The three of them returned in a huff.

Everyone gathered around, poured water for the three of them, and then asked what had happened.

Old Master Mo's face darkened, clearly angry. Suppressing his anger, he said to Old Lady Mo, "Mother, go and call Mo Yunmei over."

Qin sensed something was wrong, "Why didn't you call her over yourself?"

Mo took a few deep breaths. "I'm afraid she'll lose an arm or a leg in a bit."

The group realized that things might be serious. Seeing that the three people who went to town all looked grim, they didn't dare to ask any more questions and stood aside.

Su Nanxi raised an eyebrow, asking her to guess whether Mo Yunmei had stolen the chili peppers and revealed the recipe for stir-fried snails.

Mo Yunmei was called by her mother but was unwilling to go out. Old Mrs. Mo directly said, "If you don't come out, your eldest brother will come in and drag you away."

Forced by Boss Mo's authority, Mo Yunmei hesitated for a while before following him out.

As soon as she arrived, she saw everyone staring at her. Mo Yunmei's heart skipped a beat. What was going on?

Before she could figure it out, Boss Mo spoke up, "Did you steal the chili peppers?"

The tone was flat, seemingly asking a question, but actually more like stating a statement.

Seeing her older brother interrogating her, Mo Yunmei felt wronged. "I took them. There were so many chilies, we couldn't possibly eat them all. I only took some. How can that be considered stealing?"

Qin was furious upon hearing this. "Are you just taking a little? The mute mother and the children picked for several days, filling more than a dozen baskets and drying them in ten large winnowing trays, and in the end, they didn't even get enough for one tray! We can't finish it all, but do you think you can finish it all? I've been wondering who dared to come to our house to steal chili peppers! Turns out it was an inside job!"

Mo Yunmei was called a "thief" and she refused to stand it. "What thief? Sister-in-law, you're using such a nasty term! I only took a little, and there's still more, isn't there? If you think it's not enough, you can keep picking and drying! Anyway, there's plenty in the mountains, and it's free!"

Everyone was almost laughing in anger. Boss Mo's temper was about to explode, but Qin Shi grabbed his arm and held it tightly, which slowly calmed him down.

Zhao asked pointedly, "Who did you give the chili peppers to?"

Mo Yunmei lowered her head, her eyes darting around, and stammered, refusing to speak.

Mo Lao Er was also furious. His face, already dark, was now as black as the bottom of a pot, as if ink could drip from it. "Did you leak the recipe for stir-fried snails?"

Mo Yunmei felt the icy atmosphere and started to panic. She denied it, "I didn't! So many people know, why are you all suspicious of me? I was just watching from the sidelines, and I don't know as much as any of you! Why are you so sure it's me? You're all suspects. Who knows if you secretly leaked it to someone you're close to!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the Qin and Zhao families, his words carrying a strong implication.

Both women's families were from nearby and were poor. It's understandable that a daughter would help her family. However, these two haven't visited their parents' home much in recent years, and haven't had any contact with their relatives either. Firstly, they've been too busy; secondly, it's not a holiday; and thirdly, they have no money.

Neither of them were stupid; they understood Mo Yunmei's veiled meaning and were furious.

Zhao immediately retorted, "We're not as idle as you! You do nothing all day long, and you just do whatever you're asked to do! We usually work together and come back together. The only time we're alone is when we go to the outhouse. Who are you implying? Who's your friend waiting for you in the outhouse? I think the person you're close to is waiting for you in the outhouse!"

Mo Yunmei retorted defiantly, "Who knows! Your family lives nearby, so you don't even need to use the outhouse when people come and go!"

Old Mo slammed his hand on the table with a loud "bang," and the room fell silent instantly.

Mo Yunmei was quite frightened because she felt guilty. She staggered back a few steps and covered her chest, pretending to be calm.

The head of the household still had his authority. Old Man Mo didn't like the sound of arguing, so he asked Mo Yunmei with a serious face, "Did you make the chili peppers and the recipe?"

Mo Yunmei tried to argue, but Old Man Mo stared at her coldly and said, "Think carefully before you speak."

Everyone looked at Mo Yunmei, and suddenly the silence became eerily quiet. Mo Yunmei felt like she was being pricked by needles, constantly rubbing the hem of her clothes with her hands, and her toes were practically digging themselves out of their sockets.

Finally, she made up her mind and refused to admit it to the death. After all, there was no evidence to prove that she did it, otherwise they wouldn't have interrogated her.

Mo Yunmei thought to herself that she wouldn't be punished in any way.

Mo Laoda was utterly disappointed in his younger sister. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath to suppress his rising emotions, and after a long silence, said, "I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it, you didn't know how to repent, and you even learned to frame others. Mo Yunmei! Very well!"

The tone sounded flat and light, but Mo Yunmei felt it was heavy, pressing down on her chest and making her even more panicked.

Mo Laoda didn't want to say more, "Mother, she's too idle. From now on, she'll do all the housework by herself. If she doesn't finish, she won't get any food, and no one is allowed to help her! Whoever helps her won't get any food!"

After saying that, he got up and left without looking back.

Upon hearing this, Mo Yunmei panicked and cried out, "No! How can I possibly finish all the work by myself! Are you trying to starve me to death? I won't do it!"

Grandma Mo also felt exhausted. She said, "I heard it from my older brother," and pulled Grandpa Mo out as well.

Mo Yunmei was dumbfounded when she saw that everyone with decision-making power had left. She thought that if she threw a tantrum like before, everyone would eventually give in to her and there would be no punishment.

Zhao didn't want to stay either. She was exhausted from all the trouble and thought she could make some money, but it was all for nothing. As she walked past Mo Yunmei, she said, "You think you can keep it a secret? Little did you know that the manager of the teahouse had already told us. We just wanted to give you a chance."

Mo Yunmei felt a rumbling sound in the sky. They all knew? What was she doing just now?

The others ignored her and dispersed.

Boss Mo kept his word and didn't let anyone else do housework. He made Mo Yunmei do the laundry, cooking, and feeding the chickens. He sat on a stool to the side, and no one dared to help.

Mo Yunmei worked while crying, thinking that if she cried for a while, someone would speak up for her, just like always, so she took it slow. But half a day passed, and no one came to help her. Her older brother wasn't there, and no one approached her.

Mo Yunmei harbored hatred for Su Nanxi again. Qiuxia was right; ever since that ugly monster arrived, she would never have a good day.

Su Nanxi was completely unaware that she had been hated again; she was currently pondering things.

The steamed bun business has gradually stabilized. Four people going seems a bit too many, and selling only steamed buns seems a bit monotonous. It's time to add a few more varieties.

For breakfast, besides steamed buns and dumplings, you can also have noodles or rice noodles. Of course, the noodles should be wet noodles. One pound of rice can make about two and a half pounds of wet noodles. You don't have to use pure rice; you can add other ingredients. It's nutritious, delicious, and plentiful, making it economical. However, it's a bit labor-intensive.

Su Nanxi found the method of making it and spent several days tinkering in the space before finally succeeding.

Show off your skills to the Mo family.

Everyone craned their necks to look at the rice noodles that Su Nanxi served, and even sucked in the aroma.

"Qinghe, what did you say?"