Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 264 - 259: The Villain Matches Her With a Suitor
Lin Qiao responded with an "Oh," and then worriedly advised, "Don’t confront him head-on. He’ll do anything."
In her heart, she thought it was Niu Er bullying Song Tingfan.
"Okay," Song Tingfan nodded.
Poor Niu Er was blamed unfairly. After a while, he arrived at the shop and saw Song Tingfan there, glaring at him with annoyance, "Widow Song, your brother-in-law hit me!"
"Serves you right," Lin Qiao retorted without a care.
Niu Er choked on his words, "Widow Song, that brat’s just spoiled by you. Keep spoiling him, and he’ll definitely hit you next."
He was always unreliable, and Lin Qiao gave him a stern look, "It’s none of your business, I’ve told you not to come!"
"You’re all gentle with everyone but so mean to me, aren’t you afraid no one will marry you?"
Niu Er snorted and sat down on a stool, getting straight to the point, "Widow Song, I’ll marry you. Will you do it or not?"
Lin Qiao showed no shyness, "No."
"I haven’t even mentioned the bride price, and you’re saying no?" Niu Er gestured a cross and said, "Ten taels of silver."
"Even if it’s a thousand taels, not possible." Lin Qiao pointed towards the door for him to leave.
Niu Er stared at the fierce woman, thinking she looked good even when mad.
He carelessly said, "I don’t even have a thousand taels! You’re ruthless, but if you think ten is too little, I’ll add another five taels!"
He wasn’t joking—he really could gather that much money. His father said he could have twenty taels to get married.
Li Guifen noticed the crowd gathering and quickly scolded Niu Er, "What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t ruin my daughter’s reputation!" As she spoke, she glanced at Song Tingfan, worried he might think her daughter and Niu Er were involved.
Upon hearing this, Niu Er glared at those around, "Look all you want, but you’ll never have enough, so get moving if you’re not buying noodles. Don’t covet my wife; she’s mine! We’re just a step away from being married!"
He intentionally spouted nonsense, ensuring only he could marry her.
Upon hearing the last sentence, Song Tingfan’s expression grew more grim, his gaze unfriendly.
When Niu Er saw Song Tingfan coming towards him, he instinctively stood up and ran out of the shop, justifying loudly, "Anyway, I want to marry your sister-in-law. Even if I’m dead, I want to marry her." Then he ran off.
His words in public ruined the girl’s reputation, and Li Guifen was furious, grabbing a broom near the door to throw at him, "Niu Er, you scoundrel!"
Seeing her wanting to chase after him, Lin Qiao quickly held her back, "Don’t chase him, what’s the point of getting angry? The angrier you get, the more he enjoys it."
"How can I not be angry! After what he said, who would dare to marry you?" Li Guifen glanced at Song Tingfan.
"If someone truly wants to marry me, they will, no matter what." Lin Qiao didn’t notice her gaze and went out to retrieve the broom.
Niu Er’s antics indeed angered Li Guifen. Even when closing the shop in the afternoon, she was still cursing him, "Scoundrel, shameless."
Lin Qiao escorted her to the edge of town, consoling, "What’s to be mad about, it’s not worth it."
"What if Tingfan misunderstands?" Li Guifen blurted out her thoughts without thinking.
But Lin Qiao didn’t overthink, assuming she was concerned Song Tingfan might believe she compromised Song’s second family’s reputation, "He won’t think that. The little uncle wouldn’t. I’ll explain a bit to him later."
"Make sure to explain clearly so he doesn’t misunderstand. That damn Niu Er, I’ll make your dad teach him a lesson when I get home."
Seeing the donkey cart approaching, Li Guifen waved at her, then got on, "Go back, I’ve bought you groceries, remember to cook them. I’ll check on you tomorrow. If you haven’t eaten, I’ll beat you."
Lin Qiao chuckled, "Okay."
Once the donkey cart left, she returned to the shop. By then, Song Tingfan was rinsing rice for steaming. She walked over to help, "I’ll rinse it. Little uncle, you just tend the fire."
"Okay." Song Tingfan shook off the water on his hands before sitting by the stove.
After rinsing and placing the rice in the pot, Lin Qiao stirred it a few times with a spatula, then explained, "Little uncle, there’s nothing between me and Niu Er."
Song Tingfan answered without hesitation, "I know."
If something had happened with Niu Er and his sister-in-law, he wouldn’t let him off.
Lin Qiao wasn’t aware of the thoughts in his mind; she just assumed he trusted her unconditionally. She smiled, "I was afraid little uncle would misunderstand. Now I can finally relax."
Song Tingfan’s hand paused, his gaze fixed on the burning logs, his voice carrying a hint of barely noticeable hope, "Why are you afraid I’d misunderstand?"
Lin Qiao brought out a wooden basin for cleaning vegetables and replied while working, "If anything happened, it’d ruin your reputation. Then it would be hard for you to find a wife."
So she was worried about his prospects, and the faint smile on the man’s lips faded.
After a brief silence, he said, "If I can’t find one, so be it. I’ll just live with you."
Lin Qiao didn’t give it much thought, "Don’t think like that. I’m hoping to help take care of your kids in the future. Little uncle, don’t worry. I won’t do anything to affect your reputation."
The firewood in the stove crackled gently as Song Tingfan added another piece of wood, "Do you care a lot about reputation?"
Is that why she resists him...?
Hearing this, Lin Qiao glanced at him, unable to grasp the meaning behind his words. She smiled, "Of course, my reputation represents you, little uncle."
"Little uncle, you should bury a couple of sweet potatoes in the fire. I feel like eating them."
"Okay."
Song Tingfan grabbed two sweet potatoes and tossed them into the stove, burying them. He casually asked, "Do you have someone in mind for marriage?"
"I’ll consider once you’re settled. Don’t worry about me. Aunt and Uncle Lin are already on it." Lin Qiao suddenly remembered that Li Guifen hadn’t been pushing her for a match lately, perhaps because she was discouraged last time.
Song Tingfan pressed his lips together, "I have someone in mind for you, someone I met on the frontier."
Hearing this, Lin Qiao was momentarily surprised, quickly realizing and not refusing his kindness, "Is he handsome? As handsome as you, little uncle? If so, I’ll consider meeting him."
"Handsome." A slight blush tinted Song Tingfan’s earlobes.
Actually, Lin Qiao somewhat doubted his taste since he thought someone like Li Erniu was good, but she didn’t dare say it out loud, "As long as he’s handsome, let me know when you can arrange a meeting."
"What does his family do?"
"They sell noodles."
When Song Tingfan said this, Lin Qiao found it odd, here again with noodle sellers, "Are they related to the girl you like?"
Song Tingfan calmly responded, "Yes, it’s her brother. He’s a bit younger but reliable."
Lin Qiao’s interest was piqued, "Did a mutual soldier friend introduce you two?"
"Something like that."
"No wonder, I wondered how you met her. That’s good, knowing all about each other. Little uncle, when is she coming over, or when shall we visit her?"
Song Tingfan thought for a moment, "When we go to Lunan City."
Waiting two more months should be enough.
He wouldn’t wait any longer.
