After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

As I walked to the street corner, a fragrant aroma wafted over—the steamed bun shop was opening its steamers.

Lin Qianqian took out her money, spent twelve coins, and bought six plump white meat buns.

One person stuffed two into their hand.

"Sister Qianqian, you've already given me money, why are you still giving me steamed buns?" Ding Xiaohu held the steamed buns, which were so hot that he kept switching them between his hands, but he couldn't bear to put them down. "I don't want to eat them, you two can eat them."

"Do you still consider me your sister?" Lin Qianqian looked at him. "Just eat what's offered to you. We ate the pancakes you gave us, didn't we?"

"Those pancakes...those pancakes aren't as expensive as meat buns..." Ding Xiaohu muttered softly.

"Relationships aren't a business transaction; you can't calculate everything so precisely." Lin Qianqian held the steamed bun closer to his mouth. "Here you go."

Seeing that she was about to sternly rebuke him, Ding Xiaohu had no choice but to take the bag and take a bite.

"It smells so good!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide. "So much meat!"

After eating one, he put the second one in his pocket.

"Why aren't you eating?" Lin Qianqian asked.

"I'm full." Ding Xiaohu patted his stomach.

Lin Qianqian looked at him and knew exactly what was going on—a half-grown boy, could a steamed bun fill him up?

"Eat quickly, don't think about bringing it home." She softened her voice, "I'll buy some more to take back later."

"No, no, these steamed buns are too expensive..."

Lin Qianqian gave him a look, and Ding Xiaohu swallowed the rest of his words, obediently taking out a steamed bun and continuing to eat.

After finishing her meal, Lin Qianqian went back and spent twenty coins to buy ten meat buns, which she then put into her basket.

Money really flies. I earned 150 coins, and in such a short time, I've already spent 32 of them.

She touched the money left in her pocket; there were still 328 coins.

We still need to buy some furniture.

There's nothing there at the old house. A broken pot will do—we won't buy a new one yet; ironware is too expensive, and making a new pot would cost a lot of money.

That chipped knife was still usable, though.

Lin Qianqian stopped in front of the general store and picked out four rough porcelain bowls, a ceramic jar, a spatula, and two small basins. The stall owner clicked the beads on his abacus: "Twenty-three coins."

I bought salt again, for ten coins.

"Where's the oil?" She thought for a moment, then went to the butcher's stall instead of buying any ready-made.

How much is the pork fat?

"Eight coins," the butcher said, picking bones with his hands without looking up. "A bit more expensive than pork belly."

Lin Qianqian knew that using lard to render lard produced a lot of oil, making stir-fries more fragrant, and that there was a reason why it was expensive.

"Give me three catties."

Twenty-four coins were counted out.

She stood in front of the meat counter for a while, her gaze falling on the large bones.

"How much are these bones?"

"There's not much meat in this stuff." The butcher finally looked up. "If you want it, three coins, take it all."

"I'll take it."

She and her brother needed to nourish themselves, and bone broth was the most nutritious option.

I cut another piece of pork belly, eight coins.

My purse has shrunk again—sixty-eight coins have been spent.

Lin Qianqian wanted to buy something else, but then she thought that if she bought too much at once, the villagers would become suspicious.

Never mind, let's take it slow.

She counted the remaining money: two hundred and sixty coins.

This money really doesn't last long. Looks like I'm not earning money fast enough; I need to work harder.

After putting their belongings into their baskets, the three of them set off on their way back to the village. The baskets were heavy, making the rattan creak, and the sun was getting higher and higher, making their backs feel hot.

But Lin Qianqian's steps were even lighter than when she came.

She was happy; she was in a good mood.