AWB Chapter 380 - 138: Marry My Ass, I Disagree
Chapter 380 - 138: Marry My Ass, I Disagree
Granny smiled, gratified, and patted the hand Jie Anlin was using to support her. "I knew all my doting on you wasn’t for nothing. Anlin, go shut the main gate."
"Okay, Granny." Jie Anlin was very obedient. He let go of Granny’s arm, turned to close the main gate, and even slid the bolt into place.
"Jianjun." Seeing her second son standing there motionless, Granny gave his back a push. ’Is this kid thinking of backing out now?’
"Mom, are you sure Big Brother and Sister-in-law won’t be back so soon?" Jie Jianjun asked in a low voice.
"Your older brother has a social engagement. He told me before he left for work that he won’t be back for dinner tonight. As for your sister-in-law, don’t worry, she’s on duty tonight. Besides, your wife is keeping an eye on things at the hospital. You need to trust your wife," Granny replied in a hushed tone.
That put Jie Jianjun completely at ease. There was nothing to worry about anymore.
His older brother used to be on their side. But ever since his first wife died and he married his current one, he had defected. He was no longer one of them, protecting his new wife as if she were the apple of his eye. It had gotten to the point where even he had to show her respect. This new sister-in-law was formidable, and her family was even more so. He didn’t dare provoke her.
Jie Jianjun rubbed his balding head, adjusted his jacket that wouldn’t button, and walked toward Jie Jingchen. "Jing Si."
Qin Mei sized up Jie Jianjun. His features strongly resembled her father-in-law’s, but his physique was another story. Jie Jianjun clearly lacked exercise; he had the typical middle-aged spread and sported a beer belly.
’In this era, to be able to eat enough to get a beer belly, Jie Jianjun’s position at the machinery plant must not be low. Then again, Jie Jianguo is the factory director. Would he really not promote his own younger brother?’
"Second Uncle." Jie Jingchen remained seated in the wicker chair, a book in his hands, not bothering to get up to greet him. ’Second Uncle is here to cause trouble. There’s no need for me to be polite.’
Jie Jianjun was very displeased with Jie Jingchen’s distant attitude, but he didn’t get angry. He sat down in the wicker chair next to him.
"Dad." Jie Anlin had intended to help Granny into the wicker chair, but his father sat down first. He didn’t dare ask Jie Jingchen to get up.
Jie Jianjun had just sat down. He hadn’t meant to take the chair from his own mother and was about to get up. But when he saw Jie Jingchen sitting there, not budging an inch, he instantly changed his mind. ’I’m an elder, after all, and he’s from the younger generation. It should be my grandson, Jie Jingchen, who gives up his seat for his own granny.’
"Jing Si, get up. Let your granny sit," Jie Jianjun said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Jie Jingchen’s deep eyes narrowed. His expression turned grim, and a chill emanated from him. "Second Uncle, you’re the one who should get up."
"I’m the elder, you’re the junior," Jie Jianjun reminded him. At home, he was the elder and Jing Si was the junior. At the machinery plant, he was Jing Si’s superior. Professionally or personally, the one who should get up was Jing Si.
"Second Uncle, have you forgotten? My waist is injured." Jie Jingchen rubbed his lower back. "This waist of mine... it hasn’t fully healed. Once I sit down, it’s very difficult to get back up."
Qin Xiang suppressed a laugh and shot his little sister a suggestive look.
Qin Mei calmly chewed on a duck head, pretending not to understand Qin Xiang’s suggestive gaze. She was already regretting it. ’Why was I in such a hurry to heal his waist injury? Now look, I’m the one paying the price.’
Since Qin Mei was playing dumb, Qin Xiang just asked directly, "His waist... has it really not healed completely?"
He was Qin Mei’s older brother. They were siblings, so he didn’t feel embarrassed asking her such a thing. A waist injury was a serious matter; he was still waiting to hold a nephew.
"I don’t know," Qin Mei continued to play dumb.
"If you don’t know, who does?" Qin Xiang asked, exasperated.
Ignoring Qin Xiang’s question, Qin Mei complained with a hint of impatience. "What are they doing? They should just get to the point and get this over with. It’s almost dinnertime. Don’t tell me Jie Jingsi actually plans on having them stay for dinner?"
"Little sis, Jing Si’s waist..." Qin Xiang was insistent. The more Qin Mei refused to say, the more he wanted to know.
Everyone has their own selfish motives. No matter how solid his friendship with Jing Si was, his little sister was the most important person to him. He didn’t want his sister to suffer. ’If Jing Si’s waist injury is truly irreversible, what can I do while I’m here? Can I heal his waist? No. But I can take my little sister and leave.’
’A sexless marriage never ends well. What good are kisses and hugs if you can’t even have children?’
"His waist is fine." Before Qin Mei could finish speaking, a blush crept onto her fair cheeks. ’I can be shy too, you know.’
"Really?" Qin Xiang let out a sigh of relief. He was quite satisfied with Jing Si as a brother-in-law.
"Really, really, really," Qin Mei repeated three times, glaring at Qin Xiang. "If you don’t believe me, go ask him yourself."
Qin Xiang’s mouth twitched, and he glared back. "You think I’d dare ask him? If I asked him that, he’d beat me to death."
Jie Jianjun was speechless. What Jie Jingchen said was true. It was a fact that he’d been injured, and a fact that he’d hurt his waist. He had spent over a month recuperating at home before returning to work. His big brother had even privately reminded him to take good care of Jing Si.
At the time, he had even joked with his big brother, promising to take care of Jing Si—especially his waist—and ensure there were no lingering effects that would impact his ability to have children.
’Forget it. I’ll be the bigger person. After all, I’m his elder and his boss. I won’t stoop to his level.’
"Mom, take my seat." Jie Jianjun started to get up, but Granny stopped him.
"Jianjun, you stay seated. I’ll sit on the stone stool. I don’t feel comfortable in wicker chairs." Granny wanted to get a rise out of Jie Jingchen. If Jing Si didn’t offer her the seat, there was no sense of accomplishment in taking it. "Anlin, help me to the stone stool."
"Granny, the stone stool is too hard," Jie Anlin said, hesitating.
Hearing this, Granny became even more pleased with this grandson, once again thinking to herself that her affection for him hadn’t been wasted.
They were both her grandsons, but look at Jing Si’s attitude toward her. It was simply incomparable to Anlin’s. Granny forgot that she didn’t treat Jing Si and Anlin equally, either.
A classic case of "rules for thee, but not for me."
"It’s fine. I’m used to it," Granny said, her words laden with insinuation.
Jie Anlin understood her meaning and was instantly enraged. He unleashed his full fury on the indifferent Jie Jingchen. "Jing Si, Granny is old! How many more years does she have? When Granny lives with us, we treat her like an ancestor! How can you treat her like this when she’s only been at your house for a few days?"
"How have we treated Granny?" Jie Jingchen stared at Jie Anlin, his gaze frigid and his expression devoid of emotion.
A shiver ran through Jie Anlin. He was somewhat intimidated by Jie Jingchen’s gaze and shrank back. But then he remembered his dad and Granny were there. ’It’s not like Jie Jingchen can eat me alive,’ he thought, and puffed out his chest. "You... You’re not being filial to Granny! When Granny lives with us..."
"Is that your house?" Jie Jingchen interrupted sarcastically.
Jie Jianjun and Jie Anlin froze, clearly not expecting Jie Jingchen to be so blunt.
Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed. His voice was deep and almost glacial. "The house assigned to my dad by the machinery plant was for you to live in while keeping Granny and Grandpa company. What? You’ve lived there for a while, so now you just assume it’s your house?"
That was, in fact, exactly what they thought, but the father and son didn’t dare let their greed show.
Jie Anlin didn’t know how to retort. He looked to Granny for help, but unfortunately, Granny was powerless. Jie Jingchen had a venomous tongue; for every one thing she said, he’d have ten waiting in response.
Jie Anlin then looked to his father. Jie Jianjun gave his son a look that said, ’Calm down.’ His eyes scanned the surroundings. ’This courtyard is so spacious, and there are so many rooms. Best of all, it even has a toilet.’
’I’m so jealous of Big Brother. After marrying Qiao Yanqiu, he and the children from his first wife got to move into such a nice courtyard house.’
"This is a nice courtyard," Jie Jianjun said. "There’s even a toilet out here. I heard you also built toilets inside the three main rooms. You and your wife have one room, Jing Qi has another, and that leaves one more. It’s just right for your grandpa and granny. They’re getting old and have to get up often in the night. Having a toilet in their room would be very convenient for them. That would be great."