Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 203 - 198: Sister-in-law, You’re Good at Everything
Lin Qiao was just about to say something when she saw an old woman hunching her back as she came in, likely thinking it was a noodle shop after seeing them eating noodles.
She stared eagerly at the noodles on the table and timidly said, "Please, can you spare a bowl of noodles?"
"Granny, we don’t sell noodles here, we sell cakes."
Seeing her messy hair and slightly dirty clothes, Lin Qiao guessed she might be begging.
She got up and took two cakes for her, "Granny, can you eat these?"
The old woman, extremely hungry, grabbed them and stuffed them into her mouth, only to choke. Lin Qiao hurriedly poured some water for her and patted her back.
After a while, the old woman caught her breath and quickly finished the cakes. Although she wasn’t full, she kept thanking, "Thank you, young lady, you’re kind, you’ll surely have great fortune."
"No need to thank me." Lin Qiao took a few more cakes for her, and the old woman thanked her repeatedly before leaving with them.
Song Tingfan had been watching Lin Qiao ever since she stood up, and when Lin Qiao met his gaze, she smiled, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and eat the noodles, they’ll get soggy."
"Sister-in-law, you’re really nice." Song Tingfan liked a sister-in-law who was warm and not the kind who would scold all the time like before.
Is giving a few cakes to others enough to be considered nice? It’s truly naive, it’s the people who can continually give that are truly kind-hearted.
Lin Qiao was not the latter, nor would she be, as kind-hearted people often don’t have a good end.
She smiled, "How am I nice?"
"Everything about you is nice." Song Tingfan said with utmost seriousness.
In his heart, no one was better than his sister-in-law.
"If everything is nice, then help me eat some noodles, let’s have a long life together."
"Sister-in-law, I can’t really be picky."
In the end, Song Tingfan didn’t refuse her and helped her finish half a bowl of longevity noodles.
After eating, Song Tingfan went to return the bowl while Lin Qiao packed the cakes into a box. Once he returned, they headed to Fulaoyun.
With permission from Liu Fuzhu, Lin Qiao went table by table giving out cakes. They originally made an extra twenty, but some people liked them so much they bought several at a time.
Before finishing all the tables, the cakes were sold out. Curious guests who hadn’t tried them called out, "Young lady, why don’t we have any?"
Lin Qiao placed the Copper Coins in Song Tingfan’s hand, indicating he should count them, and said apologetically, "Sorry, today’s cakes are gone. If you come here for a meal tomorrow, I’ll give you two for free, no Silver Coin needed."
The guest chuckled, "Alright then, I’ll come here again tomorrow. Remember me, don’t forget me tomorrow."
"I won’t." Lin Qiao smiled.
"If you like them, you can buy them at the corner later, it’s called Fan’an Cake Shop." Liu Fuzhu spoke, helping to promote as she liked how Lin Qiao conducted herself.
Fan’an Cake Shop was named by Lin Qiao after Song Tingfan, meaning peace and good fortune.
"What shop?" Someone didn’t hear clearly and quickly asked.
Liu Fuzhu repeated, "Fan’an Cake Shop, opening tomorrow."
With her promotion, the opening would surely be better, for which Lin Qiao sincerely thanked her, "Boss, thank you."
"No need to thank me, it’s only right to say a few words after eating your cakes."
Liu Fuzhu smiled, adding, "My daughter really likes them, save some for me tomorrow."
She had a daughter about twelve years old, whom Lin Qiao had met, fair-skinned and very pretty, "Sure."
After chatting briefly, knowing Liu Fuzhu would be busy by Noon, Lin Qiao didn’t want to disturb her. She took Song Tingfan out of the inn, not going home directly but visiting the fabric shop.
A few days ago, Mrs. Liu Xu expanded next door, laying out more ready-made clothes that could sell four or five pieces a day, and when good, even ten.
Mrs. Liu Xu just finished some work when she saw the two of them and quickly went over to greet them, "Is the shop ready?"
"It’s ready, opening tomorrow." Lin Qiao nodded.
"I’ve been really busy these days and haven’t been able to help you, but I’ll definitely come tomorrow." Mrs. Liu Xu wasn’t just being polite; she had genuinely been busy recently.
"My place isn’t busy." Lin Qiao took out the cakes specially reserved for her from her basket and said, "Made some cakes."
Mrs. Liu Xu wasn’t shy, taking a piece and eating it, "The taste is different from last time, but they’re all delicious. These will definitely sell well."
"Thanks for the kind words from the boss."
"By the way, I’ve got cloth shoes reserved for you, I saw them and thought they’d look good so I brought you a pair."
While eating, Mrs. Liu Xu handed them the shoes. Lin Qiao felt embarrassed to accept them, but Mrs. Liu Xu insisted, "Don’t be shy with me."
Before Lin Qiao could say anything, a voice came from behind, "Aunty, put the stuff..."
Xu Hu approached, seeing Lin Qiao and Song Tingfan there, he appeared a bit awkward, but his eyes lingered on Lin Qiao for quite a while, finding her still so bright in her simple clothes.
"Put them outside first, we’ll move them to the storage later." Mrs. Liu Xu knew her nephew had some interest in Lin Qiao, but her brother and sister-in-law wouldn’t accept Lin Qiao, saying she had been in the brothel and wasn’t clean.
Xu Hu nodded and walked away.
Worried Lin Qiao might have a negative impression of her nephew, Mrs. Liu Xu explained, "Don’t take it to heart, he actually cares about you a lot, it’s just that my brother and sister-in-law..."
Lin Qiao interrupted her before she could finish, "I know, thank you, Brother Xu. I sincerely hope he finds a nice family’s daughter."
This was probably for the best, otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to refuse Xu Hu.
Ah, just being a sucker for appearances.
Seeing her natural expression, Mrs. Liu Xu breathed a sigh of relief, chuckling, "I’ll find someone else for you then."
"Sure, the boss should find me a handsome one." Lin Qiao joked, nodding.
Hearing this, Mrs. Liu Xu couldn’t help but laugh, then looked at Song Tingfan, "Surely handsome, just like your little uncle at home."
Neither of them noticed Song Tingfan clutching the hem of his clothes tightly.
On their way, Lin Qiao noticed Song Tingfan was unusually quiet, though he typically wasn’t talkative outside, when with her he’d usually chat aimlessly, "Little Uncle?"
"Hmm." Song Tingfan responded in a low voice.
Oh dear, the little villain was sulking again.
Lin Qiao understood him already, he wore his emotions on his face, hard to miss.
But why was he sulking again?
"What’s the matter?"
"Nothing." Song Tingfan awkwardly avoided her gaze.
Seeing he didn’t want to talk, Lin Qiao didn’t press further, "I’ll buy some meat, you take it home later, and check with the teacher if the name report is ready, and where the exam is held."
Song Tingfan didn’t want to go back, for if he did, his sister-in-law would be alone in town, but he had to go back. Reluctantly, he pressed his lips, "Alright."
Usually by now, pig’s feet would be sold out, but surprisingly there were two left today, which Lin Qiao bought to nourish Song Qin and Song Rong.
Afterward, she went to the bookstore, buying as usual, "Three sheets of xuan paper, one ink block."
Remembering Song Tingfan’s brush was frayed, she added, "Two good brushes, please."
