Is the beginning of a catastrophe? The little farm cook is raising a family with a full warehouse.

After drinking the ginger soup, Shen Shulan handed the empty bowl back to Cheng Yuntao.

"Thank you."

Looking at the empty bottom of the bowl, Cheng Yuntao raised her eyebrows and said jokingly.

"You drank it so clean, aren't you afraid that I might poison you?"

After drinking the ginger soup, Shen Shulan's complexion regained a little redness, and her lips were stained with a layer of translucent water. She looked less weak and haggard.

Her expression remained unchanged, but her voice was a little hoarse.

"I was still soaking in the pool when I was unconscious. If you wanted to harm me, you could have killed me then or just turned around and left."

"But not only did you not do that, you even went to great lengths to bring me back, treat my wounds, and make ginger soup for me."

"If I still make malicious assumptions about you, wouldn't that be too hurtful?"

Shen Shulan raised his head slightly, his eyes fell on Cheng Yuntao in front of him, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly, outlining a faint smile.

From her perspective, the girl was wearing a light blue coarse cloth dress, her skin was delicate, and under the light from the cave, it glowed with a soft halo.

Her eyebrows are like a crescent moon, her eyes are like clear springs, clear and lively, and occasionally when she turns, she reveals curiosity and innocence.

Her long hair was tied into the simplest ponytail, hanging down behind her, swaying gently with her movements. A few strands of hair were playfully scattered on both sides of her cheeks. She looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old.

Not only was the other person his savior, but he was also much younger than him. So when Shen Shulan faced Cheng Yuntao, his vigilance was lowered and his tone was softer.

"That's quite true. I've already made up my mind. If you wake up and act aggressive, I'll throw you out right away."

"Now it seems that you have a normal mind. Lie down and rest first. I'll go cook you something to eat."

"Your body is still too weak and you need some nutrition."

Shen Shulan's faint smile just now was like the spring mist. Although ethereal, it had the power to dissolve the barriers. Bit by bit, the sense of alienation between the two of them quietly dissipated.

Without waiting for Shen Shulan to answer, Cheng Yuntao walked briskly towards the stove with the empty bowl in her hand.

The two children were very curious about this strange outsider, but they were also a little shy and only dared to peek at him from a distance. It was difficult for Shen Shulan to pretend to ignore such a burning gaze.

But when she looked up, Cheng Jingzhu and Cheng Yueli ran away quickly like frightened birds, which made Shen Shulan feel helpless.

When choosing ingredients, Cheng Yuntao suddenly remembered that beef and mutton are irritating foods and should not be eaten when the body is weak. Now they are only suitable for stewing chicken, duck, etc.

“Ginseng is the best for replenishing qi, and Panax notoginseng is the best for replenishing blood. They have the same taste and function, so people call ginseng and Panax notoginseng the most precious Chinese medicine.”

Considering the medicinal properties, Cheng Yuntao planned to stew a pot of Panax notoginseng pigeon soup.

Panax notoginseng has the effects of removing blood stasis, stopping bleeding, reducing swelling and relieving pain. This soup is suitable for the early stages of injury, and has the effects of removing blood stasis, stopping bleeding and promoting wound healing.

Panax notoginseng needs to be aged between three and seven years before it can be used as medicine, and further processing is needed to ensure the stability of the medicinal effect. However, conditions are limited now, and Cheng Yuntao does not have time to process it, so he can only pick fresh ones and use them.

Clean the fresh pigeon and cut it into pieces of appropriate size. Blanch it in boiling water to remove blood and impurities, then remove it and set aside.

Then put the processed Panax notoginseng powder, red dates and wolfberries into the stewing pot, add appropriate amount of water, and then add ginger slices to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor.

Once everything is ready, cover the stew pot and simmer over low heat to allow the essence of the ingredients to fully blend. When serving, you don't need to add any complex seasonings, just a little salt to taste.

Stewing the soup takes time, so there's no rush. While the soup was cooking, Cheng Yuntao wasn't idle either, cleaning the cave thoroughly from top to bottom. After all, now that there were guests in the cave, it needed to be tidied up.

While she was cleaning, Shen Shulan was also quietly observing the environment in the cave.

The interior of the cave is quite spacious, with a natural arc-shaped dome. The texture of the rock, eroded by years, looks like a natural painting, spreading around the cave walls.

A small window was carved out on the wall of the cave. The window lattice was made of simple wooden strips woven horizontally and vertically. A stove was built under the window, and piles of firewood were neatly stacked next to the stove.

Some areas were blocked by bamboo screens, so Shen Shulan couldn't see what was inside, but he could roughly guess that it was a resting place.

The layout of this cave is so exquisite that it is obvious that the owner has spent a lot of time and energy on it.

An old woman and three underage children. Shen Shulan was a little surprised that they could create such a secluded place. It was really admirable.

After sighing, Shen Shulan thought about his current situation again, and a hint of worry appeared between his brows.

But she was still injured and felt weak all over. Even if she wanted to leave, she would probably faint on the side of the road before long and become a meal for the wild beasts in the mountains.

Shen Shulan sighed softly, slowly lay down, closed her eyes and rested. Perhaps she was too tired, and she fell into an endless dream again.

……

The sound of the wind whistled past my ears, as sharp as the cry of a night owl.

Shen Shulan rode on a vigorous horse, holding the reins tightly with one hand, clamping his legs against the horse's belly, leaning forward, and galloping desperately on the unknown mountain road.

The trees on both sides of the ancient road were twisted and deformed by the strong wind, like ghosts with bared fangs and claws, trying to pull her off the horse.

Shen Shulan did not dare to slack off at all. He could only rely on his instinct to run wildly in this dream full of dangers, trying to break free from the threat of death that followed him like a shadow.

Until… "Did you have a nightmare? Wake up! The soup is ready, get up and have a bowl."

Shen Shulan broke free from the nightmare and suddenly opened his eyes. What he saw was Cheng Yuntao's worried little face.

"You have a lot of cold sweat on your forehead. Did you have a nightmare?"

"Don't be afraid, you are safe now, no one will find this place."

"Drink your Tianqi pigeon soup first. I'll find you a clean towel to wipe your sweat."

After Cheng Yuntao finished speaking, she helped Shen Shulan up and handed him the bowl of soup without giving him a chance to refuse.

"Drink it while it's hot."

Shen Shulan's mental state was still a little dazed, and he instinctively scooped up a spoonful of soup and put it into his mouth.

The first thing that comes into contact with the tip of your tongue is a warm and mellow taste. The meat of the squab has been stewed for a long time and has become tender and soft. It melts in your mouth and releases a rich meaty aroma with a hint of sweetness and a long aftertaste.

The presence of Panax notoginseng gives the soup a unique flavor, with a slight bitterness and a hint of coolness, lingering in the mouth. Along with the slight bitterness, you can also taste a faint herbal fragrance.

In Shen Shulan's impression, medicinal herbs are all extremely bitter, but he didn't expect that this soup is just right, in a gentle manner, making people no longer resist the bitterness.