The four of them worked together, preparing the meal before it got dark.
Following the village custom, meals were usually eaten under the large trees at home to enjoy the shade.
A simple wooden table, self-made wooden stools, the four of them sat around.
On the table, a basin of sparkling white rice was crystal clear, accompanied by four dishes, a mix of hot and cold, meat and vegetables, truly tempting.
Teacher Xie Nan, having her first proper taste of farmhouse food, was very happy.
"You city folk have seen a lot; this is farmhouse food. We're just afraid you won't like it," Su Changjiu's wife said politely with a smile.
"Nowadays, cities don't use firewood to cook anymore. The food doesn't taste as good. This firewood-cooked meal tastes the best," Teacher Xie Nan said with emotion.
Su Xiaotian thought that it was still okay for now. In another ten to twenty years, with all the appliances, the food cooked would truly lose its flavor.
"If Teacher Xie finds it delicious, eat more. Don't worry about overeating; we'll go for a walk outside, and it will all be digested."
Xie Nan smiled, "I can't walk anymore. I've never walked this much."
Taking the train, then the car, and then climbing a mountain, the amount of exercise for Teacher Xie Nan had already exceeded her limit.
She decided it was best to rest well. Su Dan Novel Network
Su Changjiu's wife also smiled in agreement, "Indeed, after all the toiling on the mountain, it's best to soak your feet and rest early."
Her impression of Teacher Xie Nan was getting better and better.
Despite being a city person, she was so down-to-earth, not looking down on their rural ways at all.
She even helped out with chores, which was truly rare.
If only she wasn't Xiaocao's biological mother, then there would be no barriers between them.
Each person had a bowl of white rice, accompanied by the fragrant dishes. Even Teacher Xie Nan's appetite was whetted.
"I had beef noodles for lunch today, and now I've eaten the dishes you made, Sister-in-law. I realize now that I was ignorant."
She used to think that the northwest was a harsh and cold place with nothing good. Now she knew that it was also a place rich in produce and full of delicious food.
Su Xiaotian felt that it was actually because Teacher Xie Nan was in a good mood that everything tasted good.
However, no matter how good one's mood, it was hard to avoid someone with no sense of propriety showing up while others were eating.
Teacher Xie Nan was indeed in a very good mood today, and her appetite had increased a bit. After finishing one bowl, she felt she could eat a little more, so she served herself half a bowl.
Just then, someone pushed open the gate.
Su Changjiu's wife was puzzled. This was the mealtime for every household. People in the village were particular; they usually wouldn't visit at this hour.
Su Changjiu's wife looked towards the entrance. The visitors were none other than Tian Xiaohe and her two sons.
Tian Xiaohe and Su Ping'an had two sons together. The elder one was eight this year, and the younger one was six.
Logically, both children were of school age and should have learned some manners by now.
However, Tian Xiaohe was a reckless person, and she had raised her two sons without any discipline.
They might behave better in other people's homes, but at Su Changjiu's house, they had no manners at all.
In simple terms, Tian Xiaohe's teaching was that their grandparents' house was their own house; whatever they wanted, they could just take.
The two children saw the delicious food and dishes on the table and rushed over to grab them.
The children from the old Su family had been taught manners since childhood and wouldn't behave like this. Su Xiaotian couldn't stand such children.
She frowned and extended a hand to block them.
The two children, not getting their hands on the meat dish, were immediately unhappy and started yelling at Su Xiaotian.
"This is my house, what are you doing?"
"I'm eating my family's meat, why won't you let me eat?"
Tian Xiaohe saw this scene and was also very displeased.
She had specifically brought her two sons today because she smelled the meat from her mother-in-law's house. If they couldn't eat it, she wouldn't be content!
"Su Xiaotian, what do you mean? You're coming to our house to freeload and then acting all high and mighty?"
"Are you speaking human words? Who is freeloading at your house? This is my house, Tian Xiaohe, we have split the family!"
Su Changjiu's wife, whose anger had been suppressed for most of the day, could no longer hold it back.
She had accepted the embarrassment today, but to not even let them eat in peace, was that something a person would do?
No well-mannered family in the village would act like this.
Yet, Tian Xiaohe and her two grandsons were doing such an ill-mannered thing.
The two children were still young. If they were so ill-mannered now, what would they be like when they grew up?
If they continued like this, wouldn't these two children be pointed at and gossiped about?
"Mother, these are your own grandsons!" Tian Xiaohe hadn't expected her mother-in-law to side with that brat Su Xiaotian.
Was it because the old Su family could make money for everyone, so they were deliberately trying to curry favor?
What a lack of backbone!
"What if they are my grandsons? It's fortunate they aren't my own sons. If my own son came here at this moment, I'd slap him hard and ask him when his father taught him such manners?"
This time, Su Changjiu spoke, clearly furious.
His family was unfortunate to have married such a wife, and even more unfortunate that his son was a spineless coward!
No matter how much Tian Xiaohe made a scene, it was always her mother-in-law who dealt with it. This was the first time her husband had spoken out.
The words from her father-in-law, spoken so resolutely, made Tian Xiaohe look at him in disbelief.
She dared to be so overbearing because she was sure her father-in-law wouldn't confront his daughter-in-law.
"Father, what do you mean by this?"
"Let Su Ping'an come over. I, as his father, will discipline my son today and ask him if he fed all the manners his father taught him to the dogs?"
Su Changjiu said with a cold face, ignoring Tian Xiaohe.
The commotion at the village chief's house had already alerted several neighboring families.
Some who enjoyed a good spectacle came to watch.
These people held their bowls, watching the excitement while eating, not missing a beat.
"Xiao Chuanzi, help Grandpa Village Chief find Su Ping'an." Su Changjiu happened to see a child of five or six and called out.
Xiao Chuanzi's family didn't want their child to get involved in other people's disputes, but before they could stop him, Xiao Chuanzi had already run off to find him.
All that was left was for the adults in his family to curse.
"Father, are you really going to side with outsiders like this?" Tian Xiaohe hadn't expected Su Changjiu to be serious.
"It's not good to discipline one's children in front of guests, but if the child is wrong, then they are wrong. I, Su Changjiu, will throw away my face and discipline my son today in front of the guests and the villagers!"
Su Changjiu spoke with a consistently cold expression, which made Tian Xiaohe feel a little scared.
She felt that her plan this time might have gone wrong.
It seemed like she was going to lose something!
She panicked and intended to flee, but her mother-in-law grabbed her.
"Since you're here, wait for Su Ping'an to come, and then listen together to what your father has to say."