The snow stopped the next day, and Qin Xiaoxiao went to the Qin family first.

"Grandma, I'm going to town to buy yarn. I came to tell you. Is there anything for my second uncle and the others? I'll take it with me."

Grandma Qin frowned. "Why are you buying yarn? What, do you want to knit a sweater?"

Qin Xiaoxiao nodded, "That's right. Su Yun, a former educated youth in our compound, knows how to knit sweaters. I figured that since we can't go outside in the dead of winter, I could knit sweaters inside to pass the time."

I want to buy more so I can knit one for you and Grandpa too, ideally one for each member of our family. But the yarn is hard to find; I'll have to ask my second aunt.

Grandma Qin rolled her eyes. "One piece per person? Are you kidding me? Is yarn so easy to buy? Without yarn coupons, you can't buy anything!"

Besides, do you know how expensive yarn is? It's a precious commodity; look at our village, who wears that stuff anymore.”

The people of Qinjiagou are relatively wealthy, but they can't buy ration coupons even if they have money, so no one in the village actually wears a sweater.

Qin Xiaoxiao was taken aback. "No? I really didn't notice."

Grandma Qin was speechless. "Who would take off their clothes to show you whether they're wearing a sweater or not?"

Why is her granddaughter so silly?

Qin Xiaoxiao nodded, "Alright, I'll take a look. I'll buy as many as I can. If not, I'll ask my second aunt if she has any defective items to buy."

Grandma Qin thought for a moment, nodded, took out the key tied to her waistband, opened the kangqin (a traditional heated brick bed), and took out twenty yuan to give to Qin Xiaoxiao.

“Yarn is so expensive, you can buy some for yourself, we won’t worry about it, just buy what you need.”

Qin Xiaoxiao stuffed the money back into Grandma Qin's hand, saying, "Grandma, I have money on me, I don't need yours, you can keep it for yourself."

With a stern face, Grandma Qin forcefully stuffed the money back into Qin Xiaoxiao's hand. "Take it when I tell you to. Don't be stingy with your grandma. Grandma gave me the money. If you can't buy the yarn, buy something else to eat. Don't be stingy when you go to your second uncle's place either. Your second uncle makes delicious sweet and sour pork. Ask him to make you a plate. Let him pay for the meat coupons."

Qin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Okay, I understand."

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't refuse any longer and put the money away.

The money has been received, but whether or not it is spent is not up to her grandmother. She can return it to her grandmother when she returns.

"Qin Ye, come here."

Seeing that Qin Xiaoxiao was about to leave, Old Mrs. Qin quickly grabbed her.

"Let your brother go with you. It's snowing heavily, the ground is slippery, and I'm worried about you going without someone by your side."

Qin Xiaoxiao once again deeply felt the pampering of Old Madam Qin, and she couldn't bear to refuse. So when Qin Xiaoxiao walked out of the Qin family's gate, a little tail followed behind her.

Qin Ye carried a bamboo basket on his back and pulled Qin Xiaoxiao along, stumbling and struggling towards the village entrance. When they finally arrived, there was no oxcart.

People rarely go out on snowy days, and naturally, oxcarts don't go out either.

The brother and sister decided to give up taking the bus and walk to the county town.

The journey, which usually takes less than an hour, took the two of them almost two hours. By the time they reached the entrance to the county town, Qin Xiaoxiao was covered in sweat.

Qin Ye turned around to look at Qin Xiaoxiao and saw that her forehead was covered in sweat. He quickly said, "Don't take off your hat. If you catch a cold, Grandma will beat you when we get home."

Qin Xiaoxiao, panting heavily, glared at Qin Ye. "Brother, can't you speak properly? It's clearly out of concern, but it sounds so awkward coming from you. I want to punch you."

Qin Ye scratched his head, puzzled. "Why are you talking like that? Isn't this how I usually talk?"

Qin Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. "No wonder you retired from the army. With a mouth like yours, which leader would like you?"

Brother, you'd better learn how to speak properly, otherwise when will you ever be able to bring me a sister-in-law?

Thinking about how there was still a troublesome reborn female lead who hadn't appeared yet, Qin Xiaoxiao felt so frustrated that she wanted to curse.

She hopes her brother won't fall for that woman, or she might not be able to resist killing the couple.

Qin Ye turned around and looked at Qin Xiaoxiao with a puzzled expression.

Huh? Why do I sense a murderous aura?

There's no one behind him? Could it be that he's mistaken?

Qin Xiaoxiao glared at Qin Ye, who had stopped moving, and said, "What are you thinking about? Hurry up and go! I still want to go to Second Master's place to eat sweet and sour pork."

Because of the reborn female lead, Qin Xiaoxiao vented all her pent-up frustration on the innocent Qin Ye, leaving Qin Ye completely bewildered, not understanding why his sister had become angry so suddenly.

Soon the two arrived at the state-run restaurant. The snow had just stopped, the roads were slippery, and there was no one in the restaurant. Qin Hai had no work to do, so he sat in the front hall chatting with a group of employees.

They were chatting away when they looked up and saw Qin Ye struggling to walk with Qin Xiaoxiao.

Qin Hai was taken aback and quickly got up to open the door for him. "Why did you two siblings come here? The road is so slippery, are you sure your grandma doesn't mind?"

Qin Xiaoxiao entered the house, stamped the snow off her shoes, and looked up with a smile, saying, "My grandma was worried about me coming here by myself, so she insisted that my brother come with me."

Qin Hai chuckled and patted Qin Xiaoxiao's head. "It would be strange if your grandma wasn't worried. You know how much she loves you."

He pulled Qin Xiaoxiao's wrist and led her into the restaurant, ignoring his nephew. Qin Ye wasn't angry; he was used to it.

Upon hearing Qin Xiao say she wanted to eat sweet and sour pork, Qin Hai put on an apron and happily went to the kitchen without saying a word.

Upon hearing Qin Xiaoxiao's words, Qin Hai rushed to the kitchen without a word, his face contorted with envy.

Qin Xiaoxiao is really lucky!

Even though her parents are gone, she still has so many relatives who dote on her and love her. She has no worries about food and drink, and she's not short of money. Whoever marries her will be very lucky.

Qin Xiaoxiao has come several times. Everyone knows that she is Qin Hai's niece. They have also heard about Qin Xiaoxiao's background from Qin Hai. Although they feel that she has suffered a bit, they are sometimes really envious.

Soon the sweet and sour pork was ready. Qin Xiaoxiao ordered two more bowls of rice. The siblings each ate two pieces of the sweet and sour pork, and put the rest in the lunchbox they had brought.

Qin Hai, who had made another batch of sweet and sour pork for Qin Xiaoxiao and Qin Ye to take back to their families, couldn't help but sigh upon seeing it.

The two children are so sensible that it breaks my heart, especially the little one. She's only been eating meat for a few days, but she can't bear to eat it herself and wants to take it back to her family. It's no wonder we love her so much.

"You two eat some more. I made another serving; you can take it home to eat later."

Qin Xiaoxiao accepted it with a smile, "Thank you, Second Uncle."

After saying that, he took out five yuan from his pocket and stuffed it into Qin Hai's hand.

"My grandma gave me money before I left home. Second Uncle, please keep it. But I don't have any receipts. Second Uncle, please pay for me."

It was said so naturally, without any affectation, with a sense of intimacy yet a touch of coquetry, making people feel comfortable all over, and even taking out a ticket wouldn't be a little reluctant.

Qin Hai readily agreed, "Alright, Second Uncle will give it to you, so don't worry about it."

"Are you full? Eat some more before you go."

Qin Xiaoxiao and Qin Ye shook their heads, "No, we still need to go see Second Aunt. It will be dark by the time we get back."

Upon hearing this, Qin Hai decided not to keep the brother and sister any longer, told them to be careful, and then let them leave.