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

On a spring afternoon, dappled sunlight filtered through the bamboo grove. Father Chen, with his two sons, each carrying a large basket on their backs and holding a specially made small hoe, carefully searched among the dense bamboo thickets.

This year's bamboo shoots seem exceptionally abundant, perhaps thanks to the nourishing effects of last winter's heavy snow. Cracks in the ground, pushed open by the snow, are everywhere, and brown bamboo shoot tips eagerly peek out. Experienced, Mr. Chen carefully selects those with firm husks and tips not fully exposed; these are the most tender and store well. As he demonstrates, he whispers to his son, "Look here, the soil is slightly cracked, the edges are a bit damp, there's definitely one underneath. Use the hoe gently, following the direction of the bamboo rhizome, don't break it, and don't damage the surrounding shoots."

Chen Dashan learned the fastest. He was naturally steady-handed and meticulous, and soon he could make independent judgments, digging out bamboo shoots with precision and gentleness, each one plump and intact. Chen Xiaohe, though a bit impulsive, was equally hardworking. With his strength, he could often remove deep bamboo shoots that were difficult to dig out in one go. The three of them worked together seamlessly, and before long, the three baskets on their backs began to feel heavy.

Besides bamboo shoots, Chen Dashan had an unexpected bonus. At the base of a particularly dense clump of green bamboo, he discovered several quietly standing "snow-skirted fairies"—bamboo fungus. These are delicate and hard to find; he hadn't expected to encounter them so early in the spring. He carefully pried them up from the base with a piece of wood, obtaining five or six in total. Although not many, they were of excellent quality, their veils intact and gauze-like. He wrapped them individually in a clean cloth and placed them on top of his small basket, calculating that this would add another decent sum to his income.

On the other side, Chen's mother didn't enter the bamboo grove. Instead, she carried a basket and a burlap sack, heading straight up the sunny slope of the back hill. Springtime in the mountains is a feast for wild vegetables. Beneath the withered grass and fallen leaves, new life is bursting forth. Chen's mother has sharp eyes and nimble hands, carefully selecting the freshest, most tender leaves to pluck.

Water celery grew in clumps in the wetlands beside the stream, its vibrant green color gleaming and carrying a unique, refreshing fragrance. Wild garlic was scattered among the grassy slopes, its leaves long and slender; digging out the small bulbs underneath released a pungent aroma. What delighted Chen's mother most was that she discovered several Chinese toon trees on a sheltered, sunny slope. The purplish-red buds were just emerging, trembling on the branches—one of the most precious fresh flavors of spring. She carefully plucked the tender tips, not daring to take too many, hoping they would grow another batch.

She also found a small patch of newly sprouted mushrooms in the humus under a pine forest. They were grayish-brown with thick caps, a common edible variety. Although not as precious as bamboo fungus, they were extremely delicious when stir-fried or used in soups. She carefully picked them and put them in her basket.

Before she knew it, the sun had begun to set, and the light in the forest had dimmed. Chen's mother straightened her aching back, looked at her nearly full basket and bulging burlap sack, and felt a surge of joy at her harvest. She had wanted to look for some small Chinese toon saplings to dig up and plant, but after searching around, all she found were old trees that couldn't be transplanted, so she had to give up. Remembering that her family must be worried, she shouldered her heavy load and quickened her pace down the mountain.

In the Chen family courtyard, Chen Dashan had already arranged the bamboo shoots that he and his two sons had dug up. He picked out some of the smaller ones or those that were broken, intending to eat them himself that evening. The rest, sorted by size and appearance, were neatly arranged in two large bamboo baskets and covered with damp cloths to keep them fresh. He carefully placed the bamboo fungus in a cool, well-ventilated place. The cattle and sheep had already been fed, and their pens had been cleaned.

As it grew darker and his mother still hadn't returned, Mr. Chen grew restless. "Dashan, you and Xiaohe stay home and tidy up. I'll go greet your mother." He got up and walked out.

"Dad, I'll go with you!" Chen Xiaohe was worried, so he grabbed a wooden stick from the doorway and followed.

The father and son hadn't gone far from the courtyard gate when they saw Chen's mother trudging down the mountain path, carrying a huge basket almost taller than herself. Chen's father quickly stepped forward, took the heavy basket from her, and carried it on his own, while Chen Xiaohe took the burlap sack and basket from his mother.

"Why did you come down the mountain so late? It's almost dark, it was so worrying!" Mr. Chen's tone was reproachful, but even more so, it was filled with lingering fear.

Chen's mother took a breath, but her face was beaming with excitement: "Oh dear, I was so busy looking that I didn't pay attention to the time. Guess what I found? Lots of water celery, wild garlic, and toon sprouts! There's even a small basket of mushrooms! Look how tender these toon sprouts are!" She pointed to the basket in Chen Xiaohe's hand like she was showing off a treasure.

Back home, Chen Dashan was startled to see how much stuff his parents and younger brother had brought back, and quickly helped unload it. Seeing the weariness and joy on his mother's face, he felt both heartache and pride: "Mom, you can't do this again next time. It gets dark quickly in the mountains, it's not safe. We won't be in a hurry."

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely come back earlier next time." Chen's mother replied with a smile, but her eyes were already fixed on the mountain produce. "Quick, look! This water celery is so fresh and tender, the wild garlic is perfect for a cold dish, and the toon sprouts... it's late tonight, we'll make scrambled eggs with it tomorrow!"

Inside the main room, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing also heard the commotion and came out with their child to see what was happening. They were overjoyed to see the various fresh mountain delicacies piled up on the ground.

"Mother, you've really found a treasure trove!" Su Xiaoqing said with a smile.

"Tonight we'll have bamboo shoots stir-fried with cured pork and pork bone stewed with bamboo shoots!" Chen Xiaohe exclaimed, already looking forward to it.

Chen's father watched his family gathered together, inspecting spring's bounty, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He cleared his throat and said, "Tomorrow, you two will get up early, take the oxcart, and take the best bamboo shoots you dug today, along with the toon leaves your mother picked and the wild garlic you dug, to the county town to test the waters and see what the market is like this year. Pick some fresh water celery tomorrow morning too. Let's get a head start; I reckon we can get a good price."

"Yes!" Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe responded in unison, full of enthusiasm.

As night deepened, the savory aroma of bamboo shoots and cured pork, along with the rich and savory flavor of bone broth, wafted from the Chen family's kitchen. Inside the main room, the family sat around, enjoying the hard-won fresh spring delicacies and discussing tomorrow's sales plans.