Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce

Chapter 394: Chapter 385: The Scrawled Handwriting Is Completely Inherited from His Father

With that push, his hair got all disheveled, and Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh as she said, "Alright, go wash your hands and get the bowl."

Lin Ling obediently washed his hands and quickly came back with the bowl. Li Guifen, feeling sorry for him, wanted to help, but he quickly shook his head, "Grandma, don’t help me, I’m a man, and men should do more things."

Li Guifen laughed, "You’re still young. Wait until you grow up."

"I’m not that young. Mom said if you don’t work, you won’t find a wife," Lin Ling said earnestly, his young face looking like a little adult.

Li Guifen turned to look at Lin Qiao, as if asking, what are you teaching him?

Lin Qiao gave a sheepish smile. One day, she heard a woman in the village scolding her husband, saying, "Lazy as you are, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have found a wife!"

Lin Ling happened to overhear it. Curious, he asked her about it, and she casually replied, "If you don’t work, you won’t find a wife. Ling’er, you need to be more diligent."

"Ahem, alright, quickly take it out and help Grandma scoop out the porridge to let it cool down."

"Okay." Lin Ling, holding the bowl, carefully headed to the main room.

Once he was out of sight, Li Guifen gave Lin Qiao a playful glance, "Don’t say those things in front of the child, you know the Ma family’s grandson, right? His mom is vulgar all day long, and the kid’s learned it well, going around teasing the girls. Last time, when I walked by, he even said to me, ’Aunt Lin, your butt... so big.’ And I was so embarrassed."

Thinking of the scene, Lin Qiao: "..."

She couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, holding a spatula, "Didn’t mom give him a good scolding?"

"Told your dad at home, and your dad hit him a few times. The Ma family even came to make a fuss, but your dad chased them away with a hoe."

Li Guifen seriously added, "It’s funny to hear, but if it happens to you, you won’t be laughing. Daughter, be mindful, Ling’er is at an age where he learns easily."

"Don’t worry. If Ling’er dares to behave like that, I’ll smack his mouth," Lin Qiao, though indulgent with her child, wouldn’t let him off easily on matters of principle.

Talking about hitting the grandson, Li Guifen wasn’t pleased, "Just talk to him; don’t raise your hand. Your dad and I raised you without hitting you."

"Alright, alright."

Lin Qiao picked out some buns from the steamer, just about to take them out of the kitchen when she saw Song Tingfan, dressed in black, coming in, "There’s hot water in the basin, go wash your face."

Li Guifen glanced at the two of them, took the tray from Lin Qiao’s hand, "I’ll take it out," and then left, leaving the two of them in the kitchen.

She had discussed with her husband about letting their daughter handle her matters, not always interfering.

Sigh, children have their own fortunes.

Song Tingfan tried to push up his sleeves, but they fell back down again. Seeing this, Lin Qiao helped him roll them up, "Let’s buy a few sets of clothes later, black absorbs heat."

His gaze fell from his sleeves to her face. Her downcast eyes were exquisite, her red lips faintly visible. He glanced at the other sleeve, subtly shook it a couple of times, and it came loose at once.

"This side came loose too."

Lin Qiao was just focused on rolling up his sleeves and didn’t notice his actions. Even if she did, she wouldn’t overthink it, deftly rolling it up again for him.

She then wiped her hands and went to get the chopsticks, when the man’s deep voice came, "It’s loose again."

Hearing this, she looked over. The sleeve she had just rolled up had fallen down again. She put down the chopsticks and rolled it up for him again, ensuring it was secure before letting him wash.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she spotted a child peeking around the door. She cringed. The village people had gossiping down to a fine art. She walked over and tapped him on the head, "What are you staring at? Hurry up and eat so you can go to school. You need to practice your handwriting properly. It’s worse than your dad’s chicken scratch from back then..."

"Ahem, practice well, take the chopsticks out."

Now later on, she realized that Lin Ling’s chicken scratch handwriting was wholly inherited from his dad, even surpassing it.

Lin Ling took the chopsticks, eyes wide open with curiosity, "Dad, is your handwriting really ugly too?"

Song Tingfan paused for a moment, "Not ugly."

"Then when I come back, teach me to write. Mom scolds me every time she teaches me, saying I’m as dumb as a pig," Lin Ling said, aggrieved.

Lin Qiao: "..."

Is this child finding an ally to complain to?

Indeed, she had scolded him. It’s not that she shouldn’t have, but raising Lin Ling could drive her to jump up in anger, honestly. Before, when she heard such talk, she thought it was an exaggeration, but experiencing it herself now?

Song Tingfan glanced at her and finally nodded in agreement, "If you’re dumb, study hard."

Lin Ling was stunned, his little face full of disbelief, "..."

Lin Qiao was also surprised, not expecting him to say that, "..."

The father and son were truly one-of-a-kind.

For a mere mortal like her, it’s time to leave.

After leaving the kitchen, she heard the child’s angry voice within a few steps, "I’m never talking to you again."

Soon after, she saw the small child storming into the main room.

"Grandma, Dad’s mean, he called me dumb; I’m not dumb! The teacher praised me for being smart. Grandma, you should scold him. Scold him, he wouldn’t dare scold you, or he’d be terrible."

Lin Qiao: "..."

She went in, saw Lin Ling clutching Song Qin’s hand, "Don’t bother your grandma. Just talk; your dad didn’t say anything wrong. You should practice your handwriting. If you don’t want to be scolded, write well."

"Mom, you like Dad more than me!" Lin Ling pouted, looking very aggrieved.

"If you’re late again today, the stick by the door will be waiting for you."

As soon as Lin Qiao said this, Lin Ling scrambled onto the table, grabbed a bun, and started eating.

Everyone burst into laughter.

...

After breakfast, Song Tingfan mentioned getting married on the third day of the month, leaving Li Guifen and Lin Han momentarily stunned, turning to look at Lin Qiao.

Lin Qiao didn’t show any reluctance, just nodded in agreement, "I forgot to mention it earlier."

Li Guifen and Lin Han were a bit dazed, exchanging glances. How did their daughter end up living with Tingfan?

Li Guifen stared at their daughter, not seeing any reluctance before she smiled, "Alright then. It’s fine with us. But the third of the month is soon. Isn’t it a bit rushed? We haven’t prepared anything."

"No need to prepare, it’s just a formality." Lin Qiao shook her head.

"You, aren’t you just saying nonsense, even if you’ve already celebrated with Tingfan, you shouldn’t be careless with it."

Li Guifen thought if it weren’t for the rush, she’d definitely call the villagers for a banquet, seeing her daughter isn’t running off with another man! 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Song Qin was naturally happy, "Yes, yes, yes, Niu Niu is doing well now, let’s make it a proper celebration."

"Later, I’ll buy more firecrackers. Set them off during the wedding, make it lively," Lin Han said earnestly.

Lin Qiao: "..."

She wanted to chime in, but the three adults weren’t giving her a chance to speak, each saying their own piece, as if it were the first time they were marrying off a son or daughter.