Chapter 16: Kinship

“I don’t know. Now, the family quarters are full of rumors. Your reputation was ruined before you even arrived.” Grandma Lin worried about this.

No wonder only Zhao Cuifeng came to visit; others avoided them.

“Forget it. Let them say what they want. Explaining is useless. Let’s prove it with facts.”

Lin Su was open-minded. Although she also cared about her ruined reputation, arguing was useless at this time.

As long as she took good care of Qin Ni, the rumors would be self-defeating once outsiders saw it.

Besides, she wasn’t an extroverted person. If no one wanted to befriend her, then so be it. Focusing on raising the three children at home was also good.

Lin Su was open-minded, but Grandma Lin wasn’t. The older generation’s thinking made her feel that this would ruin her granddaughter’s life, but she also knew that just explaining verbally was useless.

Thinking of something, she said, “Isn’t it your wicked mother-in-law who is behind this?”

The matter of abusing her stepdaughter started with her, so it was difficult for people not to suspect her.

Lin Su nodded, “It’s possible.”

“How could she be so bad? She’s almost going to be buried, yet she still harms this person and that person. Isn’t she afraid of shortening her lifespan?”

Grandma Lin had a very strong opinion of Qin’s mother and didn’t care anymore. She directly talked about their grandmother in front of the three children.

The three children actually didn’t have much affection for their grandmother anymore. What others said or did had nothing to do with them.

Of the three children, only Qin Keke didn’t understand, but he understood one thing: his stepmother was being bullied.

He looked around, found a small twig, and gave it to his stepmother, “Hit, hit the bad guys.”

This small twig was barely enough to tickle someone.

Lin Su couldn’t help but laugh, but she was still very gratified.

The youngest child didn’t want her to hold him at first, but now he could protect her.

Besides being gratified, she also felt a little touched. She squatted down, hugged Qin Keke, and rubbed his cheek, “Our Keke is so good. I’m so moved.”

If Lin Su rubbed him like this usually, Qin Keke could only endure for a second, any longer wouldn’t work. Now, sensing that she was being bullied, he endured for several seconds.

He was small and couldn’t count, silently counting one second, three seconds, and then counting from the beginning again to let Lin Su rub him longer.

Qin Yao and Qin Ni watched from the side, without coming forward, but their gazes lingered on Lin Su.

…

Ni Niu finally brought the luggage over. Qin Sui wasn’t there, so Grandma Lin and Lin Su slowly carried it down.

The three children also came to help. Qin Yao and Qin Ni were small and weak, so they could only carry lighter things. The youngest child was simply hindering them, but Grandma Lin and Lin Su didn’t say anything to him, instead watching with smiles.

After Ni Niu unloaded the luggage, he didn’t leave immediately but helped carry it into the house.

“Grandma, why doesn’t anyone come to visit you?” Ni Niu stayed for quite a while, but didn’t see anyone come, and felt a little strange.

If someone moved here in the past, more or less people would come to visit. Even if they didn’t visit, they would come to watch the fun and inquire about things. But now, it was quiet.

Besides, Deputy Commander Qin’s position was high, and many people would flatter and curry favor with him. Now that his wife had come to the military area, no one came to visit. What’s the reason?

Hearing Ni Niu mention this, Grandma Lin sighed, “I don’t know which gossipy person spread bad rumors about Su Su, saying that she abused Ni Ni. The rumors spread everywhere before we even arrived. They may not come because they think Su Su is difficult to get along with.”

Ni Niu scratched his head upon hearing this, “How is that possible? You just arrived…”

Wait.

He suddenly remembered that not long ago, Deputy Commander Qin’s mother called to complain, and in a moment of urgency, he mentioned it to Aunt Huang!

He heard that Aunt Huang loved gossip. Could it be because of this that the rumors spread everywhere?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was like that. Ni Niu slapped himself in the face, startling Grandma Lin and Lin Su.

“Why are you hitting yourself, child?” Grandma Lin asked in surprise.

Ni Niu said guiltily, “Grandma, Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. This should be my fault.”

Hearing this, both of them frowned and stared at him.

Ni Niu quickly told them the cause and effect.

Grandma Lin was speechless for a long time and said, “You deserve to be hit. You dare to talk nonsense about unclear things.”

Ni Niu quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, yes, I deserve to be hit.”

He slapped himself again.

Lin Su sighed helplessly, “Forget it. This has already happened. No matter how much you hit yourself, you can’t undo it.”

“I can go explain to them.”

“It’s useless. People’s prejudices are like a mountain.”

Hearing this, Ni Niu felt even more guilty.

Unable to make amends, he worked hard to help them move things and put them away one by one.

Then he ran up and down to help them repair the doors and windows, and borrowed a hoe from someone to loosen the soil in the yard so that they could plant vegetables easily.

Ni Niu worked up a sweat, and he didn’t even feel tired. He ran out again, and after a while, he brought a hen from somewhere, saying that he wanted to kill it for them to eat to replenish their bodies.

Lin Su quickly stopped him, “Don’t kill it. Keep it for laying eggs.”

Ni Niu didn’t kill it.

Lin Su asked him, “How much did you buy this hen for?”

Although farmers were now allowed to sell their own agricultural products, the small places still had ingrained ideas, believing that buying and selling things was speculation.

However, some people secretly conducted transactions, as long as they weren’t too blatant.

This hen was also secretly bought by Ni Niu, wrapped in clothes all the way.

“Sister-in-law, since you want to keep it for laying eggs, then keep it. I still have something to do, so I’ll go first.” Ni Niu didn’t mention the money at all.

He was about to leave when Lin Su pulled him back and forcefully stuffed a five-dollar bill into his hand, “No, business is business, personal matters are personal matters. If you don’t take it, don’t call me sister-in-law anymore.”

Ni Niu had no choice but to take it. But seeing that it was five yuan, he immediately worried again, “It’s too much money. I bought this hen from an acquaintance, only three yuan and two.”

Such a fat hen was only three yuan and two? So cheap.

Wouldn’t it cost over a hundred yuan in the modern world?

Lin Su sighed and said, “I don’t have any change, so let’s do this. We should also repay favors from acquaintances. Or you can buy some candy for their children another day.”

Hearing her planning for him, Ni Niu was very moved, his eyes welling up.

Lin Su looked at him somewhat helplessly.

This young man was really sentimental.

In the evening, Grandma Lin placed the iron pot she had brought from home on the stove.

She hadn’t burned briquettes before, and Qin Sui had taught her. Now, she could use them skillfully.

Lin Su watched and learned from the side.

Grandma Lin heated up the food she had collected and made do for tonight.

They couldn’t plant vegetables now, and it was a remote place, and it was inconvenient to buy vegetables.

The three children were playing the board game Lin Su made on the kang, quiet and well-behaved.

After Lin Su learned how to burn coal, she started making clothes for the youngest child.

There had been things delaying her before, and now that she had free time, she could continue.

Grandma Lin was busy cooking and let her do it, thinking that she would modify it if there was anything wrong after she finished.

But when Lin Su finished, Grandma Lin was surprised to find that her sewing was even better than hers, and she even sewed a small dog pattern on the chest of the clothes.

It was sewn with red thread, very cute.

” Lin Su, your skills are so good.” Grandma Lin touched the small dog pattern lovingly.

Lin Su smiled, “How can it compare to Grandma’s?”

Grandma Lin scolded her with a smile.

“Keke, your clothes are ready. Come and try them on.” Lin Su walked towards Qin Keke with the clothes.

The eldest and second children had tried on their clothes, and they fit well.

Qin Yao keenly noticed the difference in his younger brother’s clothes and secretly cast an envious glance.

Qin Ni wasn’t very interested in clothes, so she didn’t notice the pattern.

Qin Keke was small and especially liked this pattern. As soon as he got it, he hugged it tightly and wouldn’t let go.

“The clothes won’t run away. Let’s try them on to see if they fit, okay?” Lin Su coaxed softly.

Qin Keke hesitated for a moment but still obediently gave them to her.

Lin Su quickly helped him try them on.

They fit well.

Qin Keke was cute and adorable. After putting on the new clothes, he looked white and tender, like a little doll.

Lin Su liked him more and more and couldn’t help but kiss his cheek.

Qin Keke froze.

Lin Su thought he would dislike it and quickly wiped his face, “Okay, it’s not dirty anymore.”

Qin Keke didn’t dislike it. He was just a little unaccustomed to this intimacy.

He had no memory of his mother, so he didn’t know if his mother had kissed him like this. But no matter what, he liked this intimacy.

Qin Sui, who had finished his work at the army, entered the house and saw this warm scene.

Seeing Qin Keke’s arrogant look, he knew that he was shy and secretly happy.

Tsk, I, his father, haven’t been kissed like this.

Qin Sui’s presence was quite noticeable. As soon as he appeared, he attracted everyone’s attention.

Qin Yao quickly called him, “Dad, you’re back.”

Qin Sui “Mm”, looked around, and found that the empty house had been furnished with some old things, filled with a little bit of life, finally having a little bit of a home feel.

Indeed, there was a difference between living alone and living with a family.

“Where did the hen in the yard come from?” Qin Sui asked Lin Su.

Lin Su: “Ni Niu bought it.”

She didn’t plan to tell him the cause and effect. They weren’t close, and it was useless to say it, so she just casually fooled him.

Qin Sui didn’t ask any further, just turned around and brought in the lunchboxes on the stone bricks.

“I’ve already asked someone to make furniture. I’ll take a day off to get it. I’ll also get some vegetable seeds to plant.”

Before Lin Su mentioned it, Qin Sui took the initiative to say it.

Opening the lunchboxes, Qin Sui said again, “Did you loosen the soil in the yard?”

Seeing Lin Su take the three children to wash their hands, Grandma Lin answered, “Ni Niu did it.”

Why was that kid so diligent?

But he was very perceptive.

Qin Sui didn’t think much about it and took out bowls and chopsticks.

Seeing that the man was willing to do chores, Lin Su was quite satisfied. After all, they were a flash marriage, and they didn’t know each other well.

She was afraid that men of this era were arrogant and had ingrained ideas, thinking that housework should be done by women, and that they should sit and act like emperors as soon as they came home.

Unexpectedly, Qin Sui was quite capable.

Handsome, career-minded, meticulous, diligent, understanding, and secure… His advantages were endless.

The more Lin Su thought about it, the more satisfied she was with Qin Sui’s… personality.

Tonight’s meal was quite plentiful.

Qin Sui brought back braised pork, stir-fried cabbage with pork, and stir-fried dried tofu from the canteen.

With steamed buns, it was delicious.

The three children ate without raising their heads, while Lin Su ate slowly because of her health.

After dinner, Qin Sui actually took the initiative to wash the dishes.

Grandma Lin looked at Qin Sui’s back and whispered to Lin Su, “If he were a first marriage, it would be perfect.”

Lin Su couldn’t help but laugh, “Grandma, there are no perfect people in this world.”

Grandma Lin muttered, “Qin Sui is still a pretty good guy. Think about it carefully. If you miss this opportunity, you won’t find another one like him.”

She had actually noticed it.

But with their respectful and courteous way of getting along, even a fool could see it.

It was getting darker and darker. Lin Su asked the three children to wash their feet.

Ni Niu’s car carried the things they needed, so there were sheets and blankets, so they could make beds for the three children to rest well.

The current arrangement of the four rooms was that the second child and Grandma Lin each slept in a room, and the remaining two rooms were Qin Sui with the eldest child, and Lin Su with the youngest child.

Lin Su was making the bed in Qin Ni’s room when Qin Sui came over.

Qin Sui had said before that he wanted to compensate Lin Su and thought about buying her a watch. He had the money and the coupons, but he didn’t have the time to buy it.

His comrade was going to the station to pick someone up, so he asked him to help buy one. He only got it now.

“I…”

Lin Su didn’t hear Qin Sui come in and was startled when she heard him speak.

Just as she was about to turn around, the light bulb suddenly went out.

“What’s wrong? The light bulb is broken?” she asked.

Qin Sui: “The power must have gone out. This place often has power and water outages.”

Lin Su didn’t care and asked him, “What did you want to say?”

“For you.”

“What?”

It was dark, and she couldn’t see clearly. As she walked, she reached out to touch it, and tripped over something and fell.

She happened to fall into Qin Sui’s arms.

“Sorry, I…”

Lin Su looked up to explain, but Qin Sui happened to lower his head, and their lips collided dramatically.