The atmosphere was sowhat strangely lancholic. Lin Qiao sighed inwardly, then half-jokingly said, "Dare not co back! If you don’t co back, I’ll co twist your ear. You promised to co back and get married."
"Alright, I’ll co back and get married," Song Tingfan nodded firmly.
Once he saved enough for the bride price, he’d co back to marry Madam Tingfan.
He agreed imdiately, which slightly surprised Lin Qiao, but she didn’t think much of it.
As dusk approached, the rain finally lessened. There was no donkey cart at the entrance of the town, so Lin Qiao had to borrow a carriage from Mrs. Liu Xu.
Mrs. Liu Xu readily agreed, "Sure, but the coach driver is unavailable today. I’ll have Hu Zi take you back."
Before Lin Qiao could speak, Song Tingfan quickly replied, "No need, I can do it."
Mrs. Liu Xu glanced at him and then smiled knowingly, "Alright, take it easy then." She winked at Lin Qiao as she spoke.
Your little uncle is jealous.
The implication was clear, and Lin Qiao found it hard to pretend otherwise: "..."
...
As night fell, they hurriedly took the carriage ho. The rain-washed ground was slippery, making the carriage hard to maneuver.
By the ti they arrived at the village, it was nearly dark. Before Lin Qiao even reached the courtyard gate, she heard Lai Cai and Jinbao scratching the door, seemingly aware of their return.
Lin Qiao softly hushed them, signaling for them to be quiet lest they wake the neighbors. She then gently knocked on the gate.
Soon, sound of light footsteps approached from inside, followed by an old man’s hoarse voice, "Who is it?"
"Grandpa, it’s us," Song Tingfan replied.
Hearing his grandson’s voice, Song Rong quickly opened the door, "Why are you back so late? It just rained, the road must be slippery. You haven’t eaten, right? I’ll have your grandma heat up so food for you."
Before the two could say anything, he went inside to call Song Qin.
After the gate closed, an oil lamp was quickly lit inside the house.
It had been a while since they’d seen them. Song Qin was overjoyed and wouldn’t let go of Lin Qiao’s hand, "I’ll make food for you, just sit and wait."
"No need, we ate so pancakes on the road," Lin Qiao stopped her.
Mrs. Fan also got up, "Pancakes aren’t filling, I’ll make sothing real quick."
Song Qin nodded repeatedly and then looked at Song Tingfan, her eyes unable to hide her delight at seeing her grandson, "That’s right, you might be hungry. It’s not the middle of the month; why is Niu Niu back?"
Lin Qiao and Song Tingfan hadn’t told the old couple the news about leaving the private school. If they knew, it would surely upset them again.
Their health wasn’t that good to begin with, and getting upset might make things worse.
Song Tingfan had already inford Zhou Tiedan about it.
Therefore, no one else in the village knew about it, only that Song San’s house had t with retribution and was taken by the governnt.
Not knowing how to answer, Lin Qiao naturally lied, "They’re recruiting for the military, so I took a leave from school. If I’m accepted, I won’t go back to studying."
Song Tingfan had already inford Grandpa and Grandma about joining the army. Even so, Song Qin and Song Rong were still surprised for a mont.
Song Qin looked at Song Tingfan, wanting to say sothing but refraining. Finally, full of reluctance, she said, "Why earlier? Wasn’t it supposed to be in October?" Her eyes reddened as she finished speaking.
"They said the Empress Dowager’s birthday requires a grand celebration this year, so it was moved up by two months."
Lin Qiao glanced at them, then stood up, finding an excuse to leave them so space to talk, "I’m going back to my room to get an extra piece of clothing, it’s a bit cold. Granny Fan, can you help find a coat?"
Mrs. Fan understood what she ant and quickly followed her out.
After they left, there was a brief silence in the kitchen. Song Qin’s tears welled up in her eyes, holding back from falling, "Niu Niu, are you really going?"
"Niu Niu going is better; there’s no future staying in the village," Song Rong, although reluctant, was looking further ahead than Song Qin. Without parents to support him, Niu Niu could only rely on himself.
Even though the family’s situation had improved, they couldn’t rely on Qiao’er forever.
Seeing Song Qin’s expression saddened Song Tingfan. He patted her back, comforting her, "Grandma, I must go. Only then can I ensure no one bullies you."
Just monts ago, Song Qin managed to keep from crying, but hearing his words made the tears fall uncontrollably. She choked up with guilt, "We’re burdening you."
"No, you’re not a burden, and you mustn’t think that, Grandma. Otherwise, I’ll be upset," Song Tingfan’s expression grew stern.
Song Qin didn’t respond. After a while, she rasped, "What about your sister-in-law?"
Enlisting in the army ant not knowing how many years he’d be away, and leaving Lin Qiao to wait seed impossible, especially since she was already sixteen.
"I’ll marry her when I return."
Song Tingfan pursed his lips, glanced outside the door, lowered his voice, and added, "Grandma, you have to keep an eye on her for ."
Pretending not to be scared was impossible. He was terrified, so much so that he didn’t want to leave.
He feared that in the years he’d be gone, his sister-in-law might marry soone else.
But he had no choice. Without parents, he could only rely on himself.
Song Qin sighed softly, ultimately accepting her grandson’s "selfish" request, "Alright."
...
Early the next morning, the village echoed with the sound of a large gong being struck repeatedly until everyone gathered at the village entrance.
Zhou Ping raised his hand to signal for silence before saying, "The governnt’s recruitnt notice for the army has arrived. Anyone interested should co register with . Please finish registering by noon since the roll call needs to be submitted this afternoon."
Many were unaware of the early recruitnt, and soone asked in surprise, "Huh, wasn’t it supposed to be in October?"
"It’s been moved to August; they leave on the 15th." Zhou Ping didn’t know the specific reason, as the governnt officers hadn’t shared the details, and he hadn’t inquired further.
He added, "Is anyone planning to go? Raise your hand."
The crowd imdiately looked around to see who would go. Eventually, they saw Song Tingfan raise his hand. Niu Er lazily teased, "Little uncle, what are you doing? Be careful not to wet your pants in fright."
"Shut your mouth," Old Man Niu angrily kicked him.
Zhou Ping didn’t expect Song Tingfan to enlist, considering the Song’s second family only had him left. He wanted to advise him but refrained since it wasn’t appropriate to discuss in front of so many people.
"Anyone else besides Tingfan?"
After asking repeatedly with no other volunteers, since it wasn’t a ti of famine, most families wouldn’t send their sons to the army, fearing they’d never return.
Everyone’s attention turned to Song Tingfan. A simple-minded woman expressed her disapproval, thinking Lin Qiao was forcing her little uncle, "Madam Tingfan, why let Tingfan go? The Song’s second family only has him. If sothing happens, the family line would end!"
"It’s not my sister-in-law’s decision; it’s my own choice. It has nothing to do with her," Song Tingfan quickly explained.
Nobody believed that anyone would willingly court death without a good reason.
The woman wanted to argue further, but Zhou Ping interrupted, "That’s enough. If no one else is enlisting, go back ho to eat and work. Stop with the idle chatter!"
"Tingfan, co with ."
Song Tingfan told Lin Qiao he’d be back and then followed Zhou Ping.
The Lin Family was unaware of Song Tingfan’s decision to enlist. Upon hearing it, they were stunned, especially Li Guifen and Lin Han, who had been hoping for Song Tingfan to marry their daughter.
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