Acupuncture requires the doctor to concentrate fully and there can be no distractions.

So Lin Momo and Lin Xushi were kicked out, leaving only Old Master Lin in the house to assist Doctor Ma.

"Squeak!"

Lin Momo had just come out of the kitchen when she heard the courtyard gate being pushed open. She turned her head and felt a pang of sadness.

It turned out that Lin Sanya had returned carrying a small bundle of firewood.

The bundle of firewood wasn't large, but it was quite a strain on the thin woman's body. She stopped and pushed the slipping firewood back up, then used her short sleeve to wipe the sweat from her brow.

Lin Momo opened her mouth to tell her to put down the firewood, but then suddenly remembered that acupuncture was being performed inside and fell silent. She quickly rushed over to meet her.

Seeing her second sister come to pick her up, Lin Sanya smiled and said, "Second sister, you're back."

"I've been back for a while now, and I was wondering where you were. Turns out you went to gather firewood."

As Lin Momo took the bundle of firewood off her shoulder, she said in an annoyed tone, "Don't you know how old you are? Isn't it heavy to carry so much firewood?"

Lin Sanya replied like a little adult, "It's not heavy. If you can't carry it anymore, just rest for a while. The woodshed is empty, and there's only enough in the kitchen for today. If we don't gather more now, we won't have any firewood to burn tomorrow."

Dad is still lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), and every day he has to decoct medicine, boil water, and cook rice. How can he manage without firewood?

"I'll go with you to pick them up tomorrow," Lin Momo sighed inwardly, saying helplessly.

There are now four people in my family who are able to work.

But Xu was pregnant and looked like she would give birth in another two or three months. The person who usually refused to help was even less likely to be able to help now.

As for Lin Zhiqiang, she couldn't command him, so it was just the two of them left to do it.

Although she was indignant, she couldn't just let things fall apart.

Otherwise, the entire burden will fall on this petty person.

After Xu came out of the kitchen, she went back to the east room of the main hall to rest on the kang (heated brick bed). There were only the two sisters in the courtyard.

After putting down the firewood, Lin Momo asked with concern, "Are you hungry?"

Lin Momo had been hungry ever since she had eaten in the county this morning. Lin Sanya, who had done so much work, was probably hungry too. There was no time to cook right now, but luckily she had the foresight to buy some steamed buns, which she would use to fill her stomach.

"Mmm." The little girl nodded shyly.

Lin Momo said gently, "The doctor is giving Dad acupuncture inside, so we can't disturb him. Go to the river and wash your hands. I'll get you some steamed buns."

"Steamed buns?" the little girl exclaimed in surprise in a low voice.

The family ate only dark flour with bran. It wasn't that they didn't have any white flour, but that was a precious thing that only her parents and older brother were entitled to eat. If the sisters even glanced at it, their mother would scold them, saying, "You're like a starving ghost reincarnated, a wild boar trying to eat bran."

The little girl had never even eaten white flour, let alone steamed buns, which were even more precious than white flour steamed buns. Even her parents and older brother couldn't eat this whenever they wanted.

Is it really not my second sister trying to fool her?

In just two days, Lin Momo found that her tone of voice when speaking to this younger sister had become much more intimate. She immediately pretended to be angry and said, "What, would your second sister lie to you? Go and come back quickly!"

"Yes!" she replied cheerfully, and then dashed out the door.

The river wasn't far from the second branch of the Lin family, and Lin Sanya returned in high spirits in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

When Lin Momo saw her return in the yard, she waved to her, then went into the room where the two sisters lived, took out two hot steamed buns, handed one to Lin Sanya who followed her in, and ate the other herself.

The little girl was probably really hungry, because she opened her mouth and took a big bite with a "whoosh".

"Eat slowly, or you won't get any water if you choke," Lin Momo said, gently stroking her nose with her finger.

Then, I quickly started eating, while glancing out the window to see what was happening outside. I figured Dr. Ma would be out soon after giving me acupuncture.

Sure enough, before she could finish eating the steamed buns, Grandpa Lin accompanied Doctor Ma out of the kitchen.

"Er Ya, make something for the doctor to eat."

"Coming!" Lin Momo quickly swallowed the bun in her mouth, answered, and stuffed the half-eaten bun into Lin Sanya's hand, saying, "Second sister, you've eaten your fill, this half is for you."

Old Master Lin led Doctor Ma into the main room and sat down.

Lin Momo entered the kitchen and glanced at the kang (a heated brick bed). She saw that Lin Musheng's body and head were covered with needles, making him look like a hedgehog. It was quite creepy at first glance.

She quickly looked away, sat down in front of the stove, brushed aside the embers in the firebox, added straw to ignite them, then got up and took two eggs from the earthenware jar containing the eggs, put them in a bowl, and scooped a ladle of hot water from the pot to scald them.

Suddenly, Lin Momo paused, slapped her forehead, and realized she had forgotten about her grandfather.

So she immediately turned around and took the last two eggs without hesitation.

As for whether Xu would scold her if she didn't get eggs tomorrow, Lin Momo said she didn't care at all.

Anyway, now that Lin Musheng is no longer there to support her, Lin Zhiqiang is a coward. Xu Shi is afraid of hurting herself, so she doesn't dare to lash out. At most, she can only curse a few times.

It wouldn't be right for Doctor Ma to eat while her grandfather watches over her, especially since it's already past lunchtime and her grandfather must be starving.

Once the water in the pot boiled again, Lin Momo stopped adding firewood to the stove and got up to crack the four eggs into the pot one by one. After less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, when the egg whites turned white and solidified, she added a handful of straw and simmered it over a low flame.

Just now, she mentally reviewed the ingredients the Lin family had available and figured out what to serve Doctor Ma.

Time was tight today, and besides steamed buns and mantou, Lin Momo only had time to buy some bowls, plates and condiments nearby, so she could only make the dishes with the ingredients she had at home.

Before long, Lin Momo carried two bowls of poached eggs and four steamed buns on a rough ebony tray and placed them on the octagonal table in the main room. She gave one bowl to Doctor Ma and placed the other in front of Old Master Lin.

While holding the bowl, Lin Momo explained, "These buns were bought in the county this morning. My granddaughter and uncle both thought they were delicious. Doctor Ma and Grandpa, please try them too."

"Could these be the steamed buns from Liu's shop next to Huichuntang?" Doctor Ma glanced at the buns and asked with slight surprise.

This farming family didn't seem to be in good shape, and they had a sick person at home who needed money for treatment. Unexpectedly, they were willing to spend money to buy steamed buns.

"That's right, it's Liu's family's."

"I often eat at that restaurant too, and it's definitely tastier than other places."

Old Master Lin smiled slightly: "You're so thoughtful, girl."

Thinking that his granddaughter was still thinking of him even while eating a steamed bun outside, Grandpa Lin felt quite gratified, deeply feeling that his daughter was more thoughtful than his sons and grandsons.

Those people, whether they go to town or county, will never buy him anything unless he asks them to bring him something.