Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 139 - 134: He’s Clumsy With Words and Doesn’t Know How to Comfort His Sister-in-Law

Chapter 139: Chapter 134: He’s Clumsy With Words and Doesn’t Know How to Comfort His Sister-in-Law

Hearing the sob in her voice, Song Tingfan wiped his tears and said anxiously, "Sister-in-law, don’t cry. I wasn’t mad at you; I’m just worried about your leg."

He was at a loss for what to do.

Then he added, trying to comfort her, "Sister-in-law, don’t cry. I’m sorry, sister-in-law, I’m sorry..."

For her family, sister-in-law’s leg had swollen up, and now he even made her cry. He felt incredibly guilty.

"Sister-in-law, hit me, hit me to let off some steam, just don’t cry, you crying... I... I..."

He was not good with words, didn’t know how to comfort his sister-in-law.

Lin Qiao glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, seeing his anxious face, and thought she had played her part well enough.

She wiped the corner of her eye, then after a while, looked up and slightly smiled to reassure him, "I’m not crying, won’t hit you, be good and go back to your room to sleep."

Before, sister-in-law used to talk with him, but today she didn’t want him to stay. Song Tingfan instinctively thought she was angry with him and said timidly, "Sister-in-law, don’t drive me away, I was wrong..." As he spoke, he kneeled to the ground, looking at her pitifully.

Lin Qiao was startled, quickly helped him up, "I’m not driving you away, it’s just late, and you have to go to school tomorrow."

"I’m not sleepy." Song Tingfan looked at her with concern, subconsciously tugging at the corner of his clothes, looking like he had done something wrong.

Lin Qiao reached out and patted his arm, "If you’re not sleepy, then I’ll chat with you for a while."

Song Tingfan was instantly delighted, nodding repeatedly, and after he sat down, Lin Qiao told him about today’s events, "Little uncle, the shopkeeper at Ruyi Cloth Shop said that if the designs I draw are good, he’ll give me two taels of silver per piece."

"Really? Sister-in-law, you’re amazing." Song Tingfan’s eyes curved with genuine admiration.

Sister-in-law is really amazing, making a lot of silver from her drawings; if not used for them, she’d surely save a lot.

The young man’s gaze was pure, evidently not deceitful, and Lin Qiao felt a sense of achievement. She thought of something and took out three whole taels of silver from the money bag, "Little uncle, we have the gift for this year. Today, the woman was unwell for the cloth shop exhibition, and the shopkeeper asked me to fill in. He gave me some silver and said he’d ask me again next time."

Hearing about the gift, Song Tingfan couldn’t help but be moved. Sister-in-law always thought about his gift, and he pursed his lips, "Sister-in-law, I don’t want to continue studying after this semester."

Studying costs silver, and he can’t help with family work.

If he went hunting every day, sister-in-law would surely have it much easier.

"Here we go again, you must study. Look, sister-in-law can earn so much silver at once, surely enough to support you all."

Taking the opportunity to say some encouraging words, Lin Qiao softly added, "I’m not afraid of hard work or hardship, as long as our family can live well together."

"After saving up for a while, we can buy a piece of land to farm, so we won’t have to buy rice in the future."

"Life will only get better and better, so just focus on studying, and if you don’t like it, after you come of age, you can stop and do what you love."

"No matter what, sister-in-law will support you."

After a long talk, she didn’t blush, instead, she seemed truly sincere.

"Sister-in-law..." Song Tingfan bit his lower lip, paused, then said, "Sister-in-law, I’m the one burdening you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qiao tapped his forehead and said sternly, "Nonsense, if you say that again, I won’t speak to you."

Song Tingfan rubbed his forehead, gave a foolish grin and said, "I won’t say it again."

The conversation in the room lasted for a while before it stopped. Song Tingfan left with the oil lamp, gently closing the wooden door behind him, then returned to his own room.

The oil lamp went out, but he didn’t sleep; he took out bamboo and started weaving.

He had secretly made quite a few recently, making sure sister-in-law didn’t find out.

...

Since that night when she "cried," the antagonist had been increasingly attentive, grabbing to do everything except eating and drawing.

The household was harmonious, but rumors started again outside, saying that Song Tingfan even helped Lin Qiao wash her inner clothes.

The neighbor Mrs. Wang Zhu heard about it and paid a kindly visit. When she arrived, Lin Qiao was pondering over designs, and hearing Lai Cai and Jinbao calling, she turned to see it was Mrs. Wang Zhu, then put down the fine charcoal, with the xuan paper placed reversed on the table.

She smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Wang."

Mrs. Wang Zhu saw her getting up and quickly motioned her to sit, "You can just stay seated."

She glanced around, "Are you alone at home? Where are Uncle Song and Aunt Song?"

Lin Qiao nodded, "They went to pull weeds in the vegetable field."

Mrs. Wang Zhu uttered an "oh," then found a stool and sat down, "Is your leg better?"

"Almost healed." Lin Qiao smiled lightly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mrs. Wang Zhu suddenly leaned in and said softly, "Madam Tingfan, the village is talking about you and Tingfan again, just because your Tingfan helped you with the washing, some people really have nothing better to do, obviously it was because your leg is not well that Tingfan helped."

Realizing she was once again the topic of village gossip, Lin Qiao sighed inwardly. This place was no different than the modern world in terms of frequently ending up on the "hot search."

She slightly lowered her head, her eyes slightly red, feeling a bit upset but said "generously," "What can you do? Let them talk; I’m used to it."

"Sister-in-law Wang, please don’t tell Little Uncle about this, he’ll be upset if he hears it."

Feeling sorry for her, Mrs. Wang Zhu sighed, and comforted her, "Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you, just wanted to remind you to be a bit more careful in the future."

Lin Qiao forced a smile that looked worse than crying, "Even if I am careful, they’ll still say something, everything I do is wrong."

"Sister-in-law Wang, why is living so hard..." After speaking, she lowered her head, her expression unreadable.

Mrs. Wang Zhu patted her back and comforted her, "Don’t overthink, let them talk if they want to, just bear it for a few more years, and when Tingfan comes of age, he’ll be the pillar of support."

"Now, just focus on getting your leg better, everything will be fine once it’s healed."

Seeing Lin Qiao too upset, she changed the topic, "Tingfan’s about to turn thirteen in a few days, are you hosting a banquet?"

In the village, there’s a custom that every boy turning thirteen has a banquet, similar to the ceremonies held in county or provincial towns when a boy comes of age.

It symbolizes that they can visit their relatives.

The village life has improved over the years, and it’s rare for boys to marry at thirteen, most wait until fifteen.

However, customs handed down from ancestors must be observed.

Lin Qiao truly didn’t know about the antagonist’s birthday, and perked up when she heard this.

Then she thought, what kind of banquet for a thirteen-year-old?

She mused for a moment, "We should hold one, but I’m not sure how."

"It’s simple, on that day, have Uncle Song and Aunt Song tie Tingfan’s hair, or you could do it, and treat it like any other day."

Mrs. Wang Zhu remembered something and whispered, "Have you made Tingfan’s red inner clothes? He needs to wear them on that day. Originally, his mother should have made them, but since they’re not here, it’s your duty now."