Lin Qiao looked at him and couldn't help but sigh; this antagonist was so obedient it was like he was her "own son."
But when he's an antagonist, he's quite ruthless.
It's probably just polar opposites.
She rolled her eyes a bit, showcasing her acting skills, putting on a gentle sister-in-law demeanor, "Uncle, do you want a drink? I'll go fetch it."
Before he could say anything, she started walking toward the kitchen, but after just one or two steps, Mrs. Lin Wu, who had just entered the courtyard, called her back urgently, "Sister-in-law, no need to help, just sit outside and relax."
Thinking of going to the kitchen to get food again.
She'll empty out her family's home.
Seeing her guarded yet dissatisfied expression, Lin Qiao immediately understood. She stopped in her tracks and then took a few steps back, "Alright."
She looked at Song Tingfan and whispered, "Uncle, let's wait until we get home to drink, okay?"
Warm air brushed against his cheeks, and Song Tingfan's face got a bit hot; he stammered, "Sister-in-law, I'm not thirsty."
He observed her closely, then glanced at Mrs. Lin Wu, pursing his lips before looking at Lin Qiao again.
He added, "Second sister-in-law, sister-in-law just wanted to fetch me some water."
Though his voice was soft, his tone was heavy, with a hint of protectiveness.
Hearing the explanation, Mrs. Lin Wu was taken aback, looking slightly embarrassed, "I'll fetch it for you."
Lin Shan knew exactly what his wife was thinking and felt a bit unhappy. No matter what, little sister is still family.
Li Guifen, who was in the kitchen, also heard this, and her eyes turned a bit red. She quickly said in a loud voice, "Do you need your sister-in-law to serve you a cup of water? You're not a guest, get it yourself."
With this, she intended to remind her two daughters-in-law that no matter what, Lin Qiao is still a daughter of the Lin Family, and the Lin Family won't disregard her.
After drinking some water, Lin Qiao sat in the courtyard facing the doorway; there was a breeze, making it comfortable.
Song Tingfan sat beside her.
Lin Xushi and Mrs. Lin Wu, who were washing vegetables, found it a bit strange that it was the first time their sister-in-law behaved so quietly since returning home.
The two exchanged a glance, thinking something might be amiss, that some trouble might arise soon.
However, Lin Qiao did nothing, not even taking the vegetables pressed by her mother-in-law, only asking for some rice.
Li Guifen had tried hard to give her vegetables, but the daughter refused, almost bringing tears to her eyes. She chased them to the doorway, "Take it, if you don't eat it, it'll be wasted."
"We have vegetables at home, uncle and I have enough to eat." Lin Qiao didn't want to disrupt the relations of the Lin Family people, estimating that taking them would make Lin Xushi and Mrs. Lin Wu unhappy, which might certainly harm the Lin Family's harmony.
Then she instinctively tugged at Song Tingfan, saying, "We're leaving now, you should head back."
Song Tingfan instinctively glanced around, unnaturally stiffened his body, and walked with her.
After walking a dozen steps, Lin Qiao noticed he was struggling a bit. She turned to look, "What's the matter..."
Before she could finish, she accidentally stepped on a stone, stumbling.
Song Tingfan quickly reached out to catch her, and two muffled sounds echoed.
Lin Qiao's forehead hit his nose bridge; she rubbed her forehead, "Uncle, are you okay?"
Song Tingfan's face was flushed right now, realizing he was holding his sister-in-law's waist.
He's already twelve, understanding some matters between men and women.
He quickly withdrew his hand in a flustered manner, "Sister-in-law, I'm fine."
His head lowered.
Lin Qiao didn't notice his odd behavior, pulling him along again, "Uncle, be careful."
Instinctively, she treated him as "her son."
And was preparing to groom the antagonist into a good son.
So that in the future, he'd be there for her in her old age.
But later on, the care in old age took a different twist…
...
Song Family, Kitchen
Lin Qiao saw the rabbit meat hanging above the stove; she fetched water to wash the pot, "Uncle, aren't you selling the rabbit meat?"
Song Tingfan, somewhat embarrassed from earlier, lowered his head while feeding the fire, "No, not selling."
Lin Qiao let out an "oh," quickly suggesting, "Then smoke it dry to store it longer." Saying this, she moved to his side to take the rabbit meat, salting it, and hung it back up above the stove.
Afterward, the kitchen fell a bit silent, with the sound of burning firewood clearly audible.
Lin Qiao felt the need to say something, to bridge her and Song Tingfan's relationship as sister-in-law and uncle, feigning curiosity, "Uncle, is hunting easy?"
"Easy in summer, tough in winter." Song Tingfan used the tongs to tend to the stove.
Lin Qiao pulled up a stool next to him, "Uncle, going hunting tomorrow?"
The woman's face appeared rosy under the firelight, her eyes sparkling; Song Tingfan glanced quickly, retracting his gaze, and said softly, "Yes, have to go, catch more, exchange for money for winter."
In Xingyu Village, it snows heavily every winter, making it hard to leave the village, inconvenient to buy things, so preparations for winter are usually made a month or two in advance.
"Still going with uncle?"
"Uncle has a banquet tomorrow, I'm going alone."
Hearing he'd be going alone, Lin Qiao suddenly got alert. This summer, when Song Tingfan had gone hunting alone on the mountain, his hand had been broken, and she hadn't been willing to spend money treating him. Later though his hand healed, it became deformed, unable to exert much strength.
This was probably the second event that altered his state of mind.
"Uncle, better not go tomorrow; if going, we'll go together."
"The mountain road is tough." Song Tingfan shook his head, signaling that she shouldn't join.
Lin Qiao tilted her head with a smile, "Uncle, it's settled then."
...
Slightly past the Hour of the Hare the next day, when Lin Qiao got up, Song Tingfan was already out, and she felt a bad hunch, definitely off hunting on the mountain.
She hurriedly gave chase towards the mountain's rear but, unfamiliar with the area, encountered an uncle descending the mountain, "Uncle, have you seen my Tingfan?"
"Your Tingfan? Saw him head into the mountain's rear earlier."
The uncle's expression bore a hint of blame, adding, "It's not for me to say, but why let a child go into the mountain alone? Song Family only has him now; if something happens, will your conscience be clear?"
Lin Qiao, running out of time to argue, hurried deeper into the mountain, shouting as she went, "Song Tingfan!"
"Song Tingfan!"
"Song Tingfan!"
The back mountain was vast. Having ventured quite a way in, she still hadn't spotted Song Tingfan, growing somewhat worried, praying that today wouldn't be the day he broke his hand.
She raised her voice, "Song Tingfan!"
"Sister-in-law."
Suddenly, someone replied, soon adding, "Sister-in-law, be careful, there's a pitfall."
Lin Qiao inspected closely, spotting a pitfall not far away, and dashed over to see Song Tingfan below standing, without apparent injury.
"Uncle, are you alright? Any injuries? How's your hand? No problems?"
Her barrage of questions left Song Tingfan momentarily stunned, obediently shaking his head, "Sister-in-law, I'm fine."
"Uncle, why didn't you listen? I said we'd go together."
After a gentle scolding, Lin Qiao sighed in mild relief, saying, "I'll go call for help, don't be scared, I'll be back soon."
Despite being only twelve, after falling into the pitfall, Song Tingfan tried climbing out several times, and failing to do so, was struck by panic and helplessness.
If no one ventured into this deep mountain, would he die here?
Wouldn't sister-in-law come looking for him?
He was wrong, sister-in-law came looking for him.
His heart seemed to feel a warmth wrapping around it, raising his head, he called out, "Sister-in-law."