CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: FILLING THE VILLAIN’S LITTLE "HOLE IN THE HEART

Mrs. Lin Wu found it odd, but didn’t think much of it, "It’s the sieve that Tingfan borrowed a few nights ago."

A few nights ago?

Recently, Song Tingfan hadn’t gone out at night. Only the night she went out, thinking about the antagonist’s inexplicable aloofness, Lin Qiao understood that he knew she didn’t go to the Lin Family.

No wonder he suddenly became distant.

What a headache.

How was she supposed to patch up this storyline and fill the "little hole" in the antagonist’s heart?

Seeing her in a daze and not speaking, Mrs. Lin Wu called out, "Sister-in-law?"

Lin Qiao snapped back to reality and waved her in, "Second Sister-in-law, come in and see which one it is? I forgot."

If it was someone else, Mrs. Lin Wu might have rolled her eyes, but she found it normal for her little sister-in-law.

In her heart, her little sister-in-law had always been a bit slow.

She nodded and went into the courtyard, pausing for a moment. The once simple and messy yard now looked much tidier, with vegetable seedlings and wild chrysanthemums growing along the courtyard wall.

The dying jujube tree no longer had any fallen rotten jujubes under it.

Past the jujube tree, there were several large sieves with herbs, jujubes, and bamboo shoots drying in them.

She turned to look at Lin Qiao with a look that seemed to say, "You finally came around."

Lin Qiao naturally understood and raised her eyebrows slightly, "..."

"Second Sister-in-law, all the sieves are here. Which one is it? I’ll get it for you."

Mrs. Lin Wu saw the things still drying and, despite not liking her little sister-in-law much, couldn’t bring herself to be contrary. She shook her head, "It’s alright if you’re still drying stuff. I’ll just borrow one from the neighbors."

"They’re all dried. Dumping stuff from one sieve is the same. Go ahead, take one."

Lin Qiao smiled, then suddenly remembered something and added, "Second Sister-in-law, take some dried bamboo shoots back with you. I was busy a few days ago and forgot to bring you some."

Here, she was practically "all alone," so if she could maintain good relations with her family, she would. In case anything happened, they could support each other a bit.

Mrs. Lin Wu stared down at the bamboo shoots she was being given, lost in thought for a moment, feeling as if the sun had risen in the west today.

She gathered her wits and waved her hand, "No, no, you keep them to eat."

"It’s fine, take them, Second Sister-in-law," Lin Qiao said with a smile.

Mrs. Lin Wu shook her head, impulsively speaking the truth from her heart, "Sister-in-law, don’t give them to me, or Mother will think I asked you for them."

After the last incident between her and her older sister-in-law because of Sister-in-law, their mother-in-law had developed an opinion of them both.

If she took the bamboo shoots back, Mother-in-law would definitely misunderstand.

"Alright then, I’ll bring them over later," Lin Qiao understood the Lin Family’s situation and did not insist.

Once Mrs. Lin Wu left with the sieve, she sat in the main room for a while, deciding to "confess" by changing her story about that evening to the antagonist.

She needed to both explain and evoke the antagonist’s sympathy.

...

Approaching dusk in the courtyard.

Lin Qiao sat under the jujube tree sorting watercress. Hearing footsteps, she knew Song Tingfan had returned. She didn’t look up like she usually did, but continued with the watercress.

"Sister-in-law."

Song Tingfan cheerfully walked in with a basket on his back. Not getting a response, he called again towards the jujube tree, "Sister-in-law," then headed over.

As if only noticing his return when he came near, Lin Qiao hurriedly composed herself and forced a smile, "Little brother, you’re back. Dinner will be ready soon."

Song Tingfan easily noticed the unusual behavior, and his smile dropped, expressing concern, "Sister-in-law, what’s wrong? Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened, what could happen?" Lin Qiao said, although her hands moved nervously, dropping the sorted watercress on the ground.

Song Tingfan became even more convinced something was wrong and urgently asked, "Sister-in-law, what’s happened? Did someone bully you?"

The antagonist had taken the bait, and Lin Qiao was secretly delighted. She then hung her head, her eyes reddening, "No, no one bullied..."

Her voice choked up here, then continued, "No one bullied Sister-in-law."

"Sister-in-law, don’t lie to me. Who bullied you?"

Just thinking that someone might have bullied Sister-in-law while he was away, Song Tingfan clenched his fists tightly.

When the atmosphere was just right, Lin Qiao lowered her voice, "Little brother, Sister-in-law hit someone."

"A few nights ago, I lied to you that I was going to the Lin Family, but I didn’t go. I went to meet Zhang Dong."

She paused, her voice more choked, "You might have heard how the villagers talk about Sister-in-law. I figured... you are grown up now and will eventually marry and have children, so reputation is important."

"I just... met with Zhang Dong, wanting to make it clear for him not to come looking for me again."

"But then he... I had no choice but to grab something and hit him."

"Earlier, when I went out to fetch water, I heard someone say the Zhang Family wants to report to the government."

"Little brother, Sister-in-law really didn’t mean to hit him. He started it..."

Hearing this made Song Tingfan feel guilty, sad, and afraid all at once. If something had happened to Sister-in-law that night, what would he have done?

He bit his lip and said, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry. If the government comes, I’ll say I did it."

"No, Sister-in-law won’t allow it. Little brother, you’re the family’s last pillar."

Lin Qiao shook her head, quickly gritting her teeth, looking as if she was ready to risk it all, "If the government comes after us, I’ll tell the truth. I won’t let Zhang Dong off easily."

At that moment, Lin Qiao seemed every bit the good sister-in-law.

A woman’s reputation is her life. Without it, she would likely not want to live. Song Tingfan, distressed, said, "Sister-in-law, don’t."

He felt even more guilty, seeing that Sister-in-law would rather lose her reputation than let him take the fall.

And yet, he had thought so badly of her.

How was he different from those who bullied Sister-in-law?

"Little brother, Sister-in-law is sorry to you and to your brother. If I get caught, you must take care of yourself."

Lin Qiao stole a glance at his reaction. His face was openly worried and anxious, clearly believing her words.

She involuntarily raised an eyebrow.

Song Tingfan urgently said, "Sister-in-law, you won’t get caught, you won’t."

...

It took quite a while for Song Tingfan to comfort his sister-in-law. His voice was gentle as he coaxed, "Sister-in-law, I’ll make dinner. You should rest for a bit, okay?"

The way the boy awkwardly coaxed an adult was amusing, and Lin Qiao held back her laughter. She wiped the corners of her eyes, "Sister-in-law will cook, little brother, you’ve had a long day."

"Sister-in-law, I’m not tired."

Seeing her about to leave, Song Tingfan instinctively grabbed her, adding, "Sister-in-law, let me do it."

Realizing he was holding her hand, he awkwardly let go.

Lin Qiao didn’t mind; her attention was on the antagonist’s expression, "Little brother, I’ll join you. Being alone makes me anxious."

Song Tingfan thought it made sense, so he quickly nodded. While cooking, to distract her, he started talking about hunting, "Sister-in-law, I heard Mr. Ning say there used to be a big yellow tiger on the back mountain, very fierce looking, that could swallow a person whole..."

"Ah? Then don’t go there again, little brother."

"It’s fine, Sister-in-law, that tiger is already dead."