CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: THE POINT IS SHE MADE THE VILLAIN’S GRANDMA STAND ALL MORNING

After returning home, Lin Qiao took a broom and swept the rotten leaves under the jujube tree, piling them next to the tree roots, and finally poured half a bucket of vegetable wash water on them. Then she went to water the few clumps of wild green onions growing at the corner of the wall.

Only after doing this did she take a piece of charcoal and start working on a pattern on the table in the main room, rubbing and drawing, her hands blackened, but she finally settled on a design.

She dropped the charcoal, got up to fetch water to wash her hands, and unintentionally glanced outside the courtyard, where she saw an old woman holding something, standing and looking at the Song Family’s door.

When their eyes met, the old woman flusteredly turned around and took a few steps away.

Lin Qiao found it a bit strange, but didn’t think much of it. She went back into the main room and started embroidering on a square cloth.

Old Mrs. Wang from next door came out to hang clothes to dry. When she saw the old woman, she walked over with a smile and greeted her, "Sister Song, when did you arrive?"

"Just now." The old woman’s head was full of silver hair, and her body was slightly stooped.

She was Grandma Song Qin, Song Tingfan’s grandmother.

Old Mrs. Wang glanced at the open door of the Song Family and whispered, "Why not go inside? Aren’t you allowed in?"

Song Qin shook her head, lifted the things in her hands slightly, her face full of wrinkles revealing her kindness, "I’ve brought something for Niu Niu."

"Sis, have you seen Niu Niu?"

She was sneaking around to see her grandson, and Old Mrs. Wang knew the reason: probably fearing that her grandson would get beaten.

In the past, when Old Mrs. Wang came to see her grandson and left afterward, Song Tingfan was bound to get beaten.

But now Widow Song had changed a lot.

"He’s probably gone up the mountain or gone to the river to fetch water. Sister Song, why not wait at my place?"

She forgot Song Tingfan was attending school and instinctively thought the child was working.

Song Qin didn’t want to nag her, so she smiled and declined, "No, thanks. I’ll just wait here and soak up the sun."

Since Old Mrs. Wang had something to do at home, she didn’t insist. She glanced once more at the Song Family’s door before going in. She whispered to the old man in the courtyard, "Grandma Tingfan is here, standing outside right now."

Old Man Wang was weaving a basket in his hands, "Why not invite her in?"

"I did, but she wouldn’t come," Old Mrs. Wang said as she grabbed some rotten vegetable leaves to feed the chickens in the yard, "Looks like Grandma Tingfan’s days are hard; her shoes are all worn out."

"Alas, if only Tingfan’s parents were here, things wouldn’t be like this."

"Heavens above truly don’t seem to care. What a good family the Song’s second family was, and now there’s only Tingfan left."

Old Man Wang sighed, "Nothing about these matters is something we can understand."

"That’s true, too." Old Mrs. Wang turned her head towards the inside of the house and shouted, "Second daughter-in-law, it’s almost time for lunch, why are you still holed up in the room? You’re not about to have a baby."

"Day after day, it feels like serving a lord. Go out and see, which daughter-in-law isn’t already up and working by this time..."

...

As it neared noon, Lin Qiao set her embroidery aside, stretched her neck a bit, and stepped outside the main room to check the door, only to find the old woman still standing there.

By now, the sun was glaring and blindingly bright. She hadn’t even moved to a shady spot and was just standing there in the sun.

Another moment in the sun and she’d probably have a heatstroke.

Lin Qiao thought for a moment, stood at the door, and spoke out, "Grandma, is there anything you need?"

The old woman was obviously startled at the sound of her voice and hurriedly hid the things behind her back, "I...came to see Niu Niu."

Lin Qiao didn’t know any child named Niu Niu, so without much thought, she said, "Grandma, which family is it? I can help you ask."

Thinking the old woman was lost or had some issues with her mind.

Standing in the sun all morning.

Soon she realized that it was she herself who had "issues with her mind."

Serious issues.

The old woman’s eyes were puzzled, looking at her and then looking again, seemingly finding it odd, but without saying anything, she shook her head and then moved a bit further away.

Seeing that the old woman wouldn’t say anything, Lin Qiao didn’t press her further. She went back inside, got a bowl of water, and walked out to her. "Grandma, have a drink of water."

The old woman seemed a bit dazed looking at the water, but Lin Qiao didn’t dwell on it, smiling as she handed it over, "Drink it and leave it at the door."

With that, she went back into the courtyard and into the kitchen to make food.

...

School let out, and children swarmed out, but the twelve-year-old boy carefully packed away his pens and ink, checking and rechecking to make sure he hadn’t left anything behind, before finally striding out of the schoolhouse.

A journey that would normally take a quarter of an hour; he covered in half that time to reach the home door.

Suddenly, seeing something, his eyes lit up, and he joyfully ran over, "Grandma."

"Niu Niu." Song Qin’s eyes crinkled into lines, smiling at the sight of her obedient grandson.

Seeing her forehead sweaty, Song Tingfan immediately reached out to wipe it, saying tenderly, "Grandma, why didn’t you come inside?"

The old woman, Song Qin, quietly replied, "Grandma brought something for you without letting your sister-in-law see."

Of her three sons, she felt most for Song Tingfan’s family, who were a straight-shooting lot.

It was maddening how the heavens didn’t favor them at all.

She shoved the bundle into his hands, "Grandma bought you some meat pies. Eat them secretly later, don’t let your sister-in-law see."

"There’s thirty cents inside. Keep it to buy yourself something to eat."

At this point, her eyes turned slightly red, looking at her grandson who was a head taller than her, her voice choked with emotion, "Niu Niu, it’s all Grandma’s fault for not having the ability to take care of you."

She and the old man were now living with the youngest son’s family, too old to earn money, unable to do much hard labor, the youngest son’s family was already dissatisfied, always saying they should have died long ago.

She and the old man thought they shouldn’t give Niu Niu any additional burden of worry.

He already suffered enough.

Song Tingfan quickly shook his head, eyes slightly reddened, understanding, "Grandma, no, I know you and Grandpa care a lot about me."

Song Qin wiped the corners of her eyes, "Niu Niu is such a good boy."

"Grandma has to go... Niu Niu, take care of yourself." She spoke with a bit of a choke.

She wanted to stay with him longer, but the old man...

Song Tingfan quickly grabbed her, not letting her leave, "Grandma, at least stay for a meal before you go."

Song Qin didn’t want him to take a beating, so she shook her head, "Grandma had a meal before coming, not hungry. Niu Niu, finish the meat pies secretly then go home, Grandma will buy you more next time."

Song Tingfan was just about to say something when suddenly a voice came, "Uncle."

Lin Qiao guessed the time and thought Song Tingfan would be back soon, so she was at the door keeping an eye out, and saw him talking with the old woman.

She suddenly had a guess.

Could it be that she was Song Tingfan’s grandma?

...

In her dreams, she hadn’t seen images of Song Tingfan’s grandparents, only scenes of Song Tingfan mourning at his grandfather’s funeral.

No, the issue now was she had left the villain’s grandma standing under the sun all morning.

Was she out of her mind?

Yeah, she had gone insane.

Seriously.

As Song Tingfan saw her walking closer, his eyes showed some complexity, pursed lips, timidly said, "Sister-in-law, I want to ask Grandma to stay for a meal."

He was prepared to be hit by his sister-in-law.

As long as Grandma could have a meal.

Lin Qiao was thinking about how to smooth over the earlier matter, her mind spinning, then innocently asked, "Uncle, Grandma?"

Looking entirely as though she couldn’t remember.

Song Tingfan was briefly stunned, then recalling his sister-in-law spoke of having mental troubles, his eyes showed compassion, "Sister-in-law, it’s Grandma. It’s our Grandma."

Listening to his words, Lin Qiao mumbled, "How could I not remember at all?" As she spoke, she rubbed her temples, looking rather troubled.

She thought it was fortunate she was an actress; otherwise, a normal person wouldn’t react this quickly.