?" Qin Mei asked, confused.
"You forgot. Xiao You is at Second Auntie’s house," Jie Jingchen reminded her.
It dawned on Qin Mei. She really had forgotten. When they came back, they had made a special trip to Second Auntie’s house to tell her they had already eaten dinner out.
Jie You had been playing in the courtyard with Second Auntie’s two grandsons. Jie Jingjue had wanted to call Jie You to come home with them, but Jie Jingchen stopped him. Second Auntie had also sensed something was off and kept Jie You for dinner.
Since no one went to Second Auntie’s house to pick up Jie You, she had no choice but to bring him back herself. With Jie Jingwei and Xu Chunyan at the hospital, whoever went out to greet her at this moment would be the one she handed Jie You over to.
Jie Jingjue had looked after Jie You for one night, and the little guy was such a handful that he was completely worn out. The experience left a scar, and now he was hiding in Jie Jingshan’s room, refusing to come out.
Shen Qing was in the kitchen boiling water. Jie Jinghun was free, but remembering how Jie You bullied his own daughter, he didn’t leave his room either.
There was no sound from Mr. and Mrs. Xie’s room either. Mrs. Xie could be excused, but Mr. Xie was Jie You’s grandfather. Logically, he should have come out to greet them.
"Director Jie, Doctor Qiao," Second Auntie called out, standing in the courtyard and holding Jie You’s chubby little hand.
They were home, but the little guy had tried to break free several times, only to be held tightly by Second Auntie. Jie You was currently the only grandson in the Jie Family. Since Jing Er and his wife had entrusted him to her care, she had to be conscientious to the end. Even at the Jie residence, she had to insist on handing Jie You over to them personally. Otherwise, if something happened, she wouldn’t be able to explain it.
Except for the room belonging to Jing Er and his wife, the lights were on in all the other rooms. Jie Jingjue was an exception; he was notoriously fond of gallivanting and often stayed out all night.
"Jing San! Third Wife of Jing!" Second Auntie tried calling different people. When no one responded, she tried again. "Jing Si! Fourth Wife of Jing!"
"Second Auntie," Mr. Xie said, coming out to greet her.
"Grandpa," Jie You said, his voice a mix of happiness and grievance.
"Director Jie, I’m handing Xiao You over to you." Second Auntie didn’t say much more. The moment she stepped over the threshold, she had sensed the tense atmosphere.
’That mother of Second Daughter-in-law Jing was infamous. Ever since Xu Chunyan married into the Jie Family, she would show up every other day to cause trouble for Doctor Qiao. Things had only quieted down in the last year. And now, here she was, stirring up trouble at the Jie residence again. She was probably out of money.’
’The story of Liu Guihua showing up to make a scene and Qiao Yanqiu paying her off each time had spread long ago. It was only out of respect for Director Jie’s reputation that everyone pretended not to know.’
"Thank you, Second Auntie. Sorry to have troubled you. Xiao You, hurry and say thank you to Grand-auntie," Mr. Xie said as he took Jie You from Second Auntie’s hands.
"No need, we’re all neighbors. Xiao You is very well-behaved and obedient. Director Jie, you’ve raised Xiao You very well." Second Auntie patted Jie You on the head.
Mr. Xie gave an awkward smile. ’This Second Auntie,’ he thought, ’she really knows how to say the right thing to the right person, just telling people what they want to hear.’
Qin Mei couldn’t help but want to laugh. ’Are you sure you’re not trying to kill him with praise?’ she wanted to ask Second Auntie.
After seeing Second Auntie off, Mr. Xie didn’t lead Jie You back to his room. Instead, he stood in the courtyard and yelled toward Jie Jingshan’s room, "Jing Wu!"
Jie Jingjue felt a despair deeper than death itself. He regretted coming home so early today. Annoyed, he ran a hand through his short hair and shuffled unwillingly out of the room. "Dad."
"You take Xiao You." Mr. Xie didn’t waste any words, pushing Jie You toward Jie Jingjue.
"Dad, I don’t know how to take care of kids," Jie Jingjue said, looking plaintively at Jie You.
Jie You was very obedient to his grandfather. He blinked his big, round eyes as he gazed at Jie Jingjue.
"Think of it as learning how to take care of a child in advance. That way, you won’t be all thumbs when you have your own," Mr. Xie said.
"Dad, I’m not even married yet. It’s too early to learn how to take care of a child. Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law just got married. You should have them learn in advance," Jie Jingjue suggested.
"Just got married?" Mr. Xie raised an eyebrow and glanced at Jie Jingchen’s room. "They’ve been married for half a year."
"They’ve been married for half a year, but they’ve also been separated for half a year. No, wait, Dad, what does it matter to me how long Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law have been married? I’m not married, I have no experience with kids, and I don’t want to learn in advance. You should find someone else." Jie Jingjue refused to take Jie You, pushing him back toward Mr. Xie.
"You tell me, who else can I ask besides you? It’s not like you don’t know what’s happened in this family. Right now, is there anyone more suitable than you? Jing Qi would be suitable too, but in her condition, can she take care of Xiao You?" Mr. Xie pushed Jie You toward Jie Jingjue again.
’Jie You bullied Jie Duo, so Jing San is furious. Is it possible to ask Jing San and his wife to take care of Jie You?’
’Xu Chunyan injured Jing Si, the conflict between Qin Mei and Xu Chunyan has escalated, and the Xu family has made things even worse. Is it realistic to ask Jing Si and his wife to take care of Jie You?’
’He’s Jie You’s grandfather. Normally, with Jing Er and his wife away, he should be the one to look after Jie You. But with everything that happened today, he hasn’t even managed to placate his own wife yet. How could he be in the mood to look after his grandson?’
’Currently, only Jing Wu and Jing Qi haven’t had a direct conflict with his second daughter-in-law. And with Jing Qi’s situation being what it is, that leaves no one but Jing Wu.’
"Dad..."
"I’ll pay you," Mr. Xie cut in.
Jie Jingjue’s mouth twitched. "Mom’s the one who throws money around at the slightest disagreement. Dad, when did you start acting like her?"
There was one more thing Jie Jingjue didn’t say out loud. ’The Qiao Family has money for Mom to squander, but does the Jie Family have money for Dad to squander?’
Jie Jingjue was already short on cash. How could he resist when Mr. Xie was throwing money at him?