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

That evening, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe returned from the county town. As soon as the oxcart entered the yard, Chen's mother came out of the kitchen to greet them, wiping her hands on her apron as she said, "We need to slaughter the pig tomorrow. Which of you will help at home?"

Chen's father also came out of the main room and chimed in, "Tomorrow I'll go to set up a stall with Dashan, and Xiaohe will stay home and help the butcher slaughter pigs. Oh, by the way, old woman, set aside a piece of good meat, pick the tenderest cut, and I'll send it to Liu Yilong later. He's been very kind to us this past month, so we have to show our appreciation."

Chen's mother nodded: "I know, don't worry."

As they were talking, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing came out of the east wing, each carrying their child. Su Xiaoqing's eyes lit up when she heard about the pig slaughter: "Mom, after slaughtering the pig, can we make blood sausage? I want to eat blood sausage stewed with sauerkraut."

Chen's mother was amused by her: "Alright, alright, I'll force you! I'll force you two big ones, so you can eat your fill!"

The family chatted and laughed as they went into the main room for dinner. At the table, Chen Dashan recounted the lease renewal that day and relayed Liu Yilong's words. Chen's father listened and nodded, saying, "This favor has been done. From now on, we'll have someone to pass on messages to in the county town."

---

The next day, Chen Dashan went to set up his stall as usual, and his father went with him, leaving Chen Xiaohe at home to help slaughter the pig.

The market in the county town was less crowded than usual, but people still patronized Chen's stall from time to time. While selling his goods, Chen Dashan pondered Liu Yilong's words from the previous day. The market's increasing prosperity was good for their family, but it also meant fiercer competition. Relying solely on selling small items wouldn't be sustainable; they needed to find a way to build a reputation and secure larger orders.

Just then, a well-dressed middle-aged man walked up to the stall.

The man was about forty years old, dressed in a simple long robe of fine cotton. The material wasn't the best, but it was washed clean and smooth, indicating that he was a person of taste. His gaze swept around the stall and finally landed on the wooden sign standing next to it—"Accepting all kinds of furniture, honest and fair to all ages."

"Did you write this sign?" the middle-aged man asked.

Chen Dashan quickly stood up: "Yes, I'm a carpenter. I make some furniture to sell. Would you like to take a look?"

The middle-aged man nodded, then looked at the few small items displayed on the stall, picking up a baby stroller to examine it closely. The stroller was made of old elm wood, polished smooth and rounded, with no burrs on the edges. The wheels were flexible, making it stable to push. He looked at it from all angles for a while, checking the mortise and tenon joints, a satisfied look appearing in his eyes.

"Your craftsmanship is quite good." The middle-aged man put down his cart, looked at Chen Dashan, and said, "I'd like to have a set of furniture made for my study. How much would it cost, and how long would it take to complete?"

Chen Dashan's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm and asked unhurriedly, "What kind are you looking for? What sizes? Do you have any special requirements?"

The middle-aged man said, "One desk, a pair of bookshelves, two armchairs, and one footstool. I can't give you the dimensions now; you'll have to come and measure them. As for my requirements..." He paused, "I don't like any fancy carvings; I want something simple and practical. Good quality wood, sturdy mortise and tenon joints, something that can last a lifetime. Are you interested?"

Chen Dashan pondered for a moment, quickly calculating in his mind. This set of furniture has various sizes and requires a lot of materials. Just selecting and cutting the materials will take half a month, and then making it, sanding and painting it will take at least three months.

"Four and a half taels of silver," he quoted. "The work will take at least three months. If you're in a hurry, I can't come out now. The wood will be elm, sturdy and durable, with a beautiful grain. No carvings, but the edges will be rounded and polished so they won't scratch your hands. Is that alright?"

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "No rush, slow and steady wins the race. I'll wait. How do I collect the deposit?"

"Two and a half ounces," Chen Dashan said. "After I go to your house to take your measurements, we can finalize the design, and then you can make the deposit."

The middle-aged man took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, wrote a few words, and handed it to Chen Dashan: "This is my home address, the third house in Willow Lane on East Street in the county town, surnamed Zhou. When is it convenient for you to come and take measurements?"

Chen Dashan took the note, carefully folded it, and put it in his pocket: "I'll come over after I close up shop tomorrow, is that alright?"

"Okay." The middle-aged man nodded, then glanced at him again. "I think you're an honest person, and your skills are good too. Keep up the good work, and I'll come back to you if I need anything in the future."

After saying that, he turned and left, disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Chen Dashan stood there for a long time before he came to his senses. He looked down at the note in his hand, then at the trinkets on the stall, and a genuine smile, one that hadn't been seen in a long time, slowly spread across his face.

An old man selling cloth nearby leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Dashan, who was that guy just now? He looked quite wealthy."

Chen Dashan shook his head and put the note away: "I don't know, it says to make a set of study furniture."

"Wow!" The old man's eyes widened. "A complete set of study furniture! That must have cost a fortune!"

Chen Dashan didn't answer, but just smiled and nodded. He quickly calculated in his mind: four and a half taels of silver, after deducting the cost of the wood, should leave him with about three taels. Adding what he had saved from setting up his stall this month, plus the money Xiaoyin and the others made from selling their embroidery... this year, they could have a very comfortable New Year.

But then he thought about it again and became worried. A three-month construction period meant he would have to spend most of his time on this furniture set. What about his business at home? What about his small-scale sales?

He thought it over and over, and finally made up his mind: when he got home that evening, he would have to discuss it properly with his parents and younger brother. His father would watch the stall, and he and Xiaohe would stay home and focus on their work. Xiaohe was quite skilled, so he was perfect for helping him.

As for that set of furniture, it must be made to look beautiful. It's not just about making money, but also about building a reputation. This customer, surnamed Zhou, seems like a discerning person; he might have some connections in the county. Making this set of furniture well might bring in even bigger jobs in the future.

Just then, Mr. Chen came over with a teacup. Seeing his son lost in thought, he asked, "Dashan, what are you thinking about? Who was that person just now?"

Chen Dashan snapped out of his daze, pulled his father aside, and recounted what had just happened in a low voice. Upon hearing this, his father's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "Great news! This is fantastic news! Our family's reputation is about to be established!"

"But Dad," Chen Dashan said, "this job will take three months, and the stall here..."

Mr. Chen waved his hand: "What are you afraid of? Your dad's here! Starting tomorrow, I'll come and watch the stall every day. You and Xiaohe can stay home and work in peace. Your mother and Xiaoyin can help with the smaller items too. With so many of us, how can we not be busy?"

Listening to his father's words, Chen Dashan's worries gradually dissipated. Yes, they were family; what was there to be afraid of?

As the sun set, the market gradually dispersed. Chen Dashan packed up his stall and, together with his father, drove the oxcart home. A gentle evening breeze carried the unique scent of the autumn harvest fields. With the order for four and a half taels of silver in his heart and his hopes for the future, the road beneath his feet seemed lighter.

When he got home, the aroma of stewed pig filled the yard. Chen Xiaohe was washing pig offal by the well when he saw his older brother return. He exclaimed, "Brother, we're having blood sausage stewed with sauerkraut tonight! Mom saved a big pot!"

Chen Dashan smiled and responded, tethered the cow, and went into the main room. Su Xiaoyin was feeding the children. Seeing him come in, she looked up, seemed to sense something, and asked softly, "What's going on today?"

Chen Dashan sat down next to her and lowered his voice to tell her about what had happened in the county. Su Xiaoyin's eyes lit up after listening, and a gentle smile curved her lips: "I knew it. Your skills will eventually be recognized."

Looking at her smile, Chen Dashan felt a warm glow in his heart. He knew that life was truly getting better and better.