An Mancang pinched Anle's puffed-up little face.

“Your mother and the others don’t know that Lewa earned money for the family today.” As she spoke, she took the basket containing the embroidered handkerchief from Qiao Qiu’s mother’s hand.

He handed a large bundle of oil paper from inside his clothes to Qiao Qiuniang, then poured all the copper coins that had filled the bottom of his clothes into Qiao Qiuniang's basket.

An Ding stared at them, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Dad, where did we get so much money?" Anning exclaimed in surprise, her voice shrill.

"Lewazi earned it for me." An Mancang simply said this, then took out the Rubik's Cube from his pocket and put it in the basket.

Then he took the meat buns and placed them on top of the basket, covering the basket tightly with the outer floral cloth.

Anjing murmured, "You made money again?"

Qiao Qiuniang stared at the basket full of copper coins, somewhat dumbfounded. She swallowed hard. Lewazi had made money again.

"How...how did you earn this money?"

An Mancang pursed his lips slightly and replied.

"Let's talk about it when we get home. Don't keep Uncle Xu and the others waiting."

The whole family followed An Mancang to the place they had agreed to meet Xu Suozhu, all in a daze.

After waiting on the oxcart for a while, I saw the villagers gradually returning.

Li Dapang, holding a book in his hands, showed it off to An Yi, "An Yi, look! This is a book my mother bought for me today."

An Yi ignored Li Dapang, only glancing enviously at the books he was holding. Thinking that he could also go to school, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. Since he could go to school, he could definitely have these books too.

His parents buy it for him every morning and evening.

As Song Minghui helped Li Dapang onto the oxcart, she glanced at Qiao Qiuniang and asked, "Qiuniang, how's business today? These embroidered handkerchiefs must be selling very well on a day like today, right?"

Qiao Qiuniang snapped out of her daze at having earned money from Anle again and gave an awkward twitch of her lips.

"Only three were sold."

After saying that, he looked at Song Minghui's embroidered handkerchief, which was now empty and used to wrap Li Dapang's books, and his face turned even redder.

"Sister Hui is really amazing; she has the business acumen and connections."

Song Minghui flicked a tuft of long hair behind her ear, her eyes gleaming with a hint of arrogance.

"That's right. Putting everything else aside, just take those old women and maids in those wealthy and powerful families, I have a very good relationship with them."

"If someone wants something, they're always very kind and take it from me."

"Mom, Mom, there's the smell of meat buns! I want to eat meat buns!" Li Dapang twitched his nose, his eyes shining brightly, sniffing around like a dog.

"Where did you get these meat buns? You're talking nonsense!" Song Minghui lightly slapped Li Dapang on the back. "Behave yourself, sit tight, don't fall off. This isn't a carriage."

"Mommy, Mommy, it really smells like meat buns! I can smell them! They're in that basket! I want some!"

Upon hearing this, Song Minghui glanced suspiciously at the basket slung over Qiao Qiuniang's arm.

"Qiu Niang, you bought meat buns?"

Qiao Qiuniang's smile froze instantly.

"Ah, I bought it for the child to try. He's never had a meat bun before, has he? On this special day, the child was asking for one, so I bought one for Kangwazi."

"Qiu Niang, I'm not trying to be mean, but with your family's circumstances and how you're living, why are you still buying meat buns?"

Your son is such a delicate eater, always wanting to eat expensive stuff.

The other day, he was making a fuss about wanting to eat bird eggs, and he even knocked your son's head off.

We're having meat buns today!

This kid is so picky! We can't let him get away with this!

If you spoil them too much when they grow up, you won't be able to afford to raise them anymore. How will you manage then?

Why eat meat buns when it's not a holiday or festival?

An Kang stared at Song Minghui with his big, wet eyes, blinking innocently.

Anle sneered, "What I want to eat, is it any of your business? Did I spend your money? Did I eat your food?"

One sentence left Song Minghui speechless, her face turning red.

Li Dapang tugged at Song Minghui's clothes, shouting, "Mom, I want to eat meat buns too! I want to eat meat buns too!"

Song Minghui slapped Li Dapang's hand away impatiently, "We're just people who toil in this dirt pit. What do we eat when it's not a holiday? All you know is food! Do you think you come from a wealthy family and can eat meat buns every meal? We're lucky if we can have a plain steamed bun during the New Year."

Anle scoffed. This guy was lecturing his son, making veiled accusations and insults.

Qiao Qiuniang clearly understood what Song Minghui meant, and she felt a little embarrassed in front of a whole carload of villagers.

Her family's circumstances were indeed what they were; with those circumstances, let alone eating meat buns, being able to eat plain steamed buns was truly a luxury.

Xu Suozhu, who was driving the oxcart, couldn't stand it anymore and turned around to shout.

"Hey, what's the big deal? It's just that I bought a meat bun for the kid to satisfy his craving. Does being poor mean we can't afford meat buns? Tiegen's family, stop badmouthing people."

Song Minghui glanced at Xu Suozhu unhappily, "Uncle Xu, what do you mean by that? How did I insult someone?"

I'm just telling the truth!

I, Song Minghui, speak plainly and honestly. That's how things are, and that's the logic behind them.

If I don't want to hear it, I don't want to talk about it either. Anyway, this life isn't for the Li family.

Anle nodded with a smile, "That's right. It's just how other people live their lives. Whether they live well or poorly is their business. Don't be a gossip and spread rumors. If you have a foul mouth, you'll have your tongue pulled out in hell."

Song Minghui's face, which had been flushed red, immediately turned green—

Seeing that Song Minghui's expression had changed, Qiao Qiuniang glared at Anle before anyone could react.

"Le Wa Zi, can you shut your mouth for a while? You never seem to have a moment of peace."

Ever since this little girl hit her head and woke up, she's been speaking quite fluently. She's not very old, but her mouth has become quite sharp.

Anle, not one to back down, snorted and mimicked Song Minghui's tone, speaking in a high-pitched voice.

"I didn't say anything wrong. I'm just stating the facts. That's how things are, and that's the logic. Can't people even say what I'm saying?"

If I don't want to hear it, I don't want to talk about it either. Anyway, I'm not the one going to hell to have my tongue pulled out.

His adorable expression amused everyone on the bus, and they all covered their mouths and chuckled.

"Qiu Niang, your son Le has quite the sharp tongue."

Someone laughed and said, "She has quite a temper."