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

Chen Dashan nodded: "Alright. But Manager Li, I need to make things clear to you. I still have a batch of work to finish, twenty sets of school desks and chairs ordered by Master Zhou. Your furniture won't be ready until three months later, and the production period is two and a half months. Do you think that's enough time?"

Manager Li did the math: "My son is getting married in winter, which is three months later... September or October. There's plenty of time. No rush, slow and steady wins the race. Just do a good job for me."

Chen Dashan breathed a sigh of relief: "Alright, it's settled then. Here's the deposit..." He took out a small notebook from his pocket, wrote a receipt, and said, "You're giving me four and a half taels as a deposit, and the remaining three taels will be paid upon completion. I'll write you a written agreement, clearly stating the construction period, price, and style, and we'll proceed according to this."

Manager Li took the receipt, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction: "Carpenter Chen is meticulous, this is settled." He turned and went into the house, and soon took out a few pieces of silver and handed them to Chen Dashan.

Chen Dashan counted the money; it was four and a half taels, just right. He put the silver away and added, "Manager Li, when the furniture is almost finished, I'll come back to measure the dimensions again to make sure it fits perfectly."

"Alright, you handle it." Manager Li patted him on the shoulder. "If my family ever needs any more carpentry work in the future, I'll come to you again."

Liu Yilong, who had been standing silently to the side, finally spoke up: "Uncle Li, how was it? Was the person I introduced reliable?"

Manager Li smiled and said, "Reliable, reliable, Brother Liu, thank you for your trouble. Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?"

Liu Yilong waved his hand: "No, no, I have business to attend to at the yamen. Dashan, let's go."

---

As Chen Dashan stepped out of the Li family's courtyard, he solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Liu Yilong: "Manager Liu, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for your introduction, I wouldn't have been able to get this job at all."

Liu Yilong waved his hand and said with a smile, "Don't mention it. It's mainly because you're well-prepared. That booklet and those small models are all very interesting to me. Uncle Li is picky; if your work wasn't so impressive, he might not have hired you. By the way, how come you quoted a price lower than other carpenters in the county? I heard that a decent set of furniture in the county would cost at least eight or nine taels."

Chen Dashan explained, "I specifically inquired about the market rates for carpenters in the county and town. Their wages are higher because of shop rent and labor costs. I work from home, so I don't have those expenses, and naturally, I can make it cheaper. Plus, I can pick out the wood myself and get it for less than the market price."

Liu Yilong nodded: "No wonder. Okay, you can go back now, your aunt is waiting. I'll help you find work if there's any in the future."

Chen Dashan thanked him repeatedly, and the two parted ways at the street corner.

---

Back at the stall, Chen's mother was attending to customers. Chen Dashan didn't disturb her, standing to the side waiting. After the customers left, he went up to her and, in a low voice, recounted what had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Chen's mother's eyes lit up: "Seven and a half taels? Such a huge order?!"

Chen Dashan nodded and took out the silver to show his mother: "This is a deposit of four and a half taels. The remaining three taels will be paid upon completion. Manager Li said that his son will be married in winter, so there is still time."

Mother Chen was overjoyed: "Good, good, good! This Steward Liu is truly a benefactor to our family! When we get back, I'll have to think carefully about what to send him. If there are any fresh mountain vegetables on the mountain, I'll definitely save some for him. His mother likes them, so we must remember that."

Chen Dashan nodded: "Mother is right."

---

Chen's father and Chen Xiaohe are almost done with the work on the mountain.

After the last batch of watermelon seedlings were planted, Mr. Chen straightened up, patted his back, and looked at the neat rows of seedlings, feeling very at ease.

"Alright, let's go home," Mr. Chen said to his youngest son.

Chen Xiaohe packed up his tools, jumped onto the oxcart, and suddenly remembered something: "Dad, when we get back, I'll first scoop up the fish basket and see if there are any fish. I caught several yesterday, so we should have a good catch today."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Go ahead, we'll stew the fish for dinner."

---

Back home, Su Xiaoyin returned after buying tofu and saw the four children still playing in the backyard, so she went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Su Xiaoqing helped wash and chop the vegetables, and the two sisters chatted as they worked.

"Sister, do you think Dashan and the others will succeed today?" Su Xiaoqing asked.

Su Xiaoyin kept working: "It should work. Dashan is reliable, and with Manager Liu leading the way, it can't be bad."

"If it really works out, that would be wonderful." Su Xiaoqing's eyes lit up. "With Master Zhou's twenty sets of tables and chairs, plus this, our family can save a lot of money this year."

Su Xiaoyin smiled but didn't say anything, though she was also looking forward to it.

---

As evening approached, the people who had gone out gradually returned.

Chen Dashan drove the mule cart home with his mother. Chen's father and Chen Xiaohe had just come down from the mountain. Chen Xiaohe went to the riverbank and retrieved his fish basket. He had a good catch—about ten fish of various sizes, and half a basket of lively, jumping shrimp.

The four children, seeing the fish and shrimp, excitedly circled around Chen Xiaohe, asking, "Uncle, Uncle! Are we having fish for dinner?"

Chen Xiaohe teased them with a smile, "Eat! I'll have your mom make braised fish later!"

Chen Dashan took the mule back to the shed, added some hay, and then went inside. The family sat together, and Chen Dashan recounted the day's events.

"Seven and a half ounces? Such a huge order?!" Chen Xiaohe's eyes widened in disbelief. "Brother, you're amazing!"

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "Good, good. We must remember Manager Liu's kindness."

Chen's mother said, "I've already decided. When it rains again and fresh mushrooms grow on the mountain, I'll send them to him first."

Su Xiaoyin listened from the side, feeling happy too. She glanced at Chen Dashan, and their eyes met; they both smiled.

Dinner was plentiful. There was braised fish, shrimp in soy sauce, tofu soup, and a dish of cold wild vegetables. The four children ate with gusto, their mouths drooling. Stone, while eating, said, "Mom, how about Uncle goes fishing every day from now on?"

Chen Xiaohe flicked his forehead: "You wish! Catching fish all day, does that mean your uncle doesn't have to work?"

The children burst into laughter.