Chapter 24

As their voices gradually faded into the distance until they could no longer be heard, the Li family finally snapped back to their senses.  

Jiang Ailing said angrily: “What… what does she mean by this? Does she think we would steal the food she brought to honor our parents-in-law…?”  

“Grandma, meat buns!” Li Tiezhu suddenly rushed out from inside the house, with Goudan following closely behind. Both of their eyes were fixed intently on the meat buns in Mother Li’s hands.  

Mother Li glanced at Jiang Ailing.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Jiang Ailing touched her nose, picked up her bowl, and went into the main room.  

She wouldn’t fight for the food, but if Mother Li gave the buns to her two sons, that had nothing to do with her.  

“Grandma.” Li Tiezhu looked at Mother Li. After last night, he had learned his lesson—he now knew how to soften his attitude. “I want to eat meat buns…”  

“Didn’t you just hear what your Second Aunt-in-law said?” Mother Li looked at her two grandsons. “She said these are for honoring your grandpa and me. If I give them to you, she might never bring any more for us again.”  

“But, Grandma, I want to eat buns~” Li Tiezhu didn’t care whether Shen Yiyi would continue honoring Father Li and Mother Li in the future. Right now, all he could see were the meat buns.  

Goudan, standing behind him, felt the same way.  

Mother Li was disappointed. Goudan was still young, only five years old, so she could understand his behavior. But Li Tiezhu was already nine—he definitely understood what she had just said. Yet, all he cared about was himself.  

“If you want to eat buns, tell your parents to buy some for you. These were brought by your Second Aunt-in-law as a gesture of respect for your grandpa and me, so I won’t let you eat them.” Mother Li’s face was expressionless as she turned to Li Sanhong. “Sanhong, am I right?”  

Caught off guard by the sudden mention, Li Sanhong quickly stood up. “Yes, Mom, you’re absolutely right! Li Tiezhu, Goudan, you two little troublemakers, all you ever think about is eating and drinking. Do you think those buns are for you? Hurry up and go back to your room!”

Li Sanhong, clearly annoyed, directly grabbed his sons by their collars and lifted them up.  

Li Tiezhu and Goudan were no match for their Dad. They burst into loud wails, crying uncontrollably.  

Inside the house, Jiang Ailing had been keeping her ears open, listening for any movement outside. She had assumed that Mother Li would eventually give the meat buns to Li Tiezhu and Goudan.  

But unexpectedly, Mother Li did not.  

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Ailing stormed out in frustration. She scolded them indirectly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Crying? What are you crying for? Do you think someone will feel sorry for you just because you cry? Let me tell you—no one will! You’d better remember, you are not like the Three Baos. They not only have a rich Mom but also a grandmother who favors them!”  

“Jiang Ailing!” Mother Li called out, trying to suppress her anger.  

Jiang Ailing huffed, grabbed her two sons, and dragged them back inside the house.  

“Mom.” afraid that Mother Li might explode in fury, Li Sanhong hurried over to console her. “Mom, don’t take it to heart. That foolish woman doesn’t know any better. I apologize on her behalf!”  

“Hmph! I can’t afford such an apology!” Mother Li scoffed coldly. “Your wife is so impressive—how could I possibly dare to argue with her?”  

Ignoring Li Sanhong after that, she turned her attention to Dahua. “Dahua!”  

“Yes, Grandma.” Dahua had been hesitating to come over, sensing the tense atmosphere. She had stayed in the kitchen, busying herself with washing dishes. But when she heard Mother Li call her, she finally stepped forward.  

Mother Li had already learned from the Three Baos that Shen Yiyi had entrusted Xiao Bao to Dahua’s care today. So, it wasn’t surprising that Shen Yiyi would leave a meat bun for Dahua as well. Taking one from the oil paper bag, Mother Li handed it to her.  

Dahua didn’t take it immediately. Instead, she hesitated and timidly said: “Grandma, why don’t we give this meat bun to Tiezhu and Goudan instead?”  

“This was given to you by your Second Aunt-in-law—why should it go to Tiezhu?” Mother Li snapped impatiently. “Take it!”  

Relieved in her heart, Dahua carefully accepted the meat bun. Truthfully, she had only said that out of politeness—she had never actually intended to give it away.

“Not bad.” Mother Li praised as she saw Dahua accept the bun.  

“Ah?” Dahua was taken aback by the compliment, feeling both surprised and flattered.  

Mother Li frowned slightly at her reaction but said nothing more. She picked up the oil paper bag and walked over to Father Li. Noticing that everyone around was watching them, she shot them a cold glance, silently telling them to mind their own business.  

Only after everyone resumed their tasks did Mother Li lower her voice and ask Father Li: “Old man, do you think the second daughter-in-law overheard what the third daughter-in-law said?”  

Father Li nodded silently. “Seems like she did.”  

“Then…” Mother Li hesitated. “Then what does she mean by saying that? Is she unhappy that we might give the things she brought to Tiezhu and Goudan?”  

Father Li replied: “It seems so.”  

“What should we do, then?” Mother Li asked.  

Father Li glanced at her before directly taking the oil paper bag from her hands. “Do as you just did. From now on, anything the second family brings for us doesn’t need to be shared with Tiezhu and Goudan. If it’s for us, we eat it.”  

“But Tiezhu and Goudan…” After all, they were still their grandchildren.  

Father Li, however, did not hold the same preference for boys over girls as Mother Li did. He shot her a look and said firmly: “Just do as I say.”  

As he spoke, he reached into the oil paper bag and took out a meat bun. The rich aroma filled the air, making him take a deep breath. It had been a long time since he last had a meat bun. Without hesitation, he stuffed the remaining one into his wife’s hand. “The fact that she sent this over means she doesn’t resent us. Don’t overthink it—just eat.”  

Mother Li glanced at him, watching how he stared at the bun while talking, and felt a little disgusted at his lack of composure. But even she couldn’t resist opening the oil paper bag. When she saw the soft, white flour bun inside, she swallowed involuntarily.  

A white flour bun!  

This was a real treat!

The last time Mother Li had eaten a white flour bun was over a decade ago, before the natural disaster.

That taste had haunted her dreams ever since. Even now, just thinking about it made her smack her lips in longing.  

Torn between her two grandsons, her own cravings, and Shen Yiyi’s words, Mother Li hesitated. But in the end, she settled on Li Tiezhu’s selfishness and decisively took a big bite. The bun was soft and fluffy, with a thin skin and a generous amount of filling…  

After more than ten years, tasting this again almost brought Mother Li to tears.  

Meanwhile, Dahua took her meat bun and led her two younger sisters back to their room. Just as she was about to close the door, a shadow blocked the entrance.  

“Mom?” Dahua saw who it was and timidly called out.  

It was Eldest Sister-in-law Li, He Zhaodi. She stood there with a blank expression. “Where’s the bun?”  

Dahua’s hands trembled slightly as she handed the bun over to He Zhaodi.  

He Zhaodi’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she took a big bite, savoring it without sparing a glance at her three daughters, who were watching her with eager, hungry eyes. She ate with relish, completely ignoring their longing gazes.  

“Mom.” Dahua’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. “Please give a little to my sisters.”  

Only then did He Zhaodi glance at them. With an impatient sigh, she tore off a tiny piece of the bun’s outer skin and handed it to Erhua and Xiaohua. “Useless little debt collectors.” she muttered under her breath.  

Erhua and Xiaohua didn’t care about their Mom’s complaints.

They eagerly grabbed the small scraps of bun skin and stuffed them into their mouths as if it were the best thing they had ever eaten.  

Watching them, Dahua felt a pang of sadness. She led her sisters outside and, after making sure He Zhaodi hadn’t followed, carefully pulled two pieces of White Rabbit creamy candy from her pocket.  

“Candy!” Erhua and Xiaohua’s eyes sparkled. “Big sister, where did you get candy?”  

Dahua quickly placed the candies in their hands. “Second Aunt-in-law gave them to me. Hurry up and eat them before Mom or Tiezhu sees, or else you won’t get to eat any at all.”  

“Big sister, you have some too!”  

The three sisters divided the two candies among themselves, savoring the rare sweetness.

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T/N: Poor little cuties, I thought Elder Sister-in-law is not that bad but it turns out she’s just as cruel as that Third Sister-in-law.

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