Li Xiaohua woke up early in the morning, wearing the pink clothes Niang Niang had newly bought for her, her eyes curved happily into crescents.
These were her new clothes!
"Little sister, come eat breakfast! There's something delicious today!"
Li Jianjun's voice was loud, calling directly from the kitchen, penetrating through the entire main hall.
"I'm coming!"
She slipped out of bed in a flash and pattered quickly into the kitchen.
Just in time to see her eldest brother bringing breakfast out from the pot, her eyes widened round with surprise.
"Steamed buns!"
Li Jianguo pointed towards the second brother who was scooping water nearby, "Go wash your face and hands first before eating."
When they took the first bite of the steamed bun, they encountered the sweet, soft, and glutinous red bean paste inside, and all three siblings were astonished.
"Brother, it's actually a bun, a bun with red bean filling!"
Li Jianguo grunted in agreement, couldn't help but chuckle, and chewed faster in his mouth.
So delicious!
Li Xiaohua savored the red bean paste inside with great satisfaction, extremely happy, "It's so delicious!"
She added, "Niang Niang is so good!"
Although the previous Niang Niang was very fierce, would scold them, and even hit them, the current Niang Niang is very good, making delicious food for them, buying them new clothes, and even making red bean paste buns for them to eat.
Niang Niang is so good!
[Ding! Li Xiaohua's Affection Points +20!]
[Ding! Li Jianguo's Affection Points +10!]
[Ding! Li Jianjun's Affection Points +15!]
[Your Redeemable Points: 151]
Shen Ning, who was on her way halfway, received the broadcast from the System Store, and her steps became noticeably lighter.
She guessed they must have gotten up and eaten the buns.
Foodies, aren't they just too adorable!
She needed to hurry back and cook another meal at noon; the Affection Points would surely come flooding in!
On the other side, the three children sat around the table, biting into the sweet buns one mouthful at a time. When only two buns remained on the plate, Li Xiaohua reached out to protect the plate.
"Brothers, save some for Niang Niang!"
With his hand halfway stretched out, Li Jianjun awkwardly chuckled twice and withdrew his hand.
"It's okay, there are more in the pot. Niang Niang steamed a lot; I only took some out," the eldest brother distributed one to each of them, "Eat up."
Li Jianjun immediately took it and split half to share, "Brother, let's eat together!"
'Bang! Bang! Bang!'
A series of forceful knocks came from the courtyard gate.
Xiaohua's face instantly lit up with joy, and she sprang to her feet, "Niang Niang is back!"
Just as she was about to go open the door, they heard a burst of shouting.
"Third daughter-in-law, open the door! Open the door! Third daughter-in-law, hurry up and open the door!"
They were all too familiar with this voice—it was Grandma coming.
The happy expressions on the three children's faces froze, even showing a trace of fear.
It was evident how much psychological shadow this Grandma had left on them.
"Brother, it's Grandma…" Xiaohua's mouth puckered, as if she were about to cry the next second.
Li Jianguo's expression wasn't good either; his defensive thorns emerged once again. With Niang Niang not home, he was the eldest in the house. He had to protect his younger brother and sister, protect their home! His gaze swept over the buns in the pot, and he made a quick decision, pouring the buns into the enamel basin, covering it with the lid, and hiding it in the stove pit.
"Jianjun, take Xiaohua and hide in the room. Don't come out!"
Li Jianjun was deeply uneasy. "Brother, I'll go with you. Let our sister hide!"
"No, both of you go hide. Don't open the door. I can run fast!"
With the decision made, he pushed his siblings into the room and reminded them once more, "Make sure to bolt the door properly!"
Only then did he head toward the courtyard gate. The knocking hadn't ceased, growing so forceful it seemed intent on splintering their door.
"Open up! Hurry up! I can hear you moving around inside! Quickly!"
"My Niang Niang isn't home. She went to town."
Old Lady Li had been pounding on the door for ages, her throat parched and rage simmering. She knew those little brats were home—how dare they pretend otherwise!
"Li Jianguo, open this door! Since when can't I enter your house? Hurry up!"
Two more thunderous slams made the door shudder violently, as if it might collapse any second.
"If you don't open up, I'll break it down! Now!"
After an internal struggle, he reluctantly unlatched the door.
With a bang, the door swung open, forcing Jianguo back several steps to avoid being knocked over. But Old Lady Li wasn't done. Her triangular eyes narrowed as she swung a slap at him. "What took you so long?!"
Jianguo twisted aside, avoiding his face, but the blow landed hard on his shoulder, sending him sprawling. The impact burned like fire.
He scrambled up swiftly, his wolf-cub eyes blazing with hatred for the intruders.
Trailing behind Old Lady Li was her treasured grandson, Li Zhenxing. He didn't even glance at the boy on the ground, his gaze fixed hungrily on the kitchen as he tugged his grandmother's hand. "Nainai, I want steamed buns! I can smell them!"
In moments, Jianguo understood their purpose—they knew about the morning's buns!
"What do you want? We don't have any buns here!"
"Pfah!" Old Lady Li spat viciously, her murky eyes venomous as a lurking snake poised to strike. "Bastard brat, get out of my way!"
She strutted into the kitchen with her golden grandson, her eyes scanning until they narrowed on the woodpile behind the stove. She'd heard about the trade—two bundles of firewood for a packet of Guamian. The waste of good food made her seethe.
She yanked the lid off the pot, finding only an empty steamer tray and a bare plate.
"Where are the buns? My buns?" Zhenxing pouted, discontented. The air was thick with the sweet, floury scent of buns—he'd smelled it!
"Nainai, I want buns! I want them now!"
"Alright, alright, Nainai will find them. I'll find you those buns."
She began rifling through the sparse kitchen, which lacked even a proper cupboard. Her gaze lingered greedily on a jar of oil on the counter.
Her grandson, seeing no buns, burst into frustrated tears. "Nainai, there are no buns! Did they eat them all? Waa! I want buns! Buns!"
Old Lady Li held her dear grandson in her arms, her heart aching as she comforted him gently, "Don't cry, my dear. It's just steamed buns. Grandma will find flour to make some for you, I promise they'll be tastier than theirs!"
With his grandmother's promise and the thought of getting to eat steamed buns, Li Zhenxing finally stopped his wailing.
Old Lady Li glanced at Li Jianguo, who was staring at them from the doorway, and her face instantly darkened. Planting her hands on her hips, she began to scold, "You little brat, bring out the flour for me!"