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

Everyone came together, each picking up their own tools, brooms, dustpans, and rags, and spread out across the yard.

Cheng Jingzhu and Cheng Yueli were responsible for cleaning up the fallen leaves and dead branches in the yard and gathering the scattered debris in one place; Cheng Yuntao, wearing a headscarf, climbed onto a stool to wipe the doors and windows. Years of accumulated dust fell down, choking and making people cough, but she did not stop until the window frames and windowsills were wiped until they could reflect people's reflections.

Jiang Yuze jumped lightly onto the roof and carefully checked whether there were any damaged tiles that needed to be replaced. He also swept the rotten dead leaves on the roof down.

A few drops of vegetable oil were dripped on the creaking door hinge in the main room, and it was opened and closed repeatedly until the noise gradually faded away; the fallen mud on the wall was carefully patched with mud and then smoothed with a trowel. Although his skills were not as good as those of a craftsman, he still made it look pretty good.

It took three full days to clean the house inside and out, repair the old and damaged areas one by one, and add a lot of new furniture.

After all this busy work, Cheng Yuntao's purse was visibly deflated. She felt heartbroken as she held the purse, but when she looked at her newly renovated home, she felt that the hard work and expense were worth it.

Moving into a new house is the top priority for the whole family. Following the old customs passed down from generation to generation, a housewarming party is held to celebrate.

Although this house is rented, I live here by myself, so I cannot be careless and must make all the necessary arrangements.

Besides, who knows, if she sets up a stall and makes some money, she might be able to officially buy this house next year?

In addition to her own family, Cheng Yuntao also specially invited Li Fu and Old Lady Su from opposite door to celebrate together. After all, without their help, there would be many other good houses like this.

Before the dinner began, Cheng Yuntao washed her hands and face, and with a heart full of piety, she slowly walked out of the house, holding three incense sticks steadily in her hands, and moved lightly to the center of the courtyard.

The afterglow had not yet faded, and the warm orange light gently outlined her slender figure.

She faced the east, her eyebrows lowered, and she held the incense high above her head with both hands. She bowed deeply, her body bent into a respectful arc.

The tips of the three incense sticks trembled slightly, and a few wisps of green smoke rose up, as if invisible threads connected the mortal world and the gods.

"Lord Green Emperor of the East, my family has just been established. I hope you will lend me your rising energy to protect my family, young and old, from waking up in the morning to welcome good fortune, be full of vigor, and be free from disasters and illnesses year after year."

Then he turned to the south. Although the sun was setting, the place seemed to still retain the afterglow of the day. Cheng Yuntao bowed solemnly again, muttering something in the fragrant mist.

"God of the Southern Red Emperor, I wish to lend you the Nanming fire to warm my new home all year round, so that the stoves in my home will always be burning, the granaries will always be full, the harvests will continue, and my life will be prosperous."

Then she turned to face the west. The sunset glow was as gorgeous as brocade, just like a brocade sky poured down by a goddess, reflecting her increasingly calm face.

Cheng Yuntao prostrated herself, the incense ash falling to the ground, her voice calm and firm.

"Lord White Emperor of the West, thank you for protecting my home with your evening mist and gentle breeze. May my home be safe when I return home at night, and may I sleep peacefully. May my gold, silver, and treasure flow in and out smoothly, and may I have surplus every year."

Finally, she headed north. As the night deepened, a cool breeze blew past quietly. Her hair moved slightly, and she wrapped her clothes tightly, but without any haste. She performed the ceremony as usual, and her last prayer drifted away slowly.

"Northern Black Emperor, please grant me the tranquility of cold waters, solidify the foundation of my home, and keep out evil spirits. May you bring abundant blessings, prosperity for generations, and lasting abundance year after year."

After everyone finished praying, Cheng Yuntao stood up. The three incense sticks had burned halfway, and she placed them firmly on the makeshift incense table in the corner of the courtyard.

Looking at the slowly rising green smoke, his eyes were full of expectation, as if he had already seen the beautiful scene of a peaceful home and abundant harvests in the years to come.

Then he straightened his clothes and walked into the main room.

As soon as Cheng Yuntao entered the door, she caught a glimpse of a group of people chatting animatedly. What surprised her most was her grandmother Zhou Xiufang and the old lady Su who lived across the street.

When Mrs. Su was first invited to the banquet, she tried to refuse, saying that she liked quietness and didn't want to join in the fun.

In the end, it was Grandma Zhou Xiufang who personally stepped in. I don’t know what she said, but she pulled the person over in just a few words.

Looking at the smiling old lady Su, who no longer had the serious and old-fashioned look she had before, Cheng Yuntao shrugged helplessly. It seemed that there were more topics to talk about among people of the same age.

But it’s also good this way. Cheng Yuntao had always worried that her grandmother’s life was too boring. Now, her grandmother has made new friends here. With old sisters to chat with, her life is not so monotonous anymore.

"The appetizers are here! Duck feet with fermented rice wine, five-spice smoked eggs, and spring bamboo shoots with shrimp roe. Let's whet our appetites first~"

Selected, tender duck feet are carefully deboned, blanched until cooked, and then thoroughly tossed with a secret fermented rice wine oil. The rich, mellow fermented rice wine aroma creates a crisp, springy, and slightly sweet flavor. The fermented rice wine aroma immediately impacts the taste buds, followed by the crispness of the duck feet, which then creates a wonderfully flavorful texture.

To make five-spice smoked eggs, eggs are slow-cooked, the shells cracked gently to create fine cracks, and then simmered in a five-spice marinade until the flavor is absorbed. The eggs are then smoked with tea leaves and sugar. The egg whites are amber-colored and richly scented with five spices, while the yolks are smooth and glutinous. A bite reveals a lingering, rich aroma of marinade, tea, and egg.

Spring bamboo shoots with shrimp roe is a seasonal dish. After peeling the spring bamboo shoots, cutting them into sections and blanching them, stir-fry the shrimp roe in hot oil. The fresh fragrance of the shrimp roe infuses the spring bamboo shoots with a rich seafood flavor. The spring bamboo shoots are tender and sweet, absorbing the essence of the shrimp roe. The crispness and tenderness are full of the delicious charm of the fusion of spring mountains and rivers.

Li Fu only knew that Cheng Yuntao was good at making pastries, but he didn't expect that her cooking skills were even better!

He picked up a piece of tender bamboo shoot with chopsticks with great anticipation. The tip of the bamboo shoot was as smooth as jade, the body of the bamboo shoot was slightly milky yellow, and there were a few drops of crystal soup hanging on it. It was trembling, as if it was very fragile.

As he put it in his mouth, he felt the bamboo shoots were incredibly tender with just a light bite of his teeth. A burst of extremely fresh juice instantly burst across his tongue. In that instant, it was as if the hustle and bustle around him had disappeared.

The spring bamboo forest appeared vividly in front of my eyes. The morning light shone through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, and spots of light danced on the new bamboo shoots. The surroundings were filled with the fragrance of soil and bamboo leaves. The bamboo leaves rustled in my ears, and the breeze blew by. I was standing in the quiet place with swaying bamboo shadows and the fragrance of bamboo shoots. My heart and eyes were filled with only this endless freshness.

Then, the rich, salty and fresh flavor of the shrimp roe rushed in, carrying with it the vigorous vitality and profound heritage of the river, as if condensing the surging river water into it. It was the fresh taste of fish and shrimps rejoicing and undercurrents surging.

The freshness of the mountains and the deliciousness of the rivers instantly blend and collide in the mouth. The sweetness of the spring bamboo shoots and the salty and fresh taste of the shrimp roe fit perfectly and are indistinguishable from each other.