Chapter 163: Adorably Clueless

As soon as Qin Huiyin left, Tang Yixiao sighed deeply while holding a steamed bun.

Tang Luwu looked at him curiously. “Why the sigh?”

Tang Yixiao smirked. “Big sister, second sister has probably gone to Song Ruizhe’s place again.”

“Is she not allowed to go?” Tang Luwu got up and picked up a shovel nearby, starting to dig in the soil and feeding the worms she unearthed to the chickens.

Seeing this, Tang Yixiao smiled and grabbed another shovel to join her.

“But she’s too kind to Song Ruizhe.”

“Is she not kind to you?” Tang Luwu glanced back at him. “Are you jealous?”

“I just want second sister to be kind only to our family, not so generous with others,” Tang Yixiao muttered with a pout. “Especially that Song Ruizhe. Big brother doesn’t like him, and neither do I.”

“Little sister is so good; we like her, and so do others. Why would you forbid others from getting close to her? Our strength is limited—wouldn’t it be better to have more people protecting her?”

“But that way, she’ll care about more people and have even less time for us. Big sister, don’t you feel upset about that?”

“Why wait for little sister to care for us? I’m older; as her sister, shouldn’t I care for her? I’m neither as smart nor as capable as she is, but I can be more attentive in other ways. Although you’re a brother, you’re a boy. Boys taking care of girls is only natural. As long as we care for little sister, she won’t forget us, and we’ll always be family.”

“Brother, you’re back!” Tang Yixiao smiled when he saw Tang Yichen standing by the door.

Tang Yichen responded with a hum and walked inside.

Passing by Tang Luwu, Tang Yichen suddenly said, “Luwu, you’re doing well.”

Tang Luwu deeply admired her eldest brother; hearing his praise, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled brightly.

“Big brother, rest in your room first. I’ll make you some sugar water. Huiyin specifically reminded me to prepare sugar water for you when you came back. She cares about you a lot.”

“All right, thank you.”

Qin Huiyin arrived at Song Ruizhe’s home.

As she pushed open the courtyard gate, she saw someone loosening the soil with a hoe.

It was none other than Song Ruizhe.

“Brother…” Qin Huiyin called softly.

Song Ruizhe looked back and acknowledged her with a “Hmm,” then continued digging.

“What are you doing?”

“Loosening the soil.”

“I know that. I mean, why are you loosening the soil?”

“To plant flowers.”

Qin Huiyin was speechless.

She approached Song Ruizhe. “Stop for now.”

Song Ruizhe stopped, looking puzzled.

Qin Huiyin took the hoe from his hands and led him toward the bedroom. “You’re drunk now. Go to bed first. We can plant flowers tomorrow, okay?”

“But…” Song Ruizhe frowned.

“Why did you suddenly want to plant flowers?” Qin Huiyin asked.

“Ugly…” Song Ruizhe slurred, “The yard is ugly, Huiyin doesn’t like it…”

Qin Huiyin paused and looked at him, surprised. “You want to plant flowers for me?”

Song Ruizhe nodded. “Yeah, you said this yard looks like a wasteland, no life at all.”

Qin Huiyin smiled and pulled him inside. “Okay, then when you have time, we’ll plant. For now, we need to rest. Otherwise, by tomorrow, you won’t just have a headache; your whole body will ache. Don’t worry about Brother Chen Yong and the others; Er Zhu will take care of that. Just sleep well, and tomorrow we’ll handle everything else. Here, drink some sugar water first.”

She brought a bamboo bucket filled with freshly prepared sugar water. After checking it was not too hot, she fed him several big sips until he refused more.

Qin Huiyin watched over Song Ruizhe as he fell asleep, and only then withdrew her hand.

To prevent him from waking and digging again, she hid all the farming tools. If not for worrying he might need to use the outhouse at night, she almost wanted to lock the bedroom door from the inside.

Before leaving, she carefully closed the courtyard gate.

On the way home, Qin Huiyin thought of Song Ruizhe just now, feeling pleased.

He was no longer the cold, emotionless creature from the original story. He had begun to think of others, even to make sacrifices. This meant they had already deviated from the original plot.

“Big brother, what are you doing here?” Qin Huiyin saw Tang Yichen waiting at the door and asked.

Tang Yichen came over and draped a coat over her shoulders. “It’s windy.”

“How do you feel? Dizzy? Nauseous?” Qin Huiyin wrapped the coat around her and asked with concern.

“I’m fine,” Tang Yichen said. “Stop worrying so much or you’ll turn into a little old lady.”

“Fine, I care about you and you mock me,” Qin Huiyin snorted. “Then I won’t care anymore.”

“I’m your brother; I should be the one caring for and taking care of you. Why is it now that you care for me?” Tang Yichen said. “Come inside quickly. The hot water’s ready. You’ve had a hard day—wash up and get some rest!”

Qin Huiyin felt something was off.

Tang Yichen draped a coat over her, Tang Yixiao brought her water to wash her face, and Tang Luwu handed her a towel. Suddenly, she felt like an empress surrounded by attendants.

“What happened while I was away?” Qin Huiyin asked Tang Luwu.

She thought Tang Luwu’s reaction was the most normal; the two Tang men—one big, one small—were acting somewhat strange.

“Nothing much, everything’s been as usual,” Tang Luwu replied.

“Luwu, go check next door if Brother Chen Yong and the others have been arranged a place to stay.”

“I’ll go,” Tang Yixiao said as he ran out.

Qin Huiyin blinked. “Isn’t little brother the one who dislikes Brother Chen Yong and the others the most?”

He didn’t like Song Ruizhe and therefore didn’t like Song Ruizhe’s friends.

“Little brother is just childish. Actually, he really admires Chen Yong. Chen Yong is strong, and he thinks only men like that qualify as real men,” Tang Luwu explained.

Tang Yixiao returned quickly and said that Zhang Erzhu had already arranged accommodations for Jiang Qibin and the others. Master Tang San had drunk too much, and Zhang Dazhu and Tang Cheng had helped him back to rest.

After a day filled with lively festivities, the village finally quieted down. Qin Huiyin poured herself a glass of water in the kitchen. Passing Tang Yichen’s courtyard, she overheard a conversation between Tang Yichen and Tang Yixiao.

“You’re not a child anymore. Following your second sister has broadened your horizons and taught you many things. Have you thought about what kind of person you want to be in the future?”

“I’ll do business with second sister and earn money with her,” Tang Yixiao replied.

“What can you bring to second sister then?” Tang Yichen asked. “She can earn money on her own; she doesn’t need you for that. What’s your value in this family? Even Luwu knows you can’t just take; you have to do something for your second sister. As her business grows, she can hire workers. Do you think your worth is just a hired hand? Think about it slowly; no rush, but you must think.”

Qin Huiyin smiled and returned to her room.

Favor the story of a transmigrated younger stepsister in a farming family, with big brothers who dote on her a little. Please add to your collection: (xiakezw) Transmigrated Younger Stepsister in a Farming Family, Big Brothers Who Dote Slightly.