"This is delicious," Qin i praised. "It would be even better with a little chili powder."
"Sis, I don’t an to be critical, but how has your appetite changed so much since you lost your mory?" Qin Xiang found it strange. He could accept her personality changing, but he was having a harder ti accepting that her tastes in food had changed too.
People from Yangcheng City can’t handle spicy food, and his little sister was no exception. This was the first ti he’d seen her eat anything spicy, and it had given him quite a shock.
Qin i didn’t respond, just gave Jie Jingchen a look he couldn’t refuse. He raised his hand and pinched her nose. "We don’t have any chili powder."
"Chili sauce will work too," Qin i said, settling for second best. ’There was chili sauce in the kitchen. His second sister-in-law had made it, but it was way too spicy. She’d eaten it twice and gotten diarrhea both tis, so Jie Jingchen had put it away and forbidden her from having any more.’
’She was from Sichuan; she couldn’t enjoy a al without so spice. How could food taste good if she wasn’t allowed to eat anything spicy?’
"Just a little," Jie Jingchen relented.
"Okay." Qin i’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. Her cheer was infectious. Jie Jingchen glanced toward Qin Xiang. Seeing that he was focused on stir-frying, Jie Jingchen swiftly leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
Qin i froze, her cheeks instantly flushing red. She shot a wary glance at Qin Xiang. ’This guy is getting bolder and bolder! Qin Xiang is right here, and he still dares to sneak a kiss.’
’Still, it’s pretty exciting. It feels like we’re sneaking around.’
"Jing Si, get the bowls," Qin Xiang called out. Then he added, "i, go tell Jing Qi it’s ti to eat."
"Oh, okay." Qin i shot Jie Jingchen a look before turning and leaving the kitchen.
No one said a word about Grandpa and Granny suddenly moving back ho. Jie Jingchen didn’t ntion it, and Qin i didn’t ask. In fact, not only did Qin i not ask, but neither did Jing Qi, and Qin Xiang certainly wasn’t going to bring it up.
The how didn’t matter, only the result. Granny had been pestering him endlessly, constantly trying to persuade him to marry Jie Anqi. Qin Xiang had been about to lose his patience. If they hadn’t moved out, he might have left himself.
Now that they were gone, everyone was happy.
The four of them had just finished eating when Jie Jingjue returned from taking their grandparents ho. Seeing the leftovers on the table, he didn’t seem to mind. He grabbed a bowl and chopsticks, served himself so rice, and started eating right away.
Qin Xiang got up and took the roasted duck he’d set aside for Jie Jingjue out of the cupboard, placing it in front of him. He hadn’t known when Jie Jingjue would be back, so he’d put it away. The two other dishes he’d cooked were vegetarian, so he hadn’t bothered saving any of those.
Jie Jingjue paused mid-bite. He stared at the roasted duck, then looked up at Qin Xiang and couldn’t help but ask, "You saved this for ?"
"That’s right. I saved it *especially* for you." Qin Xiang emphasized the word "especially." Jie Jingjue was so moved that he put down his bowl and chopsticks and tried to hug Qin Xiang, who dodged him and said in a mock-disgusted tone, "What’s with the theatrics? Man up."
"Bro, you’re the best," Jie Jingjue said, then picked his chopsticks back up and continued eating. He grabbed a piece of roasted duck. ’Mmm, this is amazing. This roasted duck is especially good today.’
’Qin Xiang and Gao Hai were both his fourth brother’s comrades-in-arms, but Gao Hai’s attitude toward him was completely different.’
Watching his brother get won over by a piece of roasted duck, Jie Jingchen was speechless. ’So much for his principles.’
"If he’s your ’best bro,’ then what am I?" Jie Jingchen asked coolly.
"You’re my best bro too," Jie Jingjue mumbled through a mouthful of food.
"Wash the dishes when you’re done." Not bothering to deal with him any further, Jie Jingchen pulled Qin i away.
Jing Qi had gone back to his room after eating. Qin Xiang, however, didn’t leave. He sat across from Jie Jingjue, just watching him.
"Bro, you should go rest. I’ll do the dishes in a bit, I promise I’ll leave the kitchen spotless." Jie Jingjue mistakenly thought Qin Xiang was staying behind to make him wash the dishes after he finished.
Qin Xiang had cooked, so he definitely wasn’t going to do the dishes. The reason he stayed was to ask Jie Jingjue sothing. "Jing Wu, when you were taking your grandpa and granny ho, did your granny say anything?"
"Not really," Jie Jingjue answered as he ate.
"Nothing at all?" Qin Xiang was skeptical.
Jie Jingjue glanced at Qin Xiang and saw his disbelieving expression. He hesitated for a mont before saying, "In Granny’s eyes, I’m basically an enemy spy. Do you think she’d reveal anything to an enemy spy?"
"’Enemy spy?’" Qin Xiang looked at Jie Jingjue in surprise. ’This kid actually used a term like ’enemy spy.’ He himself was a soldier and was very sensitive to words like that. "Jing Wu, you need to be careful with your words. Don’t use that term again. It could lead to misunderstandings, and that would be a huge problem."
Realizing his mistake, Jie Jingjue nodded.
Qin Xiang didn’t press the matter. He got up and left the kitchen, leaving Jie Jingjue to eat alone. By the ti Jie You finished his howork and ca running in, Jie Jingjue was already at the sink washing dishes.
"Uncle Wu!" Jie You called out as he ran to the dining table. There was no roasted duck. He turned to look at Jie Jingjue, who was washing dishes at the sink. "Uncle Wu, where’s the roasted duck?"
"I ate it," Jie Jingjue answered.
"WAAAH!" Hearing that Jie Jingjue had eaten the roasted duck, Jie You was instantly heartbroken. He plopped down on the floor and started bawling. "WAAAH!"
Jie Jingjue turned around and stared at Jie You, who was wailing on the floor. He was completely baffled. "Xiao You, what are you crying for?"
"Uncle Wu, you’re an!" Jie You accused.
Jie Jingjue’s expression was blank. ’When did I do anything to this kid?’
Hearing the commotion, Xu Chunyan rushed in. She saw her son wailing on the floor and glanced at the empty dining table. ’We were too late again.’ She was inwardly furious but didn’t let it show. She went to help Jie You up, asking with feigned concern, "Xiao You, why are you crying?"
"Mama, Uncle Wu is an! Uncle Wu is an!" Jie You pointed a chubby little finger at Jie Jingjue.
"Hey, brat, what did I do?" Jie Jingjue felt completely wronged.
"Jing Jue, how could you bully Xiao You? He’s just a child," Xu Chunyan said, imdiately blowing the situation out of proportion. Her gaze fell on Jie Jingjue, wearing an apron with his sleeves rolled to his elbows, his hands still dripping with water, and she was instantly filled with resentnt. ’Jing San helps Shen Qing with chores. After moving out, Jing Si takes care of everything himself. Even Jing Wu knows to wash the dishes after a al. But the man *she* married cos ho and acts like a king, not lifting a finger to help, just waiting for her to serve him.’
’They’re all sons of the sa father, so why are they so different? Fine, Jing Si and Jing Wu have a different mother than Jing Er. But Jing San is his full brother, so why is he different too?’
"Second Sister-in-law, when did I bully Xiao You?" Jie Jingjue raised an eyebrow. He turned to the crying boy and asked, "Hey, brat, when did I ever bully you?"
"You ate my roasted duck," Jie You sobbed.
"Jing Jue, you’re a grown man. How could you fight with a child over food?" Xu Chunyan said as she took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Jie You’s face.
"’Your roasted duck? I ate the roasted duck my brother bought for .’" Jie Jingjue really wanted to march over and twist the kid’s ear. ’What an ungrateful little brat! I always save him the best snacks. Sotis when I eat out, I even bring sothing good back for him. And now, just because I ate the roasted duck Qin Xiang saved for , he throws a tantrum.’
"It was my roasted duck! Uncle Si bought it for !" He had gone to his room to do his howork, and in that ti, the roasted duck Uncle Si had bought for him was eaten by Uncle Wu. The more Jie You thought about it, the angrier he got. He rushed at Jie Jingjue, punching and kicking. "Give back my roasted duck! Give back my roasted duck!"
"You little brat, stop it right now or I’ll give you a spanking!" Jie Jingjue threatened.
"Uncle Wu is an! Give back my roasted duck!" Jie You didn’t listen at all. He latched onto Jie Jingjue’s leg and opened his mouth to bite.
Jie Jingjue’s reflexes were quick. He grabbed Jie You by the collar and lifted him up. But the boy was heavy, and with Jie Jingjue yanking on his collar, his neck was constricted. The little guy’s eyes started to roll back. Seeing this, Jie Jingjue quickly set him back down on the floor.
"WAAAH! Mama, Uncle Wu choked !" Jie You began to howl again.
"Jing Wu, Xiao You is your nephew! How could you choke him? What if you’d killed him? How would you explain that to your father and your second brother?" Xu Chunyan demanded aggressively, acting as if Jie Jingjue had actually tried to harm her son. She stepped forward and pulled the wailing Xiao You into a protective embrace.
Jie Jingjue was getting annoyed. He ran a hand through his hair. "If he dies, I’ll bury him."
Hearing this, Xu Chunyan’s eyes flashed with shock. She stared at him in disbelief. "If he dies, *you’ll* bury him?"
"That’s right. If he dies, I’ll bury him," Jie Jingjue repeated, enunciating every word with perfect clarity.
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