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

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the Chen family members, like precise mechanisms, each clicked and began their daily routine.

Chen Xiaohe was the most energetic. He harnessed the oxcart, which was neatly stacked with dozens of round, emerald-green watermelons, as well as two small baskets of tea eggs and perfectly pickled salted duck eggs that Su Xiaoyin had boiled that morning. He waved and drove the oxcart, the hooves clattering, towards the county town, thinking to himself that he was sure to get a good price this time.

Chen Dashan slung a worn-out basket over his shoulder, tucked a wood-chopping knife behind his waist, and carried a repaired fish basket in his hand. He said to his mother, "Mother, I'm going to take a walk up the mountain to check the traps I set a few days ago, and I'll also put the fish basket into the river." Although he wasn't as nimble as his younger brother, he was familiar with the mountain paths and was reliable in his actions.

Father Chen was already standing at the gate of the courtyard, carrying his gleaming hoe. He looked at the increasingly lush green of his family's fields in the distance, his eyes filled with the unique light of a farmer, a mixture of worry and anticipation. "I'm going to check on the fields. I can't feel at ease if I don't look at the crops for a day," he said, before taking steady steps into the fields still shrouded in morning mist.

After seeing her son and husband off, Chen's mother returned to the yard. She quickly released the chickens and ducks from their coops and fed and watered the pigs and sheep in the backyard. Looking at the lively livestock, a sense of contentment welled up inside her. Turning back to the front yard, she noticed the overgrown beans, cucumbers, and eggplants in the vegetable patch and began to plan: with a large family and three meals a day in winter, the cabbages and radishes stored in the cellar wouldn't be enough; she needed to dry more vegetables. She brought out several large bamboo sieves and began picking the older or less-eaten vegetables, preparing to wash them carefully and spread them out to dry. The sun was shining brightly; the dried vegetables, soaked and stewed with meat in the winter, would make a delicious dish.

In the east wing, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing sat facing each other before their embroidery frames by the window. The large embroidery piece, "Koi Welcoming Fortune," was at a crucial stage. The scales of the koi needed to be carefully shaded with varying shades of gold and red thread to bring out their lifelike luster. The two sisters were completely focused, their fingertips holding the fine needles, guiding the colorful threads up and down the dense satin surface, occasionally exchanging whispered opinions on a particular stitch or color combination. The four children, the older ones with the younger ones, played quietly in the corner of the kang (heated brick bed) with the small wooden blocks Chen Dashan had carved for them, their quiet demeanor punctuated only by the occasional burst of childish laughter.

As Mrs. Chen aired the vegetables, she listened to the faint sounds of conversation and children's laughter from inside the house. Her gaze swept over the increasingly vibrant home, and her heart overflowed with joy. Who could have imagined? Just a few years ago, her eldest son was depressed because of a leg injury, and her younger son had stubbornly refused to marry because of his brother's situation. The house was so quiet that only the elderly couple sat there sighing. Now, not only were her two sons married, but they had also given her four lively and adorable grandchildren. The house was bustling with life, and life itself seemed to be burning brighter and brighter. She thought, what do people want when they get old? Isn't it just to be surrounded by their children and grandchildren, to have a harmonious family, and to have hope for the future? She had to take good care of her health and not cause her sons and daughters-in-law any trouble. Thinking about this, she decided to skip the bland, watery lunch. There were still some smoked bones on the stove; she'd simmer them to make a marrow broth, then make noodles for lunch. Using the bone broth as a base, she'd add some minced meat and a fried sauce, served with a runny salted duck egg and homemade pickled vegetables—guaranteed the whole family would enjoy it. She used to always try to save money, but now she understood: the little she saved on food could lead to much higher medical bills if someone got sick and ended up in the hospital. In recent years, the family's meals had improved; everyone, adults and children, had rosy complexions and fewer colds and coughs—that was truly worthwhile.

As the sun rose higher, the vegetables drying in the yard began to wilt. Around noon, Chen Xiaohe returned with his mostly empty oxcart, his face beaming with undisguised joy. His voice rang out before he even entered the courtyard: "Mother! Sister-in-law! Xiaoqing! The watermelons sold incredibly well! They were all gone before we even reached the busiest part of the county market! And not a single tea egg or salted duck egg left! We'll have to prepare more tomorrow!"

Almost simultaneously, Chen Dashan returned with a basket on his back, which was quite heavy. "I caught two fat pheasants in the trap. I'll go back to collect the fish basket tonight," he said, putting down his basket and wiping his sweat.

Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up the moment he saw the two brightly colored pheasants: "Pheasants! Mom, shall we stew one? It'll smell delicious!"

Chen's mother laughed and scolded, "You greedy cat! You had pork bone soup noodles for lunch, and now you want to stew chicken for dinner? It's only been a few days since you've had any meat!"

Chen Xiaohe scratched his head and chuckled, "I was just... thinking about Shi Tou and the others! The kids are growing, they need to eat more good food!"

Seeing her grandchildren gathered around with such expectant looks, Chen's mother's heart had already softened. She deliberately kept a stern face and said, "Alright, alright, you always have so many excuses. Stew one tonight, and have your father smoke the other one to save for the busiest time of the autumn harvest."

Lunch was a rich and fragrant pork bone broth with noodles, hand-rolled by Chen's mother, chewy and smooth. The family sat around the table, eating with sweat beading on their foreheads, completely satisfied. In the afternoon, Su Xiaoyin and her sisters continued their embroidery work, Chen's mother played with the children in the shade, and Chen Dashan began to think about using the wood stored in the yard to try making two lightweight and sturdy little chairs. Chen's father returned from the fields with encouraging news: the crops were growing well, and as long as the weather remained favorable, a good harvest was expected.

As the sun set, Chen Dashan retrieved his fish basket and caught several palm-sized crucian carp. That evening, the rich aroma of pheasant stew with mushrooms wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the delicate fragrance of steamed buns, filling the entire courtyard.

At the dinner table, Chen Xiaohe was still excitedly recounting his experiences selling watermelons, while Chen Dashan calmly added his idea of ​​trying to sell in more distant towns the next day. Chen's father took a sip of water, looking at his children and grandchildren gathered around him, listening to their plans for the future; every wrinkle on his dark face smoothed out. Su Xiaoqing wiped the mouth of her youngest son, Afu, silently calculating how many more days it would take to complete the "Koi Welcoming Fortune" painting, and how much real good fortune it would add to the family.