That chicken was actually a laying hen that Xia Tianxiu bought at a high price from a fellow villager—she planned to cook a pot of chicken that evening to improve Su Yin's nutrition.

A few minutes after Xia Tianyu went back, Sun Qiaomei came out furtively.

Su Ruyi squatted by the roadside until her legs were numb. Seeing that no one was around and Sun Qiaomei had gone far away, she flashed into her spatial dimension.

He pulled up a chair, sat down comfortably, and continued to monitor the activity outside the space.

About half an hour later, Sun Qiaomei led seven or eight old men straight into the courtyard next to her own courtyard—the courtyard where Xia Tianxiu and Qi Zhao had just moved in.

Su Ruyi quickly released her divine sense and probed into the courtyard.

Xia Tianxiu had just started stewing the chicken and was cleaning up the stove.

Xia Tianxiu is indeed a skilled worker; she just cleaned the henhouse, and it was spotless.

There was only a little water on the floor, and the stove was spotless.

Qi Zhao was sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, reading a book.

Upon seeing the crowd, he put down his book and stood up.

Sun Qiaomei walked towards Xia Tianxiu with a big smile: "Granddaughter-in-law, I don't know what good luck my grandson Su Yin had to get such a good wife like you!"

Xia Tianxiu took a step back warily, pointing at the people behind Sun Qiangmei: "Who are these people?"

Sun Qiaomei hurriedly said, "These are all the people in charge of the Su family in the village. This is the clan chief."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the clan chief stepped forward: "Sun Dapao, stop talking nonsense! Your house is going to be confiscated today no matter what! Paying back debts is a matter of course!"

Xia Tianxiu and Qi Zhao exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat bewildered.

Sun Qiaomei plopped down on the ground and crawled toward Xia Tianxiu, pleading, "Granddaughter-in-law, the Su family is falling apart! You have to save us!"

Xia Tianxiu hurriedly took two steps back: "Grandma, just say what you want to say, don't do this."

Sun Qiaomei tearfully recounted:

"My eldest grandson, Su Yin, is sick and was sent back by the people from the educated youth office!"

We're trying to treat him, but it's a bottomless pit!

It's impossible to fill it up!

He just squandered all the family's money like that!

There was no other way, so I borrowed 2,000 yuan from the Su clan chief!

The 2000 yuan spent on medication and acupuncture was completely wasted!

Granddaughter-in-law, you don't know, when your husband Su Yin first came back, it wasn't like this at all!

At that time, he was like a fool, not responding when called!

With his mouth open, drool would flow three feet long!

He's recovered so well now, all thanks to the money I spent on his medical treatment!

I just saw it today!

"Granddaughter-in-law! Please save the Su family! I beg you!"

Xia Tianxiu's face turned pale, and she looked at Qi Zhao again.

Qi Zhao frowned: "2000 yuan? Even if you ate dragon meat, it wouldn't cost 2000 yuan, right?"

The clan chief pulled out a stack of IOUs: "I have IOUs right here! You can't just renege on your debts with empty promises. Do you think you can get away with it? Old woman Sun, enough talk, vacate the house!"

Sun Qiaomei burst into tears again: "Are you trying to kill this old woman?!"

After crying for a while, she looked pitifully at Xia Tianxiu, "Granddaughter-in-law, you can't just stand by and watch me die!"

Xia Tianxiu was no Xia Tianyu, and she didn't tolerate Sun Qiaomei at all. She coldly said, "Help! We'll take Su Yin away in the next couple of days, and we're just waiting for the car to arrive. If you have to vacate the house today, then let Su Yin stay in my uncle's room. Anyway, the house is already cleaned up, and she can stay with my uncle!"

This time, it was Sun Qiaomei's turn to be dumbfounded.

She exchanged a few glances with the clan chief, blinked a few times, and said, "No... Granddaughter-in-law, you can't abandon us."

Xia Tianxiu asked curiously, "Grandma, how do you want me to manage this?"

Having said all that, Sun Qiaomei had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Granddaughter-in-law, could you help us pay off this debt first? Grandma won't take your money for nothing. Grandma will give you an IOU and promise to pay you back every month."

"I have no money," Xia Tianxiu said crisply and decisively.

"You have no money? How could you have no money? You've acknowledged your biological mother in Beijing, don't your family give you money?"

Qi Zhao finally understood what was going on. So they were here to freeload? No! This was blatant extortion!

Qi Zhao's face turned red with anger: "Yue'er, let's go! Let's go find the village chief."

Upon hearing the words "find the village chief," Sun Qiaomei and the clan chief were momentarily flustered, but they quickly calmed down. The clan chief said, "Paying back debts has always been a matter of course. Granddaughter-in-law of the Su family, you have helped your grandmother's family pay off their debts, and the whole family will be grateful to you."

Xia Tianxiu had already been pulled out of the courtyard by Qi Zhao. She turned back and said, "But I have no money."

After saying that, the two of them walked away.

Sun Qiaomei and the clan chief and his entourage looked at each other in bewilderment.

After the two had walked away, the clan chief leaned close to Sun Qiaomei's ear and said, "You have to give us the 20 yuan for this trip!"

Sun Qiaomei blushed and said, "Keep your voice down!"

An elder of the clan said quietly, "This granddaughter-in-law from the city is no fool like the last one! Granny Sun, I think you should give up! You can't beat this little girl!"

The clan chief said, "Stop talking nonsense, here's our twenty coins, hurry up!"

Sun Qiaomei stammered for a while, then counted out two ten-yuan bills from her pocket and threw them on the ground: "You made sixty yuan for nothing last time, and you're still greedy for this twenty! You shameless old hag! Bah!"

The clan chief wasn't angry. He smiled, bent down to pick up the money, and walked out with seven or eight clan elders.

Sun Qiaomei stayed alone in the courtyard, catching her breath for a while.

Then, his eyes rolled around.

He rushed into the house and ransacked the place.

They did manage to find some luggage and books, but not a single penny.

She returned to the yard, her gaze drifting towards the kitchen.

Three minutes later, Su Ruyi watched helplessly as Sun Qiaomei carried the pot of boiling chicken soup back to her courtyard.

A short while later, the village chief led several militiamen, carrying wooden guns, and walked over menacingly.

The village chief stretched out his palm and pounded urgently on the door of the Su family's house: "Sun Dapao, you son of a bitch, get out here!"

Fourth daughter-in-law Su Cuifen opened the door.

She feigned ignorance and asked, "Uncle Village Chief, what's the matter?"

"Bring out Sun Dapao!" the village chief snapped.

Sun Qiaomei had no choice but to reluctantly come out, her eyes drooping as she forced a smile, "Village Chief, what's the matter now?"

The village chief was so angry his hands were trembling: "Did you conspire with Su Laozhan and his gang to extort money from my brother and my niece?"

Sun Qiaomei immediately slapped her thigh: "Oh dear, I'm innocent! There's no such thing! But... the family does owe money."