"Alright, alright!" Liuwang's wife quickly responded.
She thought about stewing all three rabbits at once, otherwise, the little ones might end up fighting over food.
With Liuwang bringing in good money and her sons being capable workers, they didn't lack meat, but she had never smelled such fragrant rabbit meat before.
Liuwang's wife hurried back home to clean the rabbits, waiting for Xie Zhinuan to come over.
Xie Zhinuan had already prepared the ingredients and put them in a basket, but how should she collect water from the Spiritual Spring?
Old Mrs. Ni laughed, "Once you're done, come back, and we'll eat when your grandpa gets home!"
"Mhm!" Xie Zhinuan nodded and carried the basket to the neighboring house.
Liuwang's courtyard was big, with many rooms and lots of children. They hadn't separated households, so the kitchen was huge.
Dawang's sister-in-law, whom Xie Zhinuan recognized from helping her change clothes before, felt a familiar affection upon seeing her, "Auntie..."
"Oh, you don't have to call me that, 'Sister-in-law' is fine. You're not my own niece by blood, so let's not be so strict with formalities!" Dawang's wife said.
But her daughter Niuniu wasn't happy with that, "Mom, I used to call Zhinuan 'Sister Zhinuan,' but if you say that, it means she'll be 'Auntie Zhinuan' to me, and I object!"
"Child, what do you know? Go play over there and don't bother your Auntie Zhinuan while she's cooking rabbit meat!" Dawang's wife gave her daughter a stern look.
From the moment he saw Xie Zhinuan, her younger brother-in-law had taken a liking to her and was thinking of marrying her.
Xie Zhinuan was gentle and pretty, and as her sister-in-law, she naturally hoped to get along well with her sisters-in-law.
If her daughter ruined her younger brother-in-law's chance, she feared her mother-in-law would be furious.
"But..."
"Call me 'Sister-in-law,' and that's final!" Dawang's wife smiled, pulling Xie Zhinuan into the kitchen.
The kitchen was clean, and three skinned rabbits lay in the dustpan.
"Sister-in-law, this rabbit meat dish is a secret family recipe and must not be divulged. When I make it..." Xie Zhinuan spoke in a low voice, watching Dawang's wife's expression carefully.
Dawang's wife was momentarily stunned, then she laughed, "I understand, I understand. I'll wait outside while you cook, I promise I won't peek!"
She understood the importance of a family secret.
Besides, it's not like they could eat rabbit meat every day. Once she got married into the family and they became one household, there would be time to ask!
"Thank you, Sister-in-law!"
With the assurance, Xie Zhinuan felt relieved.
She quickly chopped the rabbit meat and began the preparations. Looking uncertainly toward Dawang's wife, she laughed, "I understand, I understand!"
She left the kitchen and even closed the door behind her, whispering to her mother-in-law and the other sisters-in-law, "It's a family secret recipe that's not to be shared!"
"..."
The sisters-in-law signaled that they understood.
Liuwang's wife watched the kitchen, pondering in her heart.
If this rabbit meat recipe could be sold, it would fetch a lot of silver...
Once the rabbit meat was in the pot with the added yellow wine, Xie Zhinuan looked around the kitchen to check that no one was peeking, then fetched water from the space with a ladle, scooping up half a ladle of Spiritual Spring water. Fearing it was too much, she poured half back, leaving only a quarter to add to the pot along with some cold water, then she covered the pot with a lid.
Only then did she open the kitchen door.
"Is it ready?" Dawang's wife asked, somewhat incredulously.
Xie Zhinuan nodded, "It's ready now. Once it starts boiling in the pot, just let it stew until the meat is tender. It's for the kids after all, a bit of chewiness wouldn't hurt!"
Dawang's wife smiled.
Thinking about eating later, she couldn't wait to scoop out a little and taste it, saliva almost dribbling with anticipation.
Especially since the delicious aroma kept wafting over from next door, it made her mouth water so much that she wished she could march over there right now, lift the pot lid, and dig in.