Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 123 - 118: Sister-in-law, You’re So Fair-Skinned
After sitting for a while, Lin Qiao went to the kitchen to help. When Song Tingfan saw her going, he quickly followed, one behind the other into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Song An was rolling up his sleeves and cooking, his movements skillful, as if he often did this.
Lin Qiao was a bit surprised and instinctively looked at Song Tingfan. He wasn’t surprised at all, obviously knowing that Song An often cooked.
Mrs. Song’s fortune sure isn’t just a little good; it’s overflowing. Her own husband earns money, cares for the family, doesn’t mess around, and cherishes people.
Actually, not only did she think so, the whole village did, even Song Mei and Song Hao, the siblings, felt a bit.
Yet, Mrs. Song was always making a fuss, not knowing to restrain herself. If it were another man, he would have hit her long ago.
Washing vegetables, Mrs. Song saw them and gave a dissatisfied glare, coming to eat meat at the house again!
Probably because of Song An’s reminder, she didn’t dare to say anything.
Mrs. Song is like other actors in the entertainment circle, wanting to push her out of her position, but can’t. Lin Qiao quietly raised an eyebrow, "Uncle, is there anything I can help with?"
Song An cheerfully shook his head, answering while placing food on plates, "No need, go sit by the fire."
As soon as he finished, Mrs. Song pointed at the vegetables in the basin, "How can you say no need when there are so many vegetables left unwashed?"
"If you’re not washing them, go out, I’ll wash them later!" Song An glared at her.
Mrs. Song didn’t go out; she was slightly dissatisfied and muttered, "She herself said she wanted to help, if you’re going to eat, everyone should pitch in; it’s not an ancestor’s job to just sit and eat without helping."
"Aunt, I’ll wash them."
Song Tingfan didn’t want his sister-in-law washing, so he sensibly rolled up his sleeves and squatted down to wash. As he was about to dip his hands in water, suddenly a woman let out a soft "ah?"
He turned his head to look and saw his sister-in-law looking pained, holding onto the door frame.
He quickly got up to support her, "Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?"
Lin Qiao shook her head, bent over and massaged her calf, "Old problem, muscle cramp."
"Tingfan, quickly help your sister-in-law sit outside, you’re not needed here." Song An quickly said.
Song Tingfan, focused on his sister-in-law, stopped washing vegetables and nodded, "Okay."
"Uncle, it’s fine, it’ll be better in a while, old issue."
Lin Qiao massaged her calf again, glanced at Mrs. Song, and said, "Let me wash the vegetables."
Cooking while in leg pain, Song An naturally wouldn’t allow it, and slightly sternly said, "Tingfan, quickly help your sister-in-law out."
Seeing Lin Qiao wanting to say something, he added, "There aren’t many vegetables left, your aunt will wash them."
"Tingfan, ask Cousin to give your sister-in-law some medicinal wine to rub."
Lin Qiao leaned against Song Tingfan and went out, coughing; she rather not have Song Tingfan help Mrs. Song wash vegetables.
Once she starts washing, her leg hurts, without a bit of nonsense, Mrs. Song would cut off her own head. She spat and said, "Faking, doesn’t want to wash, just say so, why claim leg pain, why not butt pain instead!"
In Song An’s heart, Lin Qiao wasn’t extremely impressive, but she was still very good. He sternly scolded her, "You think Tingfan’s sister-in-law’s like you? Eating New Year’s dinner, don’t make trouble, if you don’t want to wash, go out, I can handle it myself."
"Song An! Are you going to speak up for her? What did I say? I told the truth, if I don’t wash, you’ll die from fatigue."
Mrs. Song glared at him, got up, shook her hands, left the room, and soon came back, cursing, "Old lady owes your whole family." Then she squatted down and washed vegetables.
His own wife wasn’t nice to outsiders, treated family very well, and Song An knew this, so he tolerated as much as he could. He pursed his lips, "In a couple of days, I’ll get you a new hairpin."
Mrs. Song’s anger dissipated instantly, she snorted, washed vegetables, and replied, "I don’t want that, save it for Mei’er as dowry."
"It’s enough already."
"What do you mean enough, if Mei’er’s dowry is more, her husband’s family wouldn’t dare to do anything to her."
"You’re overthinking it."
"I’m not overthinking it, do you think any man is like you?"
...
This side, main room
Song Tingfan helped Lin Qiao sit down, anxiously looked at Song Mei, "Cousin, get some medicinal wine, help sister-in-law rub her legs, she’s got cramps."
When his sister-in-law mentioned it was an old issue, he just learned about it, feeling guilty and anxious.
Hearing this, Song Mei immediately nodded and then left the main room. Song Qin and Song Rong came over to look, Song Qin worriedly asked, "Qiao’er, does it hurt?"
Facing the crowd, Lin Qiao didn’t have any guilty conscience from pretending, she shook her head, "It’s okay now, maybe I stretched too much, it’s better now..."
Before she could finish, her calf was gently pinched, making it a bit ticklish.
Song Tingfan, on one knee, was kneading her calf, from top to bottom, with just the right amount of force, not too strong or too light.
"Little uncle, no need, it’s okay now." Lin Qiao endured the ticklish feeling and asked him to stop.
Song Tingfan stubbornly continued to massage, pure concern for her, "Sister-in-law, let me knead it, it’ll feel better after."
At this time, Song Mei returned with medicinal wine, "Tingfan, help your sister-in-law into my room."
Song Tingfan nodded, Lin Qiao sighed in relief, and the three of them went into the room.
Song Mei was about to help roll up Lin Qiao’s pants, seeing from the corner of her eye, Song Tingfan standing still, nervously watching Lin Qiao, she joked with a laugh, "Tingfan, go out, I’ll help sister-in-law with her legs."
"I’ll stay and watch." Song Tingfan, worried about Lin Qiao, didn’t think about the gender issue.
Song Mei helplessly stood up, then ushered him out, "It’s okay, I’ll help sister-in-law."
Pausing, she couldn’t help teasing, "You can look at your own wife in the future."
Looking at the closed wooden door, Song Tingfan belatedly blushed, then suddenly retreated a few steps as if he saw a ghost.
But he still heard Song Mei’s voice, "Sister-in-law, you’re so fair."
Something flashed in his mind, his face turned red to his neck, and he retreated several steps more.
...
When Lin Qiao came out, she saw the young man’s face flushed, and casually asked, "Little Uncle, what’s up with you?"
Song Mei beside him was sneering, "Just now I told him to look at his own wife in the future."
Hearing this, Lin Qiao uttered an "Oh", no wonder he’s red like a monkey’s butt, "Cousin, don’t tease Little Uncle, he gets embarrassed easily."
"I know he’s shy, that’s why I tease him." Song Mei looks gentle and soft on the outside, but her personality is carefree and bold.
Lin Qiao leaned closer to her, jokingly, in voices only for the two, "Cousin, Second Brother Jiang..."
Immediately Song Mei blushed just like Song Tingfan, she stomped shyly, "Sister-in-law, I’m ignoring you."
Lin Qiao laughed, then patted Song Tingfan’s shoulder, "Little Uncle, don’t just stand outside, it’s freezing."
The New Year’s meal at Song An’s house was quite good. Afterwards, while chatting in the main room, Song An took out a few red envelopes for the younger ones.
Seeing them bulging, it was obvious there was quite a bit of silver inside, Mrs. Song’s face fell immediately, but she didn’t say anything.
"Uncle, I don’t need it."
The weight in his hand wasn’t light, and it wasn’t a copper coin. Lin Qiao handed the red envelope back to him, and seeing her not accepting it, Song Tingfan also handed his back to Song An.
