’Amie is a good person. She deserves my fourth brother’s love.’
The back seat was too crowded, so Qin Mei had to sit in the front. Her mood quickly improved, and she turned around to chat with Jie Jingling.
"Amie, is Jing Qi’s leg really healed?" Jie Jingling asked.
Before Qin Mei had a chance to speak, Jie Jingchen cut in, "It’s healed. Meimei treated it."
Jie Jingling knew that Qin Mei had treated Jing Qi’s leg. To be honest, she was shocked. Qin Mei had stayed with the Sun Family for half a year and kept such a low profile; Jie Jingling never would have guessed she knew medicine.
Aunt Qiao had described Qin Mei’s medical skills as something miraculous and even claimed that Jie Jingling had taught her, which left Jie Jingling utterly bewildered.
Qin Mei sensed something was up and wanted to give Jie Jingling a subtle hint, but Jie Jingchen’s sharp, meaningful gaze was fixed on her.
’Jie Jingchen is driving, but he’s looking at me instead of the road. Good thing it’s not rush hour, or we’d definitely get into an accident.’
"As long as it’s healed, that’s what matters." Jie Jingling didn’t expose Qin Mei. ’My fourth brother is too shrewd,’ she thought. ’I can’t say the wrong thing and get Amie in trouble or damage her relationship with him. I’ll ask her about it in private later.’
When Jie Jingchen looked away for a moment, Qin Mei shot Jie Jingling a grateful glance. Jie Jingchen saw everything. Though his eyes weren’t directly on Qin Mei, he was watching her out of the corner of his eye.
"Qin Mei, can you practice medicine?" Sun’s mother asked curiously.
Qin Mei groaned inwardly. ’How could I have forgotten Sun’s mother was here?’ Jie Jingling was stunned as well; she hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to speak up right then.
"Yes," Qin Mei replied.
"Really?" Sun’s mother asked, skeptical. "Who taught you?"
"My eldest sister taught her." Jie Jingchen shot a probing, sidelong glance at Qin Mei, his expression inscrutable.
"You taught her?" Sun’s mother raised her eyebrows, looking at Jie Jingling. "When did you teach her? How come I never knew?"
Qin Mei remained silent. ’With a demolition expert like Sun’s mother around, the more I say, the more mistakes I’ll make. It’s better to say nothing at all.’
Jie Jingling didn’t say anything either. ’I can’t cover for this lie,’ she thought. ’My fourth brother is too sharp to be fooled so easily.’
Sun’s mother continued, "And another thing, you couldn’t even heal Jing Qi’s leg, but the apprentice you taught could? Jing Ling, who do you think you’re fooling?"
Jie Jingling was mortified. Qin Mei couldn’t stand to see her being blamed like this. She didn’t care what Sun’s mother said about her, but she would not tolerate her insulting Jie Jingling.
"Auntie, have you never heard the saying that the student surpasses the master?" Qin Mei retorted.
"Jing Ling," Sun’s mother said, glaring at her.
"Jing Qi is her own sister, so of course she’d have reservations. But I don’t. I was willing to try a desperate remedy," Qin Mei said.
’She’s really taking this seriously, isn’t she?’ Sun’s mother thought. ’I was just voicing my doubts. Does she really have to press the issue like this?’
’Whether Jing Qi’s leg was healed or not had nothing to do with her anyway.’
"Fine, fine, you’re the clever one. A blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while," Sun’s mother conceded sarcastically.
An imperceptible emotion flickered in Jie Jingchen’s eyes, and a pensive expression crossed his face.
Sun’s mother’s mood remained unaffected. She was fascinated by everything in Shijiu City. It was her first time in a big city, and it was so prosperous—a world away from their little mountain valley. Coming here with her daughter-in-law had been the right decision, and so was bringing her granddaughter to see the world.
When they arrived at the Jie Family home, Sun’s mother was a little disappointed. She had assumed they would live in a modern high-rise, but it was just a one-story house.
The courtyard was larger and neater than her own back home, but Sun’s mother didn’t like it. She preferred high-rises.
Qin Mei watched Sun’s mother’s disdainful expression. ’This is a siheyuan (courtyard house),’ she thought. ’It’ll be worth a fortune someday.’
Only Jie Jingjue and Jing Qi were home. Hearing the commotion, Jing Qi stepped out of the house.
"Big Sis," Jie Jingshan called out.
"Seventh Sister." Tears welled up in Jie Jingling’s eyes as she looked at Jie Jingshan.
Jie Jingshan and Jie Jingling weren’t particularly close, so they both stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say. Qin Mei broke the silence by pushing Sun Tong forward. "Jing Qi, this is Sun Tong, your eldest sister’s daughter," she said. "Tongtong, this is Jie Jingshan, your mom’s younger sister. You should call her Little Aunt."
"Little Aunt," Sun Tong called out sweetly.
"Tongtong." Jing Qi looked at the girl, and the two of them hit it off immediately. Jing Qi didn’t put on the airs of an elder, nor was she fierce like she could be with Jie You. She simply pulled Sun Tong into her room.
"Big Sis." Jie Jingjue emerged from the kitchen, leaning against the wall for support. He was walking oddly.
"Fifth Brother, what happened to you?" Jie Jingling asked, walking towards Jie Jingjue with a worried look on her face.
"Big Sis, Fourth Brother beat me up," Jie Jingjue whined, feeling utterly wronged as he rested his head on Jie Jingling’s shoulder. ’I want to hug her,’ he thought, ’but I’m worried her husband is as petty as Fourth Brother. I really don’t want him to beat me up too.’