"Liu Jiu, could you season this soup? I've been simmering it for hours."

The pheasant that Bonnie caught weighed over two pounds after its feathers were removed, so it must be an old pheasant and needs to be stewed for a while longer.

The cleaned pheasant was chopped into several large pieces by Bonnie and soaked in water.

Bonnie went to the service store and bought a large earthenware pot to make chicken soup at home.

Bonnie asked Aunt Zhang, who told her to blanch the pheasant with plenty of ginger to remove the fishy smell, then put it in a clay pot with water and simmer over low heat. No other seasonings are needed; just adjust the flavor before serving.

You can add other ingredients if you want, and stew them all in one pot, like the big pot stew in Northeast China.

Following Aunt Zhang's method, Bonnie stewed the chicken in a clay pot, skimming off the foam occasionally until the broth became clear. She removed the excess firewood from the small stove and simmered it over a low flame. Surprisingly, the flavor was quite rich.

Bao Ni thought she would send a big bowl to Aunt Zhang's house after stewing it, so she added some yam to it. When Liu Jiu and San Qi came back, Bao Ni was afraid that she would mess it up again, so she asked Liu Jiu to add the seasonings.

"What's this stew? It smells so good!"

"Dad, you're back?" Upon hearing her father's voice, Liu Jiu forgot all about the seasoning and rushed straight to him.

Sanqi missed her father, but seeing him covered in mud, she couldn't bring herself to rush to him. Instead, she circled around Gu Ye. Bao Ni and Gu Ye laughed, wondering who this child took after to be so clean.

The mud on Gu Ye's clothes had dried, but Sanqi still couldn't stand it.

"You're so lucky! I caught a pheasant this morning and you're back tonight. Wash your hands, make some seasoning, and then hurry up and take a shower. Can't you see how pitiful Sanqi looks, wanting to get close to you but not knowing how to do it?!"

After washing his hands, Gu Ye rubbed Sanqi's head with his hand, thinking to himself, "That clean-loving brat."

A delicious pot of chicken soup, seasoned perfectly by Gu Ye, with just the right amount of saltiness and a wonderful flavor.

Gu Ye went to take a shower. Bao Ni ladled out a large bowl of chicken soup, filled it with meat and yam, placed it on a tray, and brought it over to Sister Zhang.

"Oh dear, why did you bring me such a big bowl of chicken soup? You can keep it for yourself. My husband is back. Is your husband back too? Is it enough for you?" Zhang's wife didn't expect Bao Ni to bring her chicken soup. In these days, food is scarce, especially meat.

“That’s enough. That chicken is quite big. I also added some yams. Everyone should have some. If you want to eat your fill of meat, even two more chickens wouldn’t be enough.” Bao Ni put down her bowl, and Aunt Zhang took out her own bowl and poured the meat out.

"I'll rinse it for you."

"No need, I'll wash them together when I get home. I'm going home to eat; my little Liu Jiu can't stand being hungry, she's in a hurry." Bonnie took the bowl and went home.

"Who is it that is so generous, sending such a big bowl of chicken soup?"

Commissar Xu came out of the bathroom after washing the dishes, his hair still wet.

"Dry your hair, it's all over the place. Our new neighbor is the family member of the brigade commander of the special operations brigade. She's a very nice person, and she speaks very directly. I enjoy chatting with her."

Political Commissar Xu found out that it was Brigade Commander Gu's family member. They had moved next door to him, and he had been so busy lately that he had forgotten to tell his wife to take good care of them. Unexpectedly, the two got along quite well.

He knew his wife was struggling with her feelings. She felt she wasn't good enough for him, had some inferiority complex, and didn't get along well with the families in the neighborhood; those people looked down on her.

He couldn't do anything about it. He told himself he didn't mind and shouldn't listen to others, but it was really hard to do. Now that the new neighbor has come, his wife's mood has improved a lot.

"Brigade Commander Gu is a nice guy. If you feel you get along well, then spend more time with him. They've just arrived, so you can help take care of them. You'll also have company. Besides, I'm paired with Brigade Commander Gu. If you two get along well, we'll feel at ease."

The Xu couple discussed Bao Ni and her sister, while Gu Ye also mentioned Political Commissar Xu from next door to Bao Ni.

“Political Commissar Xu next door is a nice guy. We’ve been working together quite well these past few days. If you get along well with his wife, you should consider it. It’ll be good to have company. When I get busy, I’ll feel more at ease knowing someone will lend a hand.” Gu Ye thought Political Commissar Xu was capable and of good character, and that they could get to know each other better.

"Okay, I got it. Come on, let's eat. You've already lost weight in just a few days." Bonnie called the child to the table to eat as well.

When Sanqi saw his father, who had just washed up, he ran over and threw himself into his arms. He missed his father.

Gu Ye picked up Sanqi, placed her on a stool, and prepared to eat.

He put another piece of meat on Liu Jiu's plate. Both children were his treasures, as was his precious Bao Ni.

It's a rare treat for the whole family to sit down and enjoy a meal together; it puts us in a good mood.

Gu Ye went home for a meal, but then got busy again the next day and didn't come home that night.

Bonnie got used to it; she lived her life at her own pace, and they both felt at ease.

As for the other neighbors, Bonnie didn't plan to visit them. Unlike the old residential compound where there weren't so many people and things got along well, this compound was full of people, each with their own agendas. Bonnie planned to get to know them slowly and spend more time with those she got along with.

After dropping her child off at school, Bonnie planned to wash the bed sheets and duvet covers; the weather was nice today.

Now, Liu Jiu and San Qi don't need to be taken to school by themselves anymore. The three daughters of Aunt Zhang next door are with them, and Liu Jiu is in the same class as her. She has four children: the eldest is in high school, the second is in junior high school, the third is a year older than Liu Jiu but is in the same class as her, and the youngest and San Qi are in preschool.

"Auntie, the teacher wants you to go to the school."

Bonnie had just hung the washed sheets to dry when Xu Hongxia from next door pushed open the door and came in, saying that the teacher wanted to see her.

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