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

The next two days were the last and biggest market days before the New Year. The night before, before going to bed, Su Xiaoyin said to Chen's mother, "Mother, let's go to the big market tomorrow and the day after with Dashan and Xiaohe. There are so many things on the stalls, and they might not be able to handle it all by themselves. It will be better if there are more people."

Chen's mother was mending the tattered elbows of Chen's father's cotton-padded coat under the lamp. Hearing this, she looked up and said gently, "Then you'll have to get up early too. It's freezing cold in the twelfth lunar month, and the mornings are the coldest. Wear more clothes, put on your thick cotton-padded trousers, and wear scarves and gloves. Don't catch a cold."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohe, who was helping his older brother organize the goods to be taken the next day, immediately came over, deliberately putting on a long face and drawing out his words: "Oh my goodness—my brother and I also get up early and work late every day to set up our stall, braving wind and snow, but why don't you give us such detailed instructions? It's true that with sister-in-law and Xiaoqing around, my brother and I are like people picked up from the roadside!"

Chen's mother was amused by his feigned aggrieved expression and reached out as if to hit him: "You little rascal! You and your older brother are both so strong, like little calves, what's there to worry about? Can your sister-in-law and Xiaoqing's health compare to yours? Of course, they need to be more careful!" She scolded him, but her eyes were full of laughter.

Chen Dashan, steadily tying up a stack of newly woven bamboo winnowing baskets, replied without looking up, his voice tinged with a rare mischievousness: "Mother is right. You were adopted, but I wasn't."

One sentence made everyone laugh, even the four little ones sitting on the kang playing with their cloth tigers were attracted by the adults' laughter, babbling and waving their little hands. Chen Xiaohe clutched his chest, pretending to be "deeply hurt," which made Su Xiaoqing smile even more. The charcoal fire in the room was warm, and the laughter dispelled the chill of the winter night.

---

The next day, the sky was still dark, with only a few stars sparsely hanging on the horizon. The four members of the Chen family had already hitched up their oxcart and set off on the frozen road leading to the county town. It was even colder than the day before; their breath turned to frost, and the withered grass by the roadside was covered with a thick layer of white frost. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, bundled up tightly, sat on the oxcart piled high with goods, clutching hot water bottles filled with hot water that Chen's mother had insisted on giving them.

They arrived at the market just as dawn was breaking. They occupied the same fairly spacious spot as yesterday, quickly setting out their goods. Today they brought a more complete selection than yesterday, including bamboo and wooden ware, hair ties, baby clothes and toys, as well as homemade salted duck eggs and cured meat slices—a special gift from Chen's mother—and the last batch of exceptionally high-quality dried mushrooms and wood ear fungus. The goods were abundant and festive.

Not long after the stall was set up, more and more people began to arrive at the early market. At the end of the twelfth lunar month, every household was rushing to buy the last of their New Year's goods, or to buy some new and interesting items to add to the festive atmosphere, and the flow of people in the market was even more intense than the day before. Chen's stall quickly attracted customers from three layers deep because of its novel and affordable goods.

"This little bamboo box is so exquisite; it's perfect for holding needles and thread!"

"Are there any tiger-head hats left? I need one for my grandson!"

"How much is this cured pork? It looks so shiny from the smoking!"

"Do you have any new hair ties? I want the one with red beads!"

Chen Dashan was steady and reliable, handling the introduction of larger items and negotiating prices; Chen Xiaohe was quick-witted and energetic, helping people choose and pack items while calling out to them; Su Xiaoyin was meticulous and quick and accurate in calculating bills and collecting money; Su Xiaoqing patiently demonstrated to the women and girls watching how to wear hair ties and the details of baby clothes. The four had clear divisions of labor and worked together seamlessly. Although they were busy and sweating profusely, they were filled with enthusiasm and joy.

They were busy until nearly noon before the surging crowds finally subsided slightly. Chen Xiaohe rubbed his aching back and let out a long sigh of relief: "Phew, finally I can catch my breath! There were so many people, it looked like they were going to crush our stall!" He glanced at a steaming pancake stall not far away, the oven was blazing, and the aroma was incredibly tempting. His stomach immediately started growling.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, Xiaoqing, you guys keep an eye on things for a bit. I'm going to go buy some hot sesame cakes to tide us over," Chen Xiaohe said, turning to leave.

Chen Dashan called out to him, "Buy four sesame seed cakes and bring back two bowls of mutton soup." He glanced at Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, who were bundled up but whose noses were slightly red from the cold, "Warm up your sister-in-law and Xiaoqing."

Su Xiaoyin hurriedly said, "Bring four bowls, one for each person, so everyone can drink some to ward off the cold." In such cold weather, after standing in the wind all morning, everyone needs something warm to eat.