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

The four children finally calmed down, climbing off the kang one by one and lining up to wash their faces. Su Xiaoqing brought warm water and wiped their faces one by one. When it was Afu's turn, she took a closer look—this child was still thinner and smaller than Shitou and the others, but he was in good spirits, his little face rosy from smiling.

After dinner, Shi Tou took his younger siblings to play in the yard. Su Xiaoyin took out her embroidery frame from the house and said to her sister, "We should get started too. We need to hurry up with this 'Wealth and Longevity' piece and try to embroider one more this year."

Su Xiaoqing nodded and took out her embroidery hoop as well. The two sisters sat down by the window and began to embroider.

Sunlight streamed softly through the paper window, bathing them in its warmth. The peonies on the embroidery hoop had already taken shape, their petals layered with varying shades of pink silk thread, the center adorned with gold thread, exuding richness and splendor. Su Xiaoyin embroidered the main flower, while Su Xiaoqing embroidered the branches and leaves; the two worked in perfect harmony, the only sound in the room the soft rustling of the silk threads moving through the fabric.

Time passed slowly, and the sun gradually rose higher.

"Sister, take a break." Su Xiaoqing put down her embroidery frame and stretched her stiff neck.

Su Xiaoyin also looked up and rubbed her eyes: "Okay, let's go out and see what those kids are doing."

The two went outside, but the courtyard was quiet and deserted.

"Stone?" Su Xiaoyin called out.

"Mother! We're in the backyard!" Stone's voice came from the backyard.

The two sisters went around to the backyard and saw four children squatting by the chicken coop, each holding a blade of grass, teasing the chicks through the fence. The chicks chirped and ran around, being teased by the grass tips, and the four children laughed so hard they were doubled over.

"You guys know how to have fun." Su Xiaoqing smiled as she walked over and patted each of them on the head.

Su Xiaoyin glanced at the sky and said to her younger sister, "I'm going to the village entrance to buy two pieces of tofu to cook for lunch."

"Sister, you go ahead, I'll keep an eye on them." Su Xiaoqing took the embroidery frame from her sister. "Tonight, shall we soak some beans and make some tofu ourselves? We can make a lot, and then dry some tofu."

Su Xiaoyin thought for a moment: "It's feasible, but grinding beans takes a lot of time. Everyone's been busy lately, so I don't know if I'll have the time."

Su Xiaoqing said, "Let's ask them tonight. If they can spare the time, we'll make a batch. Dried tofu keeps well, and it's good to eat it in the spring."

Su Xiaoyin nodded, picked up the basket, and went out the door.

---

In the county town, Chen Dashan helped his mother set up the stall, arranging the goods neatly. His mother sat behind the stall and began greeting customers. Chen Dashan stood to the side, occasionally handing her something, but his eyes kept glancing towards the street corner—Liu Yilong hadn't arrived yet.

"Dashan, sit down for a while, don't just stand there," Chen's mother said.

Chen Dashan shook his head: "It's alright, Mother, I'm not tired."

After waiting a while longer, Liu Yilong finally appeared. He was dressed in an official's uniform, carrying a teapot, and walked over hurriedly.

"Dashan, have you been waiting long?" Liu Yilong asked apologetically. "Something came up at the yamen this morning, so I was delayed. Come on, I'll take you to that place."

Chen Dashan quickly went to greet him: "No rush, no rush, Manager Liu, you go about your business. I'm fine later."

Liu Yilong patted him on the shoulder and said to Chen's mother, "Auntie, I'm taking Dashan there. I'll be back in a bit."

Mrs. Chen nodded with a smile: "Thank you for your trouble, Manager Liu. If you finish your business early at noon, come back and have lunch together."

"No need, no need, Auntie, you're busy." Liu Yilong waved his hand and left with Chen Dashan.

---

The two walked through several streets and arrived at a residential area. Liu Yilong stopped in front of one house and knocked on the door.

The man who opened the door was a middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in a fine cloth long gown, looking like he came from a well-to-do family. As soon as he saw Liu Yilong, he smiled and said, "Brother Liu, you're here! Come in, come in!"

Liu Yilong stepped aside to let Chen Dashan pass: "Uncle Li, this is the carpenter I told you about, Chen Dashan. He's skilled and honest. See if he can be of any use to you."

Manager Li sized up Chen Dashan. Although he was young, he had a steady gaze, carried a cloth bag on his back, and held a basket in his hand. He seemed like a reliable person, so he nodded and said, "Come in and talk."

The three entered the courtyard, and Manager Li led them directly to an empty room in the backyard: "This is my son's new room for his wedding; the furniture hasn't been made yet. I'm thinking of making a large wardrobe, two camphor wood chests, a dressing table, a small eight-immortal table, and a few chairs. Carpenter Chen, what do you think? Can you make them?"

Chen Dashan carefully examined the dimensions of the room and then measured the approximate location with his steps before speaking, "It can be made. Manager Li, what style do you want? What kind of wood?"

Manager Li said, "As for the style, it should be nice, but not too flashy, something for young people. As for the wood... let's use camphor wood. Camphor wood repels insects and is good for storing clothes."

Chen Dashan nodded, took a thick notebook from his basket, and handed it to Manager Li: "This is a catalog of furniture designs I drew. Take a look and see which one you like. There are carved ones and plain ones, and the sizes can be adjusted."

Manager Li took the booklet, his eyes lighting up. He flipped through the pages, which contained illustrations of wardrobes, chests, dressing tables, and chairs, each clearly depicted with dimensions and the type of wood indicated beside it. After a while, he pointed to a page and said, "This wardrobe is a nice design. The dressing table should be similar, and the chest should be the simplest kind, no need for carvings."

Chen Dashan noted it down, then took out a few more items from his basket—a set of miniature table and chair models, and several small wood carving samples. He handed the models to Shopkeeper Li: "These are miniature furniture pieces I made. You can see the craftsmanship. They're made with mortise and tenon joints, sturdy and durable, without a single nail."

Shopkeeper Li took the pieces and examined them carefully. He shook them, but they didn't budge. He then looked at the small wooden carvings. Although they weren't particularly exquisite, the lines were smooth and the carvings were endearing.

"Excellent, the craftsmanship is indeed superb." Manager Li nodded in satisfaction. "Carpenter Chen, please give us a price."

Chen Dashan pondered for a moment and began to calculate: "You said you want to use camphor wood for everything, and camphor wood is much more expensive than pine wood. If the wardrobe, two large chests, dressing table, eight-immortal table, and four chairs are all made of camphor wood, the cost of the wood will be quite high. Adding the labor cost, it will cost at least seven and a half taels of silver."

He paused, then added, "However, if you use camphor wood for the chest and pine for the rest, it will be cheaper. Pine has a nice grain, and it will be more than an ounce cheaper. The total will only cost six ounces of silver."

Shopkeeper Li thought for a moment, then waved his hand: "Let's use camphor wood for everything. I only have one son, so we should spend what we need to spend. Seven and a half ounces it is, just make it good for me."