Unsurprisingly, Qin Xiaoxiao got beaten up again. This time, Qin Aiguo didn't lift a finger; it was Grandma Qin who did it.

Grandma Qin was old and not very strong, so the blows didn't hurt much. But Qin Xiaoxiao still ran away crying and admitting her mistake, making quite a commotion.

When the neighbors came over to ask, Old Mrs. Qin put on a completely different face.

Grandma Qin smiled and said, "It's nothing. The child is grown up and has her own ideas. This has happened several times now. Every time she goes to the city to collect subsidies, she brings things home. For example, we have six cans of malted milk powder at home. Her grandfather and I can't possibly finish them all."

I still have mung bean cakes, red bean cakes, and sesame oil pastries in my cupboard that I haven't eaten yet. She also bought asparagus today. When will we ever finish them?

Look at these shoes of mine, they're brand new from the supply and marketing cooperative. She found them on the very first day and bought them for me and her husband. And that's not all, she wants to buy more today.

Tell me, isn't this kid being incredibly wasteful? Having enough to wear is enough; why buy so much? It's such a waste!

The neighbors around the house were so angry they almost spat out blood.

Damn it, we came here out of kindness to break up the fight, and this is what we get in return?

And she's such a spendthrift! We'd love to have a granddaughter who's so extravagant, why don't you give her to us?

This is blatant boasting.

So she's the only one with a granddaughter? And her granddaughter is the only one who's filial?

Yes, that's right. Their granddaughter is so filial. My own child can't compare!

After enduring Qin's boastful words with suppressed anger, the neighbors turned and left.

Seeing that everyone had left, Old Mrs. Qin grinned maliciously at Qin Xiaoxiao and said, "Come on, let's continue."

Qin Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded.

Didn't we pass this level? Why is there a continuation?

Qin Xiaoxiao wanted to cry but had no tears, so she gritted her teeth and kept running.

I can't run too fast. My grandma's little feet are too small to catch up with if I don't run fast enough. If I run any faster, I won't even be able to see her. Otherwise, the old lady will get sick from anger!

Not only could she not run too fast, but she also had to get hit by the old lady's stick from time to time, otherwise her grandfather's gaze would make her feel like she was being stabbed in the back.

After walking around the yard for about ten minutes, Old Mrs. Qin, panting heavily, leaned on her knees and glared at Qin Xiaoxiao.

"You little brat, get your ass over here."

Qin Xiaoxiao approached Old Mrs. Qin hesitantly, closed her eyes, and let Old Mrs. Qin slash her with the stick again. Only then did Old Mrs. Qin feel relieved.

"Grandma is doing this for your own good. Avoid going to that place. If something really happens, do you think Grandma will be able to live?"

"You don't know, in recent years, all those who got into trouble on the black market have been sent to the Northwest to reclaim wasteland. That's incredibly tough, can you handle it?"

Someone who can knock himself out just by pulling weeds, if he gets to the Northwest, I'll have to collect his corpse in less than five days.

Qin Xiaoxiao nodded obediently, "I'll listen to Grandma, I won't go now."

Anyway, the market will open up in less than two years, and there won't be anything she wants to buy, so she can just hold off for another two years.

Seeing that Qin Xiaoxiao had taken it to heart, Old Mrs. Qin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Despite being beaten, Qin Xiaoxiao finally got to make the cotton-padded clothes she had been longing for. Ma Dahua and Old Mrs. Qin worked together, one stuffing the cotton and the other making the lining and outer layer. In just two days, they finished making Qin Xiaoxiao's cotton-padded clothes.

Wearing the new cotton-padded coat, Qin Xiaoxiao felt that her whole demeanor had improved significantly, and she had been elevated to a higher level.

Because it might be the last cotton-padded coat that the old lady made by hand in her life, Qin Xiaoxiao cherished it very much. She also wore a single layer of clothing over it. If the outer clothes got dirty, she could just take them off and wash them. The cotton-padded coat could be worn for several more years.

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't intend to wear it for several years. She just wanted to get through these two years. When the 1980s came, she would find a way to get the down jacket out. If she didn't want to sell it, why couldn't she wear it herself?

A sweater underneath and a down jacket on top—that's enough for winter.

After showing off her new cotton-padded coat in the village for two days, Qin Xiaoxiao came back home because she was cold and stayed huddled on the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) without moving.

In December, the Northeast had already entered the depths of winter. The past two days had been overcast, and Qin Feng figured it would snow in another two or three days, so he quickly rang the work bell.

“Before the heavy snow closes the mountain, we have to go up the mountain once a year, and this year is no exception. The village has decided to organize people to go to Maoerduo Mountain.”

Also, those staying at home shouldn't be idle. Check the roofs of each house, and if they're not in good condition, quickly tidy them up before the snow falls, so they don't collapse under the weight of the snow and injure people.

Don't risk your life just to save a few bucks. Think about it, if something really happens, you might lose your life. Even if you don't die, won't you go to the hospital?

How much does it cost to go to the hospital? How much does it cost to clean the roof? Don't underestimate the small costs, or you'll regret it later.

Alright, that's all for today. Everyone go back and get ready. We'll go up the mountain tomorrow and stay overnight. If we have a good harvest, we can come down in the middle of the night.

Alright, everyone go back.

After Qin Feng finished speaking, the villagers walked home while discussing their trip up the mountain. Some were excited, some looked worried, and some were jealous. Qin Feng saw all of this but said nothing. He couldn't help even if he wanted to, so he could only take care of his own family first.

Before Qin Xiaoxiao could even speak, Qin Feng interrupted her, "Don't even think about it. I won't agree. You just stay home and behave yourself. Bring some clothes with you tomorrow and stay here. You're not allowed to go anywhere else."

Qin Xiaoxiao: "..."

I didn't say anything, and you've already shut me down?

Well, the plan to go up the mountain has fallen through.

Qin Xiaoxiao looked at Qin Ye with a resentful expression.

Qin Ye waved his hands repeatedly, "Don't look at me, my dad and I agree, you stay at home and I'll catch you a couple of rabbits to keep as pets later."

Qin Feng glared at Qin Ye, but did not stop him.

Although the commune forbade raising them, he could only turn a blind eye so that his niece could stay at home obediently.

Besides, which family doesn't secretly raise a couple more chickens? It doesn't make a difference if they raise two more.

Qin Xiaoxiao was speechless.

What about when I'm a child?

Fine, if they don't want me to go, then I won't go. Although I'm unwilling, it's not something I absolutely have to do, and it's not an obsession. At worst, she can just pay for it, right?

Qin Xiaoxiao repeatedly expressed her desire to go to Cat Ear Mountain to broaden her horizons, but the Qin family always stopped her. So she gave up on the idea and never mentioned going up the mountain again, and she never went there herself.

The next morning, Qin Xiaoxiao obediently arrived at the Qin family home. Qin Feng was relieved to see her sitting quietly next to Old Madam Qin while eating.

Qin Feng, as the captain, was bound to go up the mountain with them. Qin Ye, being skilled and the captain's son, naturally couldn't be left behind. But that wasn't all; just before the team set off, Qin Wei, who hadn't been home for two months, returned and joined the hunting party.

As Grandma Qin watched the departing procession, her worry was written all over her face. She turned around, pulled Ma Dahua over, and patted her hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry, with Qin Ye and Qin Wei here, the boss will be fine. There are so many people here."

Ma Dahua smiled, "Mom, I know, don't worry. With Qin Ye and Qin Wei here, nothing will happen."