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

For three whole days, the torrential rain poured down, thoroughly drenching the parched and scorching land and helping the wilted crops to straighten up again. The rainwater formed muddy streams, filling ditches and ponds, and the riverbeds, which had been almost completely dry, became full and turbulent again. The rushing water gurgled day and night, as if announcing the retreat of the drought demon.

"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, this rain was really heavy! Now the crops in the fields can finally drink their fill of water!" On the first morning after the rain stopped and the sun came out, Chen Xiaohe pushed open the courtyard gate, took a deep breath of the crisp, damp air after the rain, and had a long-lost relaxed smile on his face.

Father Chen was squatting under the eaves, inspecting the farm tools washed by the rain. Hearing this, he looked up at the clear, blue sky and the fields glistening in the sunlight, and let out a long sigh: "Yes, the rain is a bit late, but it came just in time. The crops are in the middle of heading and grain-filling stage. This thorough rain will give them a great boost, making them grow stronger, and giving us a better chance of a good harvest."

While busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Chen's mother said through the window, "The rain has been thorough, and things should be catching up on the mountain now. The mushrooms and wood ear fungus that have been dormant in the forest for so long should be bursting forth. Once the sun shines for a couple more days and the ground is drier, I'll go up the mountain to check on them."

Su Xiaoyin, who was helping to tend the fire, chimed in, "Mother, we'll take turns going with you. It just rained, and the mountain paths are slippery; two people can help each other out."

This refreshing rain quenched the thirst of the land and seemed to wash away the anxiety that had been weighing on the Chen family and the entire Nanshan Village for days. However, just as Chen's mother had said, "After rain comes sunshine," and after three days of continuous rain, people began to long for the sun to come out. While hanging up the damp clothes to dry, Su Xiaoqing muttered to her sister, "Sister, people are so strange. When it's not raining, they long for the stars and the moon, but when the rain starts pouring down, they wish it would stop soon. The house is so damp; the blankets feel like they could be wrung out."

Su Xiaoyin unfolded a small piece of clothing and draped it over a bamboo pole, laughing, "Indeed, this rain is too heavy. But it's better than drought. Dashan and Xiaohe said when they went out that the river is rising badly, almost overflowing the banks, and told them to stay away from the river and not get close to the water's edge when they're gathering pig feed."

The rain has stopped and the sky is clear, bringing life back to everything, but also new dangers. The swollen river, carrying withered branches and fallen leaves washed down from upstream, roars and surges, with undercurrents surging beneath the murky surface, making it far more dangerous than usual.

Around noon, after feeding the chickens and ducks, Chen's mother was planning to pick some chives and green beans from the vegetable garden in the afternoon to make dumplings for dinner to reward her family for their hard work over the past few days. In the east wing, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, by the bright light from the window, continued working on the nearly finished "Hundred Blessings" embroidery. The room was quiet, with only the soft sound of needle and thread cutting through the fabric and the occasional chirping of birds from outside.

Suddenly, a series of hurried, frantic footsteps and a woman's shrill cries shattered the tranquility outside the courtyard gate: "Sister Chen! Madam Dashan! Madam Xiaohe! Quick! Come out quickly! Something has happened to your Dashan and Xiaohe families!"

The shout was like a bolt from the blue, instantly striking the three people inside. The gourd ladle in Chen's mother's hand clattered to the ground, Su Xiaoyin's embroidery needle pierced her finger, drawing blood without her noticing, and Su Xiaoqing's face turned deathly pale as she abruptly stood up. The three of them, disregarding everything else, rushed outside with pounding hearts.

The person who arrived was Chen Ermu's neighbor. He was panting heavily, his face filled with panic. When he saw them, he could barely speak: "Quick, quick, to the river! Your family's Dashan and Xiaohe... jumped into the river to save someone! It's... it's Old Nian's grandson from the east end of the village. He fell in while playing in the water! The river is so fast..."

Upon hearing that it was about rescuing someone, not themselves, the three felt a slight relief, but their anxiety quickly returned—rescue someone? Jump into the raging river? Chen's mother's legs buckled, and Su Xiaoyin caught her. Su Xiaoqing anxiously asked, "Aunt Ermu, how is she? Has she made it out of the water?"

"They're up! They're up! The child has been rescued! Thanks to the mountains and the river!" Er Mu's family member gasped for breath. "Many people ran to help, I just rushed back to let you know! You should go and see!"

Chen's mother calmed herself down and said to her two daughters-in-law, "Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing, you two go quickly! I'll watch the children!" The four children in the house were still taking a nap and couldn't be left unattended.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing didn't have time to say much. They helped each other up and followed Er Mu's family to the riverbank. Along the way, their legs felt weak and their minds were in turmoil. They hoped to see everyone safe and sound, but they were also afraid of seeing something terrible.

When they arrived at the riverbank, a large crowd of villagers who had rushed over after hearing the news had already gathered. The murky river water was still rushing, and the banks were muddy and slippery. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe were soaked to the bone, their thin summer clothes clinging to their bodies, their hair still dripping wet, their faces pale, and their lips slightly purple from the cold. They were being talked to by several villagers. Beside them, a six or seven-year-old boy, wrapped in a dry coat handed to him by someone, was shivering in his mother's arms. He was clearly frightened, but seemed unharmed. The boy's parents were profusely thanking Chen Dashan and his brother, almost kneeling down to kowtow.