Chapter 17: Steamed Buns (Part 2)

Zhang Yanli’s expression became amusing. Just moments ago, she had been mocking Chen Yufeng, but now she was reaching for a bun herself. “Since Yufeng’s steamed buns are actually good, I’ll try one too.”

She was doing this purely to provoke Chen Yufeng.

Zhang Yanli was skilled at navigating both social and political circles. Since she had strong ties within the military district, she was certain this issue would eventually blow over.

Chen Yufeng herself was not particularly clever. Normally, something like selling a child—even if it was an unfair loss—should have just been endured.

But at that moment, she suddenly noticed Mimi holding two bottles of royal jelly, about to throw them away. That triggered a thought. She turned to Minister Wang and said, “Minister, even if no money was exchanged, wouldn’t giving gifts still count? What if that gift was a bottle of royal jelly worth 180 yuan?”

Zhang Yanli’s hand, which had been reaching for a bun, froze in midair. The more Chen Yufeng thought about it, the more convinced she became. She pointed at the royal jelly in Mimi’s arms and said, “That royal jelly costs 180 yuan per bottle. Zhang Yanli just admitted herself that she had given some to the logistics department director. So, did she also give it to Director Qin? If she exchanged royal jelly for a child, wouldn’t that count as human trafficking?”

Earlier, in order to boast about the benefits of royal jelly, Zhang Yanli had indeed mentioned that she had given some to the logistics director. If Mimi hadn’t been carrying those bottles, Chen Yufeng wouldn’t have even remembered that detail.

Minister Wang had just finished his bun and was wiping his hands. Meanwhile, Mimi—who had been the busiest person in the household that day—had just thrown the bottles outside, only to retrieve them again. Each bottle weighed at least a kilo, leaving the little girl panting from the effort.

The room fell silent. After a long pause, Minister Wang finally spoke. “Yanli, this is bribery.”

Regardless of whether it was human trafficking, if she had indeed gifted royal jelly to officials, that was still considered bribery.

Zhang Yanli was still smiling, but at that moment, she was about to explode from frustration.

She couldn’t understand what Chen Yufeng was trying to do.

“Yufeng, what’s wrong with you? My husband is your father. That makes me your mother. The money we earn—when we die—it will all go to you and your mother anyway! How could you undermine me like this?” she demanded.

Chen Yufeng responded calmly, “My mother would never engage in child trafficking or bribery!”

“Your father raised you until you were seven, and this is how you repay him? You’re nothing but an ungrateful wretch!” Zhang Yanli grew more furious by the second. But her tantrum only annoyed Minister Wang, who had originally planned to handle the matter quietly. He was accompanied by security personnel and signaled them to take Zhang Yanli away immediately.

Turning the military district’s family compound into a marketplace-like spectacle was utterly disgraceful.

The military operated swiftly and decisively.

Zhang Yanli probably wanted to cause more trouble, but Han Chao and the security officers quickly shoved her into the car.

Of course, Minister Wang got in as well. Han Chao also had to accompany them to the political department—he was a witness, after all, and needed to testify.

Chen Yufeng walked out with the two little girls to see them off.

Mimi was particularly polite today, waving enthusiastically. “Goodbye, Daddy! Goodbye, Grandpa!”

Minister Wang sat in the front passenger seat. The car had already started moving when he suddenly rolled down the window and gestured for Chen Yufeng to come closer.

Chen Yufeng thought he had something important to tell her and was even considering taking out a notepad to write it down. But to her surprise, Minister Wang simply said, “Your buns were delicious!”

Not only had they tasted great while eating, but even after finishing them, the rich flavor lingered. Minister Wang had eaten three earlier, yet it still felt as if he hadn’t had enough. His only thought was: I want more!

“I can have Han Chao bring you some next time,” Chen Yufeng offered.

“That would be bribery—I can’t accept it. But if you open a bun shop, I’ll definitely come and support it.” Minister Wang gave his final remark, then motioned for the driver to leave.

So her buns were really that good? Good enough that even a high-ranking official thought she should open a shop?

Regardless of how the military district would ultimately handle Zhang Yanli’s case, the idea of opening a shop had now taken root in Chen Yufeng’s mind. It was growing like a wild ambition—one she couldn’t suppress.

Her Po Su Baozi were soft when hot and had an ordinary flavor. But once cooled, they became flaky and crumbly like pastries, making them even more delicious. The mother and daughters each ate a few, and Chen Yufeng decided not to keep the remaining buns warm in the pot. Instead, she took the girls to the market to buy them schoolbags.

Before considering opening a shop, she had been cautious with spending, as her husband’s military stipend was low, and she had little money of her own.

But now, thinking about how she would soon be earning money herself, she couldn’t help but splurge a little.

Children’s schoolbags were no longer like the ones from her childhood, where the only option was a single green military-style bag.

The green military bag cost only 80 cents, while the double-strap schoolbags were 8 yuan each and came in beautiful designs.

Naturally, Tiantian preferred the double-strap bag—it had a Snow White print, which she absolutely adored.

But Mimi stubbornly insisted on getting the cheap, plain military green bag, clutching it tightly and refusing to let go. She kept excitedly telling Tiantian, “Big sister, don’t you see? This bag will look amazing with my green military uniform!”

“I think it’s a little outdated,” Tiantian hesitantly said. But when Mimi’s eyebrows shot up in defiance, she quickly changed her tune. “Actually, it’s not bad at all!”

“I have a military uniform, and now I have a green schoolbag. I look just like a real People’s Liberation Army soldier. When we go to school, no one will dare to bully you anymore!” Mimi declared, throwing an arm around Tiantian.

According to the book, Tiantian had always been timid. When Mimi was around, she had some protection. But later, after Mimi was sent away, Tiantian—being both strikingly beautiful and overly soft-hearted—would be bullied relentlessly at school.

Now, however, the contrast between the fierce, dark-skinned little sister acting as a protective big boss and the gentle, delicate older sister made for an oddly harmonious scene.

Despite their vastly different personalities, the two sisters never fought or argued. Their bond was as sweet as honey.

After buying their schoolbags, they went home. Han Chao hadn’t returned yet, and the sky was still bright. So, Chen Yufeng took the girls to the public bathhouse for a wash.

News always spread quickly in the military district.

As soon as they entered the bathhouse, in the changing room, she overheard a woman talking. “Have you heard? Qin Xiong from the Independent Regiment’s political department secretly had a second child and even sold his daughter. Someone reported him to the political office.”

“I heard Zhang Yanli was involved as the middleman. The political office is planning to revoke her stipend. But Zhang Yanli’s sister works in the logistics department, and she’s good friends with Ma Lin. Ma Lin will probably protect her, right?” another woman speculated.

The two little girls had already gone inside for their bath. Chen Yufeng took her time undressing, listening carefully.

Ma Lin—she had seen that name in the book before. She was a female officer.

And she was a strong-willed, tough-minded woman, a true powerhouse in a key department—someone whose word was law.

Zhang Yanli really had an extensive network. With a female leader backing her, she likely wouldn’t face any consequences.

But then another woman added, “Ma Lin won’t help Zhang Yanli. She’s currently working under Xu Yongyi. He’s her ex-husband and absolutely hates her. She wouldn’t dare get involved and give him any leverage against her.”

Xu Yongyi—the fair-skinned, refined-looking division commander who had visited Chen Yufeng’s home earlier.

Chen Yufeng had a suspicion that he might know Wang Guoguo or that they came from the same place. She had been hoping to learn more about him, but now she discovered he was a divorced man—and his ex-wife was a formidable woman.

She took five minutes just to take off one piece of clothing, absorbed in the gossip.

Then another woman spoke up, “Ma Lin won’t help Zhang Yanli. She and Xu Yongyi once had a child, but the child went missing. She must absolutely despise anything related to child trafficking.”

Another woman, heading off to bathe, turned back and said, “But does it even matter if the military district punishes Zhang Yanli? Her husband, Chen Fanshi, has donated so many cultural relics to the district and now leases the wholesale market at Daqingshan, raking in money by the day. He’s already a ten-thousand-yuan household. Compared to that, how much is her ex-husband’s allowance even worth? Even if the military district revokes it, it’s like plucking a strand of hair from a cow—she wouldn’t care in the slightest.”

The women exchanged knowing smiles.

“We’re just a bunch of people eating cabbage, worrying about the affairs of those making fortunes in the white powder trade. We’ve got too much time on our hands!”

“Let’s just go bathe already—we’re exhausted.”

Chen Yufeng followed them into the bathhouse.

After the bath, when they got home, the two little girls were hungry again. Luckily, the cooled-down buns were now crispy and fragrant.

Chen Yufeng made them each a bowl of rice soup.

Her rice soup was made from ground rice, glutinous rice, and millet, roasted until golden and then mixed with boiling water. It was nourishing, filling, and left the body feeling comfortably warm.

After drinking the soup and brushing their teeth, the girls insisted on sleeping with their new schoolbags as pillows.

Chen Yufeng had already fallen asleep when Mimi suddenly sat up.

“Daddy’s back.”

This little girl was just like her father—she had incredibly sharp ears.

The water was already boiled, and the buns were at their most fragrant. Chen Yufeng got out of bed, turned on the light, and went to the kitchen to make rice soup for her husband and bring him some buns. But when she came out, Han Chao had already gone into the small bedroom and was undressing.

“You’re not eating the buns?” Chen Yufeng asked.

Han Chao had taken off his outer coat and shirt and was lifting his undershirt over his head, revealing his rock-hard abs—like a washboard, ridge after ridge. When he heard her, he pulled his undershirt back down, revealing his close-cropped hair, and countered, “Didn’t you say there were no buns left for me tonight?”

“Yeah, they’re all gone. No buns for you. Just go to sleep.”

Seeing him narrow his eyes at her, Chen Yufeng mustered the courage to glare back and left for the main bedroom.

This man’s stubborn streak—he wasn’t refusing to eat because he wasn’t hungry; he was just being obstinate, trying to force her to grow out her hair.

Just like when they were kids, and she had cut her hair in exchange for soybeans, so he planted an entire field of soybeans—until she was so sick of them she wanted to puke.

He never said it outright, but he would wear her down with this relentless persistence, trying to make her do what he liked.

But this time, Chen Yufeng refused to give in. She was determined to fight this stubborn man to the end.

Because she had realized that with short hair, she looked younger and much more attractive.

She liked herself with short hair.

Broken-crust buns were something Han Chao had grown up eating. He especially loved them cold.

As soon as Chen Yufeng lay down, she listened closely. Sure enough, from the kitchen came the sound of violent coughing.

That damn man was hungry—sneaking buns, stuffing them down so fast he choked on the crispy, crumbly crust.

After eating, Han Chao’s heavy footsteps made their way to the main bedroom.

Mimi was still awake and suddenly sat up, whispering to Chen Yufeng, “Mommy, stinky Daddy isn’t that bad, right?”

“He’s alright, I guess,” Chen Yufeng replied.

“Then can you ask him what happened to that bad auntie? Did the military grandpas hang her up and beat her, pour chili water down her throat, or make her sit on the tiger bench? Did they skin her alive?” Mimi asked, pointing at the door. “Hurry, call him in. Let’s all sleep together tonight.”

Chen Yufeng was still sulking with Han Chao.

But how long had they been here? And already, both her daughters had defected to side with that damn man?