Xiao Yi closed the doors and windows tightly to block the howling cold wind outside. Inside the house, he rolled up his sleeves and began to prepare the long-awaited delicacy with a focused look.

He first took out fresh beef from the cupboard, placed it on the chopping board, and carefully cut it into even-sized cubes. The beef cubes were rosy in color, with clear texture and a light meaty aroma.

Then, Xiao Yi lit the stove, and the blue flames danced happily. He poured a suitable amount of oil into the pot. When the oil was hot and slightly smoking, he put a few pieces of rock sugar into the pot. The rock sugar quickly melted in the hot oil, turning into an attractive caramel color.

Xiao Yi quickly poured the chopped beef into the pot. With a sizzling sound, the beef met the hot oil, instantly stirring up a burst of oil. He quickly stir-fried the beef with a spatula, making each piece evenly coated with caramel. The surface of the beef gradually turned golden and exuded a charming aroma.

Then, he added onions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon and other spices. As soon as the spices entered the pot, a rich aroma immediately spread. Xiao Yi quickly stir-fried them, allowing the aroma of the spices to fully blend into the beef.

Next, he poured in light and dark soy sauce to enhance the beef's color and flavor, added cooking wine to remove the fishy smell, and poured in enough hot water to cover the beef.

After the high heat boiled, Xiao Yi covered the pot, turned down the heat, and let the beef simmer slowly in the pot. The soup was bubbling in the pot, and the rich aroma of meat continued to waft out from the gap in the pot lid, filling the whole room.

Xiao Yi would occasionally lift the lid of the pot to check on the beef, poking it lightly with chopsticks to feel its tenderness. As time went by, the beef became softer and softer, and the soup became thicker.

Finally, Xiao Yi turned on the high heat again to reduce the sauce. The soup wrapped each piece of braised beef, showing an attractive luster. A delicious braised beef was successfully prepared under Xiao Yi's careful cooking.

After the apocalypse, the world seemed to have fallen into endless darkness and despair. Once prosperous cities were reduced to ruins, and the streets and alleys were filled with the smell of decay and desolation.

Supplies were extremely scarce, and every daily necessity became extremely precious. Stores were looted, shelves collapsed, and the ground was littered with broken packaging and forgotten items.

People hid in whatever corners they could find, their eyes filled with fear and vigilance. Some took refuge in dilapidated basements, damp and dark, with only a few faint rays of light filtering through the cracks. Others huddled in abandoned houses, boarding up doors and windows to try to keep out the outside threat.

Neighborhood bonds, once fragile, have become shattered, trust eroded by the pressures of survival. Everyone clings to the few supplies they possess, fearing they might be discovered. Exposure could attract a frenzied group of looters, who will recklessly plunder, even resorting to violent brawls and fatalities for a mere bite of food or a bottle of water.

Walking down the street, all I could hear was the wind and the occasional muffled cough. Silence enveloped everything, as if the world had held its breath. Danger lurked around every corner, and every stranger was a potential threat.

Schools, hospitals, factories, these once vibrant places, have now become dead silent. No more laughter, no more busy people, only endless desolation and deep despair in the hearts of the people.

In this apocalyptic world, survival becomes the only goal, and hiding and dodging are the means to stay alive. Everyone waits in fear, unsure whether they will still be alive tomorrow, or whether there is still hope for the future.

Xiao Yi carefully brought the large pot of braised beef that he had just prepared to the table. The steaming beef exuded an enticing aroma, making people salivate.

He turned and pulled out several brand new insulated lunch boxes from the cupboard. These lunch boxes seemed particularly precious in the apocalyptic environment. Xiao Yi gently opened the lid of the pot and slowly ladled the braised beef into the lunch boxes with a large spoon. Each spoonful was filled with tender and juicy beef and thick, rich broth. His movements were extremely meticulous, fearing that even a drop of broth would spill and be wasted.

After filling a lunch box, he quickly tightened the lid to lock the heat and aroma in. He then filled another one until he had evenly distributed the large pot of braised beef among several insulated lunch boxes.

Xiao Yi neatly placed the insulated lunch boxes filled with braised beef together, then concentrated his mind and used his special ability to open the space. A faint light flashed, and a mysterious space entrance appeared before his eyes. He carefully placed the lunch boxes one by one into the space, his movements gentle and cautious, as if he were placing the most precious treasure.

After putting everything in, Xiao Yi concentrated again and closed the space entrance. He took a deep breath, feeling extremely at ease. The braised beef was now properly preserved. In the future, when supplies were extremely scarce and food was hard to find, it would become an important guarantee for his survival, just in case.

Xiao Yi stood in front of the stove in the kitchen, preparing to steam a pot of fragrant rice.

He first scooped out an appropriate amount of rice from the rice jar, poured the rice into a large bowl, and then turned on the faucet, letting the clear water gently rinse the rice grains. Xiao Yi gently stirred the rice with his hands, and saw that the originally turbid water became whiter and whiter. He rinsed it several times until the water became clear and the rice grains became cleaner.

After washing the rice, Xiao Yi drained the water and poured the rice into the inner pot of the rice cooker. He picked up the measuring cup and added the appropriate amount of water according to the proportion, so that the water just covered the rice by one finger joint.

Then, Xiao Yi used a rice spoon to stir the rice and water evenly, making sure that every grain of rice could fully absorb the water. After doing all this, he carefully wiped the water droplets on the edge of the inner pot, and then placed the inner pot steadily in the rice cooker.

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