Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 91 - 86: Sister-in-law Is His Sister-in-law
Matchmaker Wang was taken aback and stepped back a few paces. In a tone that suggested he was being irrational, she scolded, "This is a good thing. Why don’t you understand, child? As long as your sister-in-law marries, your family won’t have to go hungry."
"Get out!"
Song Tingfan’s face was flushed with anger, and he tightened his grip on the broom as if restraining himself from hitting her.
He shouted, "My sister-in-law will not marry, I can support her! You leave!"
He didn’t want his sister-in-law to marry, nor did he want her to be someone else’s concubine!
No matter how much silver coin they offered, he wouldn’t allow it.
Would not allow.
Sister-in-law is his sister-in-law.
"Even if you can support her, can you support her for a lifetime? Besides, you can’t let your sister-in-law be a living widow forever, can you?" Matchmaker Wang retreated to the door, continuing to persuade him relentlessly.
A living widow?
Lin Qiao’s mouth twitched; the remark made her feel somewhat "unfulfilled," but she wasn’t so desperate as to be unable to live without a man.
In the village, there was only this one matchmaker, and they would need her help for match-making in the future. Lin Qiao pulled Song Tingfan beside her to calm him, saying, "Little Uncle, it’s fine." Then she took the broom and tossed it aside.
She then apologized to Matchmaker Wang, "Aunt Wang, let’s forget about this happy occasion. I’ve said I won’t marry again in this life. Thank you for your kindness."
"Tingfan is still young, please don’t hold it against him."
Song Tingfan pressed his lips tightly, staying silent.
Matchmaker Wang waved her hand, "It’s nothing."
"The Qian Family is really a good match, Widow Song. Think it over carefully. If you miss this opportunity, there won’t be another. There’s a long line of people wanting to marry into the Qian Family as a concubine."
"I only helped you because we’re from the same village. I wouldn’t bother to persuade someone else this earnestly."
Matchmaker Wang was quite the "actor," but so was Lin Qiao. She gratefully acknowledged, "Aunt Wang, really, there’s no need. I truly don’t plan to marry again. I just want to raise my little uncle now, and when he starts a family, help take care of the children."
"This good matchmaking with the Qian Family can be left for someone else. I’m not fortunate enough."
Her softly spoken words left Matchmaker Wang momentarily speechless, her meticulously prepared speech stuck in her throat. In the end, she said, "Think about it, give me a sign when you’ve decided."
Seeing her about to leave, a watching household was inspired, pulling her aside, "Ms. Wang, do you think my Bai Ling would do?"
Matchmaker Wang recalled Bai Ling’s appearance—plump and dark. After several unsuccessful match-making attempts, she remarked, "It won’t work; the Qian Family specifically asked for Widow Song."
"Oh come on, Bai Ling is even a year younger than Widow Song, and she’s still a maiden!" Bai Ling’s mother protested indignantly.
Matchmaker Wang cast her a glance, not looking down on her daughter, but frankly speaking, even if they offered dozens of taels, the Qian Family wouldn’t agree.
Even though Widow Song might not be a maiden, just her face alone would attract silver to arrange a marriage.
Still, being shrewd, and to save face for someone from the same village, she smiled and agreed, "I’ll mention it to the Qian Family and get back to you."
"Alright." Bai Ling’s mother smiled widely.
...
Song Family
After Matchmaker Wang left, Song Tingfan sat sulking on the doorstep, and Lin Qiao wondered if it was because she had pretended to speak to him sternly just now.
She felt "cowardly."
She sat down next to him, coaxing, "Little Uncle, it wasn’t intentional when sister-in-law spoke to you earlier. I just thought that in the future when you want to arrange a marriage, you couldn’t afford to offend Matchmaker Wang."
After sulking for a while, Song Tingfan looked down and promised softly, "Sister-in-law, I will really take care of you."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qiao was momentarily stunned, and then felt somewhat complicated inside. If things continued developing in this direction, she might end up really "developing feelings."
With thoughts racing in her mind, but not showing on her face, she warmly smiled and said, "I believe in Little Uncle."
The sincerity in the woman’s eyes made Song Tingfan feel some guilt, and he fiddled with his fingers, "Sister-in-law, when I grow up, I’ll find you a good family." He felt a bit sour at the end.
It seemed he didn’t want his sister-in-law to marry someone else.
He truly was selfish...
"You just said you want to take care of sister-in-law, and now you’re saying to marry her off; sister-in-law is a little hurt."
"Sister-in-law, I didn’t mean it like that; I just want you to be well."
"Sister-in-law feels very happy living with Little Uncle."
Lin Qiao glanced at the weather; it was a quarter of an hour before noon, and she said, "Little Uncle, it’s time for school."
Song Tingfan obediently nodded, got up, patted off the dust, and after glancing at her, pursed his lips, "Sister-in-law, really?"
Lin Qiao naturally tapped his nose without thinking, blurting out, "Really."
The words came so easily, even she was momentarily stunned; her spontaneous responses were becoming more natural.
Song Tingfan grinned foolishly, the unclear stuffiness in his heart instantly dissipated.
He kept this sentence in his heart.
Every word sister-in-law said was tucked in his heart.
When he went off to study, Song Qin, as she was drying clothes, said to Lin Qiao, "Niu Niu is slow with his words, Qiao’er, Grandma knows you’re kind, but if you meet someone suitable..."
Lin Qiao knew what she wanted to say. Alas, heaven truly had no eyes; the Song Family was so kind-hearted but suffered such great misfortune.
"Grandma, I won’t change my mind."
Seeing her determination, Song Qin sighed and said no more.
After a while, Song Rong came out of the house with a basket on his back, "Wife, Qiao’er, I’m going for a stroll in the mountains."
He no longer needed a cane and wasn’t as frail as before.
He could start to help share some burdens for the family.
"Grandpa, I’ll go with you." Lin Qiao didn’t stop him from going to the mountains; it had been quite stifling being cooped up at home for so long.
Knowing she was worried about him, Song Rong lovingly waved her off, "It’s fine, don’t worry, I know these mountain paths well."
"Let your grandpa go, he knows his limits." Song Qin was at ease. Song Rong wasn’t reckless, at most collecting some herbs outside the mountain to trade for money.
Thus, Lin Qiao said nothing more, only reminding him, "Grandpa, be careful."
Song Rong nodded, shouldered his basket, and went out. Not long after, they heard him shout, "Old Wang, why are you just eating now?"
Soon Old Wang’s voice came, "Just finished the chores, where are you off to?"
"Going for a stroll in the mountains."
"Then, be careful!"
Inside the main hall, Lin Qiao and Song Qin exchanged a glance and both smiled before returning to their tasks.
Over an hour later, Song Rong came back with his basket, seemingly tired from the walk. He set down the basket to catch his breath.
Seeing this, Song Qin quickly came over to pat his back, concerned, "Why hurry, just take your time."
Song Rong shook his head to indicate he was fine, and after a moment, with a hint of a smile, he said, "Wife, guess what I found?"
"What?"
"Wild yam. I only took a small hoe, spent quite some time to dig up only a few, but I counted, there are more than a dozen left."
It wasn’t a chance find for Song Rong. He knew the mountains around the village like the back of his hand, having hunted there before and knowing where wild yams grew.
Wild yam was valued at five to six cents per jin. Song Qin was delighted and urgently said, "Where is it? I’ll go dig it."
"Let me rest for a bit, then we’ll go together."
Song Rong pushed the grass aside from the basket and took out a wild yam to show her, adding, "Pretty big ones."
At this moment, Lin Qiao walked in from outside, followed by two dogs. She caught a glance of the wild yam in Song Rong’s hand, "Grandpa, where did you get the yam?"
