The crowd looked towards Song Tingfan holding a bow. Song Tingfan’s face was cold as he glanced at the old soldier, "Disobeying orders and insubordination, you’ll be punished according to military regulations, thirty lashes."
"Do not resist!"
The old soldier was shocked. Although thirty lashes wouldn’t kill him, it would be a huge loss of face for him. "Vice General Song, aren’t you abusing your power a bit? Do you think I am your concubine, to be bullied at your will?"
Song Tingfan’s expression darkened slightly, but his tone remained calm, "I am the vice general, you are a soldier; defiance is a breach of military regulations."
"Gao Qiang, Zhou Fu’an, apply the military regulations, forty lashes."
He paused and then said word by word, "Next ti you ntion my wife, you won’t be here anymore."
His voice was loud, and everyone present heard it.
Many people didn’t know Song Tingfan’s temperant, but the hundred soldiers who ca with him were well aware that he was not soone easy-going or afraid of confrontation, quite the contrary, he was stern and unyielding.
If the old soldier had accepted his punishnt earlier, he would have retained so dignity; now he had none at all.
After forty lashes, he lay on the ground unable to move, uttering few cries of pain.
Soone wanted to help, but before they got close, Song Tingfan raised his voice, "Practice archery."
Imdiately, the soldiers dispersed, leaving the old soldier and Song Tingfan at the spot, Song Tingfan looked down at him, "Rember! In the camp, seniority ans nothing, only skill counts."
"If it were based on my previous selection criteria, you wouldn’t have made it into the archery camp. Rather than being indignant, practice more. Once you surpass , this position will be yours!"
The old soldier was both ashad and furious, ashad because his archery skills were indeed inferior, furious because a young boy was lecturing him.
He glared angrily, "You rely on your status, otherwise this position would have been mine."
He had persevered for many years, finally receiving the general’s word, but it was still in vain.
It wasn’t without reason he thought this way; how else could he have brought a hundred soldiers and obtained the position of vice general upon arrival without status?
Song Tingfan had occasionally overheard their conversations but never responded, and he wasn’t going to explain now either, "It’s not possible ans it’s not possible." Finishing, he strode away to watch the others practice archery.
Near the archery range was a village, where the won with marriageable daughters would co to see if they could find a groom.
Upon seeing this, Song Tingfan frowned then walked over solemnly, "Practicing is in progress, please do not stand here."
His sudden voice startled the won, causing cries of surprise, "Oh dear, scared to death."
After getting a good look at the young man, one woman dressed in blue eyed him appreciatively and reached out to grab him, "Are you married? No matter if you are, I’ll marry my daughter to you, ten taels of silver as a bride price."
Song Tingfan’s face turned dark, shaking off her hand, glaring sharply at her, making her quickly retract her hand.
This young man was too fierce.
The won ran away under his gaze.
Zhou Fu’an approached with a smile, offering a kind reminder, "Vice General Song, their daughters are not as good-looking as your wife."
"Finished practicing?" Song Tingfan shot him a piercing look.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fu’an quickly scurried away.
...
anwhile,
Lin Qiao still planned to go out. Just as she picked up an umbrella, she heard "dong dong" knocking on the door. She hurriedly went to open it and saw a young lad, "What’s the matter?"
"Mrs. Song, I’m from the woodworking shop, and a few days ago Vice General Song ordered a big bed from us, it was finished yesterday, so I ca to let you know."
The waiter paused for a mont and continued, "It was supposed to take half a month, but our shopkeeper had the master finish it quickly."
In such a small place, news travels fast. Knowing a vice general ordered the bed, he promptly inford the shopkeeper.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qiao seed delighted, "Thank you, could you help move it in? We’ll calculate the wage shortly."
Facing her smiling face, the young lad was a bit bashful, "No need, it’s not far, it’ll be delivered right away." he said, then took off running.
Lin Qiao was amused, she hadn’t chased him away, why run so fast?
"Qiao’er, who is it?" Song Qin walked out of the room.
"They’re delivering the bed, it’s done."
Seeing her forehead perspired, Lin Qiao took a square cloth and wiped it for her, then said, "I’ll go out later and see if there’s any ice for sale."
The weather here was hotter than in Xingyu Village, especially at night, when the mat felt hot.
"Not hot, just old people sweat a lot; buy a few pieces for your room, be careful not to catch the heat."
Song Qin subtly glanced at her belly, feeling slightly hopeful, maybe soon?
Lin Qiao wasn’t aware of what she was thinking, but she felt warm inside. The older couple was frugal; they never scrimped when it ca to her.
"We’ll buy for the whole family."
After saying a few words, she went inside to clear the bed, folding all the quilts neatly.
After a while, the bed was delivered, barely fitting through the doorfra. Looking at the much wider wooden bed, Lin Qiao thought she could finally sleep comfortably.
These days, she was either squeezed by Song Tingfan or he held her to sleep, resulting in sore shoulders the next day.
She handed the prepared paynt to the young lad, "Thanks for your help, use this to have so cool tea later."
The young lad quickly waved his hand, "Really, no need. If you have anything to buy in the future, just co to our shop," he said and then left with two helpers.
Lin Qiao, being a woman, found it inappropriate to force the paynt on him; she decided to let Song Tingfan give it when he returned.
It wasn’t like being in the village here; if soone caught wind of this, it would be bad if they accused Song Tingfan of abusing his power for personal gain.
After lingering in the room for a while, finding it neither too early nor too late, Lin Qiao decided not to go into the city, instead buying at and vegetables to make dumplings.
The four of them gathered around the table, chatting and laughing as they wrapped dumplings. Approaching noon, when they had just washed up, Song Tingfan returned, carrying quite a few things and a small bunch of wild chrysanthemums.
Song Rong approached to take the items, but Song Tingfan didn’t let him, "Grandpa, no need."
"Niu Niu, why are you picking wild chrysanthemums?"
Song Qin glanced at Lin Qiao with a smile, knowing these were picked for her.
"Qiao’er likes them." Song Tingfan smiled at Lin Qiao, then carried the items into the living room. After going into the room to fetch a vase, he filled it with water, arranged the chrysanthemums, and took them back inside.
As Lin Qiao entered, she swept her gaze over the blooming wild chrysanthemums, yellow and green intermingling, brightening the stuffy room a bit.
The anti-hero is quite considerate too.
In the past, there was worry about him not finding a wife. Well, now he’s managed to twist her impression.
One mustn’t dwell on the past, or it’s like a slap in the face, "slap slap," stinging with pain.
"The bed arrived. After we eat, take the paynt to them. They refused to take it from earlier."
Upon hearing this, Song Tingfan noticed the bed was bigger and pursed his lips.
At last, after they had grown closer, the bed got bigger, and now they’d beco "distant" again at night.
Seeing him staring silently at the wooden bed, Lin Qiao thought he was dissatisfied, "What’s wrong?"
Song Tingfan snapped back to reality, muttering, "The bed isn’t made well, too coarse. I’ll have them take it back and redo it."
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