DouDou and GuoGuo ran towards Su XiaoNuan, waving their little hands and shaking their little heads excitedly, even walking with an air of nonchalance.

Su Xiaonuan was amused by the children. "Watch your step, don't fall!"

"Sister-in-law, hurry back. It's my mom's birthday today. You need to teach me how to cook some good dishes to entertain the guests. The relatives will be arriving soon." Xiao Moxi's eyes were also fixed on the things in the basket. Those were all scarce items, and she was actually giving them away. She felt reluctant, but she couldn't stop her. Su Xiaonuan was able to bring so many things to thank her savior, which showed she had a good sense of responsibility. In a way, it was a good thing.

"I don't need to teach you how to do it. I'll make it myself when I get back." Su Xiaonuan didn't forget what she had said. She always kept her word. She said she would take care of the ingredients for her mother-in-law's birthday, and she was going to do it.

"That's great!" Mersey clapped.

"That's great!" Dou Dou and Guo Guo imitated their aunt's words and clapping. They also felt that life was great now. Their mother took them with her wherever she went, and they had delicious food every day.

"Then Dou Dou and Guo Guo, they don't need to go. Sister-in-law, hurry back!" Xiao Moxi stopped Dou Dou and Guo Guo. "Come on, Auntie will play hide-and-seek with you. Mom will be back soon. Quick, you two go hide and see who Auntie finds first."

Upon hearing about playing games, DouDou and GuoGuo immediately became interested. The two little ones took off and searched for a place to hide from people.

Chen Hao's family lived at the west end of the village, while Xiao's family lived at the east end. It was quite a distance between them. He originally planned to walk there, but in the end, he pushed his bicycle out so he could go and come back as soon as possible to prepare dishes for his mother-in-law's birthday banquet.

The things she sent to the Chen family were considered luxury items in those days. They weren't something you could buy just with money; you needed various tickets to get them. The tickets were all given to her by the restaurant owner; otherwise, no one would sell them to her even if she had the money.

Su Xiaonuan's actions surprised the Chen family, especially Chen Hao's wife, who kept staring at her, not daring to leave her side for even a moment, fearing that her husband might be bewitched by the beautiful woman in front of him.

Since Chen Hao rescued Su Xiaonuan from the water, his wife has been nagging him about it for the past two days. She keeps saying that he has impure thoughts about Su Xiaonuan, or that Su Xiaonuan is definitely trying to make a move on him.

It's not that Hao's wife is being petty; it's just that the original owner left a bad impression on everyone. Many men in the village fell for her tricks. It would be one or two, but if so many men were played like that, then she really was a bad woman.

"Xiao Nuan, why are you being so polite? You've come all this way, and you've brought so much stuff. I can't accept this." Chen Hao rubbed his hands together and glanced cautiously at his wife beside him.

Chen Hao acted cautiously and carefully.

Hao's wife's eyes held a hint of wariness.

Su Xiaonuan was self-aware; the original owner's previous actions had been a bit excessive. Although she hadn't actually gotten together with that man, there was always a hint of seduction. In order to divorce Xiao Moran, the original owner didn't hesitate to ruin her own reputation.

"Brother Hao, Sister-in-law Hao, your family is my savior. If it weren't for Brother Hao rescuing me from the water, I wouldn't be standing here alive talking to you now," Su Xiaonuan said sincerely. "Although I don't have a good reputation in this village, I'm really not a bad woman. Some things can't be judged by appearances. Right now, no one will believe me no matter what I say, but that's okay. Time will prove it. I will prove my innocence with my actions."

"Little Nuan, please don't say that. Your sister-in-law believes you." No matter how Hao's sister-in-law looked at Su Xiaonuan, she didn't see the frivolous behavior that everyone was talking about. Her eyes were as pure and clear as the mountain spring water.

“Yes, your wife and I both believe in you.” Chen Hao was overjoyed to see his wife suddenly relieved. “You must have your own reasons. No one could bear what you went through.”

"Thank you." Su Xiaonuan said and was about to leave. "Then I won't bother you any longer. We have guests at home today, and I need to go back and cook."

Just as I was pushing my bicycle out of the yard, Hao's wife chased after me carrying a chicken. "Xiao Nuan, your brother Hao asked me to catch a chicken for you to take back and add to your meal. Today should be your mother-in-law's 60th birthday. Your mother-in-law has already said that she won't be hosting a banquet, just a gathering of relatives. Otherwise, we would have gone to your house to celebrate her birthday."

"That won't do." Su Xiaonuan took out two five-yuan bills from her pocket. "Then I'll pay for this chicken from Sister Hao."

"You can't do that, your brother Hao will scold me to death." Hao's sister-in-law's eyes were fixed on the two bills. Ten yuan, that's quite a lot, enough for the children's tuition.

"Sister Hao, I see you have chickens and ducks. Why don't you catch a couple more ducks and sell them to me?" Su Xiaonuan wanted to help them. The villagers didn't have many sources of income, and every holiday they had to worry about their children's tuition fees. This was a common predicament for every household.

"Two more?"

As she spoke, Su Xiaonuan took out another twenty yuan and stuffed it into Hao's hand. "Okay, get me two more ducks."

"Girl, you're giving too much. These chickens and ducks aren't worth the money you're giving."

"It's alright. If you think I've given too much, Sister Hao, you can slaughter and clean the chickens and ducks and bring them to me. Consider the extra money as a labor fee."

"Alright then." Hao's wife no longer refused and rushed into the house with the chicken.

When Su Xiaonuan returned, several relatives were already chatting loudly in the courtyard. When they saw her return, no one looked at her directly; they just glanced at her sideways before continuing their casual conversation.

Good news goes unnoticed, but bad news travels fast.

The news of Su Xiaonuan being caught in bed with another man spread far and wide.

"Uncle, Aunt, Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt, you're here?" Su Xiaonuan ignored their disdain. There was nothing she could do; the original owner had done so many despicable things, and in that era, the Xiao family had already shown the greatest leniency towards her.

The relatives were bewildered by her affectionate manner. They had known this woman for a long time, having met her many times before, yet she had never greeted them before.

"Wait here, I'll go get you some sunflower seeds and fruit. It's more fun to chat while eating something."

Everyone seemed frozen in place, not moving an inch.

It took them a while to realize what was happening.

"Sis, did she take the wrong medicine? Why has she changed her personality?"

"Yes, they've never greeted us before. Even when we bumped into them at the market, they were complete strangers."

"Sister-in-law, is it because of that incident that she's afraid of being kicked out of the Xiao family, so she's trying to please us elders? Is she hoping we'll plead for her?"

"Oh, so there are things she's afraid of?"

"Aunt, Second Aunt, Auntie, don't talk nonsense. That thing isn't true. Xiao Nuan and that person are innocent. She just wanted to put on an act with that person, mainly to force me to divorce him." Xiao Moran came over with a teapot and teacups.