CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 14: LATELY, SISTER-IN-LAW LIKES TO TOUCH HIM

When the topic of the house was brought up, Mrs. Song dared not utter a word. Back then, Song Tingfan’s parents had paid five taels of silver.

The village chief looked at her and scoffed, then looked around at the people, and loudly said, "Disperse, everyone. What’s there to see? Don’t you all have enough work at home? Do you really have so much free time on your hands?"

"If you’re all so free, go to the village pond and catch some fish."

This is the harvest season for everyone, who really has the time to catch fish from the pond? A man said, "Village chief, let’s catch the fish next month. We haven’t finished our work yet."

"Then hurry up." The village chief thought of something and added, "Harvest quickly, the ants are moving. I estimate it will rain in the next couple of days."

Hearing that it might rain, everyone quickly dispersed. If the rice gets wet, it will probably spoil.

In a brief moment of victory, Lin Qiao bent down to lift the basket and wild vegetables from the ground, and Song Tingfan helped to pick them up.

Li Guifen watched with a heavy heart. She bent down to help pick up the things, "Daughter, are you alright?"

"I’m fine." Lin Qiao gave her a sincere smile.

Seeing that the mother-in-law was helping, daughter-in-laws Mrs. Lin Wu and Lin Xushi naturally didn’t dare to be idle and helped to gather.

After they finished picking up the things, the village chief spoke with affection, "Tingfan, come by my house later to get some vegetables."

Without thinking, Song Tingfan shook his head and refused, "Grandpa Zhou, there’s no need."

His parents had advised him to avoid troubling others as much as possible.

"You’re always so polite. If you don’t come to get them, I’ll have your Uncle Zhou bring them to you later."

The village chief glanced at Lin Qiao and earnestly said, "Live your life well and things won’t turn out bad. Tingfan will have a bright future."

"The government’s relief silver will arrive this year. I’ll discuss with the village elders and allocate more to you, so you won’t go hungry this winter."

He repeated, "Live well."

Poor Tingfan has had such a hard life; it makes people’s hearts ache.

Lin Qiao was a bit surprised to hear about the relief silver, but she didn’t dwell on it. She thanked him, "Thank you, village chief."

"No need to thank me, just focus on raising Tingfan well."

The village chief didn’t say much more, greeted Lin Han, and then left.

Lin Qiao looked at the wild vegetables in the basket, many leaves were already trampled and ruined, but they were still edible.

Li Guifen’s eyes reddened again, regardless of what the two daughters-in-law thought, she angrily said, "They’re all ruined, just leave them. You silly girl, don’t you know to pick vegetables from the field?"

"You’re regressing."

The daughter was definitely being cautious because of the argument from last time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stopped picking vegetables from home for so many days.

Lin Han, being the straightforward man he is, had red eyes too. The daughter was only doing this for their family, otherwise she could have married into a better family.

Mrs. Lin Wu and Lin Xushi exchanged looks, both with the expression of "Look, the sister-in-law is going to take advantage of her family again."

Lin Qiao didn’t know what they were thinking, but she refused Li Guifen, "No need, we have enough to eat. Uncle caught a lot of crabs."

She didn’t like to owe favors. The former self’s mother was good to her former self, but since she isn’t the former self, she has no reason to accept these kindnesses without reservation.

Moreover, if she accepted, Mrs. Lin Wu and Lin Xushi would likely be quite displeased.

Normally quiet, Lin Han spoke up, "The vegetables will rot in the field, go pick them."

In the end, Li Guifen dragged Lin Qiao and them to the vegetable field to pick a basket of vegetables, which was to be sold in town the next day.

Mrs. Lin Xushi and Mrs. Lin Wu looked even more displeased, and finally couldn’t hold back and turned away home in a huff.

The mother-in-law only knew to give extra to the sister-in-law, while they had such a large family to feed.

Their family wasn’t a landlord, so how could they have extra money to support two more people?

Seeing this, Li Guifen’s face turned a little unsightly, but she was also clear-minded. Over the past year, her daughter indeed had taken quite a few things.

Her daughters-in-law stormed off, and Lin Sheng and Lin Shan also looked a bit awkward, glancing apologetically at Lin Qiao.

Lin Qiao, being insightful, understood the complexities of the situation and didn’t want there to be discord within Li Guifen’s family. She looked at the vegetables in the basket, took out ten cents from her pocket, and smiled at Li Guifen, "I’ve taken advantage."

"I’ll buy some malt candy for Xiao Zhi and Xiao Shang."

Li Guifen paused, clearly aware of her current situation, and waved her hand, "Keep it for yourself."

She touched her waist, considering giving some silver coins, but held back.

Her two grandsons still needed to attend school this year.

She looked even more guilty.

Lin Qiao smiled a bit and insisted on giving it to her, "I haven’t bought anything for the nephews in a long time."

Thinking of something, Li Guifen glanced at her two sons and accepted the money.

The fact that vegetables were paid for with money meant the two daughters-in-law would have no reason to complain.

But she didn’t really want her daughter’s money, planning to find a chance to secretly return it another day.

When the Lin Family had left, Lin Qiao and Song Tingfan finally went home. The farce had taken almost thirty minutes, and now the sky was already turning gray.

But the sound of cicadas had yet to stop.

It was time to make dinner again, and Lin Qiao was about to ask Song Tingfan to handle the crabs when she saw him with his head slightly lowered, seemingly deep in thought.

She softly asked, "Uncle, are you feeling unwell?"

Song Tingfan shook his head, tightened his lips, and looked at her, not speaking for a long time. Lin Qiao was a bit flustered from his gaze. What kind of look was that from the antagonist?

Could it be that her acting had been seen through?

Just as she was beating the drum in her heart, he spoke, "Sister-in-law, thank you."

Before Lin Qiao could respond, he said with guilt yet determination, "Sister-in-law, I won’t let others bully you in the future."

"Nobody can."

The young man’s gaze was sincere, leaving no room for doubt about the truthfulness of his words.

Later on, Lin Qiao recalled these words, accusing someone of not keeping them, while that person "bullying" her held her down silently.

"Okay, then Uncle should eat more to grow strong."

At this moment, Lin Qiao didn’t take the antagonist’s words seriously at all, nor did she take them to heart. You see, her current biggest danger was him.

As long as he didn’t bully her, she would be thankful like a spiritual devotee burning incense.

She noticed the marks on Song Tingfan’s face and remembered he was scratched by Mrs. Song.

In the dim light, Lin Qiao couldn’t see deep the scratches were, so she leaned in closer to check, then reached out and touched them, "Luckily it’s not too deep; it shouldn’t leave a scar."

"Uncle, don’t block it next time; I have a good sense of it."

She was not someone to be bullied easily.

Her fingers on his face caused a few tinges of tingling itch. Song Tingfan’s body stiffened, then he lowered his head and stammered a response.

However, his gaze couldn’t help but linger on Lin Qiao’s fair face, and his ears flushed a bit.

Lately, sister-in-law seemed to like touching him.

Lin Qiao didn’t notice, hearing an aunt next door calling for dinner, realizing that it wasn’t early, she rolled up her sleeves and started cooking.

Carrying the bucket with crabs, Song Tingfan went to the yard to prepare them. He handled the crabs quickly, holding one claw while pinching the shell, easily separating them.

His sidelong glance often fell on the busy figure in the kitchen, a unique emotion filling his heart.

He didn’t know what it was, he only knew that sister-in-law was truly good.