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

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the festive atmosphere of the New Year had not yet completely dissipated, but hardworking families had already begun to plan for their livelihood in the new year. Early in the morning, Mr. Chen finished getting ready and picked up a heavy basket that Mrs. Chen had prepared in advance. Inside were a piece of glossy and firm cured meat, a package of sweet dried red dates that were carefully wrapped in oil paper, and a package of chestnut cakes that had been made that morning.

"Old woman, I'm going to the village head's house to deliver the New Year's gifts and also to inquire about the purchase of the barren mountain, and see when the government office can process it," Chen's father said as he put on his leather hat. The winter morning air was still chilly, and puffs of white mist came out of his mouth as he spoke.

Chen's mother saw him off to the courtyard gate and carefully straightened his clothes: "Go early and come back early. The road is slippery, so be careful. Talk to Li Zheng. Our family bought the barren mountain because we are seriously planning to make a living in the long term. Please ask him to take good care of it."

"I understand, don't worry," Chen's father replied, carrying his basket as he stepped onto the dirt road in the village. Although the snow had been cleared, thin ice still clung to the shady spots, making his steps particularly steady.

Over here, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe were also dressed neatly, carrying baskets on their backs, and carrying small hoes and burlap sacks. Chen Dashan said to Su Xiaoyin, who was dressing the child in a thick cotton-padded coat, "Xiaohe and I are going to take another look in the bamboo forest. The winter bamboo shoots sold well before the New Year, so let's see if there are any left after the New Year. If we can find some, it will be our first income in the spring."

Su Xiaoyin fastened the last button on Shi Tou's shirt, then looked up and said, "Wear more clothes. It's especially cold outside today, the wind is like a knife. Come back early, don't stay in the mountains for too long." She then stuffed two bamboo tubes filled with hot water into the brothers' baskets.

The father and his two sons left one after the other, and the courtyard became much quieter, with only the sounds of the four children playing and laughing on the kang (a heated brick bed) covered with a thick felt. Chen's mother and her two daughters-in-law sat around the charcoal brazier, doing needlework and chatting idly.

Su Xiaoyin was sewing a padded jacket for her child to wear in the spring when she remembered something and asked, "Mother, I heard from the villagers the other day that there's a lantern festival in the county town on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, and it's very lively. It seems that people are allowed to set up stalls in designated areas that day. Should our family... give it a try? Maybe we could sell some hair ties and trinkets?"

Chen's mother was sewing a thick shoe sole when she heard this. After a moment's thought, she nodded and said, "Go! Why not go? There will be a lot of people at the lantern festival. It's festive and novel, and the little things will definitely sell well. You and Dashan and Xiaohe can go together; more people means more help. Your father and I will stay home to look after the children."

Su Xiaoqing was piecing together a new tiger-head hat with brightly colored scraps of fabric when she heard this. She looked up and hesitated for a moment: "Mom, aren't you and Dad going to take the children to see the lantern festival? I heard it's really beautiful."

Mother Chen smiled, her hands still sewing: "We won't go. The children are too young, and they'll easily catch a cold in this cold weather. Besides, the lantern festival is packed with people, and you'll have to look after your stalls. If you can't keep an eye on them, and they get hurt or lost, that would be terrible. We can take them when they're older and more sensible."

Su Xiaoyin thought her mother-in-law's consideration was thorough, so she said, "That's fine too. With four little ones together, you and Dad will be quite busy." She then discussed with her younger sister, "Xiaoqing, let's make more hair ties these days, with more delicate designs and brighter colors. By the way, does Xiaohe know how to make lanterns? I think I heard him mention it. If we could make some small and pretty lanterns to sell, they might be more attractive."

Chen's mother's eyes lit up: "That boy Xiaohe is so skillful, he really knows how to make lanterns! In previous years, he loved to make little rabbit lanterns and lotus lanterns for the village children to play with during the New Year, and they were quite good. When he comes back, we can have Dashan help cut bamboo and split bamboo strips, and Xiaohe can be in charge of making the frame and pasting the paper. He'll definitely be able to do it."

As they were talking, the courtyard gate opened, and it was Chen's father returning. He had a smile on his face, and a fine layer of frost had settled on the brim of his hat and his shoulders.

"You're back? What did the village head say?" Chen's mother put down her shoe sole, got up, and poured him a bowl of hot tea.

Father Chen took the teacup to warm his hands, sat down by the charcoal brazier, and said, "We've already made arrangements with the village head! We'll wait a few days until the yamen opens its seal and officially begins operations, then we'll go and get the deed for the barren hills done. The village head will also go with us that day to process his family's paperwork for buying the hills behind the village. Luckily, we arrived early," he lowered his voice, "I had barely arrived at the village head's house, and before I could even say a few words, two more groups of people arrived, also inquiring about buying barren land and hills. It seems quite a few families have some spare money this year and want to acquire property."

Upon hearing this, Chen's mother said with relief, "We've had two years of good weather and the government has also had a good policy to encourage land reclamation. Naturally, everyone wants to accumulate more wealth for their children and grandchildren. Farmland and mountains are the foundation for our livelihood. Luckily, we acted quickly and found that valley, otherwise, someone else would have snatched up that good spot first."

Mr. Chen nodded in deep agreement: "Yes, having your own mountain makes you feel at ease. Alright, I've told you all, and now I feel relieved. I'm going out for a walk again, to set some traps on the mountainside, and see if I can catch some more game before spring to add to the family's dishes." As he spoke, he was about to get up again.

Su Xiaoqing couldn't help but laugh and said, "Dad, you really can't stay still for a moment. It's the middle of winter, you should rest more at home. There will be a lot of work to do in the fields and mountains in the spring."

Chen's mother smiled and straightened Chen's father's collar: "He's been busy all his life. If you make him sit on the kang (heated brick bed) all day, he'll feel uncomfortable and might even get sick from being cooped up. Let him go out for a walk, stretch his muscles, and look at the mountains, forests, and fields he's tended all his life. He'll feel much more at ease."

Mr. Chen chuckled, offering no rebuttal. He tightened his belt, picked up his gear, and strode out the door with a spirited air.