CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 47: SISTER-IN-LAW, I WROTE YOUR NAME

Song Tingfan’s face turned bright red, and his eyes wandered, unsure of where to look.

Lin Qiao remembered something, "Uncle, I’ll squeeze in with you for a night, and I’ll get another room ready when I have time tomorrow."

Hearing this, Song Tingfan clutched his clothes even tighter—his sister-in-law wanted to sleep with him...

"Alright."

Widow Song instinctively ignored the young man’s thoughts, took her clothes, and went into the bathroom to bathe.

She hadn’t washed her hair for a few days, so she washed it too. When she came out, the villain was sitting quietly in the courtyard writing on the ground with a stick.

The writing was crooked and not at all pleasing to the eye.

Lin.

Lin Qiao herself was a calligraphy enthusiast, not exactly an expert, but competent enough.

She frowned slightly, resisting the urge to correct him.

The original character probably couldn’t even recognize a letter.

She pretended to be curious, satisfying the villain’s urge to show off his new writing skill, "Uncle, what are you writing? It looks great."

"Really?" Song Tingfan looked at her with joy.

The teacher said he was doing well for just having started learning.

Lin Qiao: "..."

She nodded genuinely, "Really."

The young man’s face almost split into a grin up to his ears. He glanced at her, a mix of joy and a hint of caution, "Sister-in-law, I’m writing your name."

"The teacher taught us to write names, so I asked the teacher how to write sister-in-law’s name. The teacher said one horizontal line, one vertical, one stroke, and a dot, then repeat one beside it." He scratched his head shyly as he spoke.

Lin Qiao suddenly remembered how she’d once filled a page with the name of her crush during school, and though the thought crossed her mind briefly, she quickly pushed it aside.

"Uncle, you’re so skillful, you can even write sister-in-law’s name now."

"Not skillful, the teacher knows a lot of characters." Song Tingfan seemed to be flattered, like a child proudly showing off the characters he’d learned to his sister-in-law.

Lin Qiao maintained a genuinely impressed gaze.

One person was sincere, the other earnestly acting sincere, until nightfall began the night’s tapestry.

Afraid of getting thirsty during the night, Lin Qiao went to the kitchen to fetch some water, while Song Tingfan entered the house first, using his clothes as a bed sheet, half spreading it out.

He could endure the rough straw mat, but his sister-in-law could not.

Suddenly remembering something, he bent down to sniff it—it had a faint scent of dried grass, and sleeping on it too long left a little stale whiff.

He patted it with his hand, blew on it, and when he heard approaching footsteps, he hastily stood up.

Lin Qiao carried the water and knocked lightly on the door, saying softly, "Uncle, I’m coming in."

There was a response from inside, so she went in. With the help of the moonlight, she could just about see the boy standing inside.

She casually advised, "Uncle, quickly get to sleep, you have school tomorrow."

Song Tingfan nodded stiffly, the night was too dark to see clearly. "Sister-in-law, you... you sleep on this side."

Lin Qiao didn’t think much of it, but once she sat down, she found something underneath her. As she touched it, she asked, "Uncle, you used your clothes for me to lie on?"

Such a sweet child.

"Yes." Song Tingfan lay stiffly on the very edge, the straw mat sunk a little and made a soft sound.

After Lin Qiao lay down, she glanced at him and teased softly, "Uncle, why are you so far away? Afraid I’ll eat you? I’m not a monster."

"Come closer, cover your stomach with the quilt, don’t catch a cold."

Seeing him not move, she scooted over, reaching out to cover his stomach with the quilt.

Who knew where a twelve-year-old got such ideas about the differences between men and women.

Feeling the unintentional brushing of fingers over his abdomen, Song Tingfan’s body instantly went rigid, not daring to breathe heavily.

After a while, the sound of the woman’s even breathing beside him gradually filled the air.

Lin Qiao had truly fallen asleep.

Although the trip to town had been by donkey cart, the bumpy ride had worn her out.

Song Tingfan’s body gradually relaxed, stealing a careful glance to the side. He could faintly see the woman’s half face in the dimness.

He contentedly curled his lips.

Sister-in-law.

Not long after, he too fell asleep.

...

Next day

When Lin Qiao awoke, Song Tingfan had already finished fetching water, watered the vegetable garden, and breakfast was warming in the pot.

Song Qin had already swept the courtyard, and Song Rong, after taking some medicine, wasn’t coughing as much. He stood at the door with a stick, looking outside; his spirits were much better than the day before.

The three of them heard the door open and turned to look. Lin Qiao felt a little guilty; she should have been the one showing off, but everything was already done.

Luckily there was no reward, otherwise, she’d be docked pay.

Song Tingfan was tending the scallions in the corner, joyfully saying, "Sister-in-law."

Lin Qiao nodded slightly, speaking softly, "Uncle, why didn’t you wake me? I overslept."

"Sister-in-law, it’s still early."

Song Tingfan turned around and went to the kitchen, quickly bringing out a basin of wash water for Lin Qiao, saying sincerely, "Sister-in-law, here."

Lin Qiao quickly took it, then looked at Song Qin and Song Rong, "Thank you, Uncle. Grandpa and Grandma, did you wash already?"

Seeing her carefully wipe her face, then habitually wipe her neck, touching the exposed skin, Song Tingfan hurriedly lowered his head, "Yes."

"I’ll go get the dishes."

Lin Qiao hummed, bent down to wash the cloth, and spread it on the line in the courtyard, habitually glancing outside.

The sunrise had climbed to the mountain top, painting half the sky red.

Seeing Song Rong trying to make his way back inside, she quickly went to support him, "Grandpa, are you feeling better today?"

Song Rong nodded kindly, "Better, did I disturb you with my coughing?" He apologetically said with some caution.

"No, Grandpa, don’t be constrained at home, tell me if you’re uncomfortable."

Lin Qiao helped him into the main room and sat him down, observing the unevenness of his stick as she took it—a bit rough to the touch.

It would likely take some time for Song Rong to recover, and it seemed they’d need to get him a cane.

But she didn’t say anything.

Song Rong rested his hand on the table, trembling slightly, and rasped, "Qiao’er, sit too."

He and Song Qin didn’t call her Tingyi’s wife, since Tingyi had already passed away, calling her that would only increase her sadness.

"Alright." Lin Qiao smiled warmly.

There was still some leftover rabbit meat from the previous day, and after eating for a while, Lin Qiao noticed none of them were taking any. She sighed internally, reached over, and placed a piece on each of their plates, finally giving herself one as well, "Finish eating so we can wash the dishes."

Afraid of making Song Qin and Song Rong uncomfortable, she lowered her head and continued eating.

Next to her, Song Tingfan glanced at her, then at the rabbit meat in his bowl, picked it up, and placed it into her bowl, "Sister-in-law, I don’t want it."

Lin Qiao, knowing his thoughts, tapped his forehead with her hand, putting on a big sister disciplining look, "Uncle, no picky eating, look at Grandpa and Grandma, they’re eating." She said as she put the meat back in his bowl.

The two elderly parents, who had initially wanted to do the same as Song Tingfan and remove the meat, paused and didn’t pick it up.

They couldn’t allow Niu Niu to learn picky eating.

Lin Qiao discreetly raised her eyebrows, just one sentence solved everything.

"Sister-in-law, I’m not picky." Song Tingfan didn’t want to upset her, he wasn’t picky; he ate everything.

Thinking about it, he added, "Sister-in-law, I..."

"Good boy, eat up."

Lin Qiao’s words made Song Tingfan obediently wolf down his rice.

Section divider——————

Uncle: Posting earlier today, going on PK tomorrow afternoon, everyone must cheer, keep reading, vote for recommendation tickets until next Tuesday, don’t save drafts.

Secretly saying: Eight thousand words a day.

If we pass this PK, there will be an additional update next time.

Those who want extra updates must cheer.

Uncle’s mom: I’m lazy, usually don’t add updates unless the recommendation position requires it.

So you must cherish the chance not to let me have a "good year," hahaha.

Please reply upon receipt, touch, touch

Forgot to say, it’s QQ Book City PK, so if you have this software, use it for a few days.

Touching.

Thanks.