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

On a summer morning, the light comes out early. Chen's father, carrying a hoe, prepared to go to the fields. Before leaving, he said to Chen Dashan, who was checking the last few pieces of wood being sanded in the yard, "I'm going to weed the fields. You guys hurry up and try to finish these things as soon as possible. Next market day, we can deliver these furniture pieces to the Fu family, settle the final payment, and put that matter at ease."

Chen Dashan straightened up, wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead, and replied, "Father, don't worry. It will be finished in two more days. All that's left is careful polishing and applying the final coat of tung oil. I guarantee it won't be delayed."

Mr. Chen nodded, then looked at Chen Xiaohe, who was carrying a basket and holding a sickle, preparing to leave: "Xiaohe, are you going up the mountain again?"

Chen Xiaohe grinned, "Dad, I'm going to set down a few fish baskets and gather some pig feed while I'm at it. Mom," he called to his mother, who was picking vegetables by the kitchen door, "you don't need to go up the mountain today. It's too hot now, and it's stuffy up there with lots of mosquitoes. I'll gather the pig feed."

Mother Chen straightened up, wiped her hands, and smiled with relief. "Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't go up the mountain today. I'll stay home and take care of my four precious grandchildren so that Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing can do their embroidery in peace." She gestured towards the east wing, where she could faintly hear Su Xiaoyin teaching Su Xiaoqing to identify the colors of the silk threads.

Father Chen and Chen Xiaohe went out one after the other, and the courtyard immediately fell silent, save for the rustling sound of woodworking and the faint crowing of roosters in the distance. Mother Chen quickly tidied up the stove and went to the main room, opening all the south-facing windows. The still-cool morning breeze, carrying the scent of grass and trees, blew into the room, dispelling some of the stuffiness.

She turned back to the door of the east wing and said softly, "Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing, I've opened the window in the main room to make it cooler. You two bring the children up to the kang (heated brick bed) in the main room. I'll play with them, and you two can close the door and do your chores in peace and quiet."

"Thank you, Mother," Su Xiaoyin replied, and together with her sister, carried the four little ones, who had just woken up and were full of energy, to the large kang (heated brick bed) in the main room. Mother Chen took off her shoes, climbed onto the kang, and sat in the middle, holding several small, perfectly polished wooden blocks and bamboo bells made by Chen Dashan, teasing her grandchildren. Shitou and Aji climbed around chasing the wooden blocks, while Qingqing and Afu were more interested in the jingling bamboo bells, reaching out to grab them and making babbling noises. The main room was instantly filled with the innocent laughter of children and the sounds of toys, lively and warm.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing left the door to the east wing ajar, blocking out some of the noise. The two sisters sat down at the embroidery frame by the window, holding their breath and concentrating, threading their needles and beginning their arduous work on the most crucial part of the large embroidery piece, the "Hundred Blessings" design. The fine stitches quietly extended across the clean white fabric, gradually outlining the character for "blessing."

About half an hour later, footsteps and a familiar greeting came from outside the courtyard gate: "Is Aunt Dashan home?"

Recognizing the voices of their neighbor Chen Ermu, Chen's mother quickly responded, "Yes, yes! Come in quickly, I'm watching the children in the main room!"

The curtain was lifted, and Chen Ermu's wife walked in. She was a woman in her forties, slightly plump, with a kind face, and carrying a small basket. As soon as she entered the main room, her eyes were drawn to the four chubby white babies rolling around on the kang (a heated brick bed), and her face immediately lit up with a smile: "Oh my! Look at these four darlings! They're such a joy! Aunt Dashan, you must be living a wonderful life now, spending all your time happily with your grandchildren, right?"

While helping Aji, who was trying to climb onto the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), Chen's mother laughed and said, "That's right! Taking care of the four of them is my most important job now! I feel empty if I don't see these little dumplings for a day."

Chen Ermu's wife sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), teased Qingqing who was reaching out for a hug, and then explained her purpose: "Auntie Dashan, I've come today to discuss something with you. A few days ago, my daughter-in-law went to the county clinic, and Doctor Li took her pulse and said she's pregnant!"

"Oh my! This is wonderful news! Congratulations!" Chen's mother sincerely congratulated them. "Your family is about to welcome a new member!"

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Chen Ermu's wife smiled broadly, then looked a little embarrassed. "Well, I didn't know before, but all the eggs we had saved up were traded for oil and salt a while ago. Now I want to help her get some nourishment, but I can't find many decent eggs. I was thinking that you raised a lot of chickens this year, so I wonder if you could exchange some with me? The price is negotiable."

Upon hearing this, Chen's mother readily agreed, "No need to exchange! We're neighbors, and it's a big deal that your daughter-in-law is pregnant. She needs eggs to supplement her nutrition, so I'll give you some!" As she spoke, she was about to get off the kang (a heated brick bed) to get them.

Chen Ermu's family quickly stopped them, saying, "No, no! You should take whatever you're owed. You can't just take it for free! Your family has it tough too."

Mother Chen waved her hand and laughed, "No need to be so polite. We raised more chickens this year than in previous years, and they laid more eggs. But," she pointed to the four children on the kang (heated brick bed), "these four little ones are at the age where they are growing, so they need to eat at least two eggs a day, right? Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing, although they've been out of confinement for quite a while, still have to get up every night to take care of the babies, so they don't sleep well and it takes a lot of energy. They also need to eat an egg regularly to replenish their energy. And Dashan, you know his leg. Although it's healed, it's still weaker than the average person. He needs to keep up with his nutrition when doing heavy carpentry work. So, all things considered, the eggs we have are just enough for our own consumption. There's not much left over to sell for money to buy other things."

She paused, her tone becoming even more frank: "I've come to terms with it. You can't earn all the money in the world, but good health is the most important thing. It's better for my family to eat well, be healthy, and stay healthy—that's more important than anything else. If they really work themselves to death or get sick, a trip to the doctor for some medicine will cost more money than a few eggs! Don't you think that makes sense?"

Listening to this, Chen Ermu's wife's smile slowly turned into thoughtfulness. She looked at Chen's mother's rosy complexion, then at the four healthy, lively children on the kang (heated brick bed), and then at the days when her own family had to scrimp and save, leaving adults and children pale and thin. She nodded repeatedly, "Auntie Dashan, what you said really resonates with me! Before, I always thought saving eggs to exchange for money was the most important thing, and that the family could just make do with what we had. But now, looking at your family's situation… it seems we need to change our way of life! Good health is truly the most important thing!"

The two women chatted for a while longer, talking about their children and everyday matters. In the end, Chen's mother insisted on giving Chen Ermu's family twenty fresh eggs. Chen Ermu's family couldn't refuse, and after thanking her profusely, they took the basket and left, secretly resolving to treat their own family members better in the future.

In the main room, the children, tired from playing, gradually nestled against Chen's mother and began to doze off. In the east wing, the Su sisters' embroidery needles gleamed in the sunlight. The embroidery pattern, carrying the family's new hopes, was gradually coming to life and becoming richer under their calm and focused fingertips.