It got dark quickly outside, and when it was time for dinner, Grandma Mei didn't put any food on the table.

Coconut seemed a little strange, but since she had eaten so many meatballs that afternoon, she didn't feel very hungry, so she didn't ask Grandma Mei for any more.

Grandma Mei was worried that her granddaughter would be hungry, so she specially cooked half a bowl of porridge for her, but the coconut shreds refused to eat it.

"This child, who usually gets hungry so quickly, isn't hungry today," Grandma Mei muttered, but didn't think much of it and went back to the kitchen to continue her work.

Coconut wasn't stupid. Smelling the delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen, she figured there would be something delicious to eat later, so she decided to save her room for that.

"Xiao Hua, it's time to make dumplings and set off firecrackers!" Grandma Mei's voice came from the kitchen.

"Alright!" Mei's father took a bunch of things and led Mei Liang, who had been waiting at the door, out.

"Mom, let me go inside and check on Sisi. She's never heard firecrackers before, and I'm afraid she'll be scared." Mei's mother suddenly realized that her daughter had never heard firecrackers before, so she quickly put down what she was holding and went inside.

"Go on, I can make the dumplings myself."

"Crackling... crackling..." Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers came from the courtyard.

Upon hearing the sound, Ye Si was indeed startled, thinking it was an enemy attack. She instinctively lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and quickly crawled to the edge of the kang.

"Sisi, are you scared? It's okay, it's just firecrackers." Mei's mother picked up her daughter, who had crawled to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and took off her shoes to climb onto the kang, wanting to take her daughter to the window to watch the firecrackers.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh (Let me go, the enemy is coming! I need to find cover)!" Coconut twisted and turned, trying to get off her mother's arms.

"Okay, okay, I won't look! It's alright! Listen, it's gone, don't be afraid." Seeing how scared her daughter was, Mei's mother stopped insisting.

When Ye Si heard that there was no more noise outside, she felt much relieved, but suddenly she heard a "crackling" sound from next door.

Coconut felt a tightness in her chest, pursed her lips, and frowned as she began to ponder just how many enemies there were.

The sound of firecrackers could be heard coming from very close at times, and very far away at others; sometimes, multiple firecrackers would even go off at the same time.

Coconut Flakes: There are so many enemies, it's too late for me to retreat now. Is today the last day I live?

Coconut sniffed and smelled a unique aroma, a meaty smell, but not entirely meaty.

Coconut Flakes: Since I'm going to die today anyway, let me eat my fill before I die! Hmm!

Coconut nodded, thinking her idea was very wise.

The meatballs on the plate had vanished, and Grandma Mei discovered it just as she was about to eat.

"Oh my god! What happened? More than half of the meatballs are gone!" Grandma Mei looked at the six meatballs on the plate and was so angry she wanted to curse.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Hearing the commotion, Mei's mother rushed over to check, worried that something might have happened to Grandma Mei.

"Look at these meatballs, there are only 6 left, there were supposed to be 15." Grandma Mei put the plate on the chopping block.

"A mouse?" Aunt Mei guessed.

"Impossible! I deliberately put the meatballs in the cupboard. How could a mouse be so resourceful as to open a cupboard door?"

"What are you two doing in the kitchen? The dumplings will get cold soon." Seeing that the two hadn't come out for a while, Mei's father couldn't help but come over and urge them.

"The meatballs are gone," said Aunt Mei, pointing to the plate on the chopping block.

"That goes without saying, someone must have stolen it!" Mei's father's expression changed, and his tone turned sour.

Mei's father went straight into the house and walked up to Mei Liang.

"Did you do this?"

"Huh?" Mei Liang was completely bewildered, wondering what was wrong with his father. He had been all smiles just a moment ago, so why was his face so long now?

"Tell me! Did you do it?" Mei's father was already convinced that Mei Liang had done it. He asked the question only to give Mei Liang a chance and hope that he would take the initiative to admit his mistake.

"What? What did I do?" Mei Liang felt that his father's expression was terrifying. He quickly stood up and backed away, afraid that his father would beat him.

"If you didn't do it, why are you hiding?" When Mei's father saw his son backing away, he was even more convinced that he must have stolen the meatballs.

"I backed away because your expression was too scary, I was afraid of getting beaten up." Mei Liang surveyed the terrain and realized that if his father really beat him up, he would have nowhere to hide.

"You deserve a beating!" Coconut knew from Mei's father's expression that the cub would be getting a beating again today.

As soon as Ye Si made a sound, Mei Liang immediately thought of how to escape this predicament. He picked up Ye Si next to him and held her in front of him, thinking that as long as his sister was there, his father would definitely not dare to make a move.

"Put Sisi down right now!" Seeing his son using his daughter as a shield, Mei's father was so angry that his chest heaved violently, and he wished he could just kick him.

"I won't let go!" Mei Liang's hand trembled slightly. He secretly tiptoed and let his little sister sit on his lap.

Mei Liang never expected that after not holding his younger sister for a while, he would soon be too heavy to carry her.

Mei Liang: What has she been eating lately? Why does she feel so heavy?

"Alright, it's Chinese New Year! Look how scared Liangliang is. He ate it, so be it. Leave the rest for Sisi, just don't let him eat it!" Mei's mother came into the house and pushed Mei's father, deciding not to pursue the matter any further.

"But this brat..."

"Alright! Tonight should be a happy night, sit down and eat." Grandma Mei pushed Dad Mei to the table and made him sit down to eat.

"What did you eat?" Seeing that the crisis was over, Mei Liang quickly put Rou Dunzi back on the stool.

"Hurry up and eat, and don't talk tonight!" Mei's mother glared at Mei Liang, telling him to shut up.

"What did I eat? I just secretly ate a few pieces of candy. Is it really necessary to get so angry? Usually when I eat, none of you say anything to me." Seeing that his mother didn't like him anymore, Mei Liang couldn't help but mutter to himself, feeling that his status in the family was getting lower and lower.

During the meal, Mei Liang watched as Grandma Mei put two meatballs into her younger sister's bowl, and then... that was it...

"Grandma, Grandma! Where's mine?" Mei Liang looked at his father and whispered to his grandmother that he hadn't eaten any meatballs yet.

"Hmph, there's none for you."

Grandma Mei glared at Mei Liang.

"You've already eaten so much, how dare you ask for more? Hurry up and eat your food!" Dad Mei slammed his chopsticks down on the table with a loud "bang".

Mei Liang shrank back and dared not utter another word, but he still felt aggrieved.

Mei Liang: I only stole a few pieces of candy, why can't I even eat meatballs?

Is that sugar really that important? It tastes the same as last year's!