She wasn't like that foolish woman, Tian Xiaohe. While Tian Xiaohe caused trouble, she herself didn't let it interfere with her own life.
In the past two years, policies had loosened, and they had separated from the main family. Living in their own small household, she felt quite comfortable.
She stayed home to raise chickens, pigs, and farm, while her husband went to the city to work.
This year, Su Xiao Si had villagers doing handicrafts. She was always very active, busy with housework and outside chores every day.
Over the past few months, she had earned nearly a hundred yuan. Coupled with her husband's income from working outside, their family's conditions were visibly improving.
She planned that when the time was right, they would find a way to open a shop in the town or county.
That would be when they could truly live a good life.
That foolish woman, Tian Xiaohe, was always having unrealistic dreams, expecting good fortune to fall from the sky.
Why didn't she think about it? Where were there so many good things?
Only by working diligently and staying grounded could one live a good life.
"Xiao Tian, when you go back, please thank Xiao Cao for me. I made a few pairs of insoles, two pairs for you and two for Xiao Cao. Don't mind my poor craftsmanship; it's just the thought that counts."
Zhang Caiyun spoke very naturally, her tone sincere.
Hearing her say this, Su Xiao Tian felt too embarrassed to refuse.
"Then thank you, sister-in-law."
Su Xiao Cao couldn't help but sigh that Zhang Caiyun was indeed much more adept at handling people than Tian Xiaohe.
If she could just see things clearly and not argue with Tian Xiaohe over trivial matters, perhaps her life would be more comfortable?
The old couple's meager assets were not worth fighting over if one thought about it.
After all, that's how life is.
Although Tian Xiaohe was unwilling, feeling she couldn't leave without getting any benefits, she was still sent away by her mother-in-law.
In the past, the village chief's wife could still maintain some restraint, not wanting to escalate things too much. But she realized that for every step she took back, Tian Xiaohe would take a step forward.
Seeing Tian Xiaohe leave, Zhang Caiyun didn't say anything. After a brief greeting to Xie Nan, she left.
Not a word more than necessary.
This made the village chief's wife feel slightly better.
Xie Nan watched the two women walk away, her brow still furrowed.
The village chief's wife said apologetically, "Sister, you've seen a spectacle. I've been strong-willed my whole life, but these two daughters-in-law..."
Her choices were truly a failure. Unlike the Su family, whose daughters-in-law were all outstanding.
Hearing her husband mention it, the second son of the Su family also had an excellent partner.
Such things really couldn't be envied!
Back then, why didn't she realize these two were so unreliable?
It was one thing for the elder daughter-in-law to turn out that way, but how could the younger daughter-in-law also become like this?
"Every family has its own troubles," Xie Nan said with a smile.
Once the matter was clarified and the excitement died down, the villagers still had farm work to do. After exchanging a few words, they dispersed.
Su Xiao Tian then said to the village chief's wife, "Auntie, I think Sister Caiyun is much more sensible than Sister Xiao He."
The village chief's wife had also realized this.
"She's just a bit petty, always competing with Tian Xiaohe. Afraid of being taken advantage of!"
Su Xiao Tian couldn't help but think of her second aunt, Qi Liangying. In the early years, she also had many small calculations.
Much like Zhang Caiyun now, but her second aunt was living a good life now and no longer solely focused on the family's possessions.
Moreover, this was greatly due to the grandmother's proper handling of the situation.
If the grandmother hadn't handled the relationships within the large family well back then, she probably would have become more extreme.
After all, everyone says that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, which forces even the silent ones to make noise, doesn't it?
But Su Xiao Tian couldn't say this directly. As Teacher Xie had said, every family has its own troubles!
Their own affairs should be handled by themselves!
In the afternoon, Su Changjiu and his wife still had to go to the fields to work.
Su Xiao Tian took out the gifts for the village chief's family and, with Xie Nan, went to her own home to stay.
"Child, it's been so long since anyone lived in your house. The quilts probably smell musty."
Su Xiao Tian thought about it and realized it was true. They hadn't been back for over a year, and the quilts might indeed be moldy.
If they weren't properly aired, they would be unlivable. What should they do?
If she were alone, she could find some place to make do for the night, but here was Teacher Xie.
Su Xiao Tian looked at Teacher Xie Nan, about to suggest, "How about we find a small inn in town tonight?"
Then she heard the village chief's wife speak again.
"Listen to me, you'll stay at our house tonight. There's always a bed for you." The village chief's wife said this with great cheerfulness.
Seeing the village chief's wife's genuine sincerity, Su Xiao Tian smiled and said, "Then we'll trouble you, Auntie."
After all the fuss, it was better to stay at Uncle Changjiu's for a night.
They were taking a train back to Beijing tomorrow night, so it was just a one-night stay at most.
"You two rest at home. We'll go weed the fields first. When we come back tonight, we'll kill a chicken for you to eat." The village chief's wife found a hoe and, holding her straw hat, was about to head out.
The village chief hesitated and said, "Why don't you stay home and keep Teacher Xie and Xiao Tian company?"
It didn't seem right for the hosts to go to the fields while guests were staying at their home.
Although the fieldwork was urgent, it wouldn't be delayed by a day or two.
The village chief's wife, who was originally anxious about the fieldwork, felt her husband's words made sense. So, she put down the hoe.
"Thanks to you, sister, I can relax this afternoon. Let your brother-in-law handle the work alone."
Hearing that the village chief's wife wouldn't even go to the fields, Teacher Xie Nan felt a bit embarrassed.
She looked at Su Xiao Tian, her meaning quite clear: Can you help me?
Su Xiao Tian smiled and walked over, handing the hoe to the village chief's wife and said, "Auntie, I plan to take Teacher Xie to the mountains this afternoon to have a look. It would be great if we could catch a wild chicken or rabbit."
Hearing Su Xiao Tian's words, the village chief became anxious. "You child, why are you still thinking about going up the mountain? You're a girl, I wouldn't be at ease if you really went up the mountain!"
Su Xiao Tian didn't seem to mind much and simply said with a smile, "Uncle Changjiu, don't worry. I'm very capable. Even my brothers don't go up the mountain much without me."
Although the Su family kept these things secret, they always brought Su Xiao Tian along when the Su brothers went up the mountain.
When Su Xiao Tian was not at home, the Su brothers rarely went up the mountain. The village chief had also noticed this.
Before, he had only thought that the Su brothers doted on their younger sister and always took her with them.
Now, thinking about it, it didn't seem to be just that. Perhaps the little girl was telling the truth.
"Do you want Uncle Changjiu to accompany you?" Su Changjiu asked.
"Uncle Changjiu, you should hurry to the fields. I can manage on my own," Su Xiao Tian quickly refused. "We'll just walk around the foot of the mountain, not into the deep mountains."
Su Changjiu glanced at Teacher Xie Nan and suddenly felt that this Teacher Xie looked delicate and weak, and surely wouldn't be able to climb the mountain.
Therefore, he felt reassured.