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

Over the next few days, the entire Chen family focused on one major event—buying cattle.

Chen's father was a man of action; once he made up his mind, he didn't delay any longer. He chose a clear, windless day, packed enough money, took the dry rations his mother had prepared that morning, and set off before dawn for Geng the cowherd's house in Xiahegou Village. Chen Dashan wanted to go with him, but his father said, "You stay home and look after things. I know more about buying cattle than you do, and besides, I've dealt with Geng the cowherd before, I know his stuff. You stay home and take care of the timber we're going to use for the oxcart—saw what needs sawing, plan what needs planing."

Chen Dashan stayed behind. He and Chen Xiaohe carried several thick, straight, and sturdy locust and elm logs piled up in the backyard to the open space in the yard. According to the dimensions they had already mentally calculated countless times, they marked the lines and began sawing. Sawdust flew in the cold air, carrying the aroma of fresh wood. Chen Xiaohe was responsible for assisting, handing over tools and cleaning up the shavings. The two brothers worked together seamlessly, and despite the cold weather, they worked with great enthusiasm.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing weren't idle either. Although Chen's mother still forbade them from touching cold water or doing heavy work, she allowed them some light chores. After putting the four children to sleep, the two sisters sat in the warm, central room, helping Chen's mother organize the family's spring clothes. What needed mending was mended, what needed washing was washed, and what needed repairing was repaired. While sewing, Chen's mother talked to her two daughters-in-law about their plans for spring: "...Once the ox is bought, spring planting will be much easier. Your father said that those fourteen mu of wasteland will be plowed deeply with the ox and fertilized with manure. We don't expect much harvest the following year; we'll plant some drought-resistant sweet potatoes and beans to nourish the soil. As for the eighteen mu of cultivated land at home, wheat, rice, corn, and sorghum—we can't neglect any of them. We'll definitely be busy as bees then."

Su Xiaoyin said softly, "Mom, Xiaoqing and I can help out then. We'll cook, fetch water, feed the chickens and ducks, and take care of the children. We can't do heavy work in the fields, but we can lend a hand with thinning seedlings, weeding, and gleaning."

Chen's mother smiled and nodded: "I know you are all hardworking children. But, your health is the most important thing, especially Xiaoqing, she needs to be fully recovered. We'll see how things go and do what we can."

As evening fell, Mr. Chen returned, looking travel-worn. He had a smile on his face, and his eyebrows and beard were covered with a layer of white frost, but his eyes were bright and sparkling.

"It's settled!" he announced as soon as he entered the door. "I've taken a liking to the three-year-old yellow ox at Geng Niuguan's house. It has a well-proportioned frame, strong hooves, gentle yet bright eyes, and a glossy coat. Geng Niuguan is an honest man; he didn't raise the price just because we were in a hurry. He asked for a total of eighteen taels and five mace of silver, including the ox and a set of ready-made, semi-new plowing tools. I gave him two taels as a deposit, we drew up a written agreement, and agreed that I would go to fetch the ox in the spring when the roads are better."

Eighteen taels and five mace! This price is even more reasonable than expected. Chen's mother quickly poured hot water for Chen's father and asked, "How did it go so smoothly? I remember when I inquired last year, a strong young ox would cost at least nineteen or twenty taels."

Holding a bowl of hot water to warm his hands, Mr. Chen explained, "Geng the cowherd said that this cow was carefully raised by his family, and they originally didn't plan to sell it so soon, intending to use it for another year. But his son found a job in the county town and urged the old couple to move in with him so they could take care of each other. He was in a hurry to get rid of his livestock, so he was more flexible with the price. It's also our family's good luck."

"Great!" Chen Xiaohe rubbed his hands excitedly. "Dad, my brother and I have already cut out the basic frame for the oxcart! Once you buy the iron parts, we can assemble it!"

Chen Dashan smiled and said, "Now that the cattle are settled, I feel relieved. Dad, when would you like to order the ironware from town? Do you need me to draw a simple design?"

Mr. Chen waved his hand: "No need to draw it, I roughly remember what it looks like. In a couple of days, after the goods at the next market are sold out, I'll go to town again and find Wang the blacksmith, whom I know well. His craftsmanship is reliable, and his prices are fair."

With the cattle situation settled, the whole family's spirits soared. Chen Dashan and his brothers worked even harder at carpentry, and Chen's mother and daughter-in-law prepared spring planting supplies with greater care. Chen's father, meanwhile, began to study the herbal medicine booklet. Whenever he had free time, he would take the booklet and wander around their house, the familiar foothills and field ridges, comparing the pictures in the booklet to identify those previously overlooked "wild grasses." He actually found quite a few, though they were all very common varieties. But the thought of drying them and exchanging them for coins made these inconspicuous grasses feel much more endearing.

Before they knew it, it was the end of the first month of the lunar calendar. The frozen ground began to soften, and glimpses of green could be seen on the sunny slopes. Chen's father and Chen Dashan got up early, hitched up their old cart, took the remaining money, and headed straight for Xiahegou Village.

Along the way, Chen Dashan was even more excited than his father. He could almost hear the powerful thud of oxen's hooves on the dirt road and see the brand-new oxcart returning laden with the harvest. With oxen, this family was like having stronger bones, able to withstand more storms and reach even greater harvests.

As promised, Geng the cowherd had already thoroughly cleaned the yellow ox, fed it plenty of hay, and harnessed it to the worn-out plow. The ox was indeed as Chen's father had described, with a well-proportioned body and smooth muscle lines. When it saw people approaching, it raised its head and gave a gentle "moo," its large eyes revealing its docility.

The handover went smoothly. After paying the remaining balance, Geng, the cowherd, handed the ox reins to Chen Dashan and gave him a few more instructions on feeding and using the ox. Chen Dashan carefully noted them down and thanked him. Father and son carefully loaded the plow onto the cart; Chen Dashan led the ox, and his father pushed the cart, setting off on their journey home.

The cowbells tinkled, their clear sound echoing across the early spring fields. The warm sunlight shone down, and even the willows by the roadside seemed to be tinged with a hazy green. Chen Dashan led the cow, walking beside his father's cart, his steps steady and powerful. He glanced back at the receding figure of Geng Niuguan's house, then looked towards the faint outline of Nanshan Village in the distance, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of peace and boundless anticipation for spring.