Zhang Hongmei sat on the ground, bored and almost asleep. "Hongmei, what are you doing here? The commander was worried about you and sent me to find you."

"I bought some things, but it's not convenient to take them inside, so I have to wait here."

"What are you afraid of? The commander here makes the decisions."

Zhang Hongmei thought this young man was just simple-minded; if he really could control everything, he wouldn't be in this remote corner of the world.

He shook his head and didn't elaborate, saying it wasn't something he should say.

"Brother Xiaoshun, you can go back and drive here to pick me up."

"Okay, I'll go get the commander. We've all been waiting for you."

When the car pulled up, Wang Xiaoshun got out to load things, and Zhang Hongmei climbed back into the car.

As soon as the car arrived at the door, Zhang Shouyi came out to greet him. Now he was so paranoid that he was terrified. He couldn't sit still if his father didn't come home on time.

Zhang Shouyi saw his father get off the bus with a big smile on his face, shouting loudly, "Hongmei, get off the bus quickly, we're home."

"Uncle Zhang, please keep your voice down. I'm not deaf, I can hear you. Luckily there aren't many people here, or you would be disturbing the peace."

"Alright, alright, I'll keep my voice down. You're such a troublemaker."

"Or maybe you don't have a daughter? She must have been scared away by you."

Zhang Xingguo, clutching his heart and feigning sorrow, said, "You're so inconsiderate! I'll change, okay? If I change, will you treat me like your daughter?"

"Come on, there are plenty of women who want to be your daughter, I'm not getting involved. Oh, Brother Zhang is home?"

Zhang Xingguo glanced at his son and said, "I wasn't late."

Zhang Shouyi ignored him and looked at Zhang Hongmei instead, saying, "Hongmei, you're here! My dad has been talking about you so many times. You're a rare guest, so please stay a few more days this time."

"Sorry to bother you, Brother Zhang. But I'm planning to stay for five days this time." You're so annoying!

"That's great, feel free to relax and treat it like your own home."

Wang Xiaoshun carried things inside one trip after another. Zhang Shouyi assumed his father had bought them, but Zhang Xingguo didn't pay any attention. He moved closer to Zhang Hongmei.

"Girl, can you cook? I haven't had a decent meal in ages." He looked at Zhang Hongmei pitifully.

"Yes, I brought some wild boar meat. I'll show off my skills and stew it for you in a bit."

"Really? Wild boar meat? Life in the village is so much better; there's always wild boar meat to eat."

"That's right, if you want to eat, you can go up the mountain, it's much better than here."

"Stop talking, I've decided to go back with you and stay for a few days this time," Zhang Xingguo said willfully.

"I would welcome you, but can you leave your job?"

"Why not? Are they all just sitting around doing nothing? I'll go."

"Alright, alright, go ahead and check out the traps I dug. Maybe there will be some pheasants or rabbits there."

"Stop talking, I want to go now. You're making me crave it."

The two men entered the house chatting away, ignoring Zhang Shouyi.

Zhang Shouyi: So, I've been abandoned?

"Xiao Shun, go and tidy up Hongmei's room, remember to keep it clean."

"I'll go by myself," Zhang Hongmei said, a little embarrassed.

"You don't need to go. Just stew meat for me. If they can't cook, can't they at least clean the house? If they don't clean it properly, they won't get any food."

Seeing that it was almost time, Zhang Hongmei washed her hands and prepared to cook dinner.

I took the cured meat out of the burlap sack and washed it by the hand pump in the yard. Because I was afraid it would spoil, I put in a lot of salt and had to wash it several times.

I took the meat into the kitchen, and wow, the kitchen equipment was quite complete; I could finally put my skills to good use.

Zhang Shouyi followed her into the kitchen. "Hongmei, I don't know how to do anything else, but I know how to start a fire. I'll help you."

"No need, Brother Zhang. You can burn firewood; no one needs to watch the fire. I can manage myself. It's hot in the kitchen, so you should go out." What can I do with you?

"Then I'll learn by observing in the kitchen. Maybe I'll even be able to cook someday."

"A man who can't cook won't do; he'll have a hard time finding a wife later. Of course, Brother Zhang wouldn't be like that." Of course he wouldn't! What woman could tolerate such a nitpicky and picky personality? Afterwards, Zhang Hongmei's face was slapped repeatedly. For a long time, she felt the pain in her face.

"Then I must learn even more. Sister Hongmei can't keep it all to herself."

Zhang Hongmei ignored him completely, cleaned the pot, boiled water, and cooked the rice. She also boiled water in another pot, planning to blanch the meat later to remove some of the saltiness.

Zhang Shouyi watched Zhang Hongmei work efficiently and thought it looked quite nice.

If Zhang Hongmei knew, she would definitely spit on him: "I'm beautiful no matter what." (Shameless!)

Zhang Hongmei decided to stew the large piece of wild boar meat she brought, weighing ten pounds, since it wouldn't be enough for three grown men.

Just then, Wang Xiaoshun came over and asked, "Hey girl, do you need me for anything?"

"Brother Xiaoshun, bring me the vermicelli I brought, and wash the wild vegetables. We can't leave out any vegetables at all."

"I guarantee I'll complete the task." Wang Xiaoshun excitedly ran out to work.

Zhang Shouyi was puzzled. He hadn't offended this girl, so why was she so cold to him? He couldn't figure it out.

Before the water boiled, Zhang Hongmei cut the meat into small cubes and set them aside. She also scooped out the water and peeled a scallion.

Once the water boiled, I put the rice in the pot, stirred it with my paws, and then the water on the other side boiled as well. I also put a large bowl of meat in.

The meat needed to cook a little longer, so I kept a close eye on the rice pot. When it seemed about right, I scooped up some rice grains, picked one up, put it in my mouth, and tapped it with my teeth. It was still slightly raw, which was perfect, so I immediately started scooping it out.

Take the rice out of the pot, rinse the vermicelli with clean water, and put it into the pot.

"Hongmei, do you need to blanch the glass noodles in hot water before making this stew?"

Zhang Shouyi's words startled Zhang Hongmei, who had completely forgotten that there was someone else beside her.

"No, these glass noodles are meant to be served cold. There aren't many vegetables to eat this season."

"I've learned another trick."

Zhang Hongmei turned around and stirred the meat pot again. When she came back and saw that the vermicelli was soft enough, she took it out and put it in an empty basin. She also scooped some hot water, covered it with a lid, and let it simmer.

Wang Xiaoshun also washed the wild vegetables and brought them in. Zhang Hongmei poured the wild vegetables into the pot, stirred them a few times, then scooped them out and put them in an empty basin, this time adding cold water to keep them warm.

Clean the pot, add water, place a steamer rack inside, stir the rice with chopsticks, put it in the pot, cover it, and then you don't need to do anything about it.

I turned around and went to the pot of meat, then poked the meat with my chopsticks. Once I could pierce it, I took it out.

"Brother Zhang, do you have any sugar at home? I want to caramelize it."

"Yes, there is brown sugar in that jar."

Zhang Hongmei cleaned the meat pot, squatted down, pulled out the burning firewood and put it into another stove, put a small amount of water in the pot, scooped in two spoonfuls of brown sugar, and then began to stir it continuously until it bubbled.