Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 121 - 116: Does Sister-in-law Like Children?
Seeing Song Tingfan carrying the glutinous rice out, Song Qin looked at Lin Qiao who just stepped out of the room and joked, "Niu Niu only listens to you; I can’t get him to move with his Grandpa’s call."
Lin Qiao smiled, "He’s still young, you need to coax him."
Then she remembered something and added, "Grandma, where are the incense and candles? I left them in the main hall before, but I can’t find them now."
Song Qin, being older, had some memory troubles. She thought for a while and then said, "Niu Niu keeps all the things needed for the Little New Year in his room. He said it’s easier to find them when they’re all together."
Hearing this, Lin Qiao nodded, thinking that Song Tingfan was such a considerate and sensible child, even helping the adults with their tasks.
She turned to tidy up the kitchen, knowing it couldn’t be dirty for the Kitchen God’s ceremony tomorrow. Although she didn’t really believe, they couldn’t stand out in the village.
After a while, Song Tingfan returned with the glutinous rice flour, "Sister-in-law."
Lin Qiao was sweeping the soot off the kitchen ceiling with a broom. Hearing his voice, she quickly responded, "Don’t come in, there’s dust."
Song Tingfan, who had just stepped over the kitchen threshold, quickly retreated, protecting the glutinous rice flour. Soon, he came back in empty-handed, reaching to take the broom from Lin Qiao’s hands, "Sister-in-law, let me sweep."
Lin Qiao, thinking her clothes were already dirty, didn’t want him to do it and held onto the broom, "There’s not much left. You should go out and not dirty your clothes."
"I’ll sweep." Song Tingfan stubbornly stared at her, much like Lai Cai and Jinbao waiting for her to feed them.
Lin Qiao had to give him the broom, then brought him a stool, "Uncle, stand on the stool so you don’t have to stand on tiptoes."
Song Tingfan glanced at the ceiling, then sheepishly scratched his head and sincerely said, "Sister-in-law, I don’t need to."
Lin Qiao: "..."
She roughly estimated that she was now a head shorter than Song Tingfan.
He was growing so fast during this period, definitely in his developmental stage.
No wonder people said ancient people matured early. She wasn’t sure about their mentality, but physically, they did mature early.
She teased, "Uncle, are you saying I’m short?"
"No." Song Tingfan hurriedly shook his head and quickly said, "Sister-in-law, you’re just right, really."
Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh, "Quickly, finish sweeping."
Not only did they clean the kitchen, but also every room. It was quite late by the time they ate, and Lin Qiao washed up with hot water, shivering from the cold while bathing in this weather.
She quickly walked to her room and was greeted by warmth as she pushed the door open; in the middle of the room was a small stove with a warm, burning charcoal fire.
There was no need to guess; it was Song Tingfan.
Her thoughtful "son."
She warmed her hands by the fire, then went to Song Tingfan’s room where he was already lying in bed.
"Uncle, are you cold?"
"Not cold." Song Tingfan could faintly see her silhouette and couldn’t help but smile.
Lin Qiao, in the dark, tucked him in properly before withdrawing her hand and offered good sister-in-law advice, "Keep covered, don’t kick off the blankets at night, wear a coat before going to the bathroom or getting water."
The sound of her nagging was pleasant, and Song Tingfan obediently nodded, "Okay, sister-in-law, you keep warm too."
"Okay." Lin Qiao rubbed his head and then stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Soon after, there was the "creak" of a door opening in the next room, quickly followed by "creak" and "bang" as it closed again.
From his bed, Song Tingfan touched the spot where his sister-in-law had patted his head, feeling slightly content, he quickly put his hand back under the covers and went to sleep.
Sister-in-law said to stay covered.
...
The next day was the Little New Year; Lin Qiao got up early to make rice cakes. Before they were done, the Wang family sent over four pieces, and the Lin family sent eight.
Once theirs were done, she had Song Tingfan deliver some rice cakes to the Wang and Lin families. Although they were about the same, it’s the thought that counts.
Song Tingfan must have run back, as he was out of breath. Lin Qiao told him to sit and rest, then handed him a rice cake.
Song Tingfan wiped his hands on his clothes before taking it, biting into it with bright eyes, "Sister-in-law, did you put sugar filling in this?"
Despite often saying he was a man, Lin Qiao noticed he actually liked sweets; every time he had malt sugar, his eyes would smile.
"Yes, I know Uncle likes sweets." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
Feeling a bit awkward about his love for sweets being found out, Song Tingfan thought a man shouldn’t like sweets.
He needed to protect his sister-in-law and grandparents.
Thinking of this, he seriously said, "Sister-in-law, I won’t eat them anymore."
Lin Qiao asked curiously, "Why?"
"I’m a man."
After he spoke, the kitchen was quiet for a moment, then filled with the sound of a woman laughing.
"Who says a man can’t eat sweets? Being a man has nothing to do with eating sweets. A man is brave and fearless for justice, unafraid of death, selfless, and even willing to sacrifice his life."
Lin Qiao paused, shook her head, and said, "I don’t wish for you to be that kind of man; I want you to live well."
That’s true, given that life had already been unfair to Song Tingfan, asking him to be a true man was a bit too much.
A simple life of marrying and having children would suffice.
Song Tingfan thought seriously for a moment and then said with a serious expression, "I’m not afraid of death."
At this point, Lin Qiao knew it was time to gain favor, so she softly said, "Uncle, I’m afraid of your death."
Sister-in-law was afraid he’d die, she cared about him. Song Tingfan’s heart felt sweet as he grinned and promised, "Sister-in-law, I won’t die. I’ll definitely take care of you in old age."
He vowed to care for his sister-in-law in old age, not marrying if needed.
Aside from Grandpa and Grandma, sister-in-law was the most important.
At that moment, Song Qin came in carrying a wooden basin, lovingly watching them, "What are you two gossiping about? I heard laughing from the courtyard."
"Uncle said he’s a man now and won’t eat sweets anymore." Lin Qiao scooped lard with a spatula, putting it in the pan, which sizzled as it melted and the vegetables were added.
Song Qin chuckled, "In a few years, when he’s married, he’ll be a real man."
Clearly, her definition of a ’real man’ was different from Lin Qiao’s, but Lin Qiao quickly understood and instinctively glanced at Song Tingfan, who looked bashfully uncertain.
"Grandma, hasn’t Grandpa returned yet?"
Song Rong went for a walk to stretch and exercise every morning.
"He’s back, loudly boasting with Grandpa Wang." Lowering her voice, Song Qin continued, "I heard Cui’er is expecting. Her belly’s blessed; there’s fortune in their future."
Here, married women’s status depended on their fertility; those who had many children, especially sons, were considered fortunate, while those bearing only daughters were seen as unlucky.
Lin Qiao didn’t agree with this mindset. By this logic, having no children meant having no fortune at all?
Of course, she wouldn’t say this aloud but instead congratulated Wang Cui’er, "That’s really wonderful news."
"Indeed. Cui’er’s husband is so thrilled he’s been constantly supporting her as they walk." Song Qin nodded in agreement.
While the adults chatted, Song Tingfan stayed silent, quietly listening, focusing on his sister-in-law and noticing her gentle expression.
Does sister-in-law like children?
