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

As the sun gradually set in the west, it took away the last trace of the market's hustle and bustle. The Chen family carefully gathered the remaining loose goods from their stall—a few bundles of mugwort, several small bamboo baskets, and a few hair ties—into bamboo baskets. They then rolled up and tied up the mostly empty baskets and the worn-out old hemp cloth, and loaded them one by one onto the oxcart.

All the necessary New Year's items had already been purchased: glutinous rice, red dates, and red beans for making zongzi (sticky rice dumplings); large, fresh bamboo leaves specially selected by Chen's mother; sesame candy to sweeten the children's mouths; a few pieces of coarse but fragrant maltose; and a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, to be stewed and eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival. The oxcart was packed full of things, yet everything was neatly arranged.

The family settled in, and the old ox slowly began to pull the heavy cart and its passengers, creaking and groaning as it drove onto the dirt road back to the village. Away from the hustle and bustle of the market, the evening breeze carried the fresh scent of the fields, washing away the day's fatigue and heat.

Holding her second child, Qingqing, who was already dozing off, in her arms, Chen's mother gently patted her as she watched the fields and distant mountains recede into the distance. She said, "When we get back, we'll soak the glutinous rice, and we'll also pick out the red beans and dates. We'll wrap zongzi together tonight, and we can cook them first thing tomorrow morning so we can have some fresh ones for the Dragon Boat Festival."

"Okay," Su Xiaoyin replied, holding her second son, Qingqing, whose face was flushed from sleeping.

Chen Xiaohe sat on the edge of the cart, swinging his legs. Recalling what he had seen at the market during the day, he turned his head and said, "Mother, elder brother, I paid attention today. There are more than just our stall selling these odds and ends at the market now. I saw two stalls selling bamboo and wood carvings alone, and there was another stall that specialized in selling all kinds of hair ties and silk flowers. They had quite a lot of styles, and they looked more complicated than ours."

Sitting near the front of the carriage, Mr. Chen took a puff of his pipe upon hearing this, the smoke quickly dissipating in the evening breeze. His voice was calm, carrying the worldly wisdom of a farmer: "What's so strange about that? In the market, if someone sees a business making money, those with skills and time will naturally follow suit. No one can monopolize a business for long. You can't stop it."

Chen Dashan, who had been sitting silently next to his younger brother, finally spoke up: "Father is right. It's better to guide than to block. I saw it today too; those two shops that copied ours made their products rather crudely, but their prices were quite high. Our products win because of their solid materials and fine workmanship; our regular customers still appreciate them." He paused, his gaze falling on the small, lightweight cart on the cart floor—the "hero" that had attracted inquiries today. "However, what Xiaohe said also gave me a wake-up call. Just focusing on what we already have isn't enough."

He turned to look at his family, his eyes calm and focused: "I'm thinking that when I get back, I'll carve a simple mark on every piece of wood I make, in an inconspicuous place—like a small plum blossom or the character 'mountain.' Not for anything fancy, just for identification. To let people know that this is something from our 'Nanshan Chen Family.' Over time, it might become a brand."

"That's great!" Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up. "Brother, you're so skilled, carving a little pattern shouldn't be difficult for you! I'll also think of ways to weave some special patterns into our bamboo weaving, or tie a unique knot as a marker!"

Chen Dashan nodded and continued, "Besides, the old lady's question about the stroller today gave me a wake-up call. There are quite a few well-off families in the county town who are willing to spend money on their children. Perhaps we could focus on making some toys and items for children. We could make more ingenious animals, toy cars, and little houses from wood carving; we could also try making small rattles, bamboo horses, and lightweight walker frames from bamboo weaving... These things require a lot of effort, but if we can make them well, the price can go up, and they won't be easily imitated."

Chen Xiaohe, excited, immediately added, "Yes, yes, yes! Brother, this afternoon I saw some kids playing with the little horses and dogs you made, and I was thinking! Bamboo can also be used to make little windmills and lantern frames! Although it's labor-intensive, I'm sure some kids will like them! We can make a few first and take them to the next market to test the waters!"

Listening to her two sons' discussion, Chen's mother smiled with satisfaction. Her little grandson stirred in her arms, and she quickly patted him gently, saying, "I'm relieved that you two brothers have this idea and are willing to use your brains. We can't just stick to the old ways; we have to look forward. After the Dragon Boat Festival, when the fields are mostly ready for planting, you can go ahead and try. Your father, Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing, and I can all lend a hand when there's work to be done at home."

Su Xiaoyin, who had been listening quietly, spoke softly, "Mother, Dashan, Xiaohe, we had a long talk with the embroidery shop owner today. She encouraged us to go for larger and more intricate pieces. Xiaoqing and I have settled things; with what we've saved up and the money from selling embroidery today, we should have some left over after buying the necessary good materials. We want to try embroidering a larger 'Fu' (福, meaning good fortune) character. If it's successful, it could be worth a lot of money. Even if we can't sell it right away, it'll be a good item to keep at home." Her tone was soft, but it conveyed determination. "We'll also work within our means, only doing half a day of embroidery each day, and spending the rest of the time taking care of the children and doing housework. We absolutely won't ruin our eyes and health."

Looking into the clear and determined eyes of her two daughters-in-law, Chen's mother felt even more at ease and said gently, "If you have plans, I will support you. Life at home is better than before, so don't be afraid to try. You are young, quick-witted, and skilled, so go for it. If you encounter any difficulties, your father and I will always be there to support you."

Father Chen tapped his pipe and said in a deep voice, "Your mother is right. When a family is united and works together, we are not afraid of difficult roads. Skills are the foundation of a livelihood, and being willing to think things through is the path to prosperity. We farmers are not afraid of being slow, but we are afraid of standing still. As long as what you want to do is the right thing, go for it."