People from Yunjia Village entered the woods one after another, and the woods, which had been quiet just a moment ago, suddenly became lively.

Butcher Yun waited until everyone had entered the woods before he pushed his cart to a clearing at the edge of the woods. This clearing was close to the official road, making it easy to get in and out.

Butcher Yun and Brother Yun pushed their carts to the inner part of the woods and parked the donkey cart next to the handcart. Butcher Yun tied the little donkey to a nearby tree and gave it half a basket of grass and half a basin of water.

"Wife, we are running low on firewood. I will take the eldest and second oldest to collect some firewood, and let the third oldest and Yiyi help you."

"Let the three brothers go with you. Let Yiyi help me light the fire at home. You also need to pick up more hay, otherwise the little donkey will have nothing to eat." Zhang said.

"Okay, then let's go collect firewood. Big brother, second brother, third brother, take the baskets and let's go." Butcher Yun, carrying a large basket, shouted to the three brothers of the Yun family.

"Here we are, Dad." When the three brothers of the Yun family heard what Yun the Butcher said, they all carried their baskets and followed Yun the Butcher to the back of the woods.

"Mom, what should I do?"

"Yiyi, let's clean up the open space first and make sure there are places for sleeping, eating and cooking. I'll sweep the floor and you pick up the pebbles." Zhang picked up a big broom and started sweeping.

The ground beneath the trees was muddy and had been trampled hard by the refugees. Zhang needed to use a broom to sweep away the branches, leaves, and pebbles on the ground. As a result, Zhang's sweep sent a cloud of dust flying through the trees.

"Yiyi, please stay behind the woods for a while. I'll call you when I'm done sweeping." Zhang said, covering her mouth and nose with her clothes.

"I understand, mother." Yun Yiyi said and ran to the back of the woods. She thought that while Zhang was sweeping the floor, she would go pick up a few large stones and build a stove. Using stones would be faster and easier to burn.

Yun Yiyi spent a few minutes and arrived at the back of the woods. There were still a lot of stones there. However, she had to look carefully to find the right ones.

Yun Yiyi walked around the pile of stones and had a clear idea of ​​what to do. The stones were all relatively small, and there were no suitable stones at all. She rubbed her chin and thought for a moment, deciding to do it herself.

Next, Yun Yiyi approached the two large rocks she had seen earlier. She found the perfect angle and struck them with her stick. With good control of her strength, she managed to get four rocks suitable for the stove after two strikes.

Yun Yiyi picked out three stones and brought them back in two batches. Just then, Zhang had finished sweeping the floor and was clearing the last pebbles.

"Mom, can you see where the stove is?" Yun Yiyi asked loudly.

"Yiyi, so you went to pick up stones. I was wondering why I didn't see you just now."

"Let's put the stove where you put the stones. You set it up first, I'll go get the big iron pot." Zhang stood up and dusted her hands. She went to the cart and unloaded the sack containing the big iron pot, untied the sack, and took out the big iron pot.

Yun Yiyi set up the stove, and Zhang put the big iron pot on it to try it out, and it was just right.

"Yiyi, how about we eat steamed buns tonight? Do you want to eat it?" Zhang asked Yun Yiyi while washing her hands.

"Mom, can you put some white flour in the steamed buns? Corn flour alone makes my throat hurt."

"Okay, Mom, put more white flour. Mom will use old dough to mix the dough, wait until the dough rises, and then steam it. The steamed bread made that way will be soft and delicious."

"Mom, I like to eat soft steamed bread." Yun Yiyi said happily.

"Yiyi, how about we do the same as last night and steam a plate of steamed eggs with chili peppers, and then cook a large piece of smoked pork liver. This way we can cook everything in one pot, which is convenient. It's also quick to make and doesn't take up much time." Zhang was thinking quietly.

"Mom, let's do this. I'll go get the firewood and prepare the fire. You go and knead the dough." After Yun Yiyi said that, she climbed onto the top of the donkey cart and threw firewood down.

After washing her hands, Zhang scooped half a basin of white flour, then half of corn flour, and finally mixed the dough with water made from the old dough. Once the dough was kneaded, Zhang covered it with a cloth and placed the basin in the sun behind the woods to dry.

The sun is very strong right now, so the dough will rise quickly.

"Sister-in-law, why are you carrying the basin?" Li asked curiously.

"Sister-in-law, I kneaded a basin of dough and prepared to let it rise to make steamed corn bread. The temperature is high under the sun, so the dough will rise quickly. Put it behind the woods so I can see it and I don't have to worry about others stealing it." Zhang put down the basin and started walking back.

"Don't worry, my home is right here, I'll help you watch over it. I'll call you when the dough is ready. But your idea is good. We've been eating mostly pancakes lately, and we only had buns this morning, and they were made with dough that was made last night."

"Haha, I'll also make a bowl of noodles and steam buns. This way I can save the time of making dry food at night. Sister-in-law, you have a really good brain." Li praised happily.

"Haha, you will discover these tricks after cooking for a long time. Sister-in-law, I won't say anymore. I have to prepare the food quickly." After Zhang said this, she hurried back.

Mrs. Li also hurriedly washed her hands and went to knead the dough. "Great! I've learned another great way to cook today," Mrs. Li thought happily.

After Zhang returned home, she quickly brought out a plate of pickled chili peppers. She chopped them up, beat two eggs into the sauce, and ladled in two spoonfuls of lard.

Then, Zhang took out a large piece of smoked pig liver and a piece of smoked pig lung from the meat basket. It was just right to cook them in one pot, which would save trouble when she cooked in the evening.

Zhang cleaned the pig liver and lungs and put them in the iron pot. Yun Yiyi had been cooking for a while, and the water in the pot was almost boiling.

Then, Zhang placed the bamboo grate inside the large iron pot and covered it with a cloth. She scooped half a bucket of water and wet the cloth. Then she covered the pot and let Yun Yiyi continue to cook over high heat.

Taking advantage of this gap, Zhang added half a basket of hay to the little donkey, scooped two bowls of moldy corn flour, mixed it with water, and fed it to the little donkey.

Zhang also took the basket of hens off the donkey cart. She took out the hens and threw away the dirty hay inside the basket.

Then, she scooped up half a bowl of moldy cornmeal and mixed it with water. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then returned to the donkey cart and broke off a few cabbage leaves and took them down.

Zhang untied the string from the hen's beak, put the hen, cabbage leaves, and cornmeal together, and covered it with a basket. The hen, probably accustomed to Zhang's operation, made no sound.

"Sister-in-law, your dough is ready." Li shouted.

"I understand, sister-in-law. I'll bring the basin right away." Zhang responded quickly.