Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 188 - 183: Lin Qiao Asks Niu Er for Help

Lin Qiao was momentarily stunned. She could understand the Lin Family borrowing silver from the Song Family because of their existing relationship, but it was different with Cheng Sheng, as the two families hardly had any contact.

No wonder the villagers always said Cheng Sheng had a kind heart and would help whenever anyone sought assistance from him.

She shook her head, "Thank you, Mr. Cheng, we have already gathered enough silver, which is why I brought Tingfan to you now."

Saying this, she put back the gift on the table, then took out the peach blossom cake from the basket, "I made it myself; I don’t know if Mr. Cheng would like it."

Her refusal caused Cheng Sheng a slight pause before he quickly returned to normal, "Thank you."

He paused for a moment, "Really gathered enough?"

"We did. I work at the fabric shop in town, and when the boss heard about my situation, he lent it to me." Lin Qiao glanced at him, thinking of his background, sighed inwardly, often the "pitiful" ones were more able to maintain kindness, perhaps because they knew how hard it used to be for them, just like themselves.

He was like this, as was Song Tingfan.

But such people were the easiest to be "taken advantage of".

Hearing this, Cheng Sheng nodded, "That’s good. When are you going to the county, I will go with you."

Although he couldn’t say he was very knowledgeable, he was more informed about such matters than they were, and he was also worried about brothels using fake deeds of sale.

Lin Qiao knew she would need his help then, "In a couple of days, I will trouble Mr. Cheng then."

"Why in a couple of days?" Cheng Sheng was a bit puzzled.

"In two days, Mr. Cheng will have a day off, so it won’t delay anything." Lin Qiao lied without a second thought.

She couldn’t just say she had something deceitful to do, right?

"No matter, this is an urgent matter, taking an extra day off is no problem."

"I understand Mr. Cheng’s kindness, but you’re teaching not just one family’s kids, others might have something to say then, my matter is not urgent, Tingfan said the government gave us half a month to gather it, there’s still time."

Since she said so, Cheng Sheng didn’t say anything more, and afterwards, Lin Qiao and Song Tingfan left.

Cheng Sheng glanced at the peach blossom cake on the table and picked up a piece to eat, soft, fragrant, and lightly sweet, just right.

...

In the afternoon, after Song Tingfan went to study, Lin Qiao told Song Qin and Song Rong that she was going out for a while.

Even though Song Rong was being kept in the dark about Song San’s family’s affairs, he was still worried, "Where to?"

"Just around the village, Grandpa, it’s fine, don’t worry." Lin Qiao patted the dirt off her sleeve.

Song Qin got up and said, "I’ll go with you."

"Grandma, you don’t have to come, the sun is strong, you might get heatstroke, I promise to be back in half an hour." Lin Qiao reassured them repeatedly before they allowed her to leave.

On days when she didn’t want to see Niu Er, he’d appear everywhere, but today, specifically looking for him, she had walked all over and still hadn’t seen him.

Just as she decided to stop looking, she spotted Niu Er crouched by the field ridge, digging at crayfish holes, with his butt sticking out, "..."

At twenty-something, in the whole village, only he could live like this.

Don’t be fooled by his idleness and irritating nature, on the surface, the Niu Family parents seem to hate iron for not becoming steel with him, but in reality, they treat him quite well.

Otherwise, they would have kicked him out to fend for himself long ago.

Before she could speak, Niu Er turned his head and saw her, immediately grinning widely, "Widow Song." He said, throwing the crayfish in his hand into a bucket, walked over barefoot carrying the bucket, the small stones on the ground making him grimace in pain.

It was unbearable to watch, Lin Qiao averted her gaze.

Niu Er ran over to show her the crayfish in the bucket, "Widow Song, see? I’ve caught half a bucket of crayfish for you, once I catch some more, I’ll bring them over."

"Are you touched? A man like me, you can’t find even with a pole."

Before Lin Qiao could say anything, he whispered, "Widow Song, were you taken advantage of?"

Lin Qiao was just thinking Niu Er was not too bad, but then she heard his next words, there was indeed a reason for his annoying nature.

She rolled her eyes at him.

"Why are you rolling your eyes at me? I didn’t do anything to you, but if you let me do something, you can roll your eyes at me a hundred times." Niu Er laughed lewdly, and continued, "You see, only I don’t mind you, marry me."

Lin Qiao: "..."

"Raise your pillow a bit higher."

Keep dreaming.

"You’re such a heartless woman, I treat you well, but you don’t see it, do you? I dug holes in the field all morning to comfort you, and I even got scolded." Niu Er said this, yet his expression wasn’t prideful, rather a bit smug.

Lin Qiao stopped circling around with him, "I need your help, not for free, I’ll give you twenty cents when it’s done."

Hearing that she needed his help, Niu Er put on a smug face like he was the best candidate, "No need for silver, just a kiss from you is enough."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Qiao gave him a white-eye, "Seeing you’re unreliable, I better find someone else." She said and made a motion to leave.

Unreliable?

There was never a time Niu Er was unreliable, he reached out to stop her, "How am I unreliable? I’m very reliable, you say it, I’ll definitely get it done perfectly."

"I’ll trust you just this once."

Lin Qiao whispered to him about what she needed him to do, ending with a reminder, "Aside from you and me, no one else can know about this."

"Then I’d need some hush-money, if you won’t let me kiss you, at least let me touch, that would do." Niu Er’s mischievous mind was still there.

Lin Qiao: "..."

Just as she was about to say something, she saw Old Man Niu running over angrily, taking off his shoe, probably to hit Niu Er.

Someone else must have tipped him off.

Seeing this, she quickly took a few steps back.

Sure enough, Old Man Niu’s cloth shoe flew over, and with Niu Er unprepared, it hit him squarely. Perhaps there was some telepathy between father and son, even before Old Man Niu spoke, Niu Er knew it was him, "Dad! What are you doing, why are you hitting me again, my head is spinning from the hit, you’d better give me silver to see the doctor later."

"See if I care, let you die out here and let the dogs drag you away, I told you, don’t bully Madam Tingfan, can’t understand? I’ll beat you to death." Old Man Niu came over and started hitting him all over.

Niu Er, carrying the crayfish, was dodging, "I didn’t, you don’t believe me, ask Widow Song, I’m catching crayfish for her."

Old Man Niu hit him a couple more times, clearly not believing it, then said to Lin Qiao, "Madam Tingfan, you go ahead, if this brat dares to lay a hand on you again, just pick up a rock from the roadside and smash him."

"Thank you, Grandpa Niu." Lin Qiao didn’t bother to confirm for Niu Er, as his mouth indeed needed some education.

Niu Er’s eyes went wide, "Widow Song!! Tell my dad!"

Lin Qiao secretly gave him a look to take care, then sidestepped to head home.

Niu Er couldn’t believe it, "Widow Song, you’re truly vicious! Do you believe I’ll..." spill what you asked me to do.

"Dare threaten someone when I’m here, I’ll beat you to death, get back home." Old Man Niu pulled his ear, dragging him back.

While walking away, Lin Qiao could still hear Niu Er’s cries, but she wasn’t worried that he’d spill it, even if he did, no one would believe him.

A weak widow and the village’s infamous scoundrel, it’s clear whose words were more trustworthy.