Jiang Xi agreed, saying, "So fate really is a wondrous thing."

Yan Zheng probably never imagined that he would see his younger brother in another world one day.

The two chatted as they walked, and soon the two girls arrived at the field, chattering away.

Actually, Jiang Xi asked Du Ling to come along because there were indeed too many red tomatoes in the field, and they needed to be picked in advance and dried to avoid waste.

On the other hand, she was mainly worried that she wouldn't be able to handle the many things she needed to prepare tonight.

Jiang Xi took out empty baskets, and each of them picked one to pick cucumbers and tomatoes.

The fruits and vegetables planted in the ground are often coveted by small animals. Even though a simple fence has been built, there are always some pheasants or field mice watching around. Jiang Xi can only reluctantly throw away the fruits that have been pecked at.

Jiang Xi picked the remaining tomatoes and filled two baskets. She placed the baskets on the edge of the field and had Xiao Lu watch over them.

Next, she took Du Ling to the fields to find wild vegetables and fresh mushrooms that could be used for hot pot or cold dishes.

It mainly consists of wild amaranth, wild onions, and some grasses that ewes and rabbits like to eat.

The male rabbit had grown up, and just as Jiang Xi had predicted, the female rabbit became pregnant again very quickly. Her belly was already showing, and Jiang Xi had to cut fresh grass for her every day. Once this litter of rabbits was born, they should have more than a dozen rabbits in their yard, which should be enough to feed them this winter.

It was a hot summer morning, and the two of them were already covered in sweat after only a short time in the field.

So the two of them quickly finished picking the peppers, and before leading the deer back, Jiang Xi went to the pepper trees and picked a few small, newly red chili peppers.

Back in the yard, Jiang Xi picked the ripe tomatoes from the vegetable garden as well. Tomatoes change every day at this time of year; they might be green today, but by tomorrow morning they'll be half-ripe.

After washing the fresh tomatoes, there are two ways to dry them.

One method involves cutting the tomatoes in half to extract the juice and pulp, then drying them directly in the sun. After three days, soaking them in warm water and then in syrup, they can be eaten after two or three days. They have a sweet and sour taste, somewhat like dried persimmons, and have a unique flavor when paired with sweet potatoes.

Another method is to cut the tomatoes into slices about one finger thick and then sprinkle them with salt. This way, the tomatoes will be completely dehydrated and kept dry, preventing them from molding or getting infested with insects.

The second type of dried tomato is a great ingredient for cooking noodles or making soup. This is the optimal drying method that Jiang Xi discovered after countless experiments.

After processing all the tomatoes, we also collected all the dried fruits and vegetables that had been dried, tied them up with straw, and stored them away.

The two of them were busy until mid-afternoon. Estimating that it was about time, Jiang Xi began to prepare the ingredients for dinner.

Making a cake was out of the question; no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't figure out how to make a cake without wheat flour.

Star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, and black pepper are the only spices she has on hand right now.

That's all there is, or perhaps there is, but she doesn't recognize it, and Yan Jing'an doesn't recognize it either.

She had also tried making soy sauce from soybeans, but she obviously failed. The soybeans she had been covering with mulch became infested with insects after only two days.

Making a delicious hot pot broth with these limited ingredients is a challenge, after all, even a skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients.

After thinking it over, Jiang Xi remembered a kind of street food hot pot she had once eaten deep in the mountains.

Sauté fresh pork belly to render the fat, then add spices, chopped chili peppers, diced tomatoes, and scallions. Finally, pour in bone broth made from simmered bones and bring it to a boil. This allows you to cook all the delicacies that gourmets can imagine.

She had the privilege of eating it a few times with her mentor. The rich flavor of fermented black bean sauce, combined with the thick chili paste, made it a very distinctive local hot pot dish.

Some shops also use cured pork to stir-fry the broth, which adds a unique flavor.

Jiang Xi washed the chili peppers in her hands and murmured, "Let's use this method. It should be the most convenient and bring out the best flavor."

Yan Zheng would be back from hunting some time later, so Jiang Xi started preparing the dishes in advance.

First, soak the best quality cured pork belly in warm water. Wash the termite mushrooms and tear them apart by hand. Slice the boletus into thin slices. Add the tender sweet potato sprouts, wild amaranth, bean sprouts, and dried bracken and dried roots.

Not knowing whether Yan Zheng and Yan Jing'an would bring any other ingredients, she didn't prepare much.

Nevertheless, the cutting board was piled high with dishes, filling the entire stove.

Jiang Xi washed her hands and dried them with a towel.

As I was wiping my hands, I heard Yan Jing'an and Du Ling talking outside the courtyard.

Yan Jing'an said with a look of disgust, "Those rabbits only have one stomach. You look at them five times a day. If you keep feeding them, they'll die from overfeeding."

Du Ling, who was watching the rabbits eat with great interest, frowned when she heard his voice. She retorted, "I only feed them half a rabbit each time, how could they possibly die from overfeeding?"

However, she did seem to speak without much confidence, and her voice sounded weak.

Yan Jing'an took off the basket from his back and picked it up in his hand, saying in an annoyed tone, "Animals are just like people; they also need to be fed regularly."

With that, he pushed open the courtyard gate and ignored Du Ling.

Jiang Xi greeted him when she saw him return.

Yan Jing'an hummed in agreement and took out a banana leaf bundle from his backpack, placing it on the stone table.

Jiang Xi walked over naturally and opened it: "What is this?"

After lifting the banana leaves, Jiang Xi saw what was inside: a honeycomb.

She frowned: "Didn't I tell you not to go again? Are you out of your mind? You've forgotten what happened last time so quickly. Are you hurt this time?"

As she spoke, she looked Yan Jing'an up and down to see if he had any bite wounds.

Yan Jing'an took out the items from his backpack one by one and placed them on the table, saying, "Don't worry, I spent a lot of time scouting this place."

Jiang Xi was a little unhappy: "We already have candy, why take this risk?"

Yan Jing'an paused, his hand still holding something, and after a few seconds said, "I heard that lipsticks and similar products are made with beeswax."

"Lipstick?" Jiang Xi finally realized what he meant.

Many lipsticks on the market are made with beeswax. Is this the raw material he found for his lipstick?

Yan Jing'an didn't look at her, but looked down at the stone bench at his feet and said, "Last time I mentioned that you two were getting married, and I thought about it and didn't have anything to give you, so I'll take this as my wedding gift."

As he spoke, he looked up at Jiang Xi and smiled gently: "A bride should always dress up beautifully for her wedding."

After saying that, he put the basket on the shelf and went back to his house.

Jiang Xi felt a mix of emotions.

Suddenly she understood many things.