Chapter 7: Pork Fat Buns? A Threat from Second Aunt!

They spent the last thirty cents on three vegetable dishes that didn't require food ration coupons. Racing against time, the two of them made a major shopping trip at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Liuzi was thrilled with his share of the money. He spent eight yuan to buy his grandmother a padded jacket with embroidered patterns, along with daily necessities like white sugar and soap.

Qin Feng spent even more: candy, soap, cotton cloth, enamel bowls, and he even bought a jar of vanishing cream each for his mother and younger sister. Dong Qiufen had worked in the fields year-round, her face chapped and frostbitten from the wind and snow; Qin Feng had decided to buy some skincare products for her before he had even arrived.

Passing through the market permitted by the county, Qin Feng dragged Liuzi on another shopping spree. These goods were all produced and sold by the villagers themselves, not restricted items. After some haggling, Qin Feng spent four yuan on a large bag of pure white pork fat. He also bought some dried goods like shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms to take home. Passing by a vendor selling candied haws, he didn't forget to buy some for his sister.

The two returned laden with goods; the handcart, which had seemed spacious on the way there, now appeared quite crowded. This was mainly because Liuzi had bought two bags of coarse grain flour. The boy was reluctant to spend money and feared his grandmother would scold him upon his return.

By the time they reached the village, it was already pitch black. Qin Feng carried his sack full of goods and said goodbye to Liuzi.

As soon as he stepped into the house, before he could even put his bags down, Qin Xiaoyu rushed over to him.

"Don't be in such a hurry," Qin Feng said, patting his sister's head to comfort her.

He carried the sack to the front of the *kang* and dumped everything out in one go. Soap, cotton cloth, white sugar—Dong Qiufen and Qin Xiaoyu stood there with their mouths agape, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Here, Xiaoyu, this is the candied haw I promised you." Qin Feng took two skewers of hawthorn coated in malt syrup from the parchment paper and handed them to his sister.

The little girl jumped high with excitement. She hugged the candied haws, reluctant to eat them, and kept shaking them in her hand. "Mom! I really got candied haws!"

"Slow down, Xiaoyu, don't drop them on the floor!" Dong Qiufen watched from the side, suppressing the joy in her heart.

"Mom, this is vanishing cream I bought for you. The sales clerk said it’s the Friendship brand and it’s very good. Give it a try!" Qin Feng picked up the jar from the *kang* and placed it in Dong Qiufen’s hand.

Under the candlelight, Dong Qiufen looked at the gift her son had handed her with a smile. She could no longer hold back her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Qin Feng handed all the remaining money to his mother. Qin Xiaoyu had been too happy to sleep the night before, fussing until the small hours. Ever since her husband had died, Dong Qiufen had never been as happy as she was that night. Clutching the money her son had given her, she felt as if she were in a dream. She couldn't sleep, so she got up and stayed up half the night; by the time Qin Feng woke up, she had already finished sewing him a pair of warm cotton gloves.

The pork fat they had bought was chopped into small cubes by Dong Qiufen, who called Xiaoyu over to light the fire. When Qin Feng washed his face, the whole courtyard was filled with the aroma of rendered lard.

"Mom, later on, let’s use the leftover pork cracklings, cut up some mushrooms and wood ears, and make some steamed buns," Qin Feng suggested with a smile.

"Don't you worry about it. I'll make sure you have buns dripping with oil for lunch," Dong Qiufen said, managing the stove with a smile on her face.

The sun climbed high, its light reflecting brightly off the snow. Qin Feng pulled up a stool and leaned against the eaves, watching his mother and sister render the lard and prepare the buns.

"Xiaofeng!" Liuzi, still as simple-minded as ever, arrived carrying a bag, grinning at Qin Feng. "My grandma said I should bring some coarse grain flour to your house. I bought too much yesterday and got scolded by her, but she did praise me too, heh heh!"

Liuzi placed the half-bag of flour on the ledge under the eaves.

"Little Liu, don't go back yet. Auntie is making buns. Eat your fill and take some back for your grandma," Dong Qiufen instructed while she worked.

Seeing Liuzi about to decline, Qin Feng grabbed the silly boy. "If I tell you to eat, then eat! Don't go yet! I have something to discuss with you after we eat."

Hearing that Qin Feng had something to discuss, Liuzi abandoned his plan to run away.

The buns, glistening with oil, were not made of pure white flour, but they were incredibly appetizing. Mixed with mushrooms, wood ears, and the savory fat of the pork cracklings, the aroma was fully brought out. The buns were piping hot, and they couldn't wait for them to cool down. They grabbed the buns and squatted under the eaves, eating them with gusto. In times of famine, what family could afford such luxury?

"Oh? Eating, are you?"

A sudden greeting rang out in the courtyard. Qin Feng’s face darkened instantly at the sound. He put down his bun and asked, "What are you here for?"

The person who had arrived was none other than his second aunt, Sun Xiao'e, who had seen Qin Feng leaving the village earlier. Seeing how luxurious Qin Feng's home was, the cold sneer on Sun Xiao'e's face deepened.

"What? Even though we’ve severed family ties, you don't even recognize your second aunt anymore? I helped your family quite a bit in the past. Can you really blame your grandmother for severing ties with you on me?"

Sun Xiao'e believed she had Qin Feng cornered, so she didn't act like an outsider at all. Qin Feng stood up from the stool with a cold face.

"Helped? You have the nerve to say that?" Qin Feng sneered. His second aunt spoke nicely, but in reality, Zhao Xiulian’s mistreatment of their family was mostly instigated by Sun Xiao'e. And now, she dared to swagger into his house and act like one of the family? It was like a toad landing on one's foot—it didn't bite, but it was disgusting.

"Our family has already severed ties with you lot. We even got the certification from the village. You want to deny it now? Get out!" Qin Feng had no patience and reached out to chase her away.

Sun Xiao'e, however, was not afraid at all. She tilted her neck, sneered, and threatened Qin Feng in a low voice. "If you dare to touch me today, just try it! Don't think I don't know! You stole the pinecones harvested by the production team this summer and secretly sold them on the black market in the county. Even though we’ve severed ties, we’re still relatives, so I won't report you to the village... yet."

Sun Xiao'e paused, smiling coldly as she revealed her motive: "You have to give me half of the money you made from selling those goods!"