Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 248 - 243: When I Come Back, I’ll Marry You
"Thank you, Auntie." Song Tingfan felt a slight warmth in his heart and then bowed to her.
"No, no, no, it’s not like it’s something valuable." Zhou Tiedan’s mother glanced at him and then at Zhou Tiedan, who was pouting and looking unhappy.
Sigh, when will he learn to be as sensible as Tingfan!
...
After Zhou Tiedan and the others left, Song Tingfan found half a tael of silver stuffed in his shoes. It was probably given by Zhou Ping. He handed it to Lin Qiao, "Sister-in-law, please help me return this tomorrow and thank them."
"Okay." Lin Qiao nodded.
On the last night at home, the three families gathered to eat, making it very lively for a time.
But Lin Qiao noticed Song Qin and Song Rong sneaking into the room several times to wipe their tears. She couldn’t help feeling a bit sad and reluctant, perhaps because of them.
Indeed, taking care of someone for a while will inevitably bring out emotions.
Afraid of eating after dinner, Song Tingfan spent a long time in the room with Song Qin and Song Rong. He didn’t come out until late at night. Passing by his sister-in-law’s room, he hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t knock to disturb her.
The next day, Lin Qiao got up early, intending to cook breakfast for Song Tingfan before he left, only to find that the house was empty and the quilt neatly folded.
On the table was a piece of white paper: Sister-in-law, I have left; don’t worry about me.
She hurriedly ran out but saw no one at the village entrance, clearly having left for a while.
She felt a bit uncomfortable; this child was always so understanding, leaving silently and alone to spare them sadness.
At this moment, Grandpa Zhou came by, driving a donkey cart, "Madam Tingfan, I was going to take Tingfan to town with me, give him a ride."
"He’s already gone." Lin Qiao realized something and turned back toward home.
...
At the town entrance
"It’s full; let’s go."
The coachman slapped the horse’s rump, and the cart swayed a couple of times before it gradually distanced itself from the village entrance.
The young boy by the window watched as the farthest mountain slowly disappeared from view, and his eyes suddenly reddened.
The man next to him noticed him shedding tears and kindly asked, "Little brother, why are you crying?"
Song Tingfan lowered his head, "Dust got in my eyes."
"There’s a lot of dust by the window. Here, let’s switch places." The kind-hearted man offered to switch seats with him.
The cart reached the county town at noon. There were many people at the government office entrance, men and women, young and old.
"Son, you must write home."
"I know, mother, you all should go back; it’s too sunny."
"Husband, I’ll wait for you to return; you must take care."
"Okay, after I’ve saved up some silver for two years, I’ll return. Stay well at home, and don’t wander off."
The clamor of voices constantly filled Song Tingfan’s ears. He walked into the government office to register with his head down, and soon came out with a wooden tag, glancing around before sitting beside a stone statue.
He took out a pancake and slowly nibbled on it, feeling his vision blur for some reason.
He wanted to see his sister-in-law just one more time, just one glance...
"Uncle."
Suddenly, a voice came unexpectedly to his ear. He jerked his head up to see a girl in verdant green watching the man in blue next to her, not his sister-in-law.
He lowered his head again.
Then came another voice, "Uncle."
He didn’t look up because he knew that his sister-in-law wouldn’t come. Soon a familiar embroidered shoe appeared in his view. He again jerked his head up to see the girl’s beaming face.
His nose felt sore, "Sister-in-law."
"You still remember to call me sister-in-law, but didn’t think to tell me when you left."
Lin Qiao handed him the bundle and added, "Bought you some snacks, thought I’d give them to you when you left, but you left without a word."
Luckily I caught up, or I’d feel so uneasy.
Song Tingfan was surprised his sister-in-law actually came, staring at her wordlessly, "Sister-in-law, you’re really good."
Seeing he was about to cry, Lin Qiao smoothed his head calmly, "If I’m really that good, then come eat with me. I haven’t had breakfast, I’m starving."
They didn’t walk far, just found a nearby noodle stall to eat. The tables and chairs were full, so they had to sit on the stone steps with their bowls.
Seeing Song Tingfan looking at her, Lin Qiao smiled, "Eat up."
"Okay."
Song Tingfan took a big mouthful and stuffed it into his mouth. It wasn’t good at all; too much salt.
But he thought it tasted great.
Lin Qiao ate one bite and spat it out; it was too salty. She looked at the boy beside her eating happily, "Isn’t it salty?"
"Not salty." Song Tingfan shook his head.
Lin Qiao didn’t believe him and picked a few strands from his bowl to taste, finding it just as salty, "I’m done, let’s find another place to eat."
Before Song Tingfan could say anything, "Gather up, gather up, quickly come over!"
Upon hearing that, Song Tingfan ate even faster, stuffing the noodles in his bowl into his mouth in a few bites. After swallowing, he looked at Lin Qiao, "Sister-in-law."
"Hm." Lin Qiao handed him a square cloth to wipe his mouth.
At this time, the government officer urged again, "Hurry! Hurry up! If you don’t come over now, you won’t be allowed to go."
Song Tingfan grabbed his bundle and walked two or three steps, then quickly turned back and said, "Wait for me to come back and marry you." He turned and ran swiftly.
Lin Qiao stood frozen, what did he just say?
Marry her?
She must have heard wrong.
Song Tingfan was tall and easily outpaced others, his peripheral vision falling on the young woman still standing at the noodle stall.
Whether she agrees or not...
The officer called names, "Wang Family Village Jiang Jian... Xingyu Village Song Tingfan!"
"Present." Song Tingfan responded loudly.
Over a quarter of an hour later, after all the names were read, the officer added, "From this moment, anyone who retreats will be treated as a deserter. The severe punishment is exile to the border for three years, the light penalty is a fine of fifty taels of silver."
...
In the blink of an eye, by the end of October, there was turmoil at the border, which ceased by December.
Lin Qiao received a message from Song Tingfan assuring his safety by the following March.
She replied to his letter, but it took a long time to receive one back.
Another year passed, and in the April of the third year, Song Tingfan sent another letter.
In town, at Fan’an Cake Shop
A woman in a blue dress busily sold cakes, a simple hair bun adorned with a plain hairpin, her fair cheeks slightly flushed, her gently upturned eyes adding a touch of allure uncharacteristic of a good family woman.
"Big brother, your cakes, fifty-six cents altogether."
Just as she finished speaking, a harsh voice sounded, "Hurry and pay the silver to get lost, what are you staring at your mother for!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
The speaker, a man with his pants highly rolled up, gave off a rather rakish impression.
"Niu Er!" The young woman glared at him, annoyed.
"You’re ungrateful, his eyes practically hang on you."
Niu Er "hmphed" and seeing the man still standing, snatched his silver coins fiercely, "Hurry up and get lost. Next time, old man will make you bleed from your nose!"
Then he handed the silver to the young woman, seeing her ignore him, he "hmphed" again, "Widow Song, do you want the letter from your little uncle? If not, I’ll leave ha?"
