Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

Back at the end of the village, the lights were already on in the courtyard. Zhang and Shen stood at the gate, looking around. When they saw them returning from afar, Shen quickly came to help unload the baskets.

Hu, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot the wild rabbit the children were carrying. Her eyes widened, and her voice boomed so loudly it could be heard throughout the entire village: "A wild rabbit?! You caught a wild rabbit?!"

Everyone in the yard gathered around. The children put five grayish-brown wild rabbits on the ground; each one weighed several pounds and was plump and chubby. Everyone stared at them, their eyes wide with amazement.

Aunt Wang squatted down, picked one up, and weighed it in her hand. She beamed with delight, "Good heavens, this one must weigh at least three pounds! How did you little rascals manage to catch it?"

The children recounted their rabbit-catching adventure in a lively chatter, making the adults laugh heartily and praising their cleverness.

Mrs. Hu and Aunt Wang volunteered to cook, and the two of them excitedly headed towards the kitchen carrying wild rabbits. Jiang Xing stopped them: "Auntie, leave two for me, I'll cook them."

Mrs. Hu and Aunt Wang exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of disapproval on their faces.

Although Jiang Xing was efficient and her work was impeccable, they had never seen her cook well.

When everyone gets together for meals, Jiang Xing is always busy with this or that, and she basically doesn't touch the work around the stove.

Besides, wild rabbit meat is such a precious thing. If she takes two rabbits to cook, wouldn't it be a waste if she messes it up?

However, Madam Hu didn't dare say anything. She still remembered the bag of snakes from yesterday, and the look Jiang Xing gave her still sent chills down her spine. She gave an awkward smile, picked out two wild rabbits, and handed them to Jiang Xing, her tone tinged with concern: "Alright, these two are for you. But we only have three left, so take good care of them and don't waste them."

Jiang Xing took the rabbit, not bothering to argue with her, and rolled up his sleeves to go into the kitchen.

Mrs. Hu and Aunt Wang were processing the remaining three wild rabbits in the yard, skinning, washing, and chopping them into pieces, planning to stew a pot of rabbit soup.

The two chatted casually as they worked, occasionally glancing towards the kitchen.

The firelight flickered in the kitchen, and Jiang Xing's figure, busy at the stove, was reflected on the wall by the firelight.

Water was boiling in a pot. The rabbit meat was blanched in the boiling water, drained, and then chopped into even pieces. On the cutting board next to it, chili peppers were finely chopped and piled up in a small heap.

The fire crackled in the stove, the pot was hot, and a spoonful of lard was poured in, the melted oil sizzling and dancing at the bottom of the pot.

Jiang Xing picked up the chili flakes from the cutting board and poured them into the pot. With a sizzling sound, a strong, spicy aroma wafted out of the kitchen, instantly filling the entire courtyard.

Aunt Wang was washing vegetables when she suddenly sniffed and turned to look at the kitchen: "What's that smell? It's so pungent!"

Madam Hu also smelled it, rubbed her nose, and muttered, "Is it those red things in Jiang's basket? I don't know what they are, but they smell really pungent."

The others in the courtyard gradually caught the smell, rubbed their noses, and looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Cough cough cough cough—" Wang Laoshi was choked and coughed, tears welling up in his eyes. He quickly took a few steps back.

Little Niu and Tie Dan covered their noses and huddled in a corner, wanting to hide but also wanting to watch. Little Niu coughed and craned his neck to peek into the kitchen: "What is Sister making? It smells awful!"

The rabbit meat was put into the pot and tossed a few times in the hot oil, coating it with bright red chili oil. The peppercorns, ginger slices, and garlic cloves bought from the system were thrown in all at once. The spatula flew, and the aroma wafted out in layers, mixing with the spiciness of the chili peppers to create an indescribable smell. It was pungent yet irresistible, making the nose feel uncomfortable, but the mouth began to involuntarily salivate.

Hu squatted at the kitchen door, covering her nose, her eyes brimming with tears, but her gaze was fixed on the bright red rabbit meat in Jiang Xing's pot. She muttered, "What is this... It smells awful, but how can it smell so good?"

The little calf poked its head in, tears streaming down its face from the spiciness, but it lingered at the doorway, refusing to leave: "Sister, when will it be ready?"

"Almost done." Jiang Xing didn't turn around, but turned up the fire in the stove. The broth in the pot simmered and simmered, and the rabbit meat rolled in the bright red broth. Each piece was covered with chili and Sichuan peppercorn powder, glistening with oil and so red that it was hard to look away.

Add the last handful of chopped wild onions, stir-fry briefly, and it's ready to serve.

When Jiang Xing carried the bowl of spicy rabbit meat into the yard, the whole yard fell silent for a moment.

The rabbit meat was cut into even pieces, with a thick, bright red broth clinging to the meat. Chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns were densely spread on the surface, and chopped wild scallions added a vibrant green touch. The meat glistened with oil, steaming hot and releasing an intensely spicy aroma. The aroma seemed almost tangible, pressing heavily into everyone's nostrils, making them want to sneeze, yet simultaneously irresistibly tempting.

No one spoke; all eyes were fixed on the bowl of rabbit meat.