Huang's mother listened to Xu Mengyao's words and nodded in agreement. She knew her second daughter was a smart child who could always come up with some novel ideas. She also had 100% trust in Xu Mengyao, so she didn't ask any more questions.

In the evening, Xu Mengyao deliberately picked a time when Uncle Wu and Father Huang were both at home, and said loudly to Aunt Feng:

"Aunt Feng, my mother said you also want to sell steamed buns. Our family will not make steamed buns in the future, so it's not good to compete with you for business. Please make more steamed buns tomorrow, because my family will have to buy some from you." After saying this, she smiled sweetly.

Aunt Feng heard her words and rubbed her hands awkwardly. "What's the point of buying? I remember your mother's kindness. I'll just send you a plate of steamed bread tomorrow. Don't even mention buying it."

"Thank you, Aunt Feng!" Xu Mengyao replied with a sincere smile.

Father Huang also stood up and said, "It's getting late, Erya, go back to your room and sleep."

After saying this, the father and daughter went back to the house to rest. They could still vaguely hear Uncle Wu scolding Aunt Feng in a low voice outside:

"Look at what you've done! You knew they were selling noodles, but you still got involved! What kind of trouble have you caused to our good neighborhood relations?"

The next morning, just after daybreak, Aunt Feng brought in a plate of steaming steamed bread. Huang's mother thanked Aunt Feng, took the bread, and the family began to eat breakfast.

Huang Wenxia was the first to pick up the steamed bread made by Aunt Feng and took a look at it. Then he curled his lips and said, "Aunt Feng's steamed bread is not as beautiful or smooth as my mother's."

Huang Wenbin broke open a steamed bun, took a bite, then frowned and said, "It's not tasty either. I didn't even squeeze it hard and it cracked, and it hurt my throat."

Huang's mother did not eat it directly. Instead, she picked up a steamed bun and looked at it carefully for a while before saying:

"She didn't boil the water hot enough when kneading the dough, and she didn't add bean flour. I always add some bean flour when I make it at home, so that it tastes better and isn't too hard."

Huang Wenrong covered his mouth and laughed, jokingly saying, "Mom, you have an exclusive secret recipe."

Hearing this, the atmosphere at home became a little more relaxed. Father Huang also said with a smile: "Okay, okay, hurry up and eat. After you finish eating, go to school and don't be late."

After arriving at the classroom, Xu Mengyao noticed that Chen Chen was hunched over the table again. Her little deskmate had been acting very abnormally in recent days. He used to be very active and attentive in class, but he even missed the break time. Now, he always slouched over his seat in a listless manner these days.

She walked over and asked softly, "Chen Chen, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"

Chen Chen raised his head, his face pale and his voice weak: "It's okay."

Xu Mengyao noticed that he was pinching his stomach tightly with both hands, with a painful expression on his face. She asked worriedly:

"Are you feeling unwell in your stomach? Could it be appendicitis? How about I ask the teacher to take you to the hospital?"

Chen Chen quickly grabbed her: "No, no, no, I'm really fine, it's just..." Before he could finish his words, his stomach growled.

Xu Mengyao widened her eyes, "Are you hungry?"

Chen Chen nodded slightly, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.

Xu Mengyao said anxiously: "Aren't we friends? Tell me what's going on."

Chen Chen sighed and said, "My grandma is seriously ill. My grandpa is with her in the city hospital and hasn't been home for several days. My aunt...she doesn't like me very much, so..."

Xu Mengyao asked distressedly: "So your aunt doesn't give you food? What about your uncle?"

Chen Chen shook his head. "It's not that I don't give it to you, it's just that my uncle doesn't have a fixed time for getting off work. Sometimes I get to eat when we can have a meal together, but the other two times when he comes back, he's already missed the meal, and he doesn't know I haven't eaten."

Xu Mengyao was shocked: "So you only eat one meal a day these days?"

Chen Chen nodded: "Yeah, but my uncle also went to the city to visit my grandma yesterday, so... I haven't eaten since yesterday, and I feel a little uncomfortable."

Xu Mengyao quickly took out a few candies from her schoolbag: "Oh my god! You're not feeling well at all! Eat some candy first to calm yourself down. I'll go find you something to eat!"

After saying that, he was about to stand up, but was stopped by Chen Chen: "Don't go, there's really no need..."

Xu Mengyao said firmly: "No! If I'm not back from class later, please ask for leave for me."

After saying that, she ran out of the classroom. After leaving the school gate, she began to worry: There is no place to buy food around the school. Should I run home to get it or go to the street to buy it? She was thinking about it when she suddenly heard a voice.

"Girl? You are Huang Wenbin's sister, right?" She looked up and saw a senior boy with a short flat head looking at her.

She recognized this as one of the people who had climbed over the wall with her eldest brother last time, so she nodded:

"Hello, brother! Is there any food nearby? My deskmate is starving."

The boy smiled and said, "Just call me Brother Tiger. Do you want some roasted red taro?"

Xu Mengyao quickly said, "Yes! Anything edible will do! Thank you, Brother Hu!"

"Okay, wait here, I'll get it for you!" He walked towards the courtyard in front of the school. He came back a few moments later with a palm-sized red taro. "Here! Take it!"

Xu Mengyao took the sweet potato and said gratefully, "Thank you, Brother Hu! How much is it?"

Brother Hu waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "We grew this ourselves. You're Binzi's sister, why do you need money? Go to class quickly. I have to go too." After that, he left quickly with brisk steps.

Xu Mengyao took the roasted sweet potato, turned around and ran to the classroom to hand it to Chen Chen: "This is all we have now. Fill your stomach first, and I will bring you more from home this afternoon."

Chen Chen looked at her with gratitude in his eyes, but he hesitated to take it. Seeing this, Xu Mengyao directly stuffed the red taro into his hands and said, "Hurry up, the teacher will be here soon."

After saying that, she went to read a book by herself. After class, she was worried that Chen Chen would feel embarrassed to eat, so she went to the toilet for a walk.

Before school was over, she asked Chen Chen to come to school early in the afternoon and left in a hurry without waiting for his response.