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

The autumn sky was a clear, high blue, with wispy clouds drifting lazily like washed cotton. The sunlight, no longer as harsh as in summer, bathed everything in a warm, golden glow, ripening everything. On the Chen family's threshing ground, newly harvested grains were spread out—golden corncobs piled high, bundles of reddish-brown sorghum ears tied together, plump bean pods splitting open in the sunlight to reveal round beans, and thinly spread rice and millet awaiting complete drying. The air was filled with the unique, dry, and mellow aroma of grains, mingled with the scent of earth and hay—the most comforting and bountiful scent of the year for a farming family.

When Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing arrived at the threshing ground with their four children, Chen's mother had already been busy for a while. She used a wooden rake to turn the corn and sorghum over from time to time, ensuring that each side received the sun's kiss evenly. Seeing her daughter-in-law and grandchildren arrive, Chen's mother straightened up, wiped her forehead with the towel draped around her neck, and her face showed a smile that couldn't hide the mixture of joy and exhaustion.

"Mom, take a rest and have some water. We'll take care of things here." Su Xiaoyin quickly handed over the water gourd she had brought and took the wooden rake from Chen's mother. Su Xiaoqing pushed the cart to a shady spot by the threshing ground, took the four curious little ones off, and let them play on the spread-out old mat. She also took out a few simple wooden toys made by Chen Dashan before turning around to help turn over the beans to dry.

Chen's mother took a few sips of water, watching her two daughters-in-law's efficient movements and the abundant harvest on the threshing floor. The slight bitterness in her heart caused by days of hard work was replaced by a strong sense of accomplishment. "Alright, you two watch for a while, I'll go to the fields to let your father and the others come back for a drink of water, and I'll also take the pancakes I made this morning to them. Xiaoyin, lunch..."

"Don't worry, Mom. I've bought the tofu. There were two fairly big fish in the basket by the stream yesterday, and I've cleaned them all. For lunch, we'll have fish stew with tofu, a pot of flatbread, and some stir-fried vegetables. I guarantee everyone will have a good meal," Su Xiaoyin replied while flipping the corn.

Chen's mother nodded, said no more, slung the basket containing the bread and water jug ​​over her shoulder, and hurried towards the fields. She knew that the autumn harvest depended on these few days of good sunshine; while people rested, the work in the fields could not.

The work on the threshing floor seemed simple, but it required patience and meticulousness. One had to constantly watch for weather changes and be wary of sudden downpours; one had to keep turning the grain to prevent it from spoiling underneath; and one had to shoo away the sparrows that occasionally flew in to steal a bite. While busy at work, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing also had to keep an eye on the children playing on the mats. Shitou and Aji could already take a few wobbly steps and were curious about everything, so they had to be watched constantly to prevent them from bumping into things; Qingqing and Afu were smaller, but also restless, climbing around and babbling as they tried to catch the falling grass clippings.

Fortunately, there was the large and sturdy double stroller made by Chen Dashan, and a large bamboo basket with a fence woven by Chen's father, which could "enclose" the children in critical moments, making them much safer. The two sisters worked together tacitly, one mainly responsible for turning over the laundry and scaring away birds, while the other took care of the children more, and could also help pass them tools in between.

As the sun rose higher, the temperature on the threshing ground also increased. Su Xiaoyin fed her children some water and wiped the sweat from her brow. Looking at the golden, vibrant harvest before her, and then at her healthy, lively children on the mat, an indescribable sense of satisfaction and peace welled up inside her. A year ago, they were huddled in a makeshift shack during a famine, barely having enough to eat, their future uncertain; a year later, they had their own home, lovely children, a future to look forward to, and could personally participate in this tangible harvest. The changes were like the grain crackling in the sunlight before them—heavy, real, and tangible.

Before noon, Chen's father returned with his two sons. All three were covered in dust, their faces tanned red and black from the scorching sun, their trousers and shoes caked with mud and bits of grass, but their eyes shone with the same weary yet bright light. It was the look of someone who had truly dug hope out of the land.

"Wow! This drying yard looks really pleasing!" As soon as Mr. Chen came in, he glanced around at his family's "spoils of war," and couldn't help but smile. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe also showed their honest smiles, bent down and grabbed a handful of half-dried beans, weighed them in their hands, and felt their full weight.

"Dad, Dashan, Xiaohe, quickly wash your hands and faces, dinner's ready. The fish stew is in the pot, it'll be ready soon." Su Xiaoyin called out, and together with Su Xiaoqing, they set the food on the cool stone table outside the main room. A large pot of milky white fish stew with tofu, with cubes of tofu and golden-fried fish simmering in the broth, smelled wonderful; a pot full of golden cornbread pancakes, crispy on the edges; and a plate of stir-fried amaranth, vibrant green and tempting.

The family sat together, not bothering with words, and immediately began to eat. The fish soup was delicious, the flatbread substantial, and the simple meal tasted especially sweet because of their hunger and sense of accomplishment. While eating, Mr. Chen said to Mrs. Chen, "This afternoon, Da Shan, Xiao He, and I went to harvest the last patch of sorghum on the south slope. We should be able to bring it all back by tomorrow. You and Xiao Yin and Xiao Qing, keep an eye on things at the threshing ground."

"Don't worry, we'll take care of things at the drying ground." Chen's mother picked up a piece of fish belly meat for Chen's father. "Be careful in the fields too. Take a break when you're tired. It won't make a difference if you take a short while."

"Oh, right," Chen Xiaohe swallowed a bite of bread, then remembered something, "Dad, after we harvest the crops, shouldn't we plow the wasteland again and apply some base fertilizer before the ground freezes?"

Father Chen nodded: "Yes, it's time to get started. This year's harvest from the wasteland is better than last year, which means our efforts in nurturing it haven't been in vain. After the autumn harvest, we'll also compost the straw from the cultivated land and use it as fertilizer in the wasteland in the spring. If we nurture it slowly, one day, those wastelands will all become good fields."

Chen Dashan calmly replied, "We also need to collect the manure from the pigsty and chicken/duck shed at home. Once it's dried, it'll be good fertilizer."

Listening to the men discussing the land and farming, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing exchanged a smile. This was the life of a peasant family, one thing leading to another, always busy with chores, yet always filled with the simplest hopes for the land and for the coming year.

After the meal, the men rested briefly before picking up their tools and heading back to the fields. Mother Chen, along with Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, carefully turned over the grain on the threshing floor again. Then, they took out several large sacks and needles and thread and began mending the worn bags, preparing for the upcoming storage. The children, tired from playing, slumped onto the mats and fell asleep. Only the rustling of the grain being turned and the occasional chirping of birds filled the threshing floor.

As the sun set, the last cartload of grain was finally brought back to the drying ground. Looking at the harvest that nearly filled half the drying ground, Mr. Chen let out a long, satisfied sigh. Although the actual weighing and storage would have to wait until the grain was completely dry, just looking at this heap, he already knew for sure—this year would be a truly bountiful harvest. The shadow of drought seemed to have been completely dispelled by this exhilarating autumn harvest and the overflowing stacks of grain.

For the next few days, the Chen family remained busy. The dried grain needed to be carefully winnowed to remove chaff and impurities, then sorted, bagged, and stored in the granary. Father Chen and his sons cleaned and reinforced the granary, lining it with dry straw and wooden planks for moisture protection. Mother Chen, along with her daughter-in-law, carefully stored the plumpest seeds they had selected separately. Every grain was treated with utmost care, for it was the fruit of their labor, the foundation of their hopes for the coming year.

When all the grain was stored in the granary and the heavy iron lock clicked shut, the biggest weight on everyone's hearts finally lifted. The granary was full, and the cellar contained cured meat, dried vegetables, and stored sweet potatoes. The pigs in the pen were fat, and the chickens and ducks were laying eggs... This winter would be the most prosperous and peaceful one they had experienced since settling in Nanshan Village.

At dinner, Mrs. Chen specially cut open the last two large watermelons. Their red flesh and black seeds were bursting with juice, sweetening everyone's hearts. Mr. Chen drank a small cup of liquor he had stored for a long time, his dark face glowing. Looking at his children and grandchildren gathered around, he slowly said, "This year, our family has finally settled down. We have a house, more land, full granaries, and some spare cash. This is all thanks to everyone tightening their belts and working hard together. From now on, as long as we're united and willing to work hard, life will only get better!"