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

The next morning, the autumn sun peeked out early, casting its golden rays across the Chen family's courtyard, which had been tidied up even more. A faint fragrance of grass and trees floated in the air, along with a trace of the bamboo fungus's unique scent that lingered from the previous day (carefully kept out of the shade in the backyard).

After a simple breakfast, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing moved small stools and sat in a sunny and well-ventilated corner of the courtyard. In front of them were the tender bamboo shoots they had dug up the day before, along with a wooden basin, a kitchen knife, a cutting board, and a pot of boiled and cooled water. Chen's mother took out two large bamboo sieves, wiped them clean with a damp cloth, and set them aside to dry.

"Let's clean these bamboo shoots today," said Chen's mother as she helped pour them out. "The tender ones can be dried and stored for a long time; we'll also pick some particularly tender ones, shred them, and try making some pickled bamboo shoots. Winters are long here, and pickled bamboo shoots are appetizing and go well with rice."

"Yes, Mother, we've pickled them at home too. My mother... has a unique recipe, and I remember some of it." Su Xiaoyin responded softly, picked up a bamboo shoot, skillfully used a knife to make a vertical cut on the bamboo shoot shell, and then peeled it open to both sides along the cut, revealing the tender yellow bamboo shoot flesh with a hint of light green, carrying a sweet aroma.

Su Xiaoqing also picked up a bamboo shoot and peeled it like her sister. Her hands were more nimble than her sister's, and she peeled it quickly and well, leaving the outer shell intact. The two sisters worked together seamlessly, one peeling the bamboo shoot while the other soaked it briefly in a basin of water to wash away any remaining dirt and fuzz.

Chen's mother watched from the side, her eyes filled with satisfaction. These two daughters-in-law were not only diligent but also meticulous in their work, clearly accustomed to housework. The last trace of doubt in her heart caused by their "famine escape" and "frailty" had long since vanished.

The peeled bamboo shoots, white and tender, piled half a basin high. Su Xiaoyin selected some of the larger shoots with denser nodes, placed them on a cutting board, and sliced ​​them into even, thin slices. Su Xiaoqing, meanwhile, tended the fire, bringing the water in the large pot to a boil again, then added the bamboo shoot slices to blanch them. After a few swirls in the boiling water, the bamboo shoot slices became even more translucent, and were quickly scooped out, drained, and spread evenly on a prepared bamboo sieve. With the sunlight perfect, it wouldn't be long before the moisture in these bamboo shoot slices evaporated, turning them into golden, tempting dried bamboo shoots.

Su Xiaoyin finely shredded the remaining tender, plump bamboo shoots, blanched them, drained them until half-dry, and prepared to put them into a clean earthenware jar. Following her mother's method from memory, she added an appropriate amount of salt and a little sugar (the Chen family didn't have any, so they used dried and crushed wild dates to replace some of the sweetness), then poured in cooled boiled water, and finally sealed the jar, leaving it to time to slowly brew the tangy and refreshing flavor.

As the three were busy at work, a woman's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate, tinged with inquiry: "Is anyone home, Aunt Dashan?"

Upon hearing the sound, Chen's mother wiped her hands and hurried over to open the courtyard gate. Standing outside was one of the women who had been chatting under the old locust tree at the village entrance yesterday. Her surname was Wang, and she was the third child in her husband's family. Everyone in the village called her Aunt Wang the Third. Today, she was wearing a slightly worn blue cotton jacket, her hair was neatly combed, and she had a smile on her face.

"Oh, it's Aunt Wang! Come in and sit down!" Mother Chen quickly ushered her into the courtyard and led her to a small stool at the entrance of the main room.

Seeing this, Su Xiaoyin put down her work, got up and went to the kitchen to pour a bowl of warm water, which she handed to Aunt Wang with both hands: "Auntie, have some water."

"Oh, thank you, girl." Aunt Wang took the bowl, but her gaze swept around the yard, especially lingering on the bamboo shoots drying and the busy Su Xiaoqing, before she smiled and said to Chen's mother, "Sister-in-law Chen, are you busy? I came today because I have something I want to ask you."

"What is it? Tell me." Chen's mother sat down next to her.

"Well," Aunt Wang rubbed her hands together, "my eldest daughter is engaged and will be getting married this winter. As her mother, I want to give her two decent wooden trunks as a dowry, so she can store her clothes and bedding in a presentable way. I heard that your Dashan carpenter is very skilled, so I shamelessly came to ask if Dashan still takes on outside jobs? The wages are negotiable."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Dashan, who had been silently polishing a few bamboo strips in the open shed next to him, looked up. He put down the sand and gravel in his hand, leaned on his wooden stick and walked over, speaking in a steady voice: "Third Aunt, thank you for your kind words. It's just that the doors, windows and furniture for our new house are not finished yet, and time is tight. I'm afraid I won't have time to make the new chest, and it wouldn't be good if it delayed your daughter's important event."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Wang's face immediately showed disappointment.

Chen Dashan paused for a moment, then continued, "However, I do have two pine wood chests at home that were made some time ago and have been sitting there for a while. They're made of solid materials and the workmanship is decent. They were originally intended for... my own use. If you don't mind, I can take you to see them. If you think they're suitable, you can take them. If they're not, you can always ask around elsewhere."

"A personal trunk?" Aunt Wang's eyes lit up again. "Then it must be good! Dashan, why don't you show it to me?"

Chen Dashan nodded and led Aunt Wang to the low shed on the side of the house, which served as a storage area and small warehouse. Chen's mother and Su Xiaoyin followed curiously.

The shed was somewhat dim, but neatly arranged. Chen Dashan moved a few old farm tools aside, revealing two large wooden chests against the wall. The chests were of a common style, square and heavy, but their surfaces were planed very smoothly, revealing clear wood grain and a pale yellow luster characteristic of pine. The mortise and tenon joints at the corners were tight, the lids opened and closed smoothly, and they were fitted with simple brass clasps. Although there were no carved decorations, they exuded a sturdy and durable rustic charm.

Aunt Wang stepped forward and carefully felt the surface of the box, then tested its weight. She opened the lid to look inside, a satisfied smile spreading across her face: "Wow, this box is really nice! It looks sturdy, and the wood is good quality, no worms or cracks. Dashan, how much is this box?"

Standing in the slightly brighter spot by the door, Chen Dashan said, "These are made of pine wood, unpainted and uncarved, just a practical item. A new one like these would cost around two hundred coins. If you like both, the total is three hundred and eighty coins. You can take a closer look and see if the workmanship is fine and if they're durable."

"Three hundred and eighty..." Aunt Wang calculated in her mind. This price was indeed much more cost-effective than hiring someone to make them on-site, including labor and materials. Moreover, the boxes were ready-made and could be used immediately. The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. She immediately made the decision: "Okay! Dashan, you're honest, I trust you! I'll take both boxes! I'll give you the money now. Could you... help me deliver them? My husband isn't home today."

"Auntie! I'll take it to you on my cart!" Chen Xiaohe appeared out of nowhere, grinning as he quickly pushed the cart over from the yard. "You have such good taste! My brother and I were secretly keeping these two boxes for our wives later... We even chose the best wood and made them with great care! But you've already taken a liking to them! Your daughter is so lucky to have such a generous and loving mother like you!"

Aunt Wang was overjoyed by Chen Xiaohe's words and laughed, "You're such a sweet talker! Alright, then I'll trouble you, Xiaohe." With that, she took out an old money bag from her bosom, carefully counted out three hundred and eighty copper coins, and handed them to Chen Dashan.

Chen Dashan took it, without counting it carefully, just weighed it in his hand, and nodded: "Thank you, Third Aunt."

Seeing that the deal was done, Chen's mother was happy for her son. She quickly picked out a few of the tenderest and most intact bamboo shoots from the bamboo shoots drying nearby, wrapped them in clean lotus leaves, and handed them to Aunt Wang: "Auntie, take these. They're freshly dug yesterday. They're still quite tender. Take them home and have a taste."

"Oh dear, I can't accept this!" Aunt Wang declined briefly, then accepted with a smile. "Sister Chen, you two are busy, I'll head back now, I have a lot of things to do at home!"

Chen Xiaohe helped carry the two wooden crates onto the cart and went out with Aunt Wang. Along the way, you could still hear his warm voice and Aunt Wang's cheerful laughter.

The courtyard fell silent again. Chen Dashan handed the heavy string of copper coins to his mother. Holding the still-warm coins, his mother couldn't hide her smile. This unexpected 380 coins, though not a huge sum, was undoubtedly a lifesaver for the Chen family, who were busy furnishing their new house and needed money for everything.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other's eyes. They hadn't expected that Chen Dashan, who seemed quiet and only knew how to bury himself in work, was not only skilled but also so practical and astute in business. As for Chen Xiaohe, although he seemed carefree, he was quick-witted and resourceful when it mattered, making him a great help to the family.

The warm sunlight shone down, and the bamboo shoots on the bamboo sieve gradually tightened, turning a golden hue. The bamboo shoot shreds in the earthenware jar quietly awaited fermentation. In the shady backyard, the white bamboo fungus were undergoing a silent transformation. And at home, another 380 coins had been added to their pockets, enough to be used as they saw fit.

Life, in its ordinary labor, unexpected transactions, and gradual accumulation, steadily rolls forward, full of the warmth of everyday life and brimming with hope. Su Xiaoyin picked up a bamboo shoot and continued peeling it, a faint, serene smile unconsciously playing on her lips. This place truly began to feel like home.