CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 45: SIS-IN-LAW, THIS SIDE IS LOOSENING TOO

When he realized he was staring blankly at his sister-in-law, he felt a slight inexplicable panic in his heart, quickly moved his gaze away, and glanced around. Seeing that no one was watching him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, he reached behind his sister-in-law and tightly grabbed the edge of the donkey cart to prevent her from falling.

He dared not look at her again, fixing his gaze in the direction of home.

A few moments later, Lin Qiao woke up, yawning softly. After a while, she felt something was off—what was she leaning against?

She looked up and met with the handsome chin of the young man, "..."

Something felt off.

She seemed to trust the antagonist too much.

Thinking this way, she sat up and said softly, "Little Uncle, aren’t you sleepy?"

Feeling his shoulder lighten, Song Tingfan looked at her, then at his shoulder and shook his head, "Sister-in-law, I’m not sleepy."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiao said nothing, glancing at Song Qin, then at Song Rong, and finally at Song Tingfan.

It was completely unconscious.

She was used to watching the antagonist, whether there was something going on or not.

Unexpectedly, Song Tingfan was also looking at her. As their eyes met, she hadn’t said anything yet, he shamefully shifted his gaze away.

Lin Qiao: "..."

A pure little bunny like this turning to the dark side is truly a miracle.

If only she could think a little more...

...

When they returned to the village, the sun hadn’t set yet. The children at the village entrance gathered together, playing under the big banyan tree.

"Second brat! Get down here! Have you finished writing the big characters I told you to?!" A man who got off the donkey cart, carrying a basket, stormed over angrily, grabbing his own child.

Instantly, the child’s cries sounded, "Wow..."

The other children fled quickly upon seeing this, disappearing within moments.

Lin Qiao was already used to such scenes, and compared, she felt Song Tingfan was so obedient and sensible.

The sun wasn’t too harsh at this time, and the people in the village were busy working in the fields.

Seeing Song Rong and Song Qin, the old couple, they glanced again and again, as if witnessing something rare.

Since an incident happened in Song’s second family, the old couple rarely returned to the village, especially Song Rong, who hadn’t come back for at least half a year.

When Song Rong was young, he was a famous hunter, strong and fit, but now he had become as thin as a skeleton.

As they walked away, three to five people couldn’t help but whisper.

"Oh, what happened to Tingfan’s grandpa? He used to be quite robust, now he’s like a stick."

"Yeah, looks pretty scary,"

"Song San’s house is up to no good, mistreating the old couple, heartless."

"The old couple made the wrong choice following Song San’s family."

"Ha, you might not know how good Song San’s house was to the old couple before, constantly promising to take care of them. Originally, they were supposed to follow Song’s second family, but Song San pleaded, saying they couldn’t bear to leave their parents, and convinced the old couple to follow him."

"I heard that during the division, Song San’s house got twenty taels of silver and four acres of good land."

"Now both land and silver coin are swindled away, and they see the old couple as burdens and despise them!"

"Really heartless as if eaten by dogs."

"But, Widow Song brought them back to live?"

"Big bags and small bags, most probably."

"Widow Song’s brain must be fried, living like this herself and still taking the old couple back."

"Who knows, maybe trying to gain something from them."

"I disagree, honestly, the Song family’s house is valuable, but Widow Song is pretty, there’s no one better looking than her within dozens of miles."

"As long as she wants to remarry, she can definitely live a better life than the current Song family’s situation."

"What is Widow Song trying to gain?"

...

Unaware of their gossip, the four members of the Song Family returned home.

There was only one bed at home, which was in Lin Qiao’s room. When Song Tingfan wanted to carry Song Rong to his room, she said, "Little Uncle, carry Grandpa to my room, it’s more comfortable on the bed."

Song Tingfan hesitated for a moment, looking at her with a complex expression, his guilt growing, "Sister-in-law..."

Lin Qiao wanted this kind of reaction from the antagonist. Her kindness to the old couple greatly increased the antagonist’s affection for her.

She blinked, teasingly said, "Little Uncle, such good stamina?"

"Let Grandpa lie down quickly."

She went inside and quickly tidied the clothes on the bed, stuffing them in the cabinet.

"Little Uncle, accompany Grandma and Grandpa, I’ll go to the kitchen to cook."

"Qiao’er, I’ll go with you." Song Qin wanted to help a little, not letting her get too exhausted alone.

There weren’t many vegetables at home, only a couple of wild radishes were left. Lin Qiao took down the rabbit meat hanging from the stove. After breakfast, Song Tingfan had skinned the rabbit and washed it clean, leaving it on the rope to dry.

When she took it down, she found some teeth marks on the rabbit’s leg, "..."

A dark shadow came over suddenly, with the young man’s slight breath sounding, "Sister-in-law, did the mouse eat it?"

"Probably, luckily it didn’t eat much." Lin Qiao nodded, took a knife to cut off the part of the rabbit meat with teeth marks, and then threw it into the swill bucket.

Song Tingfan went in and out of the kitchen, scooping some leftover food, mixing it with medicine powder, using a thin branch to mix, and threw it at several corners of the walls.

Apparently still feeling it was not enough, he took out two animal traps from home.

On the last occasion, she hadn’t noticed, but this time Lin Qiao saw the whole process, her brow twitching.

When the radishes mixed with rabbit meat were stewing in the pot, Lin Qiao went next door to buy some vegetables. The Wang Family was busy shelling corn kernels, having piled up quite a large heap.

The youngest granddaughter was lying sound asleep on the pile of corn kernels.

She softly called out, "Granny Wang."

Old Mrs. Wang immediately came over, "Madam Tingfan, what’s up?"

"I want to buy some big green peppers, there’s no vegetables at home."

"Just picked some today, take them and eat, no need to pay silver coin."

Old Mrs. Wang bent down searching in the vegetable basket in the courtyard for a while, picked out five green peppers and handed them to her.

"How can I not pay silver coin, Granny, you all worked hard to grow them."

Lin Qiao stuffed two cents into her hand, smilingly said, "Granny, you all keep busy, I’m going back."

Old Mrs. Wang handed them back to her, "You gave extra last time, this time don’t give it."

Then asked quietly, "Will your grandma and grandpa live here from now on?"

"Yes, a lively household." Lin Qiao nodded.

Old Mrs. Wang looked at her more genuinely, saying comfortingly, "You’re a good child."

"Granny Wang, don’t say that, taking care of Grandpa and Grandma is what I, as a granddaughter-in-law, should do."

Lin Qiao again stuffed two cents to her, walked away before she could react, "Granny Wang, I’m leaving."

Having walked several steps, Old Mrs. Wang stood at the door helplessly calling, "You child, if you do this next time, you’re not allowed to come to my house."

"Alright."

Lin Qiao replied with a smile, just as she entered the house, the young man stood at the door calling out, "Sister-in-law."

Then he said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll wash them." saying this, he took over the big green peppers from her and scooped water to clean them.

Lin Qiao said nothing, seeing his sleeves had slipped down, "Little Uncle, the sleeves."

Song Tingfan’s hands were already wet, instinctively he pushed his sleeves up with his chin, pushing several times but not succeeding, Lin Qiao quickly bent over to help him roll them up.

The two were extremely close, Song Tingfan looked up, his gaze falling on her bright red lips, moving upward, her warm eyes held a gentle touch.

He lowered his head, extended another hand awkwardly, "Sister-in-law, this side... is coming loose."

He really liked the current sister-in-law, genuinely good to him.

He too would be genuinely good to his sister-in-law, better than anyone else.

————

No room for the title, so thank you all.

Thanks to Li Xiao9, Just Like Stars Illuminate Thirteen State Mansion, Ling, Little Ancestor for the rewards.

Thank you all (*°∀°)=3

Much appreciated.