Tian Xiaohe, as a person, did have her merits, namely that she acted immediately on her thoughts.
After Teacher Xie Nan arrived at Nanling Village, Tian Xiaohe began visiting her in-laws' home more frequently in pursuit of greater benefits.
When she came, she didn't come alone but brought her own child.
In the beginning, Tian Xiaohe would subtly hint, implying that Teacher Xie Nan should give her some advantages.
Su Xiaocao, unable to stand it, would also give her nephew some things or money.
But how could Tian Xiaohe be satisfied with such minor squabbles?
Furthermore, she was even more unwilling to accept that these monies and things were given by Su Xiaocao, not obtained from Teacher Xie Nan.
Later, she simply stated openly that it was not easy to raise Su Xiaocao, and so on.
She was practically asking Teacher Xie Nan for a "gratitude fee."
Especially as Su Xiaocao's wedding day drew nearer, Tian Xiaohe became even more anxious.
She would visit her in-laws' home three times a day, specifically telling Teacher Xie Nan.
"You raised my daughter, you should give me some money."
Each time Tian Xiaohe came, she was kicked out by Li Yuling, her mother-in-law.
But, unable to withstand her thick skin, she would return after being kicked out.
Teacher Xie Nan also understood the meaning behind Tian Xiaohe's words.
She considered giving Tian Xiaohe a sum of money to settle the matter.
However, when Li Yuling learned of this idea, she firmly stopped it.
"Sister-in-law, Xiaocao is the child I raised. Why would you give money to Tian Xiaohe? Don't worry about it. After the New Year, we will return to the capital."
Once they left Nanling Village and went to the capital, she didn't believe Tian Xiaohe would chase them to the capital to demand money.
Those who originally wanted to stay a few more days now, because of this troublesome daughter-in-law, Tian Xiaohe, didn't want to stay in the village at all.
When people can live peacefully, no one wants someone stirring up trouble every day.
"Sister, Xiaocao is about to get married. If anything happens, it won't look good!"
Teacher Xie Nan was also considering Su Xiaocao's marriage. With Tian Xiaohe acting like this, if she caused any trouble on the wedding day, it would indeed be unsightly.
This thought was not only in Teacher Xie Nan's mind but also in Li Yuling's.
Otherwise, she would have dealt with Tian Xiaohe long ago.
She also thought that on such a joyous occasion, causing any disturbance would make Xiaocao look bad.
But clearly, Tian Xiaohe was oblivious to the situation.
She thought that everyone was afraid of her, which was why they tolerated her repeatedly.
"If Tian Xiaohe dares to cause trouble, don't blame me, her mother-in-law, for embarrassing her."
Li Yuling now understood that their family's current situation was not solely due to the problems with her two daughters-in-law.
Her own shortcomings as a mother-in-law also played a part.
When Tian Xiaohe first entered the family, she was already a troublemaker, much more difficult to deal with than the proper Zhang Caiyun.
For the sake of family harmony, she had tolerated Tian Xiaohe a little.
It was this slight indulgence that became Tian Xiaohe's confidence, leading her to become increasingly excessive.
If she had suppressed Tian Xiaohe from the beginning, perhaps there wouldn't have been so many subsequent issues.
It was too late to try and suppress her now; Tian Xiaohe had already grown crooked and her wings had hardened.
Even that was not enough; her husband had also been led astray. The couple spent their days scheming at home, never once thinking about how to make a living.
Li Yuling now only felt fortunate that she had separated from her two sons.
From now on, their lives were their own responsibility.
She didn't expect her two sons to support her in her old age, and her two sons shouldn't expect to leech off her.
Su Xiaocao was tired of hearing Tian Xiaohe talk about these trivial matters every day.
But thinking that she would be married in a few days, and that out of sight would be out of mind, Su Xiaocao could only endure.
However, it was her own joyous occasion, and having someone constantly causing trouble indeed made her feel uneasy.
Fortunately, Su Sangong returned and spent his days offering words of comfort, which greatly improved Su Xiaocao's mood.
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Grandpa Su, along with the rest of the Su family, visited Su Changjiu's home.
This was to deliver the betrothal gifts in advance.
When Su Sangong returned, he brought a suitcase filled with items for Su Xiaocao.
It included clothes for the wedding, clothes for after the wedding, and even clothes for the three-day return visit after the wedding.
The villagers were waiting to watch the excitement, so naturally, they gathered to observe.
When they observed, they realized how much importance Su Sangong and the Su family placed on Su Xiaocao.
In addition to a complete set of clothes and shoes, all of the best quality, they had also specially bought jewelry for Su Xiaocao.
When Su Sangong took out a large red box and took out a gold necklace and a pair of gold earrings, the villagers' eyes were dazzled.
Although they said they bought them, the Su family knew that Wang Xianghua had selected them from the jewelry her family had received.
Wang Xianghua had three sons. The eldest was already married, the second was about to get married, leaving only the youngest.
Seeing that the situation had improved over the past two years, she took out her two least conspicuous pieces of jewelry to give Su Sangong face.
Admittedly, this gave him plenty of face.
One could even hear the villagers gasping.
For many years, families who could afford to buy two sets of clothes for a wedding were considered to have great dignity. When had there ever been jewelry?
The villagers were envious and jealous.
However, they also knew that the Su family had been doing well outside in recent years, and their lives were prospering.
Su Sangong himself was also very capable and hardworking, so it was normal for him to present gold jewelry.
Among the onlookers, some were already green with envy, wishing they could rush forward and claim all the jewelry for themselves.
This was gold, after all. Although the necklace was just a thin chain, and the earrings were small, even the smallest piece of gold was still gold and very valuable.
Who was this person?
Besides Tian Xiaohe, it could be no one else.
While others might be envious and jealous, no one else, unlike Tian Xiaohe, wished they could directly claim it as their own.
Tian Xiaohe, whether her mind was too sharp or too dull, calculated everything.
What did not belong to her, she felt should belong to her.
Su Xiaocao's betrothal gifts originally had nothing to do with her.
But she didn't think so; she felt that she, as the sister-in-law, should receive them.
Under the eyes of everyone, Tian Xiaohe, despite her intense desire, did not dare to snatch them.
But giving up this idea was absolutely impossible.
Su Xiaotian, following Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, naturally saw Tian Xiaohe's red-eyed stare.
She couldn't help but frown.
This Tian Xiaohe was probably up to something again!
This woman was truly bothersome.
Fortunately, Sister Xiaocao was not Uncle Changjiu's biological daughter; otherwise, she would truly never be rid of Tian Xiaohe.
But she still had to give Sister Xiaocao a reminder that Tian Xiaohe was likely plotting something.
As for the others, they didn't pay attention to Tian Xiaohe's wolf-like gaze, all busy praising Su Xiaocao for her good fortune and the Su family for their substantial wealth, and so on.
Su Xiaocao and Su Sangong, the two individuals involved, were solely focused on each other, completely oblivious to anyone else!