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

As dawn approached, Chen's mother had already efficiently packed a large bag of things—various hair ties and silk flowers, small bamboo and wooden trinkets, neatly folded baby clothes, and several bundles of mugwort she had specially braided yesterday. Standing at the doorway of the main room, she glanced at Chen Dashan, who was harnessing the old ox to the cart, then looked back at her four grandsons sleeping soundly side-by-side on the kang (heated brick bed) inside. With some hesitation, she said to Chen's father, "Old man, can you manage taking care of these four little rascals by yourself today?"

Mr. Chen was sitting on the doorstep, slowly smoking his pipe. Hearing this, he tapped his pipe, looked up and smiled, "What's wrong with that? You can go without worry. It's just feeding them, making sure they don't wet their pants, and playing with them. I'm a grown man, can't I keep an eye on four little babies? Go ahead, go ahead, and come back early. Today is the first day of the new market, it's bound to be lively, don't be late."

Hearing this, Chen's mother was finally relieved and smiled, "Okay! Then take good care of yourself at home. Keep some goat milk and steamed egg custard warm on the stove, and feed them when they're hungry. We'll try to come back as soon as possible."

Over here, Chen Dashan had already harnessed the oxcart, and Chen Xiaohe was helping to load the goods onto it, basket by basket and bag by bag. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing had also finished packing and were carrying small baskets containing embroidered handkerchiefs and spare change. The family bid farewell to Chen's father and, facing the cool morning mist, drove the oxcart out of the village.

The streets were indeed much busier than usual. People from the same village, neighboring villages, carrying loads, pushing carts, and walking were all heading in the same direction—to the newly established "two-county combined market." Most people wore expressions of curiosity and anticipation, greeting each other and discussing what benefits this new market would bring. A festive atmosphere permeated the air.

Even before reaching the market entrance, the clamor of voices could be heard from afar. As the oxcart entered the designated market area, even someone as composed as Chen Dashan couldn't help but gasp – good heavens! Everywhere he looked, there were people! Along the newly leveled, wide open space, stalls stretched as far as the eye could see. Selling farm tools, cloth, pots and pans, all sorts of food, poultry and eggs, fresh vegetables… a dazzling array of vendors. The shouts, the haggling, the greetings of acquaintances met – all blended into a vibrant, bustling soundscape. The air was thick with the aromas of food, the smell of livestock, and the dust – a vivid picture of everyday life in the marketplace.

"My God, so many people!" Su Xiaoqing grabbed her sister's arm, her eyes wide with surprise and excitement.

Mother Chen smiled broadly, "A market jointly run by two county towns—people from all around gather here, how could it not be lively? Quick, find a good spot, Da Shan Xiao He!"

Chen Dashan drove slowly through the bustling crowd, his sharp eyes searching for an empty space. Finally, near a pottery stall, he found a reasonably spacious spot. The two brothers immediately got to work, unloading the goods, setting up a simple bamboo rack, spreading out coarse linen, and arranging the merchandise by category. Small bamboo winnowing baskets, food boxes, and sewing baskets were arranged in one row; wooden animal carvings, hairpins, combs, and small ornaments were placed in another; brightly colored and stylish hair ties and silk flowers were hung on the bamboo rack; cute baby bibs and tiger-head shoes and hats were neatly stacked; and a few bunches of fragrant mugwort were placed in a prominent spot. Although the stall was not luxurious, it was clean and orderly, and the goods were exquisite, possessing an attractive, rustic charm in this noisy market.

"Come on! Take a look! The bamboo weaving from Nanshan is sturdy and beautiful! The Chen family wood carvings are adorable and bring good luck! The new styles of hair ties and silk flowers are cheap and bright! There are also baby clothes, tiger-head shoes and hats, made of soft materials and with exquisite workmanship!" Chen Xiaohe took a deep breath and started shouting. He was young, had a clear voice, and was also "thick-skinned," and soon attracted several women carrying baskets to gather around.

Chen Dashan calmly greeted the male customer who inquired about wood carvings and farm tool samples. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing quickly got into their roles as well; one carefully explained how to braid hair ties and the materials used for baby clothes, while the other efficiently collected money, gave change, and helped with packaging. Chen's mother sat in the center, keeping an eye on everything, occasionally adding a few words, or greeting familiar villagers and chatting casually, thus attracting some customers in the process.

After the first wave of people passed, Su Xiaoqing, catching her breath, wiped the fine sweat from her brow and whispered to her sister, "There are so many people! It's much more lively than when we usually go to the market in the county town!"

As Chen's mother sorted through the goods that had been moved, she smiled and said, "Of course. People from both counties have come together. We didn't bring enough today. Judging by this trend, we should prepare more goods tomorrow and the day after."