CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: I’LL GET BIRD EGGS FOR YOU, AND YOU CAN’T CALL ME SISTER-IN-LAW ANYMORE

"Madam Tingfan, how are you being an elder sister-in-law? Tingfan still doesn’t have a wife, what is your intention?" asked the woman wearing a deep blue headscarf at the same table, reveling in the drama.

Someone was stirring up trouble again, but Lin Qiao remained calm and unruffled. She picked up another piece of meat for Song Tingfan before responding to the woman, "Auntie, we’re at Sister Cui’er’s house for the feast today."

The implication was not to start a quarrel.

The woman with the deep blue headscarf wanted to say more, but an elderly woman next to her tugged at her, signaling her to be quiet.

Causing a ruckus at someone’s wedding would definitely make the Wang Family resent them.

Li Guifen wanted to say a few words for her daughter, but didn’t expect the elderly woman to stay quiet.

Humph, gossipy woman, always eager for drama; one of these days, I’ll go against you in a fight.

Give you two handfuls of sticky rice cakes!

After that, the feast became relatively quiet, with Lin Qiao occasionally picking up some dishes for Song Tingfan, which others found somewhat strange.

Did Widow Song change her nature?

Li Guifen and Lin Han felt at ease; the Song Family had helped the Lin Family a lot in the past, and they still remembered this kindness.

A plate of fragrant melon seeds and candy was served at the end of the meal; in these times, sugar was more expensive than meat, so there were only two pieces of candy on a plate.

Everyone at Lin Qiao’s table were already married except Song Tingfan, and as the others eyed the two pieces of candy covetously, Lin Qiao reached out to take them and placed them in Song Tingfan’s hand.

"Little uncle, eat up, eat the wedding candy and grow tall and strong."

Song Tingfan looked at her, stunned, and then at the candy in his palm. He held it tightly and cautiously put it into his pocket.

The others at the table realized it was hopeless, and inwardly gnawed their teeth in anger, but couldn’t bring themselves to snatch candy from a child, so they started grabbing melon seeds.

In the end, the plate was completely wiped clean.

Li Guifen also grabbed some, of course; there’s no harm in grabbing them, as she stuffed them all into LinQiao’s hands, "Girl, take them."

Lin Qiao didn’t like eating these, glancing at the honest Lin Han, "Give them to Dad to go with his drinks."

"Your dad’s old teeth can’t chew them," Li Guifen felt a bit hurt when her daughter declined, sensing some estrangement from her.

Lin Han nodded in agreement.

Lin Qiao had no choice but to accept.

Once the granddaughter of the Wang Family got married, villagers followed the bustle to the groom’s home, attending the midday feast.

Lin Qiao didn’t join the hustle, glancing at the boy who came over to talk to Song Tingfan; seemed to be the village head’s grandson, Tie Dan.

Tie Dan looked around the same age as Song Tingfan, but he was chunky; however, he wasn’t ugly, with big round eyes that were somewhat appealing.

She said, "Little uncle, sister-in-law is going back."

Upon hearing she was leaving, Song Tingfan hurriedly told Tie Dan, "Tie Dan, I need to go back and fetch water."

Tie Dan loved playing with Song Tingfan; among the village children, he was the best at finding bird nests and hunting birds. He thought Tingfan was afraid of being scolded by his sister-in-law, and looking at Lin Qiao, said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll go fetch water with Tingfan; after that, let him come play with me, okay?"

With his overly charming face, Lin Qiao couldn’t help but smile, "Go play, no need to fetch water."

Beside them, Song Tingfan felt a bit suffocated hearing others call her sister-in-law, "I’m not going."

"Tingfan, come on, sister-in-law has agreed," Tie Dan tugged at his arm.

Lin Qiao fully supported the antagonist going out to play, patting Song Tingfan on the shoulder, persuading, "Little uncle, go have fun, just remember to come back for the midday feast."

Watching the two kids walk far away, she then went home.

Not long after, Cui’er’s mother, Mrs. Wang Ning, came over, handing Lin Qiao a basket with some items inside, smiling broadly.

"Madam Tingfan, brought you two pieces of wedding cake. I was too busy and forgot about it the other day, really sorry."

Lin Qiao accepted it, "Auntie, it’s okay, come in and have a seat."

Seeing her sincerity, Mrs. Wang Ning sighed in relief, laughing again, "I’m still busy, so I won’t sit, will come over another day if free."

"Alright then," Lin Qiao emptied the basket for her, adding, "If Auntie doesn’t mind my clumsiness, I’d shamelessly help out."

Mrs. Wang Ning waved her hands quickly, "How could we possibly accept that, no need at all."

"No worries, I could use the experience, so when Tingfan gets married, I’ll be prepared," Lin Qiao closed the door.

Unable to refuse, Mrs. Wang Ning led her back home, having a much better impression of Widow Song.

Old Mrs. Wang noticed Lin Qiao helping with clearing the utensils, pulling Mrs. Wang Ning aside to chat, "Why’s Widow Song helping out?"

"She said she’s here to learn, to have experience for when Tingfan gets married," Mrs. Wang Ning glanced at the nimble-handed Widow Song.

Old Mrs. Wang found it rather peculiar, but with lots to still do, she didn’t think much further.

Meanwhile, Song Tingfan and several kids ran to the big banyan tree in the village to find bird nests, Tie Dan pointed up excitedly, "Tingfan, the nest is up there."

Song Tingfan pursed his lips, still bothered by Tie Dan calling her sister-in-law, "Tie Dan, I’ll help you get the nest, but don’t call her sister-in-law afterward."

"Huh?" Tie Dan looked puzzled, then seemed to guess something, whispering, "I know, do you really hate your sister-in-law, Tingfan?"

"Rest assured, if you hate her, I’ll hate her too; I won’t call her that anymore."

"Hmm... I’ll call her the old witch!"

Song Tingfan immediately spoke out, a bit angry, "Don’t call her old witch, just don’t call her sister-in-law."

Chirping birds above, Tie Dan got distracted, "I won’t call her, won’t call her; hurry up and get it for me."

Song Tingfan rolled up his sleeves, swiftly climbed the tree, soon many kids gathered.

One after another climbed up and down, full of joy.

"Er Gou! Get down here, won’t kill you from a fall, hurry," suddenly a woman wielding a wooden stick approached, and the kids dispersed in fright.

Climbing trees was forbidden at home; Tie Dan feared she would tattle to his grandpa, so he ran off too.

Where the lively banyan tree stood just before, only Song Tingfan remained, holding the bird eggs, looking down to find the ground barren of children, his smiling lips settling down.

Grabbing the eggs carefully, he descended and headed home, just reaching the entrance to see his sister-in-law talking with some ladies from Wang Family, a faint smile on her face, looking genuinely pleased.

Lin Qiao saw him, waved eagerly, when he came over noticing his dirty clothes, she lightly patted them, then handed him a handful of melon seeds, "Why back so soon?"

"Found them,"

Song Tingfan showed the bird eggs, and Lin Qiao praised, "Little uncle, you’re really amazing, but don’t climb too high next time."

Song Tingfan nodded obediently, no longer bothered, smiling with squinted eyes, "Sister-in-law, I’ll cook you bird eggs."

"Go ahead, I’ve never tasted cooked bird eggs," Lin Qiao didn’t think cooked bird eggs were delicious, but anything the antagonist made must be "delicious."

Once Song Tingfan left, Mrs. Wang Ning remarked, "Tingfan seems a bit more lively than a few days ago."

On this note, Lin Qiao began her quest for redemption; an actor’s success lies not in convincing one person, but everyone.

Showing kindness to Song Tingfan, not just he notices - the entire village must.

With a low sigh, guilty, "Previously I was wrong, always hitting him, alas, when my in-laws, husband... passed away, I lost myself, not knowing what I was doing."

"Recently, I’ve regained my senses, feel strongly guilty towards little uncle, so I try to treat him as well as possible."

Women from the Wang Family exchanged glances, harboring sympathy for Widow Song, realizing being a wife like Lin Qiao was indeed quite challenging.

Losing one’s mind seemed understandable.