Chapter 404: Chapter 395: Never Dreamed I’d Marry the Villain
"Mm, go ahead." Song Tingfan slightly lifted his chin.
Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh out loud, but quickly held it in, speaking seriously, "Remember to apologize to the teacher when you see him later, okay?"
"Got it." Lin Ling felt a bit wronged, feeling both parents were picking on him.
Though Song Tingfan didn’t show much concern for the kids outwardly, he cared a lot inwardly. He carried Lin Ling to the teacher’s place.
After they left, Li Guifen entered the house and noticed the clothes on the floor, "..."
She was about to say something when she noticed the red marks on Lin Qiao’s neck. Glad as she was to see the young couple getting along, their actions seemed a bit too... ahem, gentle.
"Don’t let Tingfan spoil you too much, take care of your own body."
Even Lin Qiao felt a bit embarrassed, "I know."
"As long as you know."
Li Guifen took another look at her neck and said, "I’ll find some ointment for you. Otherwise, your dad might think Tingfan hit you later."
Lin Qiao: "..."
"No need, ahem, I’ll use some powder to cover it up."
"That won’t do, covering it won’t heal it. Next time, if it hurts, just say something, you can’t go against Tingfan’s frame. If he goes at it all night, can you take it?" Li Guifen said with a red face, fearing her daughter might not speak up and just endure Tingfan’s "torment."
"..."
Lin Qiaoxin thought she did speak up, her voice was hoarse, yet Song Tingfan didn’t stop.
"Your father and I will leave later, we’re not at ease with you alone here." Li Guifen couldn’t bear to leave her, but there was no choice, with so much to handle back home, both palms are flesh.
Hearing this, Lin Qiao felt reluctant, but understood their difficulties, "Stay until tomorrow, I haven’t bought stuff for big brother and the others yet."
"Buy what? No need, save the money, Ling’er still needs to find a wife. Just the other day, I heard an old mama say marrying the steward’s daughter in this Capital requires a dowry of several ten thousand taels of silver."
Li Guifen sighed at this, "With that much, one could marry thousands of wives back in the village."
Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh, "Mom, you’re exaggerating."
"What’s exaggerated? Five taels in the village is already a wealthy family."
Li Guifen then thought of something, "Your sister-in-law is pregnant again, three or four months now, if you have time, go back and visit."
"These years, they’ve been mentioning you a lot, especially your big brother, I’ve caught him wiping tears secretly several times."
"I didn’t want to tell you, but I was afraid you’d hold grudges against your big brother. It’s not his fault. Back then, your big brother almost killed himself with rat poison. Your dad and I were desperate and agreed to the Song Family’s arranged marriage."
At last, her tone was full of apology.
"All these years, thinking of you suffering outside because of us made me want to go to you."
"Daughter, we’re truly sorry. We don’t expect you to forgive us, just want you to be well."
Lin Qiao knew Li Guifen and Lin Han were not bad people, even treating her old self quite well.
Back then, they were forced to agree to the Song Family’s arrangement but didn’t sell her off, otherwise, her looks could have fetched more than the arranged marriage.
Moreover, the arrangement was because the Song Family was kind-hearted.
"Mom, don’t think about those things anymore, it’s in the past. I’ve never blamed you."
It was the old self who did.
But the old self wasn’t wrong. From her perspective, her parents wouldn’t let her marry the one she loved and even wanted her to marry a dying man for a ritual.
Saying it wasn’t hurtful would be a lie.
It’s just that later, the old self shouldn’t have done those things, had she treated Song Tingfan well, the outcome wouldn’t have been what it was.
It ruined both of them.
Li Guifen’s eyes turned red, but she held back, "Come on, have some porridge, it’ll need reheating if it gets cold."
...
When Song Tingfan came back, Lin Qiao had already finished a bowl of porridge. She stood up to ladle a bowl for him, "Not fighting anymore?"
"Mm." Song Tingfan sat beside her, noticing her parents watching her, he pressed his lips together.
Lin Han, having been instructed by Li Guifen, was supposed to mention to his son-in-law about moderation in their married life, ahem, but how was he supposed to say that?
When the fervor is up, who can restrain?
Still, he was concerned about his daughter.
While sipping porridge, he pondered how to broach such an awkward topic with his son-in-law.
Focus too intensely, his porridge ended up in his nostril, causing a moment’s shock, with pieces of rice shooting out through his nose.
Li Guifen shot him a look, "You think your mouth’s above your nostrils? Not a child anymore, eat properly."
Lin Han had an embarrassed look, "My hand slipped."
"Already shaking at this age, probably from handling too many baby birds in youth." Li Guifen handed him a handkerchief.
Lin Qiao glanced at the two, knowing only Lin Han could tolerate Li Guifen’s quick temper. Only after living together does one know if they suit each other.
Thinking of this, she glanced at Song Tingfan, ahem, she never dreamed of marrying a villain.
And now peacefully finishing a meal together.
An unexpected sense of happiness.
Ahem, it’s not that her expectations were low; this already exceeded them tremendously.
Perhaps her gaze was too direct, Song Tingfan noticed, thinking she wanted the egg in his hand, he offered it to her, "Eat."
Her eyes shifted from his face to the egg, Lin Qiao was momentarily taken aback, then shook her head, "I’ve eaten."
Song Tingfan, seeing a bite mark on the egg, thought she found it dirty, took it back and observed it, soon peeling another egg.
To avoid touching it, he carefully avoided any contact, after peeling off the last bit of eggshell, he handed it to her, "I didn’t touch it."
Lin Qiao understood his thoughtfulness now, watched him for a moment, then reached for the egg in his bowl, "I’ll eat this one." And took a bite under his watchful gaze.
Song Tingfan was stunned, instinctively saying, "Dirty."
"What’s dirty? If it falls on the ground, you can wash it and eat it." Lin Qiao took another bite.
Seeing the young couple getting lovey-dovey, Li Guifen coughed, "It’s hot, I’ll take it outside to eat and cool off."
"I’ll go too, too hot in here." Lin Han followed her out.
Song Qin Shi smiled with her chopsticks, "I’m full, going for a walk."
Lin Qiao: "..."
...
While the women took a bath in the kitchen, Lin Han brought Song Tingfan inside the house, closed the door, and after glancing at this taller-than-him son-in-law, straightened his back, "Tingfan, your mother and I are leaving this afternoon, take good care of yourselves, eat three meals a day, especially you, with all that sword practice, you need to stay fed."
On hearing they were leaving, Song Tingfan pressed his lips together, "Stay here, we can bring big brother and the others over to stay after a few days."
Once they left, Lin Qiao would have no one to talk to.
Lin Han waved his hand with a smile, "Forget it, the Capital has its perks, but your mother and I aren’t used to it, just eating and sleeping day in and day out, having nothing to do."
"We trust Qiao’er to you. Since she was little, she’s been delicate; you have to be considerate. This kid won’t complain, always bottling things up."
"Alright." Song Tingfan answered without a moment’s hesitation.
His reply was so straightforward that Lin Han felt he hadn’t fully understood, "Ahem, young people’s energy is good, but, ahem, moderation in that regard."
