Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 94 - 89: Little Uncle Is Still the Best

Hearing this, the smile on Lin Qiao’s face faded a bit. She shook her head and asked, "I haven’t heard, what’s up?"

"Your second sister-in-law’s brother from her mother’s side gambled away the family’s money. The gamblers went to your mother’s house causing trouble. Your second sister-in-law was so angry she hit her brother, and he ended up with a head injury. The doctor said it’s quite serious, so they all went to town."

Old Mrs. Wang sighed. Gambling isn’t something poor families can afford. Even if rich families go to those money-eating places, they might not be able to handle it either.

Lin Qiao wasn’t familiar with the Lin Family, nor had any impression of the original second sister-in-law’s brother, "They all went to town?"

"Ping’er and An’er didn’t go; they’re at the village head’s house."

Old Mrs. Wang’s words were hardly finished when Old Man Wang called for her to help move things, and she hurried away.

After placing the rice flour in the kitchen, Lin Qiao came out and said to Song Qin and the others, "Grandma, I’m going to pick up Xiao Ping and Xiao’an."

Mentioning the two children, Song Qin suddenly recalled the Lin family’s situation, slapped her forehead, and hastily said, "Oh my memory, Qiao’er, something happened at your mother’s house..."

"Grandma, I know, Granny Wang just told me."

Lin Qiao signaled that it was alright. She paused and reminded them, "Grandpa, Grandma, try not to leave the house for a while."

The gamblers aren’t good people. If they can’t get their money back, they might resort to "threats."

Song Qin and Song Rong understood and both nodded.

Listening to their conversation, Song Tingfan quickly gulped down a few mouthfuls of rice and urgently said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you."

Before Lin Qiao could speak, Song Qin quickly agreed, "Let Tingfan go with you."

No matter what, Tingfan is a man, capable of handling any situation.

Lin Qiao was just going to pick up two kids, nothing would happen. She shook her head, "No need, I’ll be back soon. Little Uncle, eat slowly."

"Sister-in-law, I want to go." Song Tingfan pressed his lips together.

Standing before her, his innocent and clear eyes fixed on her unwaveringly, leaving Lin Qiao speechless, "..."

Once again, she relented, "Alright."

She had lost count of how many times she had given in, and thought seriously, attributing it to his handsome appearance.

...

In the courtyard of the village head’s house.

The children’s cries continued incessantly, relentlessly calling out for their parents.

"Hush, don’t cry, your parents will be back soon."

Mrs. Zhou knelt down to soothe the two children.

She had been comforting them for quite a while, yet to no avail.

She looked at Zhou Ping, helplessly saying, "Old man, what should we do, they keep crying; if they continue, their voices will be hoarse."

Zhou Ping scratched his head helplessly, "I have no idea either, should we call for Madam Tingfan to come and soothe them?"

"She went out early to sell vegetables. Who knows if she’s back by now. Qiao’er is taking care of two old folks and a kid, it’s tough on her," Mrs. Zhou sighed, returning inside to fetch a rattle-drum for them to play with.

The two children still cried loudly, probably terrified by what happened today.

Zhou Ping, his head aching from the crying, couldn’t help but scold his grandson, "Where has that rascal Tie Dan gone? Tell him to come back and play with them."

"He ran out right after eating, and his mother couldn’t even call him back," Mrs. Zhou mentioned her grandson with both anger and helplessness.

"I guess he’s out collecting bird’s eggs again. He never gets anything out of that! Tingfan excels at studying, collecting eggs, and is still well-behaved and sensible."

Zhou Ping wore an exasperated look, about to say more when he noticed Song Family’s uncle and sister-in-law arriving. He affectionately greeted, "Madam Tingfan, Tingfan."

"We were just talking about you, and here you are. These kids were scared stiff and have been crying nonstop; we couldn’t calm them."

"Thanks for the hard work, Grandpa and Grandma Zhou, I’ll take over."

Seeing the two children with swollen eyes from crying, Lin Qiao waved them over gently, "Xiao Ping, Xiao’an, come here."

The two children saw her, running over and hugging her legs while crying even louder, "Auntie."

"Auntie."

As if she had died, Lin Qiao was speechless, "..."

She crouched down, looking at them a bit sternly, "No more crying, if you cry again Auntie will leave."

Lin An and Lin Ping gradually stopped crying, with Lin An intermittently saying, "Auntie, at home... a lot of bad people came, we were so scared..."

His tone revealed deep grievance and fear.

"Don’t be afraid, with Auntie here, no bad guy will dare do anything."

Lin Qiao comfortingly stroked their heads, then said, "Let’s go home with Auntie, your parents will be back soon."

Lin Ping and Lin An nodded while sobbing, their obedient demeanor softening her heart.

Finally, the two kids stopped crying, and Mrs. Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, "Madam Tingfan is indeed capable; we tried for so long, and they still cried."

"Thanks for your trouble, Grandma and Grandpa Zhou. Xiao Ping, Xiao’an, thank Grandpa and Grandma Zhou." Lin Qiao gestured for the two children to express their gratitude.

The two clung to her, tearfully thanking, "Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma Zhou."

"Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma Zhou."

"How sweet, don’t cry anymore, listen to your Auntie," Mrs. Zhou cheerfully waved her hand.

Lin Qiao held each child’s hand and, after exchanging a few words of thanks with the elderly couple of the Zhou family, they left.

On the way, Song Tingfan fell behind Lin Qiao and the children, watching her tease Lin An and Lin Ping, involuntarily pursing his lips.

At this moment, Lin Qiao turned her head with a smile, calling out, "Little Uncle, catch up."

"Okay."

The young man who had been pursing his lips opened up a wide smile, joyfully running after them.

He held Lin Ping’s hand, his peripheral vision catching his sister-in-law’s smiling profile, and he suddenly felt very content.

"Sister-in-law, can I take Xiao Ping and Xiao’an to play?"

"I’ll go with you guys."

Thinking there was nothing to do in the afternoon, Lin Qiao decided to spend some time playing with the three kids.

And, incidentally, foster a relationship with the uncle who may turn out as an adversary.

In the village, the children loved playing around the big tree at the entrance, where someone had installed a swing. The kids took turns pushing and playing on it.

Lin Ping and Lin An, with their big dark eyes, glanced eagerly at Lin Qiao, evidently eager to play too.

Lin Qiao had no solution; she couldn’t possibly chase the other kids away. Just then, Song Tingfan stepped forward and said a few words to the kids, who cheerfully agreed and surrounded him.

Soon, they vacated the swing.

They didn’t stay to play there either, as the group of children swarmed off to another spot.

"Little Uncle, what did you say?" Lin Qiao curiously asked.

Song Tingfan chuckled, "I promised each of them I’d collect a bird egg."

Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh, sincerely praising, "Little Uncle, you’re amazing." She proceeded to put Lin An and Lin Ping on the swing.

It seemed to be built for adults, as the two children fit perfectly.

"Hold onto the rope, Little Uncle is going to push now."

"Okay, Little Uncle, push higher," Lin Ping and Lin An joyfully nodded.

"Alright, hold on tight."

Song Tingfan gently pushed the swing, sending it into motion, causing the two children to burst into laughter.

Meanwhile, a few leaves fluttered down.

Kids are easy to pacify; a single swing and they forget about wanting their parents, Lin Qiao thought with a smile, casting her gaze gradually on the young man, noticing he seemed a bit taller compared to days before, and sturdier.

His face showed little signs of gaining weight, yet less of the shyness remained, revealing more defined features.

The ’son’ is growing up; she felt somewhat gratified.