CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 49: LOOKS LIKE SHE’S ALREADY IN CHARACTER

Mrs. Lin Wu’s face softened a bit, and she shot him an annoyed glance, "What’s there to buy? Save it for Ping’er to study."

The Lin Family actually treats their daughter-in-law quite well. Aside from the public farmland, they never take or think about the money Lin Han and the others earn.

So sometimes, even if not satisfied with the mother-in-law’s overly good treatment of the little sister-in-law, nothing is said.

If it weren’t for the little sister-in-law going too far, treating her own family like a bottomless pit, believing they owed her, constantly demanding.

"If you want to buy, then get Ping’er a pair as well. As for studying, I’ll find more work to do," Lin Shan promised with a hearty smile.

It’s impossible not to feel for your own man, Mrs. Lin Wu disagreed, saying, "Don’t take on too much, it’s too much to bear. The household silver is enough."

She paused, sighed, and said gloomily, "You handle the little sister-in-law’s matter as you see fit."

Perhaps afraid he might hold a grudge, she explained, "I’m not saying we won’t help her, nor am I badmouthing her. Father and mother gave her a lot of things. Last time mother was sick, and she didn’t even look at her."

"Is her heart made of stone?"

"Besides, the Song Family treated her well enough, yet she always beats the kid, Song Tingfan, I couldn’t stand it."

"Do you expect her to treat us any better?"

Lin Shan knew she was telling the truth. He sighed, "Guihua, I know all this, but I’m her brother; I have to help."

"It’s not easy for the little sister either. To have... gone there and immediately lost her husband, and she has changed quite a bit these days."

Seeing his wife’s pout, he quickly added, "Guihua, don’t worry, in my heart, nothing is as important as you and the children."

"Alright, always talking nonsense. Quickly go back to your task, or else father and mother will blame me again."

Mrs. Lin Wu actually did understand the Lin Family’s feelings towards Lin Qiao.

After all, they are family.

Just like every time she went back to her own family, her mother always stuffed her with lots of things.

In the main room, Li Guifen sat at the bedside, wiping her tears. Lin Han also felt uncomfortable. His wife was a fierce person, she wouldn’t utter a sound even if she scraped her skin, wouldn’t cry out in pain, let alone shed tears.

He pursed his lips, comforting her, "Don’t cry."

"How can I not cry? My daughter doesn’t even dare to come through the door. Even asking her brother for something she has to see his mood."

Li Guifen, fearing the daughter-in-laws might hear, lowered her voice, saying, "We shouldn’t have back then..."

The tone was full of regret and heartache.

Shouldn’t have, shouldn’t have.

Ruined the girl’s entire life.

Brought up the past, Lin Han stayed silent for a while. After some time, he said, "Tingfan’s grandpa and grandma have returned, you should take some things to visit."

He paused, "Slip some silver to the girl."

Mentioning Song family’s elderly couple, Li Guifen’s tears welled up again, "How could the girl continue living, supporting three people."

"As long as I’m alive, I’ll support the girl."

Lin Han has never taken silver from his eldest and second sons for the girl, only what he and Li Guifen saved over the years. He spoke with helplessness and determination, "If the daughter-in-laws don’t like it, then separate the family. Not a penny less than what they’re due."

Back then, both palms and backs of hands were treasured, he was in such a panic and agreed to let the Song family have her marry for happiness.

Little did he know after marrying...

...

Regarding how a crutch unintentionally caused "infighting" within the Lin Family, Lin Qiao was unaware. At that moment, she was tidying up an empty room, which was the main house, her parents’ room before they passed.

To say she wasn’t uneasy would be a lie, she clasped her hands in prayer and bowed three times.

Footsteps sounded from the doorway; she withdrew her hands and looked over to see Song Qin holding a basin of water, looking somewhat cautiously reliant, "Qiao’er, let me help you tidy up."

Lin Qiao naturally noticed, she thought for a moment and didn’t refuse, nodding affectionately, "Grandmother, if you’re not too tired, help me tidy up. I was just thinking it would take me ages alone."

Seeing she didn’t refuse, Song Qin’s face wrinkled with joy, "Not tired."

She moved nimbly, wiping the dust-covered table.

Lin Qiao watched for a while before continuing to sweep the floor. After a while, she noticed Song Rong propped on a cane, looking like he wanted to help but didn’t know what to do.

She sighed inwardly; Song family’s trio almost softened her heart completely.

Looks like she had already become involved.

"Grandfather, could you check the courtyard? Dogs might come in and bite the pheasants."

Song Rong nodded immediately, holding the cane steady as he headed out.

When Li Guifen came to the door, Song Rong was already in the courtyard watching. Seeing him startled her, gosh, he looked so thin.

You must know that Uncle Song was once a famous hunter in their village, quite handsome, not much different from young Song Tingfan now.

Alas, seven or eight years ago, the Song family wasn’t in this state.

"Uncle Song."

Song Rong’s murky eyes took a moment to recognize her as Lin Qiao’s mother, he wobbled with his cane to let her in, "Come in and sit."

"Qiao... Qiao’er, your mother is here."

When Li Guifen spoke, Lin Qiao heard her. She walked out, looked at what her mother held, sighed inwardly, "Come in and sit."

She couldn’t understand why the original parents treated the original self reasonably well, yet it seemed significant to the storyline.

Why was it not mentioned in the dreams?

Is this an undeveloped subplot?

Where it leads depends entirely on her performance.

"..."

Once in the main room, Li Guifen smiled at Song Qin and Song Rong, "I heard Uncle and Aunt Song returned, so I came to visit. There’s not much at home, just brought some vegetables."

Song Qin lovingly waved her hand, "No need."

She glanced at Lin Qiao, sincerely saying, "Qiao’er is kind-hearted, inviting us back to live."

"If you’re invited to stay back, then rest easy and stay," Li Guifen, although worried her daughter would get tired, didn’t think she shouldn’t have invited the Song family’s elderly back.

Hearts are made of flesh; how could one bear it?

Her daughter always had a soft heart; cried for half a day when a frog died as a child.

Later... it wasn’t her fault.

She looked at Song Rong closely, concerned, "Uncle Song, are you sick? You look much thinner. Have you seen a doctor?"

"Qiao’er took me to see one the day before, paid quite a bit," Song Qin said, a hint of guilt in her voice.

Li Guifen glanced at Lin Qiao, worried about her daughter’s situation but said, "If it needs spending, it must be spent. It’s good if it can be cured."

After chatting for a while, Li Guifen decided to leave since there was work to be done at home, and the two grandsons had to be sent to school, "Uncle Song, Aunt Song, do visit us when you have time." As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Qiao.

Both Song Qin and Song Rong nodded.

Lin Qiao escorted her to the door. Li Guifen seemed like she wanted to say something but held back, only saying, "I’m leaving, you go back inside. There’s some silver under the vegetable basket, don’t starve yourself."

"If there’s none left, I’ll bring more. Your father and I can’t take care of you, you have to take good care of yourself."

"No need, there’s still some at home."

Lin Qiao turned around to get it back, but Li Guifen held her arm, her eyes red, whispering tearfully, "Keep the silver, don’t blame your father and me, we had no choice then."

The original parents actually treated her reasonably well, but she could also understand the original’s "extremes," a rural-born girl, her husband’s family dead except for a young brother-in-law.

The village gossip was rampant by day, and restless men climbed walls at night.

Scary enough to drive someone mad.