Hearing He Tiantian say that, Zhao Denglong and Zhao Wanzi became even more attentive and careful.
They knew it wasn't easy for their mother to raise them alone, so they tried their best to do everything well.
The mother and her two daughters pickled seven or eight cabbages. If they had enough jars at home, they would have pickled even more. To make the pickled cabbage and radishes taste even better, He Tiantian secretly bought some seasonings and dried shrimp from the mall to add to enhance the flavor.
He Tiantian felt a pang of heartache as he poured in such a large amount of seasoning. He'd spent nearly a hundred coins on seasonings from the mall these past few days—what a waste!
He Tiantian was busy spreading the mixed seasonings evenly over each head of cabbage. Just then, a noise came from outside.
The wooden door of the dilapidated temple was already rotten and on the verge of collapse, and after being kicked like that, most of it fell off on the spot.
Old Mrs. Zhao stood imposingly at the door, leaning on her cane, supported by her eldest daughter-in-law, Tao, and her youngest daughter-in-law, Cheng, on either side. She looked every bit the part of a wealthy old lady.
Of course, wealthy old ladies wouldn't dress as shabbily as he did.
He Tiantian glanced up at Old Lady Zhao, her heart unmoved. But the two children, Zhao Denglong and Zhao Wanzi, were quite frightened, their little faces tense and anxious as they stared outside.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought you were dead." Old Mrs. Zhao said this with a stern face, her words quite vicious.
Tao lowered her head, looking docile, while Cheng looked at He Tiantian with a smug expression.
He Tiantian washed her hands and stood up. She smiled and met Old Lady Zhao's eyes. "My mother is not dead yet. How could I dare to walk in front?"
As she spoke, He Tiantian sighed again, "Alas... Xiangyang died so young. As his daughter-in-law, I have to fulfill my filial duty to my mother, don't I?" He Tiantian said the last word "filial duty" through gritted teeth, and anyone could hear the meaning behind it.
Granny Zhao's face turned ashen with anger. "Alright, I won't waste my breath on you. Madam Cheng said you caught a lot of fish with your fishing net, and we've come here today to borrow your net."
No one in the surrounding villages owned a fishing net, so when many people saw He Tiantian catch fish, they went to the river behind the mountain to catch fish as well.
Unfortunately, the ice in the river was very thick, and even after struggling to break it, the group couldn't catch a single fish despite their best efforts.
After several days of fruitless attempts, everyone started eyeing He Tiantian's fishing nets.
Old Lady Zhao was determined to get the fishing net before the others. After all, it's always good to strike first. If they waited until the end and the fish were almost all caught, they would be left empty-handed.
"Mother, you're being too polite..." He Tiantian said slowly, which made Old Lady Zhao's eyes light up, and her contempt for He Tiantian increased even more.
When Cheng went back, she told He that He was different from before, but when she saw her today, she realized that He was still the same as before, not a word to be spoken.
"Anyone who didn't know better would think you're here to rob me. I have no connection with your Zhao family anymore, so what right do you have to come and borrow things?" He Tiantian sneered, her voice also gloomy.
"You..." Old Mrs. Zhao had lived most of her life, and this was the first time she had ever been retorted by this weak-willed daughter-in-law, especially in front of her other two daughters-in-law. This made Old Mrs. Zhao feel very embarrassed and angry, and she felt a bit depressed.
"Mother, you see? I told you Second Sister-in-law is being stubborn. She's just being disrespectful to you!" Madam Cheng added fuel to the fire, as if she didn't want to miss out on the drama.
“Mother… Tiantian isn’t that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding.” Tao explained in a soft, mosquito-like voice. She glanced at He Tiantian, then her gaze fell on He Tiantian’s slightly protruding belly.
Tao felt a pang of sadness. She was a mother of three, and her mother-in-law was a mother of five... How could she be so heartless as to kick her second son's wife out?
"Ha, sister-in-law, when did it become your turn to speak? Mother hasn't even said a word yet..."
"Shut up too!" Old Mrs. Zhao interrupted Cheng before she could finish speaking. She glared at Cheng fiercely, which frightened Cheng into immediately falling silent.
"So you mean you're not going to lend it?" Old Mrs. Zhao looked at He Tiantian, her eyes filled with endless hatred.
He Tiantian really wanted to kick this wretched old woman out, but before she could even make a move, another voice rang out from outside.
"Is Mrs. He home? I'm Granny Wang." Granny Wang walked in with faltering steps, and when she saw the scene inside the house, she gave an awkward smile.
Goodness gracious, what's this all about? Why is Old Lady Zhao here with all her daughters-in-law?
Old Mrs. Zhao glanced at Granny Wang with displeasure and bluntly snorted, "You've come to borrow a fishing net, haven't you?"
"I advise you to go back. This He family woman is very powerful now. She doesn't even respect me, her mother, let alone you..."
He Tiantian looked at Granny Wang, who was probably in her fifties and had a kind face. She remembered clearly that day when she was beaten and scolded by Granny Zhao, everyone around her was indifferent, but only Granny Wang spoke up and offered a few words of advice.
So He Tiantian treated Granny Wang quite well, warmly taking her hand and asking with a smile, "Granny Wang, you've come at the right time. The fishing nets at home are just sitting there unused. Sit down and have a cup of tea to warm yourself up, I'll go get them for you."
He Tiantian pressed Wang Pozi down onto a low stool and told Zhao Denglong to quickly pour water, leaving Wang Pozi completely bewildered.
Old Mrs. Zhao stared in astonishment at He Tiantian's complete change in attitude, cursing her a thousand times in her heart.
I should have killed this woman and her unborn child that day, so I wouldn't be so annoyed by looking at her now.
He Tiantian took out a fishing net from the inner room and solemnly placed it in Wang Pozi's hands.
"Grandma Wang, you can take this fishing net and use it. Return it to me when you're done."
Granny Wang hugged the tattered fishing net, looking flattered and surprised. This...this...can this thing really catch big fish? That's great, that's great! She'll go back and call her son and daughter-in-law to go to the back mountain. Her grandson will have meat to eat for the New Year.
"Thank you so much, Mrs. He. I don't know what to say..." Old Mrs. Wang was so excited that tears streamed down her face. She thanked them profusely and left with the fishing net in her arms.
Mrs. Cheng was extremely anxious as she watched the meat that was about to be in her mouth slip away.
But seeing Old Lady Zhao's gloomy face, she dared not speak again, and could only glare fiercely at He Tiantian.
"Since you're so heartless, we'd rather not lend you this fishing net!" Old Mrs. Zhao snorted coldly and turned to leave.
"Wait..." He Tiantian quickly called out to them.
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