Ning Chenguang and Yueyue returned home, and Liu Qiaoqiao from the neighboring courtyard was still howling like a ghost.

The two little ones exchanged a smile, then both raised their index fingers, placed them on their lips, and made a "shh" sound.

In the kitchen, steaming hot buns were already out of the pot.

Liang Xiuzhu was taking out the buns while saying to her husband, "What’s going on in Liu Qiaoqiao’s house? The whole afternoon has been so noisy, there’s no peace!"

"I heard the chimney is blocked!" He Fusheng said while tending the fire.

"How did the chimney get blocked just like that?" Liang Xiuzhu asked puzzled.

"Who knows? I say, it’s good that the chimney’s blocked. Maybe even the gods can’t stand it and decided to send some trouble to teach that troublesome woman a lesson!"

"Yes! I feel the same way! It’s satisfying!"

Ning Chenguang and He Yue heard this conversation at the kitchen door and laughed till they bent over, both covering their mouths and dashed inside.

The smoke from the chimney had stopped, and every household had already started their meal.

Except Liu Qiaoqiao’s family hadn’t eaten yet, the bottom of the iron pot was burned, the buns turned into charcoal, and worse, the chimney’s blockage made smoke fill their home.

Not only was there a smoky smell, but it also vaguely carried a stench of urine.

Without fixing the chimney, there’s no way to cook!

With the men of the house away, Liu Qiaoqiao could only climb onto the roof to find out the cause, surprisingly, the inside of the chimney was pitch black, revealing nothing.

There was nothing blocking it!

Liu Qiaoqiao extended her hand to the chimney and groped around, finding nothing after feeling for a long time.

Frustrated, she fetched a wooden stick and poked it down vigorously, eventually sensing some blockage inside.

She found the obstruction, but getting it out was far from easy.

The blockage was stubbornly stuck, making it hard to handle. Not only did she fail to remove it, but she also ended up with a face like Judge Bao and covered in soot.

Inside the house, Liu Chengcai’s stomach growled loudly with hunger, as his mom hadn’t prepared any food.

Unable to endure any longer, he jumped off the bed and shouted from the yard, "Mom, are you trying to starve me?"

Liu Qiaoqiao was already frustrated, hearing her son’s complaints made her blow her top, pointing at his nose, she cursed, "Yes, I want to starve you! What’s the point of birthing you when you’re no good! All you do all day is eat, eat, eat! In your next life, don’t reincarnate as a human, just be a pig!"

At thirteen, Liu Chengcai was deeply hurt and furious hearing such words from his own mother.

In a huff, he stomped his foot, turned around, and ran away.

If he’s not eating, then so be it! If there’s no food at home, he’ll buy it at the shop!

No money? He’ll buy on credit and see if his mom will pay the bill later!

Liu Qiaoqiao had only scolded her son a bit, not even had the heart to beat him, and still, this brat angrily ran off, leaving Liu Qiaoqiao worn out after the afternoon struggle.

Unable to solve the problem by herself, it seemed she had to seek help!

Whom to ask?

Liu Qiaoqiao went to her elder brother-in-law’s house, only to find his family was not home, they all went out.

She asked a few others, but no one was willing to come.

After pondering, she finally went to her neighbor He Fusheng’s house.