Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 170 - 165: Lin Qiao’s Talent for Raising Children
The two of them talked in the kitchen for a while until Wang Dazhi came in with a basket full of peach blossoms, "Is this enough? If not, I’ll pick some more."
"This is enough, Wang," Lin Qiao took them and poured them into the basin, then scooped some water in.
Wang Dazhi waved his hand with a laugh, "No need to be so polite, it’s not a big deal. Just save me a taste later."
"Look at you, always asking for food," Mrs. Wang Zhu smiled and chided him.
"Wife, you should learn how to make this so you can make it for me at home." Wang Dazhi picked up his son and said, "I’ll take my son back. You guys take your time."
After he left, Mrs. Wang Zhu helped Lin Qiao wash the petals, "Your Wang always talks like that. Don’t take it to heart."
The Wang couple was straightforward and much better than some of the sneaky people in the village. Lin Qiao laughed, "Why would I? I’m just embarrassed to trouble Wang for picking peach blossoms."
They were busy in the kitchen for more than an hour. Mrs. Wang Zhu looked at the pink flower cake that was prepared and said, "Dazhi wants me to learn, but even if I did, he probably wouldn’t be able to wait until it’s cooked before he’s urging me to do it faster."
"These pastries do take some time."
Lin Qiao picked out ten pieces into a bowl for Mrs. Wang Zhu and said, "The texture is better once it’s cooled."
"This is too much, just two pieces will do for me." Mrs. Wang Zhu wasn’t greedy and just wanted a taste.
"If Madam Wang doesn’t want them, I won’t bother asking you for help next time."
Lin Qiao placed them in her hand, and Mrs. Wang Zhu didn’t refuse anymore, taking the peach blossom cake home.
Lin Qiao picked out two more bowls, ten pieces each for the Lin family and Song An’s house, leaving about ten more left in the pot.
She took them out to cool on a small sieve, "Grandma, can you keep an eye on the kitchen for me? Enjoy the peach blossom cake with Grandpa."
Song Qin came in from outside and looked at the basket, "Sure, Qiao’er. Do you want cold dishes for lunch?"
"Whatever you want to eat, Grandma. I’ll prepare it when I’m back."
Lin Qiao took the basket and left the courtyard. The sun was really hot, and its bright rays made it hard to keep her eyes open.
First, she went to the Song Family. Song Hao was chopping wood in the yard. When he saw her, he immediately called her in, "Sister-in-law, come and sit."
"Cousin, I won’t come in. I still need to deliver things to my mom later."
Lin Qiao took a bowl of peach blossom cake from the basket for him and added, "I made it myself, not sure if it tastes good."
Song Hao accepted it and said earnestly, "It’s definitely delicious if you made it."
When the Lin family first set up a stall in the town, his father was worried no one would buy from them, so they had people from the village buy a lot of cold dishes.
Turned out, they were quite good.
"Sister-in-law, wait a moment while I return the bowl to you."
He took the cakes to the kitchen where Song An was cooking and glanced at him, "Is Madam Tingfan here?"
"Yes, she brought this."
Song Hao took another bowl to fill the cakes and then washed the bowl. Glancing at the stir-fried bacon on the stove, he looked at his mother who was tending the fire, finally deciding to take half of it with chopsticks.
"What are you doing! We don’t even have enough to eat ourselves!" Mrs. Song shouted.
"Mom, they often bring us food, why are you so stingy?" Song Hao muttered softly.
Song An glared at Mrs. Song as she was about to grab it back, "Just cook more if there isn’t enough. We have plenty at home."
With his words, Mrs. Song relented with a reluctant "humph," "You’ll send this household to ruin one day!"
"Haven’t they been bringing money earned from town to honor us?"
Song Hao didn’t want to argue with his mom; it would be pointless. He took the bowl and left.
At the door, Lin Qiao had actually heard part of Mrs. Song’s complaint, but she could guess what was said without hearing everything. She looked at the bacon Song An handed her, "Cousin, you still have bacon at home, you keep it."
"Just take it. Sister-in-law, don’t mind my mom. That’s just how she is. Just ignore it," Song Hao quietly reassured her.
Both Song Hao and Song Mei, more likely because Song An had spent a lot of time raising them, were nothing like Mrs. Song. Lin Qiao didn’t say anything more.
Turning from the Song Family, Lin Qiao went to the Lin Family, where only Li Guifen and two other women were working. Li Guifen was naturally delighted to see her and wanted her to stay for lunch, but she was leaving.
"You girl, always in such a rush, like someone will eat you up."
Though she said that, she didn’t stop her but stuffed a big handful of vegetables in her hand.
After Lin Qiao had walked a few steps, Li Guifen suddenly chased after her, "Girl, wait a moment."
Lin Qiao turned around, "What’s wrong?"
Li Guifen wiped her hands on her apron twice, "What do you think of Wang’s fourth son?"
Lin Qiao immediately understood what she meant and shook her head, "Mom, I haven’t thought about it, not considering it. Tingfan is still young."
"I’m not asking you to marry now, just for you to take a look, choose a reliable one. Don’t use Tingfan as an excuse; I’ve asked him, and he said he’s fine with you remarrying."
Li Guifen gave her a look and added, "I know you have hardships, and I know who you think about, but a girl has to look forward. Life has to be lived."
"Before I married your dad, I had someone in mind too, but now I’m really good with your dad."
To persuade her daughter to remarry, she even shared her own personal affairs. Although it wasn’t meant for her, Lin Qiao still felt a bit warm inside, "I know. I’ll think about it in a few years when little uncle gets married."
She didn’t refuse outright, and Li Guifen felt relieved, "Okay, Mom will keep an eye out for you. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to find a good one."
Seeing Lin Qiao nod, she felt much better, as her daughter wasn’t as resistant as before.
...
At the bridge, she saw Song Tingfan running back home in a hurry, so fast that he didn’t even notice her nearby.
Soon after, she vaguely heard him calling for his sister-in-law, probably after Song Qin had told him. In no time, he ran out again and immediately saw her.
"Sister-in-law."
Lin Qiao crossed the bridge and teased with a smile, "I thought little uncle couldn’t see me."
"I thought you were at home," Song Tingfan scratched his head embarrassedly and then took the basket from her hands.
He added, "Sister-in-law, I got first place in the whole school, and the teacher rewarded me five cents. I bought three cakes."
"That’s amazing!" Lin Qiao was full of joy.
How could she not be happy? She was basically raising her "son."
Looks like she does have a knack for raising children.
The two continued talking as they walked into the house. By the time Lin Qiao returned, Song Qin had already prepared the meal, mostly by reheating breakfast leftovers.
Lin Qiao walked into the kitchen and brought out the peach blossom cake, "Here, the peach blossom cake I promised little uncle."
Seeing the rosy peach blossom cake in the bowl, the young boy’s smile widened to his ears, "Sister-in-law, you’re really nice."
"Your sister-in-law made peach blossom cake for you, took over an hour. Remember to be good to your sister-in-law in the future."
Song Qin said these things to make sure Niu Niu would remember Lin Qiao’s kindness in the future.
However, instead of gratitude...
