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

"Mom, these tea eggs are so delicious! They taste even better than the ones sold at the market!" Chen Xiaohe peeled open a brownish-red eggshell covered with fine cracks, took a big bite, and found the egg white flavorful and the yolk smooth and sandy, mixed with the rich and salty aroma of tea and spices, making him praise it repeatedly.

As Chen's mother was serving cold noodles to everyone, she smiled and said, "It's your sister-in-law and Xiaoqing who came up with this method. I also think it's better than what you buy outside." She tasted one herself and nodded, "The saltiness is just right, the spices are just right, and it's not too cloying. Look, my precious grandchildren also like it." Next to her were four chubby children munching on tea eggs.

Father Chen nodded, took a sip of porridge with the salty egg yolk, and then asked, "This tastes quite good. By the way, Dashan, how did things sell at the market today? Are the Fu family satisfied?"

Chen Dashan put down his chopsticks, his tone steady with a hint of satisfaction: "Sales are good. The new hair ties and patchwork baby clothes that Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing made are very eye-catching. A woman holding a baby bought a set of clothes and picked out several hair ties as well. After she bought them, several people around her were also interested, and even the bamboo baskets and small wooden carvings on our stall sold faster than usual. We delivered the stroller and cradle to the Fu family, and Aunt Fu and her new daughter-in-law were quite satisfied with them, praising the solid workmanship. Aunt Fu also said that her nephew is getting married in the fall and wants to order some for him too. I'm thinking of making another stroller and cradle with Xiaohe when I have time, and putting them on the stall. If anyone is interested, maybe we can sell them, or maybe they can order other furniture."

Father Chen nodded; that was a good idea, worth a try. After Father Chen and Chen Dashan finished speaking, Chen Xiaohe eagerly interjected, "The watermelons sold well too! We gave Dr. Li the biggest one, and he was very happy, saying we were too kind. The rest were at the market, and before we even had a chance to call out, people came over smelling them and asking. They said that this year's drought has made watermelons scarce, and ours looked so juicy and sweet that they sold out in no time! A few who didn't get any asked if we'd come back for the next market. I think we should pick even more next time!"

Hearing this, Chen's mother's smile deepened: "It's good that the watermelons are selling well. I checked the vines in our garden, and there are still quite a few fruits growing. Tomorrow we'll open one ourselves and try it, to see if it's really that sweet." She paused, then looked at her eldest son, "Dashan, you continue."

Chen Dashan continued, "I've figured out the ropes for hair ties and baby clothes. I can make more at the next market. The same goes for watermelons; they sell well this season, so I can get more cash. But," he changed the subject, looking at his father, "Dad, tomorrow morning, Xiaohe and I will rush to water the fields. The dog days of summer are almost here, and if it doesn't rain soon, the fields really won't hold up."

Father Chen's expression turned serious: "It's time to water them. I've been worried sick about it. The cracks in the ground are getting bigger every day. Tomorrow, you should go water the corn and sweet potatoes on the east side, which are suffering the most from the drought. I've woven a few new fish baskets; we'll go to the river this afternoon and catch a few more. It's been dry all day, and the water in the ditches is shallow, so we need to catch as many fish as possible while there are still plenty. Clean up any we can't eat and dry them into fish jerky. It can be stored, just in case…" He sighed, "If the autumn harvest is really bad, having more food stored at home will give us peace of mind."

Mother Chen put down her bowl and replied firmly, "The old man is right, we should prepare more. Fortunately, last year's harvest was good, and the granary is still full. Even if this year's yield is lower, we can get through it by tightening our belts. But the weather is unpredictable, and we can't just wait around. Tomorrow I'll go to the back hill and take advantage of the good sunshine to see if there are any late-blooming wild vegetables or mushrooms left, and pick them to dry. If we can't finish the green beans and eggplants in the garden, we'll slice and dry them too. A handful will be good for stewing in winter."

Su Xiaoyin, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, "Mom, the vegetables in the garden are growing fast. The cucumbers and tomatoes have produced quite a few these past few days, and they'll spoil easily if we can't eat them all at once. Xiaoqing and I can dry the vegetables. Also, I saw the wild amaranth by the river a few days ago that looked old, with shiny black seeds. Could we harvest some of that too? Just in case... it might come in handy."

Father Chen gave his eldest daughter-in-law an approving look: "Xiao Yin is thoughtful. Wild amaranth seeds ground into powder and mixed into flour can keep you full. We should harvest some. Not only vegetables, but also acorns and hazelnuts from the mountains can be harvested in a few days. In short, having grain in hand means peace of mind; having savings means you won't have to rely on others in a drought."

Listening to his family's plans, Chen Xiaohe's earlier excitement over the successful market sale subsided as he realized the severity of the drought. He clenched his fist: "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, don't worry! Big Brother and I have plenty of strength! Watering, catching fish, harvesting mountain produce—we'll do it all, one step at a time! We definitely can't let the family go hungry! Da Shan and I will go up the mountain first to set traps and rabbit snares, see if we can catch some meat."

Chen Dashan patted his younger brother on the shoulder without saying much, but his eyes showed the same determination.

Looking at her son and daughter-in-law working together so diligently, Chen's mother felt her worries about the drought lessen considerably thanks to the strength her family provided. She got up to clear the dishes, her tone regaining its usual crispness: "Alright, talk is cheap. Starting tomorrow, we'll do what we agreed on. Watering the mountains and rivers, catching fish, Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing drying vegetables and doing chores—your father and I haven't been idle either. When the whole family is united, there's no obstacle we can't overcome!"

As night deepened, the lights in the Chen family courtyard seemed brighter than usual.