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

So the four of them stopped lingering and, chatting and laughing, walked against the still surging crowd towards the post station where they had stored their oxcarts. They paid the deposit, led out the well-fed old ox, and harnessed it. As they boarded, the hustle and bustle of the county town gradually faded behind them, replaced by the tranquility unique to country lanes. The deep blue night sky was dotted with stars, and the occasional bark of a dog could be heard in the distance. The night wind carried a chill, but after a day's journey, waves of fatigue washed over them as they settled into the cart.

Chen Dashan drove the cart while Chen Xiaohe dozed off against the cart floor. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing snuggled together, covered with an old blanket they had brought from home, gazing at the starry sky and whispering about their day's experiences and gains, their voices gradually fading.

The oxcart creaked and groaned as it moved smoothly along the familiar dirt road. By the time the blurry outline of the old locust tree in Nanshan Village came into view, the village was already silent, with only a few houses letting in dim light through their window paper windows.

It was late at night when they arrived home. Mr. and Mrs. Chen and their four children were already asleep, and a small oil lamp was left on in the main room. The four of them quietly unloaded their belongings and fetched water to wash up.

They each returned to their rooms. In the east wing, the kang (heated brick bed) was warm. Su Xiaoyin had just taken off her outer garment and was about to ask Chen Dashan to blow out the oil lamp and rest when she saw Chen Dashan take out a small, flat, round, rough porcelain box from his pocket and hand it to her.

"Here you go." Chen Dashan's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Su Xiaoyin took it with a puzzled look and opened it under the light. A delicate, light fragrance, mixed with honey and some kind of floral scent, wafted out. Inside was a milky white, smooth paste. It was hand oil.

"I saw this at the market today, and the shopkeeper highly recommended it, saying it's especially moisturizing, with added beeswax and osmanthus oil, perfect for embroiderers' hands, preventing chapping in winter and keeping fingers flexible in summer," Chen Dashan explained, his tone casual, but with a hint of barely perceptible expectation in his eyes. "You often do embroidery, so I'm giving it to you to take care of your hands."

Su Xiaoyin's heart skipped a beat as her fingertips traced the smooth porcelain box. She remembered that he had bought her clam oil last winter, the cheapest kind. This one, in terms of both fragrance and the quality of the porcelain box, was far superior. She scooped out a little and gently spread it on the back of her hand. The cream was delicate and smooth, quickly absorbed by her skin, leaving a moisturizing yet non-sticky feeling, along with a faint osmanthus fragrance.

"Thank you, Dashan." She looked up at her husband's face, which appeared particularly gentle in the dim light, and her eyes welled up with tears. "This smells so good, and it feels so comfortable to apply."

Chen Dashan blew out the oil lamp, groped his way onto the kang (a heated brick bed), lay down beside her, and naturally reached out to pull her into his arms. Su Xiaoyin leaned against his strong arm, listening to his steady heartbeat.

In the darkness, Chen Dashan's deep voice rang out: "Last year was tough for you. Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum confinement, you barely had a moment's rest before you were back to working day and night on your embroidery... I know you wanted to do more for this family."

Su Xiaoyin gently shook her head in his arms: "It's not hard. I don't have to do any heavy work in the fields, and my mother helps with things at home. I just sit and do some needlework. It's much easier than you guys working in the wind and sun, carrying heavy loads on your shoulders. You, Dad, and Xiaohe are the ones who are really tired."

"That's different." Chen Dashan tightened his grip on her arm. "If it involves using your brain, straining your eyes, and testing your patience, it's not easy either. Look at your fingers, you already have calluses on your fingertips." His thumb unconsciously rubbed the back of her hand. "In the future... once things are better at home, take on less work, don't overwork yourself."

"Mmm," Su Xiaoyin responded softly, her heart warming as if a pool of honey had melted inside. The couple nestled together, whispering everyday things in the night, planning how to manage the wasteland after spring, how the piglets were growing, how the children were changing every day... Their murmured words gradually faded, eventually being replaced by the sound of even breathing.

---

In the west wing, Chen Xiaohe also proudly presented a similar small porcelain box to Su Xiaoqing, saying, "Here! My brother and I each bought one! The shopkeeper raved about it, saying that embroiderers' hands won't feel dry or rough after using it! You should try it!"

Su Xiaoqing opened it, smelled it, and carefully applied a little, then smiled and said, "It's quite good. You know, even if you have money, don't waste it."

"This isn't just random fluff!" Chen Xiaohe leaned closer to her, his eyes sparkling in the darkness. "Your hands are our family's treasure; we have to take good care of them! This year, I'll think of some new designs and make more exquisite bamboo weaving to sell. Once we've saved enough money, I'll make you a silver hairpin! It'll be prettier than a wooden one, and you'll look especially beautiful wearing it!"

Su Xiaoqing was amused by his childish words, but felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She scolded him playfully, "Don't talk nonsense. I really like the wooden hairpin you made. It's lightweight and the design is elegant. Silver is so expensive. Save it for something more important."

"Making you a hairpin is the most important thing!" Chen Xiaohe said matter-of-factly, then chuckled, "But...we need to prioritize the family's needs first. That's just what I was thinking. Anyway, I'll definitely make sure you live a good life in the future, adorned with gold and silver!"

"Alright, go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow." Su Xiaoqing smiled and nudged him, her heart warmed by his sincerity. After a few more playful words, they gradually drifted off to sleep.