Chapter 253: Chapter 248:

Lin Qiao was caught off guard when he suddenly leaned in, and she took a step back in surprise, pressing her back against the cabinet. "Ahem, having a closer look, I can recognize you now." She finished speaking and feigned casualness as she circled around him and returned to the stove to tidy up.

The changed demeanor of the antagonist made her feel a bit at a loss.

In the past, she would have leaned in close with a teasing smile.

Alas, it’s not as easy to tease the antagonist anymore.

Song Tingfan glanced at the crumpled corner of his clothes he just pinched and lightly patted it twice before returning to sit by the stove.

In the main room, Song Qin stood at the doorway, peeking into the kitchen. Her face wrinkled into a smile, and she turned to Mrs. Fan saying, "I finally feel at ease."

"Indeed." Mrs. Fan had some understanding of Song Qin and her family’s thoughts; this family was kind-hearted, regardless of gender or age.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have the intention of letting the younger brother marry the widowed sister-in-law.

She’s not saying Lin Qiao is bad, but many families find it hard to accept a widowed sister-in-law.

However, the family’s current well-being owes much to Lin Qiao.

...

The next day, after 5 a.m. to 7 a.m, Lin Qiao got up, recalling that there wasn’t much water left in the jar yesterday. She changed into some cloth clothes, tied her hair up, and headed to the kitchen.

The once empty water jar was now full.

The firewood at the stove’s entrance was also piled high.

There’s no need to ask to know who did it.

Indeed, people often say a family has a backbone when they have a man.

Ahem, when the man does all the work, how could the backbone not be strong?

She turned and left the kitchen, preparing to take clothes to the river for washing, and noticed Song Tingfan’s room was slightly ajar. "Little uncle?"

Earlier in the morning, Song Tingfan had fetched water and chopped firewood in the mountains. He was sweaty all over, so he was wiping down with a bucket of cold water inside. Hearing her voice, he was momentarily stunned before saying not to come in, but the door creaked open.

His reaction was quick too, grabbing the clothes nearby to cover his lower half as he looked up to see the woman’s pretty face.

Even after three years of being a rough man, his ears turned red at this moment.

The sight of his solid chest glistening with water droplets left Lin Qiao frozen on the spot before she quickly retreated, hastily explaining, "I thought you weren’t in, I was just going to take clothes to wash." Saying so, she quickly pulled the door shut.

She briskly left the doorway, returned to her room, couldn’t help but smack her left hand with her right, and mumbled regretfully, "Why did you push?"

She truly didn’t mean it, thinking no one was there, and certainly not expecting him to be washing up.

This was the kid who used to make sure to close the door even when changing shoes.

But to be honest, ahem, the antagonist’s waistline is quite something...

Solid.

The kids are grown up enough for marriage.

...

Lin Qiao had just collected the family’s laundry into the basket when Song Tingfan came out, wearing some years-old clothes that obviously were a bit small, but still wearable.

She feigned naturalness, saying, "Little uncle, give me your clothes, I’ll wash them."

Song Tingfan tossed the clothes into the basket and then slung it over his shoulder, "Let’s go together."

"No need, there aren’t many clothes; I’ll be done washing very soon." Lin Qiao didn’t feel like being around him for the moment, or else she’d be tempted to sneak peeks at his chest.

Song Tingfan thought she was embarrassed about earlier and explained, "I have nothing to do at home; grandma and the others have gone to the fields."

Hearing this, Lin Qiao said no more, and the two headed to the riverside one after the other.

The village’s riverside was always crowded in the morning, especially as the weather was a bit cooler now.

Upon seeing them, people glanced repeatedly, marveling at how Song Tingfan had grown so tall.

But then again, his father and grandfather were also tall and strong in their youth.

Lin Qiao was about to squat down to wash clothes when Song Tingfan had already done so, efficiently rolling up his sleeves, rummaging through the basket to pull out her clothes for washing.

She was a bit taken aback and quickly said, "Little uncle, let me wash; you can just help carry them back later."

She wasn’t worried about him washing anything inappropriate since she mostly did the underclothes at home.

"You can sit aside for a while, I’ll be done soon." Song Tingfan said no more, taking the soap to wash clothes.

People weren’t surprised; after all, Song Tingfan used to help with the laundry at home as well.

Though some were envious.

Lin Qiao had it good, with her little uncle doing the laundry for her.

The women, their tongues never idle, couldn’t help but chime in with a woman speaking in a helpful tone to Lin Qiao, "Widow Song, Tingfan is so grown up, yet you have him doing laundry; it’s not going to be easy finding him a wife if word gets out."

"No need to worry, auntie. I’ve saved enough money for my little uncle’s marriage." Lin Qiao said this deliberately so they could "help" spread the word that Song Tingfan was looking for a match.

This might work better than hiring a matchmaker to spread the word.

"It’s not just about saving money..." The woman didn’t finish before another curious woman asked, "Madam Tingfan, how much have you saved up for the marriage?"

The other women were all ears. Who didn’t know that Song’s second family had earned some money in recent years, enough to replace all the tiles in their yard?

Tiles are expensive at five cents apiece, and a whole yard probably cost several taels of silver.

Lin Qiao smiled, "Ten or so taels should be no problem. If it’s a good girl, adding a bit more wouldn’t be an issue either."

"Wow, that much? Widow Song, don’t joke with us, huh?"

"How could I joke about this? It’s not something to joke about."

Lin Qiao’s words had all the women by the river calculating in their minds.

Understanding Lin Qiao’s intention, Song Tingfan pursed his lips into a straight line.

With one person passing the word to ten, and ten to a hundred, it wasn’t long before the whole village knew, and some grateful families came knocking to inquire. Lin Qiao gave them an affirmative response, saying she was indeed looking.

From the first woman who entered the house, Song Tingfan’s expression had darkened, and eventually, he took his bow and arrows to the mountains.

Watching him walk away, Song Qin and Song Rong exchanged a glance, signaling what to do?

Song Rong shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.

This matter was delicate; if Lin Qiao didn’t feel anything for Niu Niu, they couldn’t force her, even if they wanted to.

Song Qin sighed internally.

Some families didn’t want to discuss it directly with Lin Qiao, so they went around asking Li Guifen.

Li Guifen had been contemplating how to bring up marriage with Song Tingfan, only to hear that Lin Qiao was finding someone for him. She didn’t even have time for a drink of water before rushing to Song’s second family.

Just in time to see Lin Qiao speaking with a village woman. Anger surged within her, and she dragged Lin Qiao inside, shut the door, and furiously scolded, "Are you out of your mind, girl? You’re matchmaking for Tingfan, what about yourself! Are you really planning to become an old nun?"

Lin Qiao: "..."

"Mom, don’t be angry, let me explain. This won’t work out, but don’t worry, after sorting out little uncle’s marriage, I’ll look for myself as well, really."

"Really, my foot. Now it’s about you looking, get it? Huh? Your dad and I only fancy Tingfan; he’s wonderful—responsible, hardworking, and doing well in the military camp, earning thirty taels a month."

Li Guifen wasn’t just attracted to Song Tingfan’s salary; she simply wanted to show her daughter that he had the means to support the entire family.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com