Inside the House
Song Qin closed the door, feeling a bit embarrassed, but still asked, "Niu Niu, the cloth needs to be given to Grandma. I’ll take it and bury it."
The custom in Xingyu Village is that the red cloth should be taken by an elder and buried in the mountains.
The reason she asked for the red cloth was because she knew Tingyi and Lin Qiao hadn’t done anything, so Lin Qiao was naturally still a maiden.
Hearing this, Song Tingfan’s expression didn’t change, and he nodded, "Okay, I’ll give it to Grandma later."
Song Qin nodded, then, not entirely assured, advised, "Niu Niu, be considerate to Qiao’er, don’t go too far, it’s not good for a girl to hurt herself."
She smiled as she spoke, and added, "A year or two and you and Grandpa will be holding a grandson."
Looking at her silver strands, a complex emotion flashed in Song Tingfan’s eyes, "I will."
"Alright, alright, but don’t let Qiao’er hear this. She’d feel pressured." Song Qin smiled, her wrinkles even more defined.
Song Tingfan nodded. After a while, he went back to the room, took a dagger, cut his palm, and dripped blood onto the cloth.
Lin Qiao entered the room to get sothing, and happened to see him doing this, instinctively shocked, "What are you doing...?"
As she got closer, she saw the white cloth on the bed stained red, imdiately understanding, her mouth twitched silently, "..."
Did this villain think it required a lot of blood?
This was quite an awkward situation she didn’t want to talk about, but then realized Song Qin might’ve asked him, so she touched her nose, "Ahem, too much blood."
Song Tingfan paused his hand, casting a deep gaze at her, wondering what he was thinking. Soon, he changed to a new white cloth, dripping much less.
The room was sowhat quiet. Lin Qiao took what she needed and was about to leave when the man suddenly called out to her, "Qiao’er."
Having experienced "wife," Lin Qiao found "Qiao’er" acceptable, and she turned to look at him, "What is it?"
"You are not to ntion it again."
His abrupt statent left her puzzled.
"ntion what?"
"Don’t talk about the past."
Lin Qiao took a mont to realize what he ant, imdiately finding it both laughable and frustrating. She didn’t continue the lie, as there was no need now that they were married.
"I lied back then, it never happened."
"Really?"
Song Tingfan was stunned for a mont. Seeing her nod, he quickly grinned happily.
The sister-in-law hadn’t been with anyone else.
...
The rain fell for three consecutive days. When Song Tingfan and Lin Qiao returned ho, it was still raining. Even with an umbrella, they were soaked, but Lin Qiao was better off, while Song Tingfan’s shoulders were mostly wet.
Li Guifen had been waiting for their return early on. Seeing her daughter’s rosy complexion, clearly well-nourished by a man, she couldn’t contain her smile, "Han, go get so clothes for Tingfan to change into."
If only she knew what she was thinking, Lin Qiao might have spat out the rice soup she just drank, "Ping’er, An’er, why haven’t you co over? Didn’t you make a fuss a few days ago?"
"Mom said we shouldn’t bother you. You’re expecting a little brother." Lin Ping shook his head seriously, then curiously stared at her flat belly.
Lin Qiao: "..."
If she could give birth, it would scare people to death.
Lin Xushi had secretly advised him, not expecting the child to say it outright, leaving her both angry and amused, "Go study quickly. If you don’t read well, I’ll spank you when you get ho!"
"Ping’er wasn’t wrong, it’s better to be careful," Li Guifen was looking forward to holding a grandson.
Lin Han brought out clothes for Song Tingfan. Hearing Li Guifen’s words, worried his daughter would be embarrassed, he quickly changed the subject, "Is the food ready? Don’t let Tingfan go hungry."
"It’s ready, it’s ready, I’ll go serve it." Li Guifen cheerfully ran to the kitchen.
A big bowl of dumplings on the table, Lin Qiao took the dishes Li Guifen handed over, "Mom, when did you get up to make these?"
"Oh, dear, old folks sleep poorly, woke up before dawn."
Li Guifen quickly served Song Tingfan another bowl, kindly added, "Tingfan, finish this and have more, don’t be shy. You must be exhausted these past few days; eat well."
She ant that Song Tingfan must be tired from all the wedding arrangents, but Lin Qiao instinctively thought it was from "bedroom activities," and suddenly spat out the dumplings she just ate, "Cough, cough..."
Li Guifen blushed, realizing belatedly what her daughter was thinking. How could an elder like her not be proper?
Lin Han awkwardly cleared his throat, "Wife, quickly serve a bowl, starving here."
"Alright." Li Guifen served him a bowl.
Song Tingfan glimpsed at the woman’s scarlet ear tip from the corner of his eye, the corners of his lips slightly curling upwards.
Breakfast was more relaxed, each finding a stool to sit on. Li Guifen squeezed next to Lin Qiao holding her bowl, whispering, "Is Tingfan good to you?"
Lin Qiao nodded without hesitation, "Good."
Aside from that morning’s unruliness, everything else was excellent. No, exceptionally great. She didn’t have to do laundry or cook. Not that she refused, but Song Tingfan wouldn’t let her.
"As long as he’s good. Eat more," Li Guifen poured half the dumplings into her bowl.
Lin Qiao was both amused and touched, yet warm at heart, "I really can’t eat more."
"You’ve eaten so little; how co you’re full? Eat more to build strength for childbirth."
"Mom, we just got married."
"Marriage leads quickly to that. You and Tingfan are young, conceiving is easy."
"..."
Lin Qiao thought she’d find peace after marrying, not expecting the push to have children to start imdiately. Unable to stand it, she sat back next to Song Tingfan, bowl in hand.
The dumplings in Song Tingfan’s bowl were nearly finished. Hearing the noise, he glanced at her and then shifted slightly, letting her sit more centrally.
Glancing at his bowl, Lin Qiao poured half the dumplings into his, "Eat more."
He naturally knew her appetite wasn’t large, "Alright."
Lin Han secretly glanced over, seeing the son-in-law unbothered by the daughter’s food, grinned broadly, "Eat more."
Perhaps it’s the sense of a mother-in-law regarding her son-in-law, the more she looked the more satisfied, after dumplings, Li Guifen brought out a bunch more for Song Tingfan to eat.
Song Tingfan, who wasn’t one to reject others’ kindness, kept eating. Lin Qiao, worried he’d overeat, quickly intervened on his behalf, "Mom, rest now, we’ll decide for ourselves."
"Alright, alright, take as you like." Li Guifen didn’t forget to urge the daughters-in-law to eat, adding, "Eldest daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, serve yourselves."
"Mom, don’t worry about us, we can manage just fine," Mrs. Xu smiled, unconcerned.
At this point, Lin Han touched his head, looking at the roof, "Oh, the roof’s leaking, I need to fix it."
"I’ll go."
Song Tingfan got up, carried the ladder out, followed closely by Lin Han.
Not long after, Lin Shan and Lin Sheng followed suit.
With the n out of the hall, Li Guifen spoke more openly, "Daughter, take care of yourself, don’t let Tingfan push too hard, n aren’t as cautious."
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