CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: SISTER-IN-LAW IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEAT

Seeing her face become increasingly painful, Song Tingfan’s expression changed, panicking and at a loss, his hand raised in midair, wanting to touch but afraid, he asked anxiously, "Sister-in-law, what’s wrong with you?"

In his heart, he was extremely fearful, worried that he might lose his sister-in-law too.

Song Qin, although not fond of Lin Qiao, her granddaughter-in-law, knew only she could care for her grandson, and worriedly said, "Tingyi’s wife, what’s the matter with you? Are you possessed?"

Upon hearing the word "possessed," Lin Qiao couldn’t help but twitch her eyebrows. Just as she was about to react, her body suddenly rose into the air, startling her. She instinctively wrapped her arms around something, and then she was face to face with a handsome young chin.

She had wrapped her arms around the antagonist’s neck.

"..."

She had actually been picked up by the antagonist.

It was her head that hurt, not her legs, right?

Song Tingfan carried her into the room and placed her on the bed, both worried and anxious, "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"

"I’ll go call a doctor."

Calling a doctor would give it away. Lin Qiao hurriedly grabbed his arm, shaking her head, "I’m fine!"

Realizing her reaction was too strong, she softened her voice a bit, "I’m fine, just had a headache earlier."

She then shifted her focus, looking up at Song Qin who had followed them in, her eyes full of apology, "Grandma, I’m sorry for making you stand outside all morning."

With a bit of a choke, she said, "I’ve had some brain issues recently... I’ve forgotten a lot of things."

Song Qin didn’t know how she got sick, glanced at her grandson, and only after seeing him nod did she shake her head and say, "It’s okay, Tingyi’s wife, what happened? Did you see a doctor?"

"Perhaps it was due to some stress from my in-laws...."

Lin Qiao, touched upon a sad topic, hesitated for words, and quickly comforted, "Grandma, I’m fine, you don’t need to worry."

"Grandma, how about you? You’ve been in the sun for so long, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Luckily, Lin Qiao handed a cup of water to Song Qin, who easily believed her, and she lovingly shook her head, "It’s nothing."

Lin Qiao glanced at the sky, remembering that Song Tingfan needed to study later, she said, "Let’s have our meal first, and I’ll chat more with Grandma later; uncle needs to study, and Grandma you must be hungry too."

Hearing the words "study," Song Qin’s droopy eyelids lifted a bit, and she said happily, "Niu Niu is studying?"

Relieved that his sister-in-law seemed fine, Song Tingfan nodded, looked at Lin Qiao and grinned, "It’s my sister-in-law who encouraged me to study."

Studying is good, becoming an accountant after studying is even better; Song Qin was delighted and praised three times, "Good, good, good, studying is good, better than hunting."

The Song Family are hunters by trade. After losing her son, she had nightmares for days, dreaming that Song Tingfan also died in the back mountains.

Just last night, she dreamt that he broke his leg, feeling uneasy and she found an excuse to come to see him.

Remembering this, she looked at Lin Qiao, genuinely grateful, "Tingyi’s wife, thank you, Tingfan will surely repay you in the future."

"Grandma, don’t say that, I’m Tingfan’s sister-in-law, it’s my duty to support him in his studies."

Lin Qiao glanced at Song Tingfan, smiled gently and said earnestly, "I don’t need little uncle to repay me, as long as he’s doing well, I’m happy."

The image of a good sister-in-law was established firmly.

Her care for her grandson made Song Qin feel somewhat embarrassed. Earlier, she even let Tingfan eat flatbreads alone, and thinking of this, she glanced at Song Tingfan, "Niu Niu, share your flatbreads with your sister-in-law."

"Now that you’re alright, Grandma will head back."

Just as Song Tingfan was about to speak, Lin Qiao linked her arm with Song Qin’s, preventing her from leaving, "Grandma, join us for the meal, little uncle can fetch another set of bowls and chopsticks."

Dining Room

Song Tingfan ate while observing Lin Qiao’s reaction, worried she’d be upset, but she wasn’t. She was actually smiling as she served food to Grandma.

The sister-in-law is really good.

His gaze was so straightforward that Lin Qiao naturally noticed it. She picked up some food for him and teased, "Why are you staring at your sister-in-law, little uncle? Is sister-in-law more appetizing than meat?"

Song Tingfan’s first reaction was "appetizing," more so than meat.

Sister-in-law is more important than meat.

By far.

Embarrassed, he lowered his head and shoveled a couple of bites of rice into his mouth.

Seeing their harmonious interaction, Song Qin felt somewhat relieved. As long as her grandson was doing well, both she and her husband would be at ease.

All of a sudden, something crossed her mind, making her mood take a downturn, though she quickly mustered her spirits again.

Song Tingfan didn’t notice, but Lin Qiao did, though she didn’t need to think much to know things probably weren’t going too well.

The antagonist’s grandfather passed away, seemingly because his third uncle didn’t provide any money for treatment nor informed Song An.

However, the antagonist’s third uncle’s family didn’t meet a good end later either.

With those thoughts, she glanced at the antagonist, at his innocent good looks, his shyness and simplicity, and found it hard to connect him to the psychologically twisted and deranged antagonist in her dreams.

This should be one of the events that influenced the antagonist’s changes in character.

No, she couldn’t let that happen.

Yet, she didn’t mention anything directly to Song Tingfan.

After the meal, Song Qin again mentioned leaving, saying she wouldn’t stay any longer or she’d reach town only after dark, "I’m leaving."

"Grandma." Song Tingfan, a bit reluctant, didn’t stop her, understanding her chores awaited.

Her eyes full of tenderness, Song Qin patted his head, "Niu Niu, Grandma will come see you in a few days."

"Grandma, stay the night. Tomorrow morning I need to sell some wild chickens, I’ll head to town with you," Lin Qiao interjected to persuade her.

But Song Qin shook her head, "Tingyi’s wife, I have to go back, his Grandfather... he’ll worry if I don’t return."

Certain there is difficulties she hesitated to voice, Lin Qiao didn’t press further, "I’ll escort Grandma to the village entrance for the donkey cart."

The donkey cart costs two cents, but Song Qin was unwilling to spend the money, "No need, I’ll walk."

"Then, Grandma, just don’t go back."

"I have to go back."

"If you must go back, take the donkey cart."

With nothing much to give her, Lin Qiao glanced at the wild chickens and said, "Grandma, take a wild chicken home to eat."

"No, no, no," Song Qin resolutely declined.

After a while, the village entrance’s donkey cart arrived, Lin Qiao paid the fare, and instructed, "Grandma, visit often, and bring Grandpa too."

"No need, Grandma will pay herself." Song Qin was a step slower in paying for the cart fare.

"Grandma, there’s no need for formalities with me, we’re family. Grandma, get on the cart."

Lin Qiao supported her onto the donkey cart, Song Qin wore a complex expression, sighed lowly, "You’re such a kind child."

No wonder she behaved like she had previously; she was a child who had suffered much misfortune too.

There were other villagers, thinking to themselves that Widow Song seemed like a different person.

After sending Song Qin off, Lin Qiao glanced at the downcast Song Tingfan beside her, and patted his head, "When you have a break, sister-in-law will take you to see Grandparents."

Here, there’s a one-day break for every three days of schooling.

Song Tingfan’s eyes lit up, "Sister-in-law, really?"

He hadn’t seen Grandpa in a long time, as only Grandma visited during the past few trips.

He was worried Grandfather might be sick.

Otherwise, why hadn’t he come to see him?

Grandfather used to visit and buy him buns.

"If I’m lying to you, I’m a puppy."

Lin Qiao extended her pinky and hooked it with his, having him make a promise.

Silently in his heart, he thought: there’s no way sister-in-law could be a puppy, she’s not that, no matter what.

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