The little one's purse connects the two worlds, turning a desolate village into a paradise.

This time, she didn't spend much time shopping outside and returned to the store relatively early. However, as soon as she arrived at the entrance of her own little shop, Ya Ya couldn't help but freeze in surprise.

The shop was empty. Near the entrance were three clean, open silver thermos buckets that were drying. There was no one in the shop, and nothing on the tables.

Even the steamers stacked high on top of Auntie's two large pots were nowhere to be seen, looking as if they had been robbed.

Cao Xiulian was mopping the floor when she saw Ya Ya standing at the door, so she quickly went over and helped her carry the stroller into the store.

"Why did you buy so much beef and mutton? It's quite heavy."

Ya Ya snapped out of her daze and followed them into the shop. "Auntie, why is everything gone? Where's your steamer?"

"Thanks to you, business is so good, everything is sold out. The customers who came later couldn't get the soup noodles, so they bought all of my steamed buns and mantou with the sauce. The sauce is sold out too."

Yaya: ๑ᵒᯅᵒ๑

Is there a famine at the morning market?!

Even the sauce is sold out?!

Ya Ya covered her face with her little hands. Aunt Chun Tao had spent the whole day making the sauce and soup. She didn't dare to imagine how busy Aunt Chun Tao would be tomorrow, having to make sauce, soup, and cold food.

Seeing Ya Ya's slightly open mouth and somewhat adorable expression, Cao Xiulian couldn't help but poke her cheek: "Didn't expect it to sell so well? Auntie didn't expect it either. The craftsmanship in our Ya Ya village is so good."

Ya Ya rubbed her face vigorously. She had always thought that Aunt Chun Tao's cooking was delicious, but she never expected it to be this good.

"Auntie, no one in our village has ever eaten beef or lamb like this before, so I bought some to take back for everyone to try, and I asked Aunt Chuntao to try cooking it. Aunt Chuntao loves novel ingredients. The butcher was also very kind and gave me a lot of things." Coming back to her senses, Ya Ya remembered what her aunt had asked earlier, and replied while rummaging through the cart.

"Here it is, it's called hot pot base, they say it's homemade with beef tallow, and this little paper packet says it's some kind of barbecue seasoning. Auntie, what's hot pot? How do you eat it? Is it delicious?"

Cao Xiulian took the things from Ya Ya's hands and looked at them. "Hot pot is delicious and convenient. This broth oil is indeed beef tallow. That uncle is a very honest person. The beef tallow broth is so fragrant! Set up the pot, boil the water, put the broth in and cook it. Then throw in the meat slices and vegetables and cook them for a bit before eating."

"By the way, does your village have a hot pot pot? There are many elderly people in the village. You can make a half-and half pot, one side to make a spicy beef tallow soup, and the other side to make a clear soup with spring water and mushrooms. The two flavors are just right."

Cao Xiulian put the things she was holding back into the cart and turned to look at Ya Ya.

Ya Ya shook her head blankly: "What's a 'Yuan Yang pot'? Why are there so many rules about eating hot pot?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Xiulian clapped her hands and said, "A yin-yang hot pot is a pot that can cook two kinds of soup. Hot pot is all about cooking and eating at the same time. You wait here, and Auntie will go and buy you two pots and a stove. From now on, the villagers can cook whenever they want. This thing is so convenient."

After saying that, she gently led Ya Ya to the small rest bench separated from the shop's dining area by the entrance and pressed the little one down to sit.

"You wait here quietly for Auntie for a little while. Auntie is going out to buy something and will be right back."

Ya Ya watched her aunt rush out the door, thought for a moment, and then turned her gaze to the pile of gold, silver and jade artifacts in the space.

My aunt always buys me so many things, and even gives me books. The pretty clothes I wear inside are also gifts from my aunt.

There's nothing in the village to give to Auntie. The vegetables won't be ready for a few more days. Now that Granny Duck has brought so much shiny gold and silver, why don't we give one to Auntie?

"Grandma Duck, may I give this beautiful big gourd to Auntie?"

Jie Chi now possesses an entire space filled with gold and silver treasures, so he doesn't mind the little guy giving them away. Besides, these things aren't even considered antiques.

Time flows at the same rate in both worlds, and without the passage of time, these jewels and gold and silver items cannot be considered antiques.

If these become so-called time-traveling antiques, then when Ya Ya travels through time, she won't be a little baby but a handful of ashes.

However, such a large, ancient-style gold gourd wrapped in silk was too conspicuous, and making a hasty move would attract attention and easily cause unnecessary trouble. After thinking for a moment, it rummaged through the pile of jewels with its claws and picked out a bunch of small gold chrysanthemum earrings:

"If you're not afraid of scaring your aunt to death, just go ahead and give her the gourd. If you really want to give one, give her this one. It's small, so it won't be a burden to receive and won't attract attention."

Ya Ya looked at the pair of glittering little golden flower earrings that had appeared in her hand, and the image of her aunt wearing them appeared in her mind. She nodded softly, "I'll listen to Grandma Duck. The little flowers are very pretty, so I'll give these to Auntie."

Although I don't know why giving her the gourd scared my aunt so much, I know that Grandma Duck wouldn't harm me; she must be doing it all for my own good.

Ya Ya clutched the delicate chrysanthemum earrings tightly in her little hands, waiting to see if her aunt would like them. If her aunt did, she would ask Grandma Duck to help her choose one to give to Sister He Miao tomorrow!

Not long after, Cao Xiulian returned.

He had two pots tucked into his arms and was carrying a large plastic bag containing several simple alcohol stoves and some solid alcohol.

The reason for not choosing an electric hot pot is that the wiring in the village is generally messy, and the room where the gathering is held may not have enough sockets or long extension cords. If there are not enough sockets, it will be troublesome. It is better to use this kind of small alcohol stove.

If you want to buy electricity later, you can buy it then.

She walked quickly to the bench and gently placed her things aside.

Ya Ya raised her little fist and waved it at Cao Xiulian: "Auntie's back!"

"Yes, you're back." Cao Xiulian smiled gently, her eyes crinkling, and held one of the divided hot pots in front of Ya Ya. "Ya Ya, look, this is the divided hot pot. See it in the middle?"

Ya Ya immediately craned her neck and peered forward, staring curiously at the winding, river-like metal strip in the middle: "I see it!"

"This pot can be divided into two halves, so it can be used for two purposes. One half can be used to cook a light dish, and the other half can be used to cook a spicy dish, so you can enjoy two different flavors at the same time."

Ya Ya's eyes lit up, and she touched the smooth metal plate with her little hands in amazement: "So that's how it works! You can even split the pot in half to use it. How clever, Auntie!"

Cao Xiulian then took out an alcohol stove and a block of alcohol from the plastic bag and patiently instructed, "This small block is solid alcohol. Children must not touch it. It will catch fire if it comes into contact with an open flame. Lighting a fire is something only adults can do. Put the solid alcohol into this stove, ignite it with a fire, and then put the pot on it."

She pointed to a small knob on the side of the stove: "This knob at the bottom controls the baffles on both sides. If the fire is too big, turn it to the left to close the baffles and the fire will become smaller. Turn it to the right to open the baffles and the fire will become stronger."

Ya Ya stared intently at the small knob, her eyes filled with wonder, finding the little stove both exquisite and magical.

The people here have figured out so many cooking utensils for food!

"Alright, it's almost time. Auntie will help you pile everything over here with the dried goods and chicken you bought earlier. Your uncle will come to pick you up later so you can take them all back." Cao Xiulian put the things away and stood up, while also ruffling Ya Ya's soft hair.

"Auntie, are you going back? Wait a minute!"

Cao Xiulian paused, and suddenly her wrist was grabbed by a soft little hand. Ya Ya looked up, her eyebrows curving into sweet little crescents, and gently put the gold flower earring she was holding into her palm.

"Auntie, this is for you."