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

"Dad, Mom, we're going up the mountain later, and we might not be back for lunch. We've brought all the flatbread with us." Early in the morning, as soon as they put down their bowls, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe said to Chen's mother. Chen's father had already gone to the fields early, carrying a hoe, saying he wanted to carefully walk along the field ridges to see how the crops were growing after the heavy rain, so he could have a better understanding.

Mother Chen deftly cleared away the dishes, then nodded upon hearing this, "Alright, I'll go with you. Mushrooms sprout quickly in the mountains after the rain; let's gather plenty, dry them carefully, and they'll be a rare delicacy for stews and dumplings in winter." She called out towards the east wing, "Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing, we're going up the mountain! Don't forget to feed and water the chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep around midday!"

Su Xiaoyin peeked out of the house, holding a small garment that was being mended, and quickly replied, "Okay, Mom! Come back soon, be careful, the mountain roads are slippery!"

After seeing off Chen's mother and the two brothers, the courtyard fell silent, save for the faint crowing of roosters and the babbling of children in the distance. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing cleverly used pillows and neatly folded blankets to create a safe "fortress" around the four little ones who were already full and exploring the world on the kang (heated brick bed), ensuring they couldn't fall off or climb out. With company, the little ones playfully grabbed and pushed each other, giggling and enjoying themselves, no longer needing the adults to hold and coax them constantly.

When the sisters had a spare moment, they unfolded the final support for their "Hundred Blessings" embroidery, a piece that had taken months and countless hours of effort. By the bright sunlight streaming through the window, they began the final touches. Su Xiaoqing carefully threaded the finest gold thread and meticulously embroidered the last corner of the character for "blessing," holding her breath and concentrating intently, afraid that a tremor would ruin everything. Su Xiaoyin, meanwhile, patiently used the same gold thread to carefully conceal and trim all the tiny loose threads on the back of the embroidery, ensuring the entire piece was smooth and even from both sides. This was a testament to the embroiderer's basic skills and determined the quality and price when sold to the embroidery workshop.

"Finally...almost done." Su Xiaoqing finished the last stitch, gently tied a knot, cut the thread, let out a long sigh of relief, and rubbed her slightly sore neck and wrists. She looked at the white cotton fabric before her, where the numerous "福" (fortune/blessing) characters resembled ancient pines and cypresses, simple and vigorous. Around each of the hundred "福" characters were cleverly adorned with various auspicious patterns. Look at those bats, some soaring high, others hovering low, as if bringing blessings and good fortune. And those blooming peonies, their petals layered upon each other, delicate and vibrant, red like fire, pink like the sunset, white like snow, exuding a fragrant aroma. The colors transitioned naturally, the stitches even and dense. Although not as lively and lifelike as her mother's masterpieces, it was the pinnacle of their skills.

Su Xiaoyin finished her work, carefully rolled up the embroidery, and wrapped it in a clean cloth. "Yes, all that's left is the final framing. Next market day, let's go to the county town with Dashan and Xiaohe and take this picture to 'Jinxiu Cloth Shop' to see what the shopkeeper will offer." Her eyes held both anticipation and a hint of trepidation. She had poured almost all her spare time and energy into this over the past few months; it would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed if it didn't fetch a good price.

Su Xiaoqing moved closer to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and poked the chubby bottom of the big rock that was trying to climb over the "pillow mountain," which made the little guy wiggle unhappily. She then smiled and withdrew her hand. "These kids in our family are so easy to take care of. They never cry or fuss for no reason." Her tone was full of the tenderness and pride of a new mother.

"That's because they have companions." Su Xiaoyin looked at the four little bundles of joy playing on the kang (heated brick bed), a gentle smile on her face. "They can play happily by themselves. When they get older, they'll probably be chasing each other all over the yard." She paused, remembering the important matter, "If this painting is reasonably priced, after the autumn harvest, we can save up some money and buy a good piece of fabric to embroider a 'Pine and Crane Longevity' or 'Flowers Bloom in Wealth and Prosperity' painting. The embroidery shop owner said that larger embroidered paintings with auspicious meanings sell especially well during the New Year holidays."

"Yes!" Su Xiaoqing nodded vigorously, her eyes regaining their fighting spirit. "Sister, we really need to help out at home this autumn harvest. Last year, because I was pregnant with them, let alone working in the fields, most of the housework was done by Mom and my older brother Xiaohe. They even had to take care of us... It makes me feel so bad."

Su Xiaoyin wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes. So next time we go to the market, we'll tell Dashan and the others to buy some lard to render, since we're almost out of lard at home. We'll also buy a few big bones to smoke, or just to make soup. The autumn harvest is hard work, so we can't skimp on food. I saw that the two pigs Mom fed this year are much stronger than they were at this time last year, and their coats are shinier. Xiaohe said that the price of pork at the market has gone up by two coins, so when they're ready to be sold at the end of the year, they'll definitely fetch a good price."

The two sisters discussed household matters quietly while their hands worked tirelessly. Su Xiaoqing looked after the children on the kang (a heated brick bed), while Su Xiaoyin picked up a small basket and went to the vegetable garden. After a thorough rain, the vegetables in the garden were well-watered and growing exceptionally well. Bright purple eggplants hung heavily from the branches, clusters of emerald green peppers were delightful, and the chives, though cut once, sprouted new, tender shoots. She picked a few of the plumpest eggplants, a handful of the tenderest peppers, and cut a small bunch of chives.

Back in the kitchen, Su Xiaoyin began preparing lunch. It was hot at midday, so the food should be light and refreshing. She cracked a few eggs, scrambled them, and stir-fried them with chopped tender chili peppers. The result was a beautiful mix of yellow and green, with a wonderfully fragrant aroma. She also prepared a separate small bowl of egg mixture, adding a little warm water and salt, and steamed it in a pot to make smooth and tender steamed egg custard for the children. The main dish was a ring of golden cornbread, with shredded eggplant stewing at the bottom of the pot. When it was almost done, she added pre-cut diced cured pork and simmered it for a while longer. The salty and savory flavor of the cured pork permeated the soft eggplant, making it a perfect accompaniment to rice.

As Su Xiaoqing played with the child, she watched her sister's busy figure in the kitchen, her heart filled with a simple yet solid happiness. At this time last year, they were newlyweds, filled with anxiety about the future; now, they had their own children, their skills were becoming increasingly refined, and they had a strong sense of belonging to this family, bound by blood and working together for the future.