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

"The village head told them," Chen Dashan pointed towards the back mountain, "that we grow sweet potatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins on our back mountain all year round, so they can go there in the fall to dig them up and fill their stomachs."

Mother Chen nodded, her face showing admiration: "The village head was truly prescient. We don't usually eat those things on the back mountain, but during famine years, they are life-saving food. Small animals also eat those things, which is why we have a constant supply of small prey on the back mountain. This is a rule that the village head set back then."

Mr. Chen asked, "Where do they live?"

Chen Dashan said, "The village head arranged for them to stay in one of those empty houses on the outskirts of the village. Those houses have been empty for quite a while, so they need to be cleaned up before they can be used. The village head said he'd like us all to go and help out tomorrow."

Chen Xiaohe immediately said, "Then I'll go help tomorrow."

Chen Dashan nodded: "I'll go too."

Father Chen looked at his two sons, his eyes filled with relief: "Alright, you two go and help out tomorrow. They've all fled famine, it's not easy for them. We went through the same hardships back then, so let's help each other out if we can."

Su Xiaoyin whispered from the side, "Dad is right. If it weren't for the help of the villagers, we wouldn't have been able to gain a foothold so quickly."

Chen's mother also said, "That makes sense. We're living a better life now, but we can't forget our roots."

As the family was talking, Su Xiaoqing poked her head out of the kitchen: "Dad, Mom, Dashan, Xiaohe, dinner's ready! Cold noodles, salted duck eggs, and spicy pickled vegetables—refreshing and appetizing!"

Mr. Chen stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "Come on, let's eat first. After we eat, I'll go pay the money. You all go help out tomorrow, and we'll get back to what we're doing."

---

Lunch was a refreshing cold noodle dish.

After cooking the noodles, rinse them in cold water, then add shredded cucumber, blanched bok choy, and tomato chunks. Pour on a garlic and vinegar sauce prepared by Su Xiaoyin, a spoonful of spicy pickled vegetables, and half a salted duck egg. Mix it all together and eat. The sour and spicy flavor is appetizing and relieves some of the summer heat.

Chen Xiaohe ate until he was sweating profusely, but exclaimed how delicious it was: "Sister-in-law, Xiaoqing, your cold noodles are amazing! They're even better than what you buy outside!"

Su Xiaoqing smiled and said, "Eat more if you like it, there's more in the pot."

As Chen Dashan ate his noodles, he suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, the village head also mentioned something I almost forgot."

Everyone looked at him.

"The village head said we can pick the mushrooms on the back hill freely these days, but we have to leave some behind and not pick them all. Also, he told us to be careful when we go up the mountain and not to go too deep into the mountains, because we've heard that wild animals have been spotted there recently."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Understood. We'll gather the herbs in the nearby barren mountains, not deep into the mountains."

After finishing their meal, Chen's father went to the village head's house to pay the money. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe returned to the carpentry workshop to continue their work—although Master Zhou's table and chairs were finished, Master Li's furniture was still waiting.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing cleaned up the dishes and arranged the mushrooms they were going to dry that afternoon before going inside to continue working on the embroidery piece, "Wealth and Longevity." Only a little bit remained; they could finish it in the next couple of days.

The four children were locked inside for a nap. Stone reluctantly lay down, muttering, "I want to go to the mountain to pick mushrooms too..."

Su Xiaoyin patted his little face: "Wake up before you go. The sun won't be so strong in the afternoon, so Mom will take you to play outside in the yard."

Stone then closed his eyes.

The courtyard was quiet, save for the occasional chirping of birds. The whirring of planes came from the carpentry workshop, while the soft rustling of embroidery needles piercing silk in the east wing wove together the most peaceful melody of the afternoon.

At the other end of the village, in front of those long-abandoned mud-brick houses, several ragged figures stood at the door, gazing at the dilapidated doors and windows, their eyes filled with confusion, but also a hint of anticipation for a new life.

Tomorrow, the Chen brothers will go to help. The day after tomorrow, perhaps even more people will go.

This small village once again opened its arms to welcome homeless people, just as it had welcomed Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing a few years ago.

That's how life goes, generation after generation, year after year, slowly passing by as people help each other.

----

"It's so hot today!"

Chen Xiaohe rushed into the yard, his face and head covered in sweat, his clothes soaked and clinging to his body. He ran to the kitchen, grabbed the teapot on the table, and gulped down two large bowls of cold tea straight from the spout.

Su Xiaoqing was chopping vegetables by the stove when she turned around and saw him like this. She couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Slow down! If you drink it so fast, you'll get a stomachache! Take a breath before you drink it. Dinner will be served soon."

Chen Xiaohe put down the teapot, wiped his mouth, and let out a long sigh: "I'm too thirsty, I can't worry about that now. The sun is so hot today, it could melt a person."

Chen Dashan followed him in. He was more composed than him, but he was also sweltering in the heat. He poured himself a bowl of tea and drank it slowly.

Mr. Chen was the last to enter the courtyard. He leaned his hoe against the wall, fetched a basin of water from the well to wash his face, and then went into the main room. Mrs. Chen had already returned, and the mule had been fed. She was helping Su Xiaoyin set the table.

Mr. Chen sat down, took the herbal tea his daughter-in-law offered, took a sip, and looked at his two sons: "Have you tidied up the house for them?"

Chen Dashan nodded: "Yes, a lot of people from the village came to help today. Many hands make light work, so the cleanup went quickly. Those empty houses had been lived in before, so they can be used after a little repair. The village head asked everyone to see if they could contribute some household items. I brought some baskets, hampers, and a few stools from home. The village head's family brought some earthenware jars and some dried vegetables. Anyway, if everyone contributes a little, it should be enough for them to get started."

Hearing this, Chen's mother sighed, "They're all unfortunate people; we should help them if we can. When we first came here, didn't we also rely on the help of the villagers to get a foothold?"

Instead of responding to that question, Chen's father asked Chen Dashan, "What kind of people did you observe in those three households?"

Chen Dashan thought for a moment: "I didn't see much in the morning. One family was a mother and daughter, they didn't talk much and seemed quite honest; another family was an old lady with her son and grandson, the old lady was quite capable, directing her son to move things; and then there was another family..." He paused, "the three young girls, they didn't talk much either, but I always felt there was something... I can't quite put my finger on it."

Chen Xiaohe chimed in from the side: "Those three girls are quite pretty, but they don't talk much. They only answer questions briefly and don't initiate conversations with others."

Mr. Chen's face darkened, and he remained silent.

Noticing her husband's unusual behavior, Chen's mother asked, "Honey, what's wrong? Is something the problem?"

After a moment of silence, Chen's father spoke: "Dashan, Xiaohe, I have something to tell you."