At noon, the three of them ate the buns Song Jinzhao had brought back from town.
After eating, Song Jinzhao placed the other fifteen meat buns, which had been set aside, into a basket and handed it to Song Qiming.
"Do you remember how many to give to each family?"
Song Qiming nodded, counting on his fingers as he answered, "Uncle's family has four people who helped water the fields, so ten buns. Second Uncle's family has two people, so five buns. And we're to invite them to come over for dinner tonight."
Song Jinzhao covered the basket with a piece of white cloth. "Qiming has such a good memory. Off you go."
Second Song and Second Aunt Song, who had finally finished watering the fields after a whole morning of carrying water, collapsed onto their bed as soon as they got home.
"Your father is so biased. Why should we do all the work while Jinzhao does nothing, and then she doesn't even share the harvest with us?"
Second Aunt Song lay with her eyes closed, grumbling nonstop. She had nearly worked herself to death these past few days.
Second Song, drowsy and struggling to stay awake, mumbled, "Keep your voice down. We were doing the same work, but because you kept complaining, Father glared at us several times."
Second Aunt Song sat bolt upright.
Song Pandi was startled, the tea bowl full of water in her hands wobbling and nearly spilling.
"Can't even hold a bowl of tea steady. What use are you raising you?" Second Aunt Song snatched the bowl and jabbed her finger viciously at Song Pandi's forehead.
Song Pandi lowered her head fearfully and hid behind Song Laidi.
Ignoring the angry expression on Second Aunt Song's face, Song Laidi said loudly, "Father, your tea is here."
Second Song, whose eyelids felt too heavy to open, was thirsty and felt overheated. He got up, took the cool tea, and drank it in one gulp.
"Go on out. Your mother and I need to rest. Call us when lunch is ready."
"Rest well, Father and Mother. We'll start making it right away." Song Laidi took Song Pandi's hand and quickly left the room.
The two had just closed their eyes and were about to fall asleep when Song Yaozu pushed the door open with a bang, running in and shouting, "Father! Mother! Qiming is here!"
Awakened, Second Song frowned unhappily. "What does he want?"
Song Yaozu pushed at them to get up. "Sister Jinzhao sent him over with buns."
The two lying in bed thrashed like carp, flipping over and scrambling up, their eyes lighting up as they confirmed, "Really? Buns?"
Song Yaozu licked his lips greedily. "Eldest Sister has already gone to the kitchen to get bowls."
By the time Second Song ran out of the room, Song Qiming was already transferring the meat buns from the basket onto a plate.
Seeing them come out, he announced clearly, "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, my sister asked me to bring these buns over. She also said for you to bring the younger siblings to our house for dinner tonight."
Second Aunt Song's eyes gleamed. It must be because of the watering.
"Did your sister go into town this morning?"
Song Qiming nodded in affirmation. "Sister went to town to sell mushrooms and bought a lot of groceries. She said she's hosting a dinner tonight."
Second Aunt Song was overjoyed. Buying food in town meant there would surely be meat.
But when Song Qiming took out all five buns and covered the basket with the white cloth again, Second Aunt Song frowned, sensing something amiss.
She blocked Song Qiming's hand and asked, "Why are there still so many buns in the basket? Are those for your uncle's family?"
Song Qiming nodded. "Yes."
Second Aunt Song's face darkened. "Why do they get more?"
Song Qiming explained, "Uncle's family had four people helping—Grandfather and Grandmother included—so they get ten buns. Second Uncle and Aunt are two people, so you get five."
Hearing that the eldest branch got ten, Second Aunt Song felt even more resentful.
"But your uncle's family only has six people. My family has five. This isn't enough to eat."
Song Qiming blinked. That's just what his sister had said.
Second Song, quick as lightning, snatched two extra meat buns from the basket. "There'll be many people tonight. Remember to tell your sister to cook more rice."
Song Qiming watched as Second Song stuffed the buns into his mouth. He opened and closed his own mouth, unsure what to do.
His sister had specifically instructed him. Now that Second Uncle had taken two extra, it meant Uncle's family would get two fewer.
On the way to the old house, his mind was a tangled mess. He felt a bit wronged.
He couldn't even handle such a small task properly. Would his sister think he was useless?
Distracted, Song Qiming nearly tripped over the threshold upon entering, swaying left and right before finally steadying himself.
Elder Aunt Song, who was washing clothes, looked up at the noise. "Qiming?"
Song Qiming snapped back to reality, his eyes feeling slightly sore.
He looked up at Elder Aunt Song. "Aunt, my sister asked me to bring over some buns."
He entered the main room and set the basket down. Old Lady Song emerged from the kitchen and lifted the white cloth. "Why so many buns?"
That must have cost a fortune.
Song Qiming swallowed. "Sister specifically bought extra and told me to bring them. She also invites you all to our house for dinner tonight. Second Uncle's family is coming too."
"Your sister spends money so freely. Buying so many buns isn't as economical as buying half a pound of meat," said Old Man Song, coming out of his room. His tone held reproach, but the corners of his mouth were turned up.
Elder Aunt Song took the buns out of the basket, feeling pleased inside.
Buns made with white flour—their own family hadn't eaten any in over two years. With eight meat buns, everyone could have at least one.
She was about to express her thanks when she noticed the redness at the corners of Song Qiming's eyes and asked with concern, "Why are your eyes red? Did you hurt yourself when you fell just now?"
Song Qiming shook his head, his voice slightly hoarse and his eyes betraying a hint of grievance. "I caught myself with my hands. I didn't fall."
"It's just... when I left home, my sister packed fifteen buns. She specifically said to give Uncle's family ten and Second Uncle's family five."
"But when I went to Second Uncle's house just now, Second Uncle said they wouldn't have enough to eat and took two more. I'm afraid Sister will blame me for not doing it right."
Old Man Song, who had just returned from the river, stopped at the doorway, feeling angry. Oldest Song, standing beside him, also looked displeased.
To snatch even two buns... Second Brother was really too much.
Old Man Song took a deep breath, feeling utterly ashamed. To act so shamelessly in front of a junior—how could he still be considered an elder?
Elder Aunt Song's gaze fell on the buns on the plate. A moment ago, they seemed plentiful, but now, knowing two were missing, she felt a pang of discontent.
Old Man Song put down his farming tools and said to Song Qiming, "It's a small matter. Consider it as your grandfather and grandmother each giving one extra bun to your Second Uncle. It's hot, hurry back home. Tell your sister the fields have all been watered, so she can set her mind at ease."
Hearing Old Man Song say this made Song Qiming feel much better.
He nodded obediently, picked up the basket, and headed home.
As soon as he turned the corner and was out of sight, the smile faded from Old Man Song's face. He sat down on a stool, radiating a cold silence.
The main room grew extremely quiet. Old Lady Song broke the silence: "I'll go heat up the buns."
Elder Aunt Song motioned with her eyes for Song Yongnian and Song Qiaoniang to go wait in their room, while she went back to the courtyard to continue washing clothes.
Upon returning home, Song Qiming told Song Jinzhao what had happened. She just smiled without saying a word.
The help was given, but the person truly had their flaws.
It was a good thing they didn't live together, otherwise who knew how much trouble there would be.
Although these were all small matters, they always left one feeling uncomfortable. Over time, conflicts would grow larger and larger, and it wasn't impossible they might become strangers.
