CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 44: SISTER-IN-LAW IS REALLY PRETTY

The three of them, knowing the value of food, even drank the soup clean, causing Lin Qiao’s eyebrows to twitch imperceptibly.

Well, during those years as an extra, she would finish the soup from her instant noodles too.

"Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, are you full? If not, I can serve three more bowls."

Song Qin hurriedly waved her hand, "Full, full."

It was the best meal she and the old man had since the second son passed away.

It wasn’t spoiled food.

Thinking of this, her eyes reddened slightly. She and the old man never mistreated their sons but never expected to be treated this way in their old age.

Song San had no conscience...

"When we get home, I’ll make something delicious for Grandma and Grandpa." Lin Qiao gently patted her hand for comfort, then smiled at Song Tingfan, "I’m good at cooking, right Uncle?"

Song Tingfan nodded repeatedly, "Sister-in-law’s cooking is delicious, better than... better than..."

He had never eaten tavern food, so he couldn’t make a comparison immediately, and just as Lin Qiao was about to continue, the young man sincerely and seriously said, "It’s the best."

Lin Qiao was amused and couldn’t help but laugh several times.

Song Tingfan scratched his head, thinking she didn’t believe him, and hastily explained, "Sister-in-law, I’m not lying to you, it’s really the best."

"I especially like sister-in-law’s pancakes, they’re very fragrant."

"Sister-in-law, I’m really not lying to you, really."

The young man seemed a bit aggrieved towards the end.

He really wouldn’t lie to his sister-in-law, he wouldn’t lie to anyone, but never to her.

Lin Qiao ruffled his hair and laughed, "Sister-in-law knows. If you like pancakes, I’ll make more next time."

The antagonist is becoming more youthful; she found it quite satisfactory.

The good relationship between the uncle and sister-in-law comforted Song Qin and Song Rong a little, at least Niu Niu was not alone.

...

After resting for a while, they took the Song family’s elders’ belongings, there really wasn’t much, barely two sets of clothes.

In winter, they might need to buy more clothes.

Since Song Rong couldn’t walk by himself, Song Tingfan carried him, fearing he might fall, with his chin slightly pressing down on the hand supporting his neck, "Grandpa, hold onto me tightly."

"Niu Niu, put me down. I’ll walk with the help of a stick." Song Rong felt sorry for him, worried it might tire him out.

But Song Tingfan stubbornly refused, "Grandpa, I’ll carry you home."

He glanced sideways at Lin Qiao and Song Qin, Lin Qiao’s hands full of things, not allowing Song Qin to carry any.

"Sister-in-law, give me the two bundles, I’ll hang them on my arms."

"You just carry Grandpa, I can handle it."

Lin Qiao motioned for him to go first, but he stood his ground, insisting she hang the bundles on his arm.

Lin Qiao: "..."

The antagonist was sometimes as stubborn as a little bull.

So she hung two bundles on him, "Uncle, is it heavy? Or should I carry them?"

"Not heavy, not heavy at all." The young man grinned widely and sincerely added, "I’m strong."

That was true, he could even move a water-filled vat. Lin Qiao smiled, "Then let’s go."

The four of them had just stepped out when they encountered Song Tingfan’s third aunt, Song Liu.

She was pouring dirty water and, seeing them with big bags, let out a sarcastic "yo," and sneered, "So, you’re taking these two burdens away?"

"If you take them, don’t bring them back."

Because of Song Rong’s illness, Song Tingfan was already angry with them, and his temper flared upon hearing this, glaring at her with some ferocity, "Grandpa and Grandma are not burdens!"

"Bah, you’re still a burden, your sister-in-law can’t wait for you to die, so she can remarry with the house."

Song Liu spat in disdain, thinking the two old ones were indeed burdens, just eating without working.

This made Lin Qiao furious; destroying her relationship with the antagonist couldn’t be tolerated, "Third Aunt, I never thought about remarrying; I swore before my husband’s grave that I would live and die as a part of the Song Family."

She paused and continued, "But it’s amusing how Third Aunt is, with a waist like a barrel, yet raised Grandpa and Grandma like this."

"Heaven is watching people; maybe retribution will come sooner or later. But rest assured, Third Aunt, Uncle and I will visit you then."

"Who are you calling a barrel waist? You’re the one who looks like a barrel, bah, you deserve to be a widow." Song Liu hit her sore spot.

Lin Qiao’s sore spot wasn’t being a widow, but the reputation of being a good sister-in-law. If anyone said she wasn’t good to Song Tingfan, she’d get angry.

"Being a widow is still better than Third Aunt, because my waist isn’t like a barrel."

Song Liu spat angrily, "How many men have had their way with you..."

She hadn’t finished when an angry shout interrupted her, "Shut up!"

The young man’s angry eyes looked fierce, startling Song Liu, "What the hell are you glaring at?"

She was somewhat intimidated, "Bah," she spat again, and took the wooden basin back into the yard, slamming the door with a "bang."

Lin Qiao was also startled by Song Tingfan’s outburst, but quickly regained her composure. To comfort Song Qin and Song Rong, she softly said, "Grandpa, Grandma, don’t think too much. Don’t let bad people into your heart, it’s not worth it."

Song Tingfan echoed, "Grandma, Grandpa, Sister-in-law and I will take good care of you." He glanced at his sister-in-law, worried she might be hurt by the previous remarks.

Through the years, Song Qin had become accustomed to the third son’s family’s attitude and wasn’t hurt anymore.

"Don’t worry, your Grandpa and I have known for a long time."

"However, Qiao’er, please don’t take some words to heart."

Lin Qiao certainly wouldn’t mind Song Liu’s words; compared to online trolls, she was "mild."

"Don’t worry, Grandma, I won’t take it to heart."

The four of them hired a donkey cart at the town entrance; the fellow villagers who also took donkey carts saw Song Rong and his wife, glanced over, and couldn’t believe their eyes.

Wasn’t their third son in town?

How did he let them end up like this?

So thin, nothing but skin and bones.

Lacking morality!

Lin Qiao was worried that Song Qin and Song Rong might feel uncomfortable, and was about to shield them when she noticed Song Tingfan already doing so, his lips tightly pressed together.

A woman in yellow cloth leaned over for a better look and curiously asked Lin Qiao, "Madam Tingfan, are you taking Grandpa Tingfan and Grandma Tingfan to stay for a few days?"

"Not just a few days, Grandpa and Grandma will be staying home from now on." Lin Qiao held Song Qin’s hand, smiling as she replied.

"Huh?"

The woman in yellow cloth seemed surprised, thinking that Widow Song must have lost her mind, bringing two elderly people home when they were already so poor.

She caught herself and said a nicety, "Living together as a family is lively."

Lin Qiao nodded.

The road was bumpy, and many started to doze off. Lin Qiao yawned twice, and at some point, fell asleep drowsily.

Soon her shoulder grew heavy; Song Tingfan turned to look. The woman’s head was bowed, eyes closed, lashes curling. Her fair skin appeared even whiter in the sunlight, her lips red and slightly glossy.

Sister-in-law is truly beautiful.