Lady Zhou thought she had already tamed the entire Lian Shouxin family. Seeing that Lady Zhang and her daughters were all obediently making baozi and not speaking, she didn’t become suspicious. Of course, this was also because she was confident enough to believe that the Fourth Household wouldn’t dare to act without her approval.

The wick of the oil lamp had been trimmed twice already. Looking at the sky, it seemed that Zi Hour had passed. Lian Manman yawned; she couldn’t remember how many baozi she had made, her hands were sore and she was also tired. Looking at the table, there was still a large dough mass while the basket of leaves was nearing empty.

Just hold on a little longer, she thought, until all the leaves were used up, then she would go rest.

"Take Xiao Qi to our room to sleep," whispered Lady Zhang when Lian Shouxin came back in to carry the baozi.

Xiao Qi was already sleeping soundly beside Lian Manman.

"Don’t bother carrying him back and forth, it’s cold outside; he might catch a cold," Old Master Lian said, who had been dozing by the stove and hadn’t fallen into a deep sleep. "Catching a cold" was the local expression they used for getting a cold.

By the time all the baozi were wrapped, it would be daylight, and Xiao Qi wouldn’t need to go back to sleep in his room.

"Just wrap the blankets tighter and it will be fine," Lian Manman said.

"Mmm, take him back, let him take off his clothes to sleep so he doesn’t get too tired," Lady Zhang said as she wrapped Xiao Qi up tightly in a blanket and handed him over to Lian Shouxin.

At that moment, Xiao Qi woke up, opened his eyes, looked around, and began to kick, refusing to leave.

"I’m not leaving, my... they’re bullying my mother and sisters," Xiao Qi mumbled sleepily.

It turned out this little fellow stayed for fear that Lady Zhou would continue to bully them; he wanted to protect them. Lian Manman found this so touching and felt a deep sense of comfort.

Lady Zhou’s face darkened. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"What’s gotten into you, be quiet, don’t frighten the child," Old Master Lian said, noticing the change in Lady Zhou’s expression and speaking up just in time.

Seizing the opportunity, Lian Shouxin then carried Xiao Qi out.

"Mom, I’m also sleepy," Lian Xiuxiu coaxed Lady Zhou.

"Concentrate on making baozi. Whether you’re sleepy or not, what’s that got to do with me?" Lady Zhou deliberately put on a stern face but secretly gave Lian Xiuxiu a meaningful look.

Understanding the silent permission from Lady Zhou, Lian Xiuxiu moved away from the table, looking for a comfortable place to sleep.

"Xiuxiu, where are you going?" Old Master Lian asked.

"Dad, I..." Lian Xiuxiu didn’t dare say she wanted to sleep and looked to Lady Zhou for help.

"Look at your cousins, all younger than you! They’re still working here, and you want to go where?" Old Master Lian scolded.

Lian Xiuxiu pouted, unhappy with Old Master Lian for saying this, but didn’t dare to retort, waiting for Lady Zhou to speak up for her.

"She’s just resting for a bit, she’s not going anywhere!" Lady Zhou said. Even she, at this moment, couldn’t openly suggest that Lian Xiuxiu go rest.

Seeing this, Lian Xiuxiu reluctantly returned.

Making enough baozi for the entire winter was a huge undertaking for the many mouths of the Lian family. But their family was still considered well-off; in the village, there were many families who could not manage to make baozi on their own and had to ask others for help.

The last leaf of the fruit tree was used up in Lian Manman’s hands, and she yawned again.

"Mother, I need to go to the bathroom," Lian Manman said to Lady Zhang.

"Go ahead. Make sure to put on an extra piece of clothing, so you don’t catch a cold." Lady Zhang replied.

"Hmm. It’s dark outside, and I’m scared. Can my sister keep me company?" Lian Manman added.

Neither Lady Zhang nor Lian Zhizhi had any objection, so Lian Manman took Lian Zhizhi by the hand and left the Upper Room, heading back to the West Wing Room. Outside the West Wing Room, Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin had taken up positions on either side of the large stove, busy heating it to steam the buns.

Once they entered the inner room, Xiao Qi, upon hearing the noise, crawled out of his bedding.

"Big sister, second sister, you’ve come back," Xiao Qi murmured sleepily, "The buns are all wrapped up. Why didn’t mother come back with you?"

"Mother will come back in a moment," Lian Manman chuckled, climbing onto the heated brick bed next to Xiao Qi and sitting down, stretching her feet under Xiao Qi’s blanket to warm them. The fire was burning in the outer room, making the bed very cozy.

"Manman, are we... not going back?" Lian Zhizhi asked.

Lian Manman laughed; Lian Zhizhi had become clever, quickly grasping her intentions.

"We’re not going back," Lian Manman declared, "Sister, we’ve done plenty of work. Why go back to do more?"

"If we’re not going back, then we’re not," Lian Zhizhi said, clearly holding a grudge against Lady Zhou in her heart as well. "But our mother is still there. Shouldn’t we think of a way to call her back here too?"

"We have a ready-made solution right here," Lian Manman pointed at Xiao Qi.

Both Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi widened their eyes in confusion.

"Do you mean I/Xiao Qi should go call mother back?"

"Of course not," Lian Manman shook her head, "Xiao Qi was scared by our grandmother, had a nightmare, and kept calling for mother."

"Yes, yes, I had a nightmare," Xiao Qi instantly woke up and nodded repeatedly.

Lian Manman called Wu Lang inside and instructed him on what to do. No sooner had Wu Lang left than Lady Zhang rushed back in a flurry.

"Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi, mother’s back. How are you?" As soon as Lady Zhang entered, she rushed over to Xiao Qi.

"Mother," Xiao Qi called out feebly.

Lady Zhang was taken aback for a moment, but then she saw Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, and Wu Lang all smiling, and she realized what had happened.

"You lot, you almost scared me to death," Lady Zhang saw that Xiao Qi was fine, and, relieved, she no longer cared about being deceived.

Lian Shouxin had just gone to fetch the buns. When he returned and learned the full story, he could only shake his head with a smile, knowing in his heart that Lady Zhang and her sons had been wronged and didn’t have the heart to blame anyone.

Everyone had come back, and the buns had been stored in their own jar. Feeling pleased, Lian Manman said she was a bit hungry and wanted some buns. Since Lady Zhou had been causing trouble, Lian Shouxin and the others hadn’t eaten their fill. Just then, a new batch of buns came out of the steamer in the outer room. The family set up a dining table, scooped a small bowl of white sugar, and dipped the buns in the sugar as they ate.

The buns dipped in white sugar tasted sweet and sticky, a flavor that sank deep into their hearts.

Lian Manman was enjoying her food when she heard Lady Zhou’s commotion outside.

"Where have all the buns gone? Who stole my buns!" (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)