Ms. Niu said ironically, "You are really sharp-tongued, Niece daughter-in-law, so good at talking! But you are a daughter-in-law, so I suggest that you should learn how to behave well. Look at Ms. Xu, she is a good example for you. Learn from your sister-in-law!"
Qiao Xuan did not care at all.
She did not show any anger but stared at Ms. Niu who seemed annoyed. She smiled. "Thank you, Second-Sister-in-law!"
Ms.Niu got suffocated. "…"
Ms. Mang's eyes rolled as she shouted. "Honestly, Niece daughter-in-law, you can't just favor Taotao, not us. Shouldn't you be giving Meiling and Xiaozhi gifts too?"
Ms. Niu's eyes brightened too. That was a way to cut in. She snorted sarcastically. "True, Niece daughter-in-law, you are not looking down at us and planning to give us nothing, right?"
Before Qiao Xuan could say something, Ms. Fang countered. "Of course not, when Ms. Zhang got married, you gave us no gifts either, right? There is no such rule here at our place, is there?"
Most of the rural families were poor, and it was already a big thing for a newly-wedded bride to give presents to her husband's family, not to every other family member.
No one from other families would come and ask for gifts.
Ms. Mang mumbled, feeling unconvinced. "That is different. Ms. Zhang is poor, but you are the daughter of the County Magistrate, you should not be stingy!"
"That is true!"
Ms. Fang smiled coldly. "But they are both daughters-in-law of the Shao Family, and they should do the same thing, shouldn't they? Stop babbling here!"
These greedy women always thought of tricks to get things for themselves.
Ms. Niu and Ms. Mang saw that Ms. Fang were talking fiercely and unreasonably, and that they could get nothing good out of her, so they made a few complaints and left with their daughters.
Ms. Fang mumbled. "Damn women…"
Shao Taotao let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly. "You are excellent, Mom, Fifth Sister-in-law!"
"You!" Ms. Fang poked her forehead. "Just watch carefully and learn from your fifth Sister-in-law!"
Shao Taotao smiled. "I got it, Mom!"
Qiao Xuan smiled too.
Ms. Fang added. "Just leave them alone. They are always shameless. If they dare to trouble you privately, just come to me!"
"Okay, Mother-in-law!" Qiao Xuan smiled. "If they ever come to me again, I will try and talk sense into them!"
Ms. Fang understood what she meant by 'talking sense into them'. She laughed and nodded happily. "Very good!"
Ms. Fang turned around and continued to walk into the kitchen, where she saw Ms. Xu craning out her neck around the corner of the wall.
Ms. Xu got startled, but could not hide fast enough when she was found. She forced a smile as she walked out carefully. "Mom, I have just come out of the farmyard…"
Ms. Fang was aware that she had been watching the show standing in the corner for a very long time.
She always hid when something happened. Whenever the other family members came to seek trouble, she always hid away, instead of stepping up and offering help.
She knew pretty well what she should do. She was an obedient and down-to-earth person, who kept half of their earnings and gave half to her mother-in-law. She and her husband were not capable people, but they did save some money.
She only cared for herself, her husband as well as her children, instead of anyone else.
Ms. Fang did not want to reveal her secret. She answered briefly and said calmly, "Wash your hands and come to help me in the kitchen."
Seeing that her mother-in-law did not blame her, Ms. Xu nodded and answered yes.