CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 48: DON’T TOUCH, MY SISTER-IN-LAW BOUGHT IT FOR ME

After finishing the meal, it was getting late, with only a quarter-hour left before 5 a.m. to 7 a.m, Song Tingfan returned to his room and grabbed his book bag, a simple crossbody cloth bag sewn by Lin Qiao for him.

He carefully slung it over his shoulder, checked the contents inside, and, after confirming everything was in order, said, "Sister-in-law, Grandpa, Grandma, I’m off to study."

"I’ll walk you there," Lin Qiao said, bending over to wash her hands.

The young boy’s eyebrows raised slightly, seemingly pleased that his sister-in-law was seeing him off.

"Grandpa, Grandma, you stay home for now, and later I’ll take you for a walk around the village," Lin Qiao said after which she escorted Song Tingfan to the school.

After crossing the stream, they stepped onto the long, winding dirt path along the fields, the ground uneven, flanked by overgrown weeds with slightly yellow leaves.

As they were nearing the school, the village chief’s grandson Zhou Tiedan came running, panting heavily and looking distressed, "Tingfan, it’s over for me, I can’t memorize it."

"The teacher’s going to make me copy the characters again."

As he finished speaking, he noticed Lin Qiao behind, and quickly corrected himself, "Siste..."

He swallowed the word, remembering his promise to Song Tingfan not to call her sister-in-law anymore.

Not sure what else to call her, he scratched his head, "I’m heading in," he said and dashed off into the school.

Lin Qiao found it a bit odd but thought no more of it, "Little Uncle, go on inside," she said.

Song Tingfan nodded, took a few steps, glanced back at her, and then entered the school. Zhou Tiedan ran over, "Tingfan, I almost called her sister-in-law."

"But your sister-in-law’s really nice, seeing you off for school. My mom chased me with a stick this morning, good thing I run fast."

"Hey, Tingfan, you’re wearing new clothes, they look great."

He reached out to tug at Song Tingfan’s clothes.

Song Tingfan brushed off his hand and patted the spot he touched, looking serious and cautious, "Don’t touch it, my sister-in-law got this for me."

Zhou Tiedan envied him, "I’ll make sure my mom buys me new clothes as well when I get home."

Outside the school

Seeing Cheng Sheng arrive, Lin Qiao quickly called out, "Mr. Cheng."

Cheng Sheng stopped and politely asked, "Madam Tingfan, what is it?"

"The remaining gift."

Lin Qiao took out the one and a half tael of the gift money, thinking it over, she decided to make up for it. She had heard what the villagers were saying.

She didn’t mind personally, but she was worried Mr. Cheng might avoid teaching Song Tingfan to avoid gossip.

Cheng Sheng had heard about the Song Family elders returning to the village, looked at her, "There’s no hurry."

Lin Qiao gave a grateful smile, "There’s a little spare money at home, so I’ll make up the gift now."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Sheng didn’t say more, reached out to take it, nodded politely, and entered the school.

What seemed like a normal conversation looked to the gossip-loving women like Lin Qiao was flirting with Mr. Cheng, laughing heartily.

Each gave her strange looks as she turned, "..."

Alright, her rumors were going to be the talk of the village for a few more days.

Just free publicity.

Instead of heading straight home, she went to the Lin Family.

At this point, the Lin Family hadn’t gone out to work, having just finished breakfast. The women were tidying up the dishes, and the men were getting the tools ready for work outside, hoes, straw hats, and baskets.

Mrs. Lin Wu and Mrs. Lin Xu saw her coming, though not as reactive as before, still not very welcoming.

They were tired of being pestered for money.

Lin Ping and Lin An joyfully rushed over, "Auntie."

"Auntie."

They were still young, and the teacher let them start class at 7 a.m. to 9 a.m to avoid them dozing off.

Standing at the door, Lin Qiao patted their heads. She didn’t step inside, but looked towards Lin Shan sitting on the bench and said, "Second Brother, can you help me make something?"

Lin Shan was skilled at woodworking and would work in town as a carpenter when he wasn’t busy.

Lin Shan scratched his head, instantly agreeing, "Little Sister, what do you want made?"

"A walking stick, thicker, and as smooth as possible, you see..." How much silver coin?

Before she could finish, Mrs. Lin Wu voiced her discontent, "Your second brother will be busy in the fields soon, probably no time."

The fieldwork was indeed plenty, but time could be managed.

She just didn’t want her husband to be doing things for his little sister, always counting on the family but never coming to help during the busy farming times.

Li Guifen’s delighted face dropped, but she held back from saying anything; Lin Han’s expression wasn’t good either.

Lin Shan gave a reproachful look to Mrs. Lin Wu, then said warmly, "Little Sister, I have time, the fieldwork can wait a bit."

Since Mrs. Lin Wu said that, Lin Qiao felt it wasn’t right to ask Lin Shan anymore, sighed internally over what the previous version of her had done to make the two sisters-in-law so unfriendly.

Not angry, she pleasantly said, "Second Brother, if you’re busy, no need then."

"Not busy, not busy, Little Sister, I’ll do it for you, making a cane is quick, really," Lin Shan replied urgently.

Father and Mother have been wanting to see Little Sister for days, though they haven’t said a word, they check the door every day to see if she’s coming.

Lin Sheng chimed in, "Little Sister, I can’t do as well as our second brother, but I can manage if he’s busy. I’m not busy, I can do it."

"The fields aren’t busy," Lin Han looked at her, adding a word, then said, "Daughter, come in and chat."

"Grandpa and Grandma are still home, I’m uneasy leaving them alone, need to go back," Lin Qiao replied truthfully, worried they’d overthink, and added, "The walking stick isn’t urgent, Second Brother, just help when you have time; name your price, I’ll pay you first."

Mrs. Lin Wu and Mrs. Lin Xu pursed their lips, calling her a smooth talker without action.

They knew all her tricks.

Upon hearing about money, Li Guifen couldn’t help but say, "Girl, among family, why talk about money."

Lin Shan repeatedly waved his hand, "Little Sister, among family, don’t mention money."

Saying that, though, Lin Qiao took out twenty cents; twenty cents for a cane was more than enough, probably enough to quell her two sisters-in-law’s complaints about the previous her.

She placed it in Lin An’s hand, "I’m not sure how much a cane costs, if it’s not enough, Second Brother and Sister-in-law, don’t mind. Xiao’an, give it to Mom and Dad later."

"I’ll be heading off now."

Before Li Guifen could respond, she was already gone, leaving her feeling a pang of sadness.

Looking at the two daughters-in-law, then at Lin Han, Lin Han sighed deeply and turned back into the house.

Lin Ping obediently handed the money to Lin Shan, who pursed his lips; this is the first time his little sister actually gave money, putting the twenty cents into his sleeve pocket.

Surprised that she really gave money, Mrs. Lin Wu’s face became awkward, but seeing Lin Shan’s actions, she unhappily huffed, turning back into the house.

She knew her husband well, he’d likely try to return the money to his little sister.

Standing still in the yard, Lin Sheng glanced at Mrs. Lin Xu, then silently continued preparing the tools for work.

Mrs. Lin Xu felt uneasy, quickly organizing the dishes and heading into the kitchen.

Meanwhile, inside, Lin Shan gathered his tools, seeing Mrs. Lin Wu making the bed, "Wife..."

Mrs. Lin Wu totally knew what he was implying, in this family, they all spoiled Lin Qiao, as outsiders, what could they say?

She snapped, "I don’t care if you take the money or not, I’m not depending on it to live."

His wife spoke tough but was soft-hearted, Lin Shan cuddled up, pecked her cheek, optimistically appeasing, "Guihua, I’ll treat you to new shoes once I get paid in a few days."