Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 226 - 221: Sister-in-law, How Much Betrothal Money Do You Want?

Chapter 226: Chapter 221: Sister-in-law, How Much Betrothal Money Do You Want?

At this moment, the young woman suddenly spoke up, "Grandpa Zhou, go ahead and build the road. If there’s not enough money, our family will cover it, no matter how much is needed."

Lin Qiao wasn’t just being kind-hearted; indeed, it would be more convenient if the road were built. Once completed, she planned to buy a carriage, making trips to the village and town more convenient.

Moreover, it could annoy those who didn’t contribute money to the road construction.

In the future, villagers would surely talk about this; she wondered just how thick-skinned those people could be.

Zhou Ping was stunned, "Madam Tingfan, we need to make up nearly five to six taels of silver."

"Five to six taels?" Lin Qiao pondered briefly before replying, "The money from running the shop these days should just cover it."

The shop had been open for more than a month. Five to six taels of silver wasn’t much, but for villagers who lived off farming, it was quite a bit.

Everyone’s thoughts were varied for a moment.

"Don’t put it all in; you have a whole family to support. Just contribute one tael, and I’ll find a way for the rest," Zhou Ping thought of the situation in Song’s second family and didn’t agree to it.

What could five or six taels of silver do? For the elderly, getting medicine could easily cost a tael.

Besides, the money for Song Tingfan to study in private school wasn’t cheap. I heard from his grandson’s wife that it was borrowed.

This was what Mrs. Xue asked Lin Qiao, and Lin Qiao, afraid of arousing suspicion, said it was borrowed.

Lin Qiao, with a look of consideration for the village, said, "It’s okay, let’s use it to build the road first. It’s easier to walk once the road is built, and it will be convenient to send vegetables and grains out to sell."

Even a woman could understand this, yet some men were stingy about that one tael of silver. Zhou Ping felt complicated, "Your intention is already very good."

Later on, those households who didn’t contribute to the road construction money would struggle to carry their grains to the village entrance.

"Village chief, let my family contribute a bit more; we’ll give five taels of silver," said Old Man Fan from the Landlord Fan family.

Then one or two other families also said they would give more, but only half a tael.

Zhou Ping calculated, and with Lin Qiao insisting on contributing five taels of silver, they already had twenty-eight taels, which should suffice for the village’s road construction.

When writing down names, Lin Qiao mentioned Song Tingfan’s name.

Song Tingfan wanted to say something, but his sister-in-law pulled him aside.

After leaving the village chief’s house, Lin Qiao talked to Song Tingfan as they walked, "Little uncle, be more assertive in the future, you’re the head of the household."

Fearing Song Tingfan’s self-esteem might be hurt, she paused and explained, "I’m managing things for you now, but once you’re capable, everything in the family will be handed over to you."

She laughed, "At that time, I’ll be lazy and just want to be idle. Little uncle, don’t call me lazy!"

"I won’t," Song Tingfan shook his head without thinking.

He wished his sister-in-law could idle every day in the future.

"Then I’ll remember, if you say it, I’ll scold you as a little liar," Lin Qiao blinked.

Originally joking, she didn’t expect Song Tingfan to nod seriously, "Alright."

He was determined to find lots of silver.

Lin Qiao feared he would take it seriously and feel pressured, "I’m joking with you, there’s no need to mind me. Just manage yourself well."

It turned out she was joking with him, and Song Tingfan felt a bit uneasy, looking down at his toes, "I want to manage."

"Alright, alright, manage if you want," Lin Qiao didn’t take this statement to heart.

The news that Song’s second family contributed five taels of silver to repair the road spread across the village within a few hours. There were those who envied and those who were jealous, but more were curious about how to connect and learn to make money.

Three or five women came to Lin Qiao’s home for a chat, and with a few words, Lin Qiao managed to send them away.

She had just sat down to watch Song Tingfan write when another woman came over.

It was the daughter-in-law from the Zhang Family’s large household in the west of the village, known for being particularly greedy. She carried a half-basket of vegetables, "Madam Tingfan, busy?"

"Yes, I’m quite busy," Lin Qiao’s words clearly indicated she didn’t want to entertain her.

The Zhang family’s daughter-in-law pretended not to understand and walked in, "How are Uncle Song and Aunt Song? Hopefully, they didn’t get sick from anger."

"Alas, Song Ming is really something; he can do anything, lucky you’re alright, though."

Since she came in carrying vegetables, Lin Qiao couldn’t just kick her out, so she gave her a chair to sit on.

The Zhang family’s daughter-in-law had been surveying the Song’s second family’s courtyard since she entered. It was newly renovated like a new house, and the courtyard was larger than two of her rooms.

Then she smiled at Lin Qiao, "I came to tell you some good news today."

Lin Qiao didn’t believe it was good news. If it were truly good news, she doubted they would think of her, as it would be like the sun rising from the west.

"What’s the matter?"

"You know, my eldest daughter, she’s as old as Tingfan, just a perfect match," the Zhang family’s daughter-in-law looked at Song Tingfan with the eyes of a mother-in-law sizing up a son-in-law.

Lin Qiao: "..."

A perfect match?

Probably not.

She had met the eldest daughter. Although the older generation said she was blessed, Lin Qiao didn’t want that kind of blessing.

Not to mention being dark and chubby, the key issue was that she liked to eat and wouldn’t work.

No amount of wealth could withstand such squandering.

Seeing Lin Qiao silent, the Zhang family’s daughter-in-law pushed further, "Isn’t it good news?"

Song Tingfan pursed his lips but said nothing, glancing at Lin Qiao, and at the same time, his hand tightly held the brush.

"Auntie, our Tingfan is still young; we’re not discussing these matters now," Lin Qiao declined rather politely.

"Aiya, he’s not that young. At his age, he could have children already."

"..."

"We aren’t asking for much dowry, just ten taels of silver."

"..."

Lin Qiao almost laughed out of anger. If she were really to find a wife for Song Tingfan, not to mention ten taels of silver, she wouldn’t blink at one hundred taels.

But it was clear that the Zhang family was eyeing their money.

She smiled insincerely, "That won’t do; ten taels of silver is too much. Why would marrying a wife cost so much?"

"Then how much would you say?" the Zhang family’s daughter-in-law thought anything less couldn’t be below five taels of silver.

Lin Qiao seriously thought for a moment, "Not a cent, how about ten cents? The dowry is a bit low, but all the household’s belongings will be theirs in the future."

"I don’t mind telling you frankly, right now I still owe over ten taels of silver outside, Tingfan and the others might need to repay it in the future."

The Zhang family’s daughter-in-law’s face suddenly changed, "What do you mean! I’m sincerely proposing, and you brush me off with ten cents!"

"Auntie, don’t be mad. The fact is I can’t afford it. Once they’re married, I’ll pay you back after they’ve repaid the silver," Lin Qiao spoke earnestly, making it hard to tell if she was sincere or just brushing it off.

Spitting, making it up? Who knows when they’ll repay the silver!

The Zhang family’s daughter-in-law looked unsightly, looked at Song Tingfan angrily, "I see he won’t have a wife in his lifetime!" then left with the vegetables.

Lin Qiao secretly raised her eyebrows, hmph, with her around, Song Tingfan not being able to get a wife?

She’d throw money around to get him a wife.

If the villains wanted to, she could even throw money around for several wives.

With a sidelong glance, she unintentionally met Song Tingfan’s eyes and hurriedly reassured him, "Little uncle, don’t listen to her. For your marriage, it doesn’t matter if it’s ten taels or a hundred taels, sister-in-law will provide it. That girl isn’t right for you, too lazy."

Song Tingfan bit his lip, a flash of apprehension and expectation in his eyes, "How many does sister-in-law want?"

He wouldn’t marry anyone else; he only wanted to marry his sister-in-law.