Chapter 157: Chapter 66: Qin Mei, You Need to Push Yourself

"Fourth Brother Jing, you’re choking. Your fourth sister-in-law won’t misunderstand," Hu Wan’er said shamelessly. The colder Jie Jingchen was to her, the more she wanted to conquer him.

Qin Mei sneered. By calling Jie Jingchen "Fourth Brother Jing" but her "Fourth Sister-in-law," Hu Wan’er made it sound as if they weren’t even a married couple.

"Get out." Jie Jingchen’s voice was like an ice pick.

"Wan’er," Aunt Zhang called out. ’This youngest daughter of mine has no tact at all.’ Seeing that Hu Wan’er wasn’t listening, she strode forward, grabbed her by the shoulder, and yanked her up. The water in the ladle sloshed out.

"Ah!" Hu Wan’er cried out.

Jie Jingchen shot up to dodge it. The water splashed onto Hu Wan’er, soaking the front of her clothes and making them cling to her chest. His survival instinct on high alert, Jie Jingchen kept his gaze locked on Qin Mei, not daring to let it wander.

"Look at you, your clothes are all wet. Hurry back to your room and change before you catch a cold," Aunt Zhang told Hu Wan’er, her face stern.

But Hu Wan’er wouldn’t listen. Getting the front of her clothes wet was exactly what she wanted. She wanted Jie Jingchen to see her impressive bust; she had specifically noted that Qin Mei’s wasn’t as large as hers, and she’d heard from her second sister-in-law that men preferred well-endowed women.

"Fourth Brother Jing, I’m cold. Walk me back to my room so I can change." Hu Wan’er puffed out her impressive chest and batted her eyes flirtatiously at Jie Jingchen.

"Wan’er, what nonsense are you spouting?" Even Aunt Zhang felt that Hu Wan’er’s bold and direct seduction had gone too far, especially right in front of Qin Mei.

"Jing..." Hu Wan’er still wouldn’t give up.

"Shut up." Aunt Zhang fought the urge to slap her. ’This clueless girl!’ Disregarding Hu Wan’er’s struggles, she dragged her out of the kitchen.

With the two of them gone, the kitchen fell silent. Jie Jingchen stared at Qin Mei, his gaze filled with unconcealed condemnation.

Under his accusatory gaze, Qin Mei felt a pang of guilt. Knowing she was in the wrong, she rubbed her nose and walked over to the small medicine stove. She picked up a towel, closed her eyes and sniffed, and instantly identified Jie Jingchen’s medicine. Wrapping the towel around the pot’s handle, she carefully poured the decoction into a nearby bowl.

Setting down the medicine pot, she carefully picked up the bowl and blew on it. She handed it to Jie Jingchen, mimicking Hu Wan’er’s tone as she cooed, "Fourth Brother Jing, come on now. Don’t choke. Drink your medicine."

Jie Jingchen stared at her, expressionless, a muscle in his cheek twitching almost imperceptibly. Qin Mei was the first to break, bursting out with a "HAHAHA!" Jie Jingchen couldn’t help but smile too.

"Jie Jingchen, take it! It’s hot." Qin Mei clutched the bottom of the bowl. If Jie Jingchen didn’t take it soon, she wouldn’t be able to hold on.

Jie Jingchen’s smile vanished. He shot Qin Mei a glare, took the bowl, blew on it, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one go.

Seeing this, Qin Mei’s eyes flickered. She furrowed her brow at him. "Isn’t it hot?"

"It is." Jie Jingchen wiped his mouth and set down the empty bowl.

"Then why did you drink it while it was hot?" Qin Mei rolled her eyes at him. ’It’s not like you’re a three-year-old. Don’t you know to wait a bit before drinking?’

"I was choking," Jie Jingchen said plainly.

The corner of Qin Mei’s eye twitched. She reached out and poked Jie Jingchen’s chest with her index finger. "She offered you water just now. Why didn’t you drink it?"

Jie Jingchen was silent. ’How could I have dared? Given the look on Qin Mei’s face just now, if I had so much as taken that ladle, she would’ve smashed it over my head.’

"Why didn’t you drink it?" Qin Mei pressed.

"I’m a germaphobe," Jie Jingchen replied.

Qin Mei paused, saying nothing more. ’Hu Wan’er had reacted quickly, scooping the water with a ladle. Country folk aren’t so particular, but city people are different—especially someone like Jie Jingchen.’

Qin Mei grabbed a clean bowl, rinsed it, and poured some of Jing Qi’s medicine into it. "Decoct this three times, find something to store it in, and bring it to our room."

"Okay." Jie Jingchen nodded. Seeing Qin Mei pick up the bowl of medicine and turn to leave, he called out, "Be careful, it’s hot."

"I know what I’m doing." With her back to Jie Jingchen, Qin Mei walked out of the kitchen without pausing. She carried the medicine to Jie Jingshan’s room, where she had Jing Qi drink it before performing acupuncture on him.

When Qin Mei came out of Jing Qi’s room, Jie Jingchen had already finished decocting the medicine. He had stored it in two small ceramic jars, placed them on the desk, and sealed the openings with kraft paper.

’The room was filled with the pungent, bitter smell of medicine. Thanks to my grandfather’s influence and my own diligent studies, I was used to it.’

"Jie Jingchen, Jing Qi doesn’t like Aunt Zhang. So why did your mother leave him in her care?" Qin Mei asked.

Jie Jingchen didn’t answer. Instead, he beckoned to Qin Mei. "Come here."

"What for?" Qin Mei arched an eyebrow at him. ’Was that question really so hard to answer?’

"To put in your eye drops." Jie Jingchen held up the bottle of eye drops in his hand.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com