Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 138 - 133: Oh No, I Made the Villain Cry

Mr. Li looked at the woman sitting on stage and whispered, "For the last style, the Li family has ordered two hundred pieces, and the others, fifty each."

The Shopkeeper instantly felt delighted and quickly called over the waiter holding the pen and ink to record it for Mr. Li.

Afterwards, several other families placed orders, while other merchants continued to observe.

As the exhibition was about to end, suddenly someone in the audience called out, "Shopkeeper, have the young lady at the front stand up and turn around; I’d like to see the hem of the skirt."

The Shopkeeper hesitated momentarily and was about to say something when Lin Qiao stood up and signaled the waiter to remove the stool.

After the stool was removed, she gently cushioned her leg under the skirt with her hand to reduce the weight, then slowly raised both hands above her head and began to turn delicately, her movements light and graceful.

The layered skirt gently spread out, resembling a blooming flower.

Remember, she is a versatile performer, not to say proficient in dance, but capable nevertheless.

The women behind her who wanted to see the "show" were clearly envious, regretting not having been like Zhu’er; they wouldn’t have been overshadowed by this unexpected presence.

Lin Qiao spun a few times and then stopped, bowing to the audience before receiving the Shopkeeper’s signal and stepping down in turn.

Chun Niang supported her as she descended, smiling broadly, "Excellent, have you ever learned dance?"

Ordinary families wouldn’t, but Lin Qiao shyly shook her head, "No, I’ve seen others turn before, luckily I didn’t embarrass myself, but I was terrified just now."

Seeing her somewhat uneasy expression, Chun Niang did not doubt her words and complimented her with a smile, "You spun very well; if you’d like to learn, I can teach you."

"I would like to, just that there are too many chores at home," Lin Qiao tactfully declined, as there were three mouths at home waiting for her support.

Chun Niang recalled what kind of clothes she had worn earlier and thought her family’s conditions were not good, "Our Ruyi Shop has an exhibition every month; taking half an hour like you did wouldn’t yield two taels of silver, but it would be one tael."

"If you are willing to come, I’ll call you next time."

She smiled, whispering, "I usually don’t offer this to others."

Walking half an hour to earn one tael of silver, anyone smart would agree, Lin Qiao was delighted, "Really?"

Unexpectedly, she had found a place where her old skills could be utilized.

"Sure, I’ll have someone fetch you when the time comes." Chun Niang was very pleased with her appearance, knowing that with such looks, any garment would look good.

After a while, the Shopkeeper came over and had the accountant settle three taels of silver for her, kindly saying, "Little lady, thank you for today. Take the extra tael for your leg."

Lin Qiao pretended to refuse, embarrassed, "Shopkeeper, no need."

Having helped and refusing to accept money, the Shopkeeper grew fonder of her, insisting, "This is rightfully yours, take it, and work on the patterns soon."

Lin Qiao glanced at the Boss, who smiled, "If the Shopkeeper gives it to you, accept it."

These people weren’t lacking money; a few taels of silver were akin to a few cents.

Lin Qiao hesitated before accepting, thanking the Shopkeeper, "Thank you, I will work on the patterns soon."

After exchanging a few words, she and the Boss rode away in the carriage.

Inside, Chun Niang smiled and shared with the Shopkeeper, "The young lady is truly honest; she doesn’t covet the three taels of silver; others would’ve taken it long ago."

"Indeed, she helped greatly today; the outfit she wore received orders for a thousand pieces." The Shopkeeper couldn’t stop grinning; usually, they wouldn’t exceed five hundred, yet this time it doubled.

"That many?"

"Yes, the young lady’s looks give her an advantage."

...

The exhibition took a bit longer than expected, and it was dark by the time they returned to town. The Boss offered her a place to stay overnight, but Lin Qiao declined, fearing Song Tingfan and the others would worry if she didn’t return tonight.

The Boss had someone send her back, by which time it was quite late, with almost no houses in the village having lights on.

The carriage stopped in front of Song’s second family’s house, and as Lin Qiao was about to step out, she heard the coachman say, "Tingfan, you’re waiting for your sister-in-law?"

Lin Qiao quickly lifted the curtain and, by the candlelight near the coachman, saw a boy standing at the door staring at her, looking stubborn and upset.

Pitiful.

She tentatively called, "Little Uncle."

Seeing no response from him, she thought this was it; the antagonist was mad.

Needs placating.

The coachman, unaware of the situation, said cheerfully, "I’ll be off then."

"Uncle, it’s late, stay the night." Lin Qiao tried to hold him back.

The coachman waved his hand, "No worries, I travel by night often, off I go." Saying this, he drove the carriage and turned around.

Only when the carriage was out of sight did Lin Qiao turn around, and with the darkness, she couldn’t see Song Tingfan anymore. She reached toward his approximate direction and just managed to grab his arm, coaxing, "Little Uncle, let’s go home."

Song Tingfan pursed his lips and followed her into the courtyard, closing the door behind them.

Then Song Qin and Song Rong came in carrying bowls and chopsticks of food into the main room.

Song Qin said with concern, "Qiao’er, you must be hungry, come eat."

"Alright." Lin Qiao wanted to help scoop rice, but just as she raised her hand, Song Tingfan had already reached to do it.

She glanced at him; his lips were tightly pressed, seemingly unhappy.

She awkwardly touched her nose.

The four ate in silence; as Lin Qiao entered her room, Song Tingfan followed with an oil lamp.

He mumbled, "Sister-in-law, I’ll help you apply the medicine."

He wanted to check the sister-in-law’s leg, see if it was swollen?

Lin Qiao knew without looking her leg was swollen. Cough, she dared not let him see it, as the child was already upset; after seeing it, he might get more upset, "I’ll apply it myself, Little Uncle, you should go to bed early; you have school tomorrow."

Song Tingfan stood, unmoving, staring at her for a while before Lin Qiao eventually relented.

After rolling up her trousers, the leg was evidently swollen, the scarred area cracked with faint traces of blood. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Song Tingfan’s lips tightened further as he knelt to apply the medicine, his movements gentle.

The room remained quiet, the candlelight flickering, casting shadows that danced in the light.

Suddenly, something gentle fell on her leg; Lin Qiao looked at Song Tingfan, his head bowed, and couldn’t discern his expression, "Little Uncle, are you crying?"

After a while, Song Tingfan spoke vulnerably, "Sister-in-law, you lied."

Lin Qiao was momentarily startled, and then he continued, "You promised me you wouldn’t go, but the moment I went to study, you left; you tricked me..."

"The doctor said you need to rest your leg properly; if not, it could get severe."

Lowering his head and wiping tears, he finally appeared as the twelve-year-old child he was.

Uh-oh, she made the antagonist cry.

Lin Qiao reached up to pat his head, "I’m sorry, sister-in-law just..."

She paused momentarily, her voice a bit hoarse, "Just wanted to earn more silver."

"I’m sorry, Little Uncle, I didn’t mean to trick you; I won’t do it again." Saying this, she bowed her head, choking up.

Cough, he cried, and she cried too.