Having a jar of face cream is already quite good.

When Shen Shuyi returned, Chen Lian and Lin Chan followed to see if they could help in any way, since the house hadn't been lived in for a long time and needed to be cleaned and tidied up.

Chen Lian told Shen Shuyi and Lin Chan to stay aside while she did the washing and cleaning.

Shen Shuyi chuckled, "Sister Lian, no need. We can wait until Brother Yan comes back to do it. He's a big man, and he works quickly and efficiently."

"Oh, it's alright, I'll finish this little job in no time."

"Alright then, I'll go cook. You can all stay for dinner tonight before you go back."

“I brought back a chicken from the research institute’s cafeteria. I’ll stew it now; I can’t finish it all by myself.”

"Let me show you my chicken stew with mushrooms."

"That's great! We all want to try your cooking." Chen Lian and the others had taught Shen Shuyi how to cook, but only some simple dishes. They hadn't taught her a more elaborate dish like chicken stew with mushrooms yet.

Lin Chan's belly was getting bigger, and it was inconvenient for her to do the washing and scrubbing, so she went to the kitchen to help out.

Shen Shuyi asked her to help soak some dried mushrooms and pick some scallions to chop up, but didn't let the pregnant woman do anything else.

The chickens in the cafeteria are very big, each weighing five pounds. She divided them into two portions: one for chicken soup and the other for braised chicken with mushrooms.

The chicken soup contained only spring water, a small handful of goji berries, and a few red dates, nothing else.

Besides braised chicken and mushrooms, there was also blanched bok choy, blanched shrimp, and stir-fried pork belly with green beans. The portion was enough for three people.

Lin Chan helped bring out the ceramic pot of stewed chicken soup, and Chen Lian could smell the aroma from afar when the lid was lifted.

She sniffed as she walked over, "Oh my, this smell is absolutely irresistible! What's stewing that smells so good?"

...