Lin Xiaohan stuffed the lit straw into the stove. His expression made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries, but he still replied casually, “Morning.”

After the greeting, Chu Xia didn’t bother him further.

She went over to the cupboard, opened her compartment, and reached for two steamed buns to heat.

But just as her hand neared the bamboo basket, she froze.

Her gaze darkened, and her brows furrowed.

The buns in the basket weren’t hers.

Her buns were a mix of black and yellow, not all black. And the ones she had made weren’t this big—these were clearly larger.

Someone had switched her buns!

As soon as that thought flashed in her mind, she felt a surge of anger rise in her chest.

But she didn’t lash out immediately. Instead, she picked up one bun, tore off a small piece, and took a bite.

After just a couple of chews, she felt grit between her teeth.

Chu Xia frowned and spat it out. That fury, which she had been holding back, was about to burst.

Lin Xiaohan had spent the entire day with her yesterday—there was no way he had done this in the middle of the night.

Plus, he milled his own flour and steamed buns properly—there was no way his buns would be full of grit.

So there was no need to guess—it had to be Han Ting and his group.

How could they treat her like this?

Chu Xia set the bun down and began searching the kitchen.

Lin Xiaohan, still feeding the firewood into the stove, noticed her unusual behavior and watched her closely.

When he saw her grab an empty enamel basin and then a rolling pin, he couldn’t resist a jab: “What’s this? Planning to improve Han Ting’s breakfast this morning?”

His tone was mocking, but Chu Xia didn’t direct her anger at him.

She replied calmly, “They ate all the buns I steamed and filled my basket with these inedible ones full of stones.”

Before Lin Xiaohan could respond, she stormed out of the kitchen.

Carrying the basin and rolling pin into the courtyard, Chu Xia took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, tightened her grip, and slammed the rolling pin against the bottom of the enamel basin.

A sharp, piercing clang rang through the courtyard.

Half the people who were still fast asleep were startled awake, frowning in their beds.

But Chu Xia didn’t stop. She struck the basin again and again—three times, four, five…

By the sixth hit, someone finally emerged from the boys’ dormitory.

The first to come out was Chaozi, his hair looking like a bird’s nest and his face full of irritation from being woken up. He grumbled, “Chu Xia? What the hell are you doing this early?”

As he spoke, the others started to come out too.

Chu Xia stared straight at Han Ting, then struck the basin once more with force.

The jarring clang was unbearable, instantly triggering everyone’s irritation.

Li Qiao and the other girls came out of their dorm covering their ears, groggy and annoyed. “Chu Xia, seriously? What are you doing so early in the morning?”

Chu Xia didn’t answer. She just kept her eyes on Han Ting.

Then, without warning, she turned and went back into the kitchen.

Her mind still foggy with sleep, Gu Yuzhu frowned and muttered, “What’s wrong with her? Nuts or something…”

But before she could finish the thought, Chu Xia came back out.

This time, she wasn’t carrying the basin and rolling pin.

She held a bamboo basket instead—the one filled with buns. The very same buns they had steamed last night.

When they saw the basket in her hands, the events of the previous night came rushing back.

Gu Yuzhu and the other girls suddenly lost all trace of sleep and irritation. Their faces shifted to a mix of guilt and unease.

Chu Xia walked straight over to Han Ting with the basket in hand.

She shoved the bamboo basket forward with force, hitting Han Ting squarely in the chest. Her face was full of stubbornness and anger as she stared at him and demanded, “Tell me—what exactly do you all mean by this?!”

Han Ting had no idea why Chu Xia was throwing a fit this early in the morning.

It was also the first time he had seen her like this—this furious and fierce girl in front of him seemed like a completely different person from the sweet and obedient younger sister he thought he knew.

He frowned at her and asked in return, “What do you mean? What happened?”

Chu Xia sneered coldly. “Don’t pretend. You all ate all of my steamed buns and replaced them with ones full of sand and grit. Who else could’ve done it if not you?!”

Hearing that, Han Ting frowned deeper and turned to look at Guo Gai.

Caught red-handed, Guo Gai immediately hung his head so low it looked like he wanted to bury it in his chest.

Then Han Ting looked over at Li Qiao and the other girls—the guilt was written all over their faces too.

He quickly pieced together what must have happened.

He reached out to take the bamboo basket and said to Chu Xia, “Let’s talk inside.”

Chu Xia knew that making a scene like this was a major embarrassment for Han Ting. If she refused to go inside, it would only make him feel worse, maybe even angry.

But she didn’t care.

She stayed put and said firmly, “I’m not going anywhere. We talk about this here. We settle this right here. You weren’t ashamed to do something so shameless—so what, now you’re scared to have it called out in the open?!”

Han Ting’s face turned dark. “Chu Xia, who taught you to talk like that? Out here in the countryside, we’re all family, all one of our own. I’m your brother! Can’t we just talk about this calmly? Is it really worth making such a big scene over something this small?”

“It is worth it!” Chu Xia raised her voice. “You didn’t ask me. You didn’t get my permission. You just ate my food. That’s stealing—plain and simple! You used to steal from the production team, now you’re stealing from me. Why would I ever want people like you as my family?!”

Seeing Chu Xia completely ignore Han Ting’s dignity, Li Qiao suddenly spoke up in a softer tone, “Chu Xia, we were just in a pinch and borrowed a few of your buns. We replaced them in time, didn’t we? If you don’t want this basket, we’ll steam fresh ones and return those instead. We really didn’t mean to take advantage of you. It’s just a few coarse grain buns—aren’t you overreacting a bit? We meant to talk to you last night, but you came back too late and we were already asleep.”

Chu Xia turned to look at Li Qiao. “So now this is my fault?”

Li Qiao continued, trying to stay calm, “I’m not saying it’s your fault. It’s just that… this is such a small thing, there’s no need to cause such a big scene. It was just a few buns. It’s not like we’re not going to give them back. Can’t we talk this through peacefully?”

Chu Xia couldn’t help but laugh, tears nearly coming out of her eyes.

Then she sniffed once, instantly wiped away her smile, and said coldly, “I don’t feel like arguing with you people. Grain is rare and precious these days. You’ll understand that eventually. Right now, the truth is—you stole my steamed buns! I don’t want your replacements. I’m not eating anything you make. You’re going to pay me back in actual grain, and that includes the grain you ate and the effort I spent grinding flour, kneading dough, and steaming those buns. All of it—compensated in grain. If you don’t pay me back, I’ll go straight to the team leader’s house and report you for theft!”

Han Ting couldn’t hold back anymore and said, “Chu Xia, do you really have to be this petty and dramatic? It’s just a few coarse grain buns. You want to blow this up and tear things apart over that? Can’t you control your temper and talk things through like a normal person?”

“No, I can’t!” Chu Xia shot back at him, her voice even louder and sharper. “You’re right! Before, I just wanted to keep my distance from you all—but now I do want to tear things apart. I’m officially cutting ties with all of you!”

Han Ting stared at her, his face as dark as a thundercloud.

Chu Xia met his gaze unflinchingly and continued, “Han Ting, I must have been blind and foolish to treat you so well. I gave you everything good, couldn’t bear to see you suffer even a little. But now I see clearly—you’re not even worthy of the kindness I gave you. I won’t be your fool any longer!

“You’re always saying you’re my brother and you should take care of me. But tell me—when have you ever truly taken care of me? Since we’ve come to the countryside, how have you ever looked after me?!

“Is it when you ate my food, drank my water, and never once said thank you? When Gu Yuzhu refused to return my mirror and I asked for it back, and you told me I was petty? Or when the team wanted me to teach at the school and you came to me asking I give that opportunity to Su Yun?!

“Or like today—when you led the others to bully me?!

“That’s what you call taking care of me?!

“You leech off me, boss me around—and that’s still not enough? Now you want to bring everyone else to do it too?! Today it’s just a few coarse grain buns—what about tomorrow?!

“The reason I didn’t want to partner with any of you is because all of you are lazy, idle freeloaders! You’re good for nothing, dodge any bit of hard work, and always expect someone else to pick up the slack.”

“You’re all the same—a bunch of shameless, selfish degenerates, pretending that your lack of morals is just ‘being real.’ Scum!”

Han Ting stood there the whole time, staring her down with a stormy face.

When Chu Xia finally finished, he said nothing. It was Li Qiao who couldn’t hold it in anymore. She snapped, “Chu Xia, don’t you think that was way too harsh and hurtful? Who’s leeching off you, bossing you around?! And this had nothing to do with Han Ting—it was me—”

“Enough!” Han Ting cut her off sharply before she could finish.

Then, with a dark expression, Han Ting called out to Chaozi. He looked at Chu Xia and said firmly, “Give her however much grain she wants. All of it!”