After fleeing the famine, my older sister and I married the brother next door.

The next day, before dawn, Mr. Chen, carrying his "treasure" carefully wrapped in several layers of old cloth, went to the village head's house through the morning frost. The village head, Chen Laogen, was old and didn't need much sleep. He was slowly practicing Tai Chi in the yard and was somewhat surprised to see Mr. Chen arrive so early.

"New Year's Eve? Something wrong so early in the morning?"

Chen's father rubbed his hands, which were numb from the cold, and took out the small cloth bag from his pocket. He carefully opened it, revealing a plant with intact roots that vaguely resembled a human figure. He said in a low voice, "Uncle Village Head, you are very knowledgeable. Can you take a look at this for me? I found it by chance in the back mountain. It looks familiar, but I'm not sure."

Old Chen squinted his slightly yellowed old eyes and leaned closer to examine it carefully. He gently touched the curled roots with his withered fingers, then brought them to his nose to smell the unique, slightly bitter, earthy aroma, his gaze gradually becoming solemn. He looked at it for a long time before slowly straightening up, letting out a long breath, and looking at his father with a complex expression.

"It looks...it really does look like it." Chen Laogen's voice carried a distant, reminiscent quality. "When I was young, there was a plague in the mountains one year. Several members of my family fell ill, and all the doctors shook their heads. I was desperate, so I risked going into the deepest part of the old forest and, by sheer luck, dug up this plant. It's a little smaller than yours...it's thanks to it that I was able to sell it for money to buy life-saving medicine and save my whole family's lives." He patted Chen's father on the shoulder, his eyes filled with emotion and joy for the Chen family. "Da Nian, your family's luck has truly turned. If it really is that thing, it's worth quite a bit. However," he paused, then reminded him, "to be on the safe side, we should still find someone knowledgeable to take a look. Doctor Li from 'Ji Ren Tang' in the county town is upright and knowledgeable. He buys medicinal herbs there at fair prices. You should ask him; that's the safest option."

The last bit of anxiety in Mr. Chen's heart settled, replaced by a heavy sense of relief mixed with immense joy. He quickly thanked the village head, then remembered his business: "By the way, Uncle Village Head, on the twentieth of the first lunar month, we're having a full-month celebration for our four children. You must do me the honor of joining us for a drink!"

"Oh my, four boys and girls celebrating their one-month birthday together? This is a joyous occasion! I'll definitely come, I'll definitely come!" Chen Laogen replied with a smile.

When Mr. Chen left the village head's house, he felt his steps were much lighter. He didn't go home immediately, but instead went to several other families he often visited and who had good relationships with him, informing them of the date of the full moon celebration. Only then did he head back home, filled with hope and the "potential baby".

Back home, smoke was already rising from the chimney. Mother Chen was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, while Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe were working in the pigsty (which now also served as a sheep pen). From a distance, Chen Xiaohe's cheerful voice could be heard: "Mom! The sheep's milk is ready! This ewe is really productive today, she has plenty of milk! Enough for the little ones to drink and there's still some left!"

Mother Chen peeked out from the kitchen, a satisfied smile on her face: "Good! Da Shan and Xiao He, this sheep is a great contributor to our family. You two have to take good care of it! Your son and daughter's food depends on it!"

"Don't worry, Mother!" Chen Xiaohe patted his chest. "My brother and I have been feeding her the best grass and fodder every day, and we've kept the shed warm. The ewe is so well-behaved now; she hardly kicks at all when we're milking her!"

When Mr. Chen walked into the courtyard and heard this, a smile appeared on his face. He didn't rush to tell Mrs. Chen what the village head had said. He waited until the brothers, Chen Dashan and Chen Dashan, had filled a clay pot with warm goat milk and handed it over. Mrs. Chen took it and prepared to heat it up. Then he gave a wink, and the two of them went into the main room one after the other.

After closing the door, Mr. Chen lowered his voice and relayed the village head's words in detail. Mrs. Chen's eyes lit up as she listened, her grip on the pottery jar tightening. But she was always composed; she took a deep breath and whispered, "The village head is knowledgeable and experienced. If he says it's similar, it's probably true. Don't make a fuss about this yet, and don't mention it to the children. Next time you go to the county town, quietly go and ask Doctor Li. If it's true, then we'll see how to handle it. Right now, the most important thing is to hold a good full-month celebration and get the children and Xiaoqing well."

Mr. Chen nodded repeatedly: "That makes perfect sense."

At this moment, the goat milk in the earthenware jar in Chen's mother's hand was already steaming slightly. She quickly picked it up and said, "I'll go feed the baby first."

The large room in the middle was heated by an underfloor heating system and a charcoal brazier, making it as warm as springtime. Su Xiaoyin had just fed her crying little daughter. The little girl, full and satisfied, smacked her lips, opened her big, dark grape-like eyes, and lay on the warm kang (heated brick bed), waving her little fists and occasionally making meaningless "ah-oh" sounds, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Su Xiaoqing's situation was a bit more complicated. She didn't have enough breast milk to begin with, and after feeding her youngest son for a while, the child was still hungry and was about to cry. Chen's mother quickly brought over some warmed goat milk and fed him little by little with a small wooden spoon. Meanwhile, Su Xiaoyin also took her eldest son, lifted her clothes to feed him until he was half full before feeding him goat milk. Chen's mother, meanwhile, held Su Xiaoqing's youngest son in one arm and carefully fed him goat milk with the other, her movements practiced and gentle.

Feeding babies is a delicate and time-consuming task, especially when there are four at the same time. After feeding the three little ones who were drinking goat milk until they were full, patting them to make them burp, and putting them in their soft little quilts, Chen's mother had beads of sweat on her forehead. There was still a lot of goat milk left, so she warmed it in another small earthenware pot by the charcoal brazier, preparing it for the babies' next feeding.

After finishing her chores, Chen's mother sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), looked at Su Xiaoqing's face, which had regained some color but still looked thin, and said softly, "Xiaoqing, I have something to discuss with you."

Su Xiaoqing leaned against the headboard and looked at her mother-in-law upon hearing this: "Mother, please speak."

"I think your breast milk is just enough to tide you over. Breastfeeding is very taxing on your energy and blood, and you've already exhausted yourself giving birth. You need to rest and replenish your strength. I'm thinking... maybe you should just stop breastfeeding?" Mother Chen's tone was gentle, yet it revealed concern and decisiveness. "Look, we have plenty of goat milk now, more than enough for all three children. Your little one is getting quite chubby just from drinking goat milk alone. If you don't breastfeed, your body will recover faster. When the children are hungry at night, have Xiaohe get up and heat up some goat milk to feed them, so you can get some more sleep and recharge."

Su Xiaoyin chimed in, "Yes, Xiaoqing, listen to your mother. I have enough milk, but it's tiring to feed just one. Your health is weaker than mine, so you should be even more careful. Goat milk is nutritious; look how well the children are drinking it."

Looking at her youngest son, who was well-fed and sleeping soundly with rosy cheeks, Su Xiaoqing touched her still sluggish chest. The guilt and resentment she felt for not being able to breastfeed him gradually eased under the persuasion of her mother-in-law and sister. She remembered how thin and weak her baby had been at birth, and looked at him now—though not as chubby as his older siblings, he was growing every day, and his cries were much louder. Finally, she nodded: "Mom, Sister, you're right. Then… I won't feed him. It'll be hard on you and Xiaohe."

"What's so hard about that!" Chen's mother beamed when she saw her agree. "As long as you get better, that's more important than anything else. Tonight, I'll have Xiaohe move the milk warmer to their room so he can get up and feed the baby at night. You can just sleep peacefully." She paused, then added, "I'll brew another dose of the medicine for you tonight. You need to finish this prescription from Doctor Li for the whole month. If you feel better at the end of the month, we'll ask Doctor Li to come and check your pulse again to see if we need to adjust the prescription."

Su Xiaoqing quickly said, "Mother, I feel much better, and I have more energy. This medicine... I'll stop taking it after this month, right?" All medicines have some toxicity, and the medicine was really bitter.

Chen's mother firmly shook her head: "No! This matter must be discussed with the doctor! You may look a bit better, but the internal deficiencies aren't so easily replenished. Winter is the perfect time to nourish and conserve energy. Since you have nothing to do, stay here in this warm house and rest well. Don't overthink things, and definitely don't rush into any work. Make sure you're physically strong so you can help out in the spring. There's still a long road ahead!"

Her tone was authoritative, yet full of a mother's tender care. Su Xiaoqing felt a warmth in her heart, her nose tingled, and she softly hummed in agreement, no longer insisting.