Jing Si was already twenty-five, but he’d run to his mother to complain at the slightest disagreent. Did he really think he was a toddler?
Most children hope for their parents to be loving and affectionate, but Jie Jingchen was an exception. He was always stirring up trouble, putting his parents’ marriage to the test.
Having vented his frustrations, Jie Jingchen felt much better and strode back into the kitchen.
The water in the pot was boiling. Grandpa poured the rice Jie Jingchen had washed into it. Seeing him return, Grandpa smiled and said, "Jing Si, you go back to your room and get so sleep. I’ll keep an eye on this."
Jie Jingchen gazed with mixed feelings at his grandpa’s stooped back. His hair was almost completely white, and he’d lost a few teeth. ’Grandpa’s really gotten old.’ "Grandpa."
"Jing Si, don’t be mad at your father. He’s just worried about and your granny. I don’t need to be looked after, and as for your granny, I’ll take care of her. We won’t be a bother to your wife," Grandpa said, looking at Jie Jingchen with a benevolent expression.
Recalling the way he had snapped at Granny, Jie Jingchen looked at his grandpa, an indescribable and complicated feeling welling up inside him. "Grandpa, Qin i can’t do anything. She really doesn’t know how to take care of people."
Grandpa glanced at Jie Jingchen with his world-weary, profound eyes, stirring the contents of the pot with a wrinkled hand. "She really can’t cook?"
"Yeah," Jie Jingchen nodded.
"When you all go to work, what do they eat for lunch?" Grandpa asked.
Jie Jingchen thought for a mont and told him the truth. When he finished, Grandpa’s eyes widened in shock.
"That girl is quite capable!" Grandpa praised.
Jie Jingchen nodded. His gaze softened as he thought of Qin i. "She does have so skills."
’The post-amnesia Qin i had so many secrets for him to uncover.’
"Treasure her." Grandpa patted Jie Jingchen’s shoulder. Fourth Wife of Jing was better than Second Daughter-in-law Jing. As for Third Wife of Jing, while her personality was cold, she wasn’t heartless. She didn’t go out of her way to flatter the elders, maintaining a respectful yet distant deanor.
"I will," Jie Jingchen nodded solemnly. He deliberated for a mont before speaking. "Grandpa, it’d be best if Granny doesn’t try to provoke Qin i. She won’t humor her."
Grandpa froze. ’His grandson was warning him.’ "You all don’t have to indulge her. It’s enough that I do."
’He had doted on her and spoiled her for a lifeti. He was used to it. He would continue to dote on her, continue to spoil her, until he reached the end of his days.’
Once the congee was ready, Jie Jingchen poured it out, washed the pot, and filled it with water to boil so eggs.
Jie Jingchen ladled out a bowl of congee for himself and got so pickled vegetables to go with it. Seeing him sit down at the table to eat alone, Grandpa couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t you going to call your wife and Jing Qi to eat?"
"My wife likes to sleep in. As for Jing Qi, I’ll bring her food to her room once the eggs are done," Jie Jingchen answered.
Grandpa fell silent. ’Young people’s habits were so different from those of the elderly.’ He was still a bit surprised that Qin i slept in. But then he thought of his own wife—didn’t he indulge her in the very sa way, letting her sleep as long as she pleased? Suddenly, Grandpa smiled. His grandson, Jing Si, was a lot like him: completely devoted to his wife.
"Old man!" Granny’s booming voice rang out.
Grandpa jolted and said to Jie Jingchen, "Your granny’s calling . I’ll go see what she wants."
"Grandpa, walk carefully," Jie Jingchen reminded him.
Grandpa waved a hand. "Don’t worry. My footing is steady. I won’t fall."
"Old man!" Granny bellowed again with all her might.
"Coming!" Grandpa called back.
"Old man, where the devil have you been? Get back here! I can’t find my shoes." Granny was very dependent on Grandpa, but she was also ssy and always misplacing things.
"I’m coming to find them for you right now!" Grandpa’s indulgence of Granny knew no bounds.
’Jie Jingchen watched Grandpa’s retreating figure. His grandpa truly had a good temper. No matter how unreasonable or difficult Granny got, he never got angry with her, much less said a single bad word about her. To Grandpa, Granny’s words were like imperial edicts; his only options were to obey and submit.’
’Ever since that incident, Granny had been going too far. Grandpa would try to reason with her a little, but if she wouldn’t listen, he wouldn’t force her. He went along with whatever she wanted, even when she was in the wrong.’
’When it ca to Granny, Grandpa had no principles and no bottom line.’
Mrs. Xie hadn’t eaten breakfast, and neither had Mr. Xie. The driver, Xiao Wang, had arrived early and was taking Mrs. Xie to the hospital first.
Xu Chunyan and Jie You ate breakfast at ho before she took her son to school.
Everyone who had to go to work had left. Jie Jingshan was studying in her room, Qin i was sleeping in hers, Grandpa was sweeping the courtyard, and Granny was sitting leisurely in a wicker chair.
Granny pulled up her sleeve, revealing the watch on her wrist. It read 8:34.
"Fourth Wife of Jing!" Granny shouted.
"Old woman, stop shouting. Fourth Wife of Jing is sleeping," Grandpa cut in, trying to stop her.
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