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

"Dad, Mom, Dashan, Xiaohe, try on the summer clothes we made for you! If they don't fit, we'll alter them!"

That afternoon, while everyone was around, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing took out the new clothes they had been rushing to make over the past few days. Several neatly folded summer clothes were laid out on the table, some indigo, some moon white, and one light gray. They were all made from the fine cotton fabric they had bought earlier. Although the fabric was flawed, the clothes they made looked very neat.

Mother Chen took the indigo-blue jacket, touched the fine stitches, and her eyes were filled with delight. She unfolded the garment and held it up to herself, then turned it over to examine the workmanship of the collar and cuffs, nodding repeatedly: "This garment is so well made, the stitches are so fine and dense, even neater than when I was young!" She tried it on, and the size was perfect. She turned around in the light of the courtyard, "It fits perfectly, it fits perfectly! Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing, your craftsmanship is truly impeccable."

Mr. Chen took his own moon-white summer shirt, held it up to his body, and rarely smiled: "Hmm, it fits perfectly, no need to alter it."

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe each tried on their new clothes, and they fit perfectly. Chen Xiaohe walked around the yard twice in her new outfit, proudly showing off, "Sister-in-law, Xiaoqing, your tailoring skills are getting better and better! These clothes are so cool and comfortable, and make me look so smart!"

Chen's mother held her two daughters-in-law's hands and said with heartache, "You two should make yourselves a couple of summer clothes, don't just think about us. You do embroidery in the house every day, you deserve to wear some new clothes too."

Su Xiaoqing smiled and shook her head: "Mother, the summer clothes my sister and I made before are quite good, they're fine to wear. You two go out to work every day, exposed to the wind and sun, so we'll prioritize making clothes for you first."

The four children nearby, hearing about the new clothes, couldn't contain themselves any longer. Shi Tou was the first to run over, tugging at Su Xiaoyin's clothes: "Mommy, Mommy! Where are our new clothes? I want new clothes too!"

Qingqing and Aji joined in the clamor, and even the youngest, Afu, who didn't understand yet, clapped and shouted "New clothes!" along with his older siblings. Su Xiaoyin smiled, picked up Shitou, and kissed him on the cheek: "Didn't Mom and Auntie make you summer clothes this spring? You already have new clothes! We'll make you more next year, okay?"

Stone pouted, looking a little aggrieved, but still nodded sensibly: "Okay then, remember next year."

Su Xiaoyin pinched his little nose: "I won't forget, Mom remembers."

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After calming the children down, the family sat down again. Mrs. Chen smiled as she recalled the past few days selling melons: "Our melons have grown really well this year. Except for those that weren't quite as good, the rest sold quite well. The watermelons, needless to say, were sold out in less than half a day every time we took them to the market. As for the cantaloupes and honeydew melons, some people were hesitant to buy them at first, but after we let them try them, everyone who tried them came back to buy them."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Firstly, our family's reputation has grown in the past two years, and people in the county all know that our melons are guaranteed to be sweet. Secondly, Manager Wang has also helped consume a lot of them, ordering a new batch every few days, saying that customers like them."

Chen Dashan asked about the situation in the fields: "Dad, shouldn't we fertilize the fields?"

Mr. Chen thought for a moment and said, "I went to check the fields yesterday, and it's time to apply fertilizer. While the weather is still good, let's fertilize again and let the crops grow a little longer."

Chen's mother chimed in, "Then tomorrow, old man, you stay home and fertilize and tend the land. Let Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing accompany me to the county town. A couple of days ago, two elegant ladies came over and inquired about the embroidery. They looked at it for quite a while, and I think it's promising. Maybe it will be done tomorrow."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Okay, it's settled then."

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The next morning, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing went to the county town with Chen's mother.

Chen's father was at home preparing to fertilize the fields, and Chen Xiaohe came down to help. Chen Dashan stayed home to put the finishing touches on Master Li's furniture set—sanding, oiling, and letting it air dry before delivering it.

In the county town, Chen's mother and her two daughters-in-law set up their stall. Today's stock wasn't much, mostly small odds and ends and a few newly harvested melons. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing helped arrange the goods, their minds preoccupied with the embroidery "Wealth and Longevity." This embroidery had taken them almost three months to complete; it was the one they had poured their hearts into since arriving here. If it could sell, all their hard work day and night would be worthwhile.

Before long, a well-dressed woman arrived with her maid. Su Xiaoyin recognized her as Madam Wang, the same woman who had come to inquire a few days ago. Madam Wang stopped in front of the stall, her gaze falling directly on the cloth-covered bundle beside Su Xiaoyin.

"Madam Chen, did you bring that embroidery pattern?"

Su Xiaoyin quickly got up, opened the bundle, and revealed the embroidery "Wealth and Longevity". The embroidery was spread out, with large peonies layered on top of each other, the intertwined branches pattern was magnificent, the colors were bright but not gaudy, the stitches were fine and even, and it shone with a soft luster in the sunlight.

Madam Wang examined the embroidery carefully for a while, then a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "Excellent, truly excellent. This craftsmanship is even better than the one I saw in the prefectural city last month." She looked up at Su Xiaoyin, "I'll take this embroidery. How much?"

Su Xiaoyin composed herself and spoke, "Madam, my sisters and I have been embroidering this 'Wealth and Longevity' piece for almost two months, using the finest silk fabric and gold thread. We've sold similar large embroidered pieces before, priced at around thirty-five taels. What do you think…?"

Madam Wang nodded, without haggling: "Thirty-five taels, fine. Your craftsmanship is worth the price." She gestured for the maid to bring the silver, "I've had your embroidery examined, and everyone says it's excellent. This piece will be perfect for hanging in my main room."

The money was exchanged for the goods. With thirty-five taels of silver in hand, the weight that had been hanging over Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing's hearts for so long finally lifted. They looked at each other and saw the smile in each other's eyes.

Chen's mother watched from the side, happy for them. Selling these embroidered items would earn them much more than selling small pieces at a stall.

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