Armed with a machete and a gun, armed with a system, they fled the famine.

It started snowing not long after the winter solstice.

This year's snowfall was particularly heavy, but it was still far from reaching the level of a snow disaster.

After lunch, Zhao Yan and the others chatted and drank tea at Yuan Yutang's place.

On snowy days, Zhao Yan had already instructed Yuan Yutang and the others to light the stove.

Outside, snow was falling heavily, but inside the room it was warm and cozy.

Little Fu Niu and Zhao Xiaomi, wearing padded jackets, were flailing around in the room.

Looking at the snow falling outside, Yuan Yutang stroked his beard and couldn't help but sigh, "A timely snow promises a bumper harvest."

Su Yanzhi was playing chess with Chen An when he heard this. Without looking up, he said, "That's right. Qingran has said that there will be no taxes for three years. The people's lives will probably be much better from now on."

Zhao Yan just smiled and didn't say anything.

Dou Qingran's actions were perfectly justifiable.

After a major upheaval, those in power have always taken measures such as reducing or exempting taxes to allow the people to recuperate and rebuild their lives.

Wait until the cattle and horses below are strong enough before slowly taking what they need.

However, Zhao Yan was not worried that Dou Qingran was the kind of ruler who disregarded the lives of ordinary people.

Dou Qingran is a pure-hearted person, and he will definitely implement various benevolent policies during his reign.

As long as there are no natural disasters or wars, the lives of ordinary people will definitely be much better than in previous years.

As for the future, haha, just live each day happily, why think so much?

The group played around until almost dark before dispersing and going home.

Dou Xingyan and Shen Yu were naturally assigned to Zhao Yan's place.

After they opened up to each other, their relationship became increasingly intimate. On many occasions, Dou Xingyan could feel that Shen Yu wanted to devour her whole.

Although she was terrified, she also felt a deep sense of satisfaction from being enveloped in love.

Time quickly passed and the first month of the lunar calendar began.

During this time, Dou Qingran sent someone to the farm to inquire. Upon learning that Dou Xingyan would spend the New Year at the farm before returning to the capital, he did not send anyone else. He only instructed Shen Yu to keep a close eye on Dou Xingyan.

Shen Yu naturally made a 100% guarantee that he would always stay by Dou Xingyan's side.

Happy days always pass too quickly.

Time flies and New Year's Eve arrives in the blink of an eye.

Because Tian Xiu'e was pregnant, Zhao Yan and Chen Qingjiao took care of the New Year's Eve dinner that night.

Yang Sanlang was responsible for assisting him, and all the dirty and hard work was assigned to him.

Zhao Yan secretly bought a lot of potatoes and sweet potatoes from the system store in advance.

Upon seeing each other, Chen Qingjiao and Yang Sanlang glanced at each other, but then asked nothing and said nothing, preparing to selectively forget.

Zhao Yan glanced at the two of them, picked up a round potato, and said to them, "Do you know what this is? This is called a potato. It can be eaten as a staple food or as a vegetable."

Chen Qingjiao peeked over and asked with great interest, "Aunt Zhao, how do we eat this?"

"You can stir-fry it, stew it, roast it, boil it—you can eat it as long as it's cooked."

Zhao Yan smiled at her and stuffed seven or eight potatoes, along with the pot, into Yang Sanlang's arms.

"Sanlang, could you peel off the outer skin of these potatoes?"

"it is good."

With a smile on his face, Yang Sanlang reached out and took the bowl of potatoes.

He has now been trained to know how to peel and cut vegetables.

After he finished peeling all the potatoes, Zhao Yan said to him, "Take out three or four potatoes and cut them into thin strips. I'll make you some stir-fried hot and sour shredded potatoes later."

"Then take out a few more and cut them all into chunks like I did. I'll make you a potato and chicken stew."

"There are also candied potatoes, dry-fried potato slices, and so on. Oh my, there are too many. Just cut them as I just told you to."

There are so many things you can do with potatoes, she can't even count them all.

As Yang Sanlang listened, he began to work with his hands.

bang bang bang.

Before long, he cut the potatoes into a bunch of thin strips and a bunch of chunks, just as Zhao Yan had instructed.

"I'll make you a stir-fried hot and sour shredded potatoes first."

Zhao Yan waited for him to finish cutting the ingredients, then set up the wok and started stir-frying.

Chen Qingjiao's mouth was already watering just from hearing the names of the dishes.

She quickly finished washing the vegetables in her hands, then walked over to Zhao Yan and watched her cook intently.

呲呲呲——

Once the oil was hot, Zhao Yan first put scallions, peppers, and garlic into the pan. After the aroma came out, she added dried chili peppers. In an instant, a pungent spicy smell filled the room.

After that, she poured the soaked potato shreds into the pot.

"His-"

When the cold water on the surface of the shredded potatoes meets the hot oil, it immediately makes a sizzling sound.

Zhao Yan continued to stir the spatula without blinking, and when the shredded potatoes were almost cooked, she started to add the seasonings.

"Okay."

A few moments later, two plates of hot and sour shredded potatoes, emitting an enticing aroma, were ready to serve.

Chen Qingjiao's mouth watered at the smell.

"Aunt Zhao, I know this is absolutely delicious without even tasting it."

She couldn't help but give Zhao Yan a thumbs up.

Zhao Yan slightly curled the corners of her lips and continued preparing the next dish.

Finally, she cooked all the potatoes she bought into a dish.

Besides hot and sour shredded potatoes, she also made stewed chicken with potatoes, minced meat and potatoes, dry-fried potato slices, stewed pork ribs with potatoes, etc.

She didn't hesitate to eat the sweet potatoes she bought, but instead made them into candied sweet potatoes and cooked a pot of sweet potato porridge.

As everyone sat together to enjoy the delicious and colorful New Year's Eve dinner, everyone's face was filled with a happy smile.

Dou Xingyan especially loves braised pork ribs with potatoes.

She basically finished that plate of potatoes all by herself.

Even after she had eaten until she was stuffed, she was still not satisfied and begged Zhao Yan to make that potato and pork rib stew again tomorrow.

"Sister Zhao, why don't you teach me how to make it? When we get back to the capital, I'll have the chefs in the manor make it for me every day."

Zhao Yan lowered her gaze slightly and said with a smile, "Okay, come find me tomorrow, and I'll teach you how to make braised pork ribs with potatoes."

"However, I found this potato by chance in the back hill. There aren't many left at home, so if you want to eat it often, I'm afraid it's not possible."

Ha ha ha.

She didn't find this in the back mountain; she clearly bought it from the system shop.

However, after Dou Xingyan said that, she had a different idea in her mind.

She plans to try planting potatoes and sweet potatoes on the back hill next spring.

These two foods are high-yielding and easy to feed. If they can be promoted among the people, they will no longer have to go hungry.

Dou Xingyan felt very sorry after hearing her words.

"Oh, is that so? It's okay, it's fine if you don't have it, I can eat something else."

After thinking for a moment, she finally couldn't help but ask Zhao Yan, "Sister Zhao, the dishes made from these potatoes are really delicious. Will these things still grow on the back mountain next year?"

To be honest, she had never eaten anything so delicious before.

Zhao Yan pursed her red lips slightly and nodded calmly, saying, "Yes."

"Next spring, I plan to clear out a plot of land on the back mountain specifically for growing potatoes."