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

On New Year's Eve, before dawn, the light in the Chen family's kitchen was already on.

Mother Chen, along with Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, were busy in the kitchen, barely having time to rest. The flames in the stove licked the bottom of the pot, making the three of them look rosy. The cutting board was piled high with various ingredients, meat was stewing in the pot, and steam was rising from the steamer. The whole kitchen smelled so good it could make anyone's mouth water.

Su Xiaoqing placed a cleaned carp into the oil. With a sizzle, the skin quickly tightened, and a golden color gradually rose to the surface. As she turned the fish, she asked, "Mom, should this fish be braised or sweet and sour?"

"Braised! The New Year must be festive and prosperous!" Chen's mother replied without looking up as she was cutting pig's head.

Su Xiaoyin was stir-frying winter bamboo shoots and pork bones in another pot. The rich aroma of meat mixed with the sweetness of winter bamboo shoots made Shi Tou, who was peeking at the kitchen door, swallow hard.

"Stone! Wipe your drool! Take your younger siblings to play in the yard, don't make trouble here!" Su Xiaoyin called out as she turned around.

Stone chuckled and ran off. Soon after, the sounds of four children chasing chickens and laughing could be heard from the yard.

After a busy morning, by noon, the large table in the main room was finally filled with dishes.

The braised fish was placed in the center, its dark red broth glistening with oil; the chicken stew with mushrooms steamed, the mushrooms soaking up the chicken broth, each bite bursting with freshness; the winter bamboo shoots stewed with pork bones had a milky white broth, the bamboo shoots crisp and tender; the braised tofu was pan-fried until golden brown on both sides, sprinkled with bright green scallions; the stir-fried bean sprouts were crisp and refreshing; the braised offal and braised pig's head meat were arranged on a large plate, sliced ​​evenly and glistening with oil; there were also two large plates of dumplings, one bowl of radish and pork filling, and one bowl of cabbage and pork filling, each one plump and juicy.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen sat at the head of the table, with Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe on either side. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing sat next to their respective men, and the four little ones were placed in specially made small chairs around the table.

Looking at the table full of dishes, Chen Dashan smiled, a rare sight for him: "This meal is truly sumptuous."

Father Chen picked up his wine bowl and cleared his throat. The room fell silent instantly, and even the four children seemed to sense something and stopped making a fuss.

"Over the past year," Mr. Chen's voice was low but clear, "our whole family worked hard together, helping each other. Life has gotten better and better. Now we not only have farmland, but also some barren hills. In the future—" He paused, his gaze sweeping over his four grandsons, "we'll send these boys to school. As long as our whole family is of one mind, life will definitely get better and better!"

Chen's mother also picked up her wine bowl, her eyes slightly red: "Your father is right. I hope that our family will not only have a better life, but also be healthy. The safety and health of the whole family is more important than anything else."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing exchanged a glance and picked up their bowls. Su Xiaoqing said, "Father, Mother, we are so grateful for your help this past year. We sisters and I never dreamed we would have such a life today when we fled from famine."

Chen Dashan raised his bowl: "Father, Mother, this is a toast to you."

"Respect to our parents!" Chen Xiaohe also raised his bowl.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen smiled and clinked bowls with everyone.

The clinking of wine bowls was a crisp sound, like an echo of all the hardships of the past year, and also like a prelude to all the hopes for the coming year.

Chen Xiaohe picked up a winter bamboo shoot with his chopsticks and chewed it with relish: "Tomorrow my older brother and I will go to the bamboo forest to see if there are any winter bamboo shoots that have escaped our catch. These winter bamboo shoots taste really good, and they bring in a lot of income for our family every year."

Father Chen nodded: "That's good. We made more than two taels of silver this year, which is quite a lot."

Chen Dashan chimed in, "In a few years, once we've taken care of all the wasteland and barren hills at home, if there are any new policies in place, let's see if there are any small hills with bamboo groves next to the barren hills, and buy one of them. In the long run, it's a sure thing."

After thinking for a moment, Mr. Chen nodded: "Let's see in a few years. If it's good, we'll buy another one. Bamboo groves are definitely a sure thing."

Su Xiaoyin wiped the grease from Afu's mouth and said with a smile, "Then we'll have to plant more pumpkins and winter melons next year. We can dry them and sell them. Today I went to the cloth shop and specifically inquired about the prices of persimmon cakes and dried dates. They're all higher than last year."

Chen's mother said, "Yes, let's try everything next year. The more we plant, the more we sell, and life will naturally get better."

Chen Xiaohe suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, Dad, when did the village head's family finalize their plan to buy new seeds in the neighboring county?"

Mr. Chen said, "We'll go when the ice thaws in the spring. We'll go with you then, and if we find anything good, we'll buy it and try it."

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the occasional sound of firecrackers drifted from afar. The festive atmosphere of the New Year was slowly growing stronger in the village.

The Chen family's reunion dinner continued. Steaming hot dumplings were served, dipped in vinegar and minced garlic, each bite fragrant. The four children, full and sleepy, dozed off in their strollers. The adults sipped hot soup, chatted idly, reviewed the past year, and planned for the coming year.

Outside, the cold wind blew through the bare branches of the trees, but inside the Chen family's main room, it was warm and cozy.

This reunion dinner is a meal to commemorate the year's hard work, to savor the family's togetherness, and to look forward to a brighter future. Life unfolds day by day like this; hope is born from these meals.

Father Chen poured himself another bowl of wine, sipped it slowly, and looked at his lively children and grandchildren, his eyes and brows full of smiles.

These days are wonderful.

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