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

Mr. Chen hummed in agreement, his gaze fixed on Liu Yilong's receding figure at the other end of the street, lost in thought: "This man is easy to get along with. We should keep in touch more often. But we must be careful not to give anyone a handle to use against us."

The market gradually filled up, with women and old men frequently coming over to inquire about prices. The three members of the Chen family had a clear division of labor: Chen Dashan was responsible for explaining the uses and prices of bamboo and wood carvings; Chen Xiaohe was good at greeting people; and Chen's father patiently explained how to soak and cook dried mushrooms. By the end of the morning, they had sold several items.

It was midday, and the sun was blazing. Chen Dashan took out some multigrain pancakes and a gourd of water that Su Xiaoyin had made the night before from the car. The three of them sat down in the warm spot behind the stall and had a simple meal. Chen Xiaohe munched on a pancake and mumbled, "Dad, Big Brother, let's come here every day from now on. Maybe we can really make this business work."

Mr. Chen took a bite of the pancake, chewed slowly, and nodded: "Judging from this, it seems like it can be done. But things at home can't be neglected. Your mother is taking care of the children alone at home, and Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing still have to do their embroidery. You two need to come up with a plan."

Chen Dashan took a sip of water and said calmly, "Don't worry, Dad. Xiaohe and I have discussed it. We'll take turns, one of us setting up the stall while the other helps out at home. We'll come together when there's a big market or when we have a lot of goods. We won't let the family be left behind."

Mr. Chen nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the flow of people coming and going on the street, his eyes filled with the steadfast expectation for the future unique to farmers: "This county magistrate is probably quite capable. It's lucky that our family was born at this time."

As the afternoon sun slowly slanted westward, the market gradually dispersed. The Chen father and son packed up their stall and tallied their earnings for the day—small bamboo and wooden items had sold for over 180 coins, and dried mushrooms and wild vegetables for over 30 coins. Though not a large sum, it was a steady stream of income. The father weighed the two hundred-odd coins in his hand, a satisfied smile spreading across his face: "Take these back to your mother, let her be happy too."

The oxcart creaked and groaned as it drove out of the county town, heading towards Nanshan Village.

"Father," Chen Dashan suddenly spoke, his voice low, "how much of what Liu Yilong said do you believe?"

After a moment of silence, Mr. Chen slowly said, "About 70-80%. We can't completely trust what the officials say, but we can't completely disregard them either. If they say taxes won't increase, we should assume they won't, but we need to be prepared. Just in case things change next year, we won't be caught off guard."

Chen Dashan nodded: "That's what I think too."

Chen Dashan gently cracked his whip, and the old ox quickened its pace. He thought to himself that he should tell Xiaoyin about today's events when he got back, so she wouldn't worry too much. If he saved up a little more money, maybe next spring he could clear a few more acres of wasteland. Life, after all, must go on, moving forward.

Outside the courtyard gate, Su Xiaoyin was holding Afu, standing there looking around. Seeing the oxcart appear, a smile spread across her face, and she called out into the courtyard, "Mother, they're back!"

Chen's mother peeked out from the kitchen, her apron still covered in flour. She watched the approaching oxcart, a contented smile spreading across her face.

The county town's long-term market was open for a full two weeks, and it got more and more lively every day.

At first, the hesitant villagers dared not enter the market, fearing they would pay the stall fee but not be able to sell anything. But seeing the Chen family's stall attracting customers every day, the constant flow of people, like a silent beckoning force, gradually ignited their desire. Ten days later, vendors selling vegetables, cloth, groceries, and food arrived one after another. The once empty streets were now packed with stalls, the shouts, haggling, and greetings of acquaintances blending into a bustling, vibrant scene of everyday life.

The Chen family was lucky; they acted early and secured a prime location at the entrance to the street. Their stall was the first thing people noticed as they passed by; the row of colorful hair ties, the exquisite bamboo crafts, and the neatly arranged wooden carvings always drew people in.

Business was sometimes good, sometimes bad. On busy days, he could sell more than one or two taels of silver; on quieter days, he could still earn two or three hundred coins. Every day after closing up shop, Chen Dashan would record his daily income in a small notebook. At the end of the month, he would calculate that his earnings had more than doubled compared to the years when he could only sell his goods on market days.

That day, the one-month lease was almost up. Chen Dashan considered it and decided to renew it. Early in the morning, he packed his money and waited for Liu Yilong to come patrolling the streets.

"Brother Liu." Chen Dashan saw the official robes in the distance, took the initiative to go up to him, and greeted him with a smile.

Liu Yilong walked over with his hands behind his back, and smiled when he saw Chen Dashan: "Brother Chen, I was just looking for you. Your stall's lease expires this month, right? Are you going to renew it? Let me tell you, there are more and more people setting up stalls these days. If you hesitate for a couple of days, this good spot will be snatched up by someone else."

Chen Dashan took out the 1.2 billion copper coins from his pocket and handed them over with both hands: "Continue, of course I'll continue. Thank you for your care these past few days, Brother Liu. This is next month's money."

Liu Yilong took the money, weighed it in his hand, and his smile deepened. He put the silver in his pocket, patted Chen Dashan on the shoulder, and said, "Brother, you have good judgment! Let me tell you, this market will only get better and better. You've seized the opportunity, and there will be many benefits to come."

He lowered his voice and leaned closer: "I've been watching you this past month, and your products are genuinely good, and your craftsmanship is excellent. The people I introduced to you all said it was worth it. I'll recommend you again if you need anything in the future. Keep up the good work!"

Chen Dashan felt a surge of warmth in his heart and thanked him repeatedly. He knew that half of the one or two hundred taels of silver was rent, and the other half... was to buy peace of mind, to have access to information, and to have someone to speak on his behalf in this unfamiliar county town.

After seeing Liu Yilong off, Chen Dashan returned to his stall, still pondering the changes of the past month. Having an official to look after them had indeed saved them a lot of trouble. The customers introduced by Liu Yilong were either buying furniture for family events or looking for delicate little gifts, and they almost always succeeded. Gradually, the Chen family's craftsmanship had gained some reputation in the county.

---

In the new courtyard of the Chen family, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing have been busy for the past month.

The large embroidery of "Pine and Crane for Longevity" is more than halfway finished. The crane's feathers are clearly defined, and the pine branches are strong and vigorous. Every stitch reveals patience and meticulousness. This is the largest piece they have ever embroidered, and also the one to which they have poured the most effort. Both of them hope that this piece will sell for a better price than "Koi Carp Welcoming Fortune."

For the past month, the burden of childcare and housework has almost entirely fallen on Chen's mother. Every day, she gets up before dawn to feed the livestock and make breakfast. During the day, she takes care of her four grandchildren, does laundry, cooks meals, and cleans the yard. In the evening, she also leaves food and hot soup for her son and daughter-in-law, who have been working hard all day. But she never complains about being tired; instead, she always has a smile on her face—life at home is better now, and she is happy even when she is busy.