CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: THE VILLAIN’S STRONG PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS

For two consecutive days, Lin Qiao stayed at home pondering over the design patterns. Once decided, she took a sheet of Song Tingfan’s rice paper and outlined it with fine charcoal.

By the time she finished, it was already dusk. She looked up at the sky, knowing Song Tingfan was coming back soon.

Sure enough, before long, the young man’s voice rang out, "Sister-in-law."

"In the kitchen." Lin Qiao had gotten used to him calling her sister-in-law for no reason, so she quickly responded.

Soon, the young man ran in with a lotus flower in his hand, "Sister-in-law, Uncle Xu gave me a lotus flower. Do you want to put it in the earthen jar?"

"Did you ask Uncle Xu for it yourself?" Lin Qiao teased with a laugh and then nodded.

Song Tingfan, looking like he’d been found out, shyly explained, "Uncle Xu was in the lotus field, and he asked if I wanted to eat lotus seeds, so I asked him for a lotus flower."

"Sister-in-law, do you like it?"

He looked at her cautiously after speaking, seemingly afraid she wouldn’t like it.

"I like it. I like lotus flowers the most." Of course, Lin Qiao herself didn’t really like them the most, but if the youngster gave it to her, she did. No exceptions.

Hearing this, the young man grinned from ear to ear.

Turns out, sister-in-law loves lotus flowers the most.

A casual remark from Lin Qiao was etched into the young man’s memory.

The next day, the sky was gray with the early morning mist.

The young man tiptoed in and out of the courtyard, finally placing a few small lotus seedlings into an unused earthen jar.

He looked at it several times, suddenly broke into a silly grin, and after standing for a while, he took his bow and arrow and went up the mountain.

Knowing that Song Tingfan had a day off today, Lin Qiao allowed herself to sleep in a bit and only got up after 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., by which time the sky had brightened considerably.

Upon leaving the house, she immediately noticed the small jar on the left side of the courtyard, with a few small lotus leaves floating inside.

She paused slightly, and once she realized, she felt inexplicably guilty. Ahem, she couldn’t let it slip in the future.

She really did like lotus flowers the most.

Yes.

Loves lotus flowers the most.

"Uncle, Uncle."

After calling twice with no response, she pushed open the door to the next room, but it was already empty, with no bow and arrow on the wall either.

He must have gone up the mountain.

There was no prior worry; he was rather obedient, and since he was told not to go deep into the mountains alone, he didn’t.

Besides, he probably just went to check the hunting cave.

Since the last time his hunting cave was discovered, he’d changed locations several times.

As the sun gradually rose, suddenly there was a burst of barking dogs and a passerby shouting angrily, "Why are you barking, I swear I’ll beat you to death!"

Lin Qiao tilted her head to glance outside the courtyard. The village’s big yellow dog was being a nuisance again. This dog was fierce and barked at everyone apart from its family. It even ran into her house last time and gave her a fright.

Just as she was about to close the courtyard gate, a shadow darted in, startling her and causing her to reflexively step back.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Song Tingfan coming back. She sighed in relief, "Uncle, you scared me! I thought it was the big yellow dog running in again."

"I’m sorry, Sister-in-law."

Song Tingfan turned and shouted towards the gate, which scared the big yellow dog away.

"Sorry for what? Uncle, do you want a scolding from your sister-in-law?" Lin Qiao pretended to be upset as she lightly tapped his shoulder.

Song Tingfan wasn’t hurt at all and just kept grinning foolishly. Then he raised the dead rabbit in his hand, "Sister-in-law, I caught a rabbit."

"Luckily, I went to take a look today; otherwise, it would’ve gone bad." Realizing his sister-in-law might be scared, he quickly stepped back with the dead rabbit.

The rabbit weighed at least three or four pounds. Lin Qiao observed for a moment, "The rabbit fur from last time, combined with the fur from this one, can be used to make you a pair of winter boots, Uncle."

This remark slipped right out, and even she was a bit taken aback by how naturally it came out.

But she didn’t dwell on it, thinking it was just an impromptu act.

Sister-in-law thinks of him in everything, and Song Tingfan was a bit moved. He shook his head, "Sister-in-law, I’m not afraid of the cold. You make it for yourself."

This kid is such a typical "mama’s boy," always thinking of "mom," Lin Qiao teased, "Uncle, are you really not afraid of the cold, or are you afraid your sister-in-law is?"

The youngster was too pure, and when exposed, his face turned red. He stuttered, "No... it’s... Sister-in-law, I..."

Lin Qiao’s eyes curved with a smile, "Uncle, why are you so easily embarrassed."

Seeing him about to bury his head in his neck, she decided not to tease him anymore, "Uncle, let’s have breakfast quickly, and then go to town to see Grandpa and Grandma."

...

Not wanting to spend the night in the dilapidated temple, Lin Qiao took Song Tingfan into town in a donkey cart, arriving there just before noon.

Thinking about visiting Song Tingfan’s grandpa and grandma, Lin Qiao decided to buy something and stopped by a butcher stall, "Uncle, how much for this piece of fatty meat?"

"Fifteen cents a pound, I don’t bargain... but I could for you." The butcher glanced at her a few times; the young lady’s looks really made him swallow his principles on bargaining.

Lin Qiao felt insulted like a vase: "..."

She gestured for two, "Will you sell it for twelve cents?"

Pork prices had indeed gone up recently, so twelve was a bit low.

The butcher shook his head with a smile, "That’s not possible. I can’t sell it for twelve cents; since it’s your first time buying here, I’ll give it to you for thirteen cents."

"You won’t find it for thirteen cents anywhere else in town."

Just as Lin Qiao was about to speak, Song Tingfan chimed in, "Sister-in-law, are you buying this for Grandpa and Grandma?"

Lin Qiao nodded, "Yes."

"Then don’t buy it."

"Why not?"

"Grandpa and Grandma won’t be able to eat it."

The young man’s tone was a bit dull and sad as he said this.

Lin Qiao realized he was right, and after a moment, she told the butcher, "I’ll take two pounds."

Then she reached out to touch Song Tingfan’s head, blinking, "Then let’s bring Grandpa and Grandma back to eat with us."

Song Tingfan’s third uncle’s family found his grandparents to be a burden, so they’d definitely agree to let them stay with Song’s second family for a few days.

They might even be happy if they didn’t come back.

Song Tingfan’s eyes widened with delight, and he cautiously asked, "Sister-in-law, are you taking Grandpa and Grandma home to stay for a day?"

"Uncle is so smart."

If Lin Qiao had enough money, she’d definitely bring the young man’s grandparents home, because they’re the warmth in his heart.

As long as they’re around, the chances of him turning dark are much smaller.

After all, this sister-in-law has reformed.

She added, "Grandpa and Grandma can stay as long as they want."

Song Tingfan had wanted to bring his grandparents home to stay for some time. Looking at his smiling sister-in-law, he suddenly felt his eyes welling up, softly saying, "Sister-in-law, you’re so good."

"Uncle is also good."

Lin Qiao reached out to wipe his tears and added, "Uncle, don’t cry. If you cry, sister-in-law will want to cry too."

Ahem, she really didn’t want to cry lately.

Song Tingfan wiped his eyes twice and nodded, "Sister-in-law, I won’t cry, so you don’t cry either."

Just then, the butcher expertly cut two pounds of meat and handed it to Lin Qiao, "Two pounds and two taels, I’ll just charge you for two pounds, that’s twenty-six cents."

Lin Qiao counted out twenty-six cents and was about to hand it to the butcher when Song Tingfan took it instead, handed it to the butcher, and picked up the meat.

She was slightly stunned, then subtly raised an eyebrow.

The young man’s protective instincts were quite strong.