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

In the evening, Chen Dashan and his three companions, carrying the day's harvest and exhaustion, along with the slight warmth of their initial success, returned to the old house. Inside the main room, the oil lamp was already lit, and Chen's parents were waiting for them to eat.

Before the meal, Chen Dashan took out a small cloth bag from his pocket and spread it on the table. Inside was a pile of copper coins of varying ages. He looked at his parents and reported in a steady voice, "Father, Mother, we went to the market today and sold some small bamboo and wood items. Adding the change we had saved before, we got a total of fifty coins."

He paused, then, following the rules agreed upon when the family divided their property, carefully counted out twenty copper coins and pushed them in front of Chen's mother: "According to the four-way division of the family property, this is twenty coins. Mother, please keep it."

Mother Chen did not refuse. She reached out and gathered the twenty coins in front of her, a relieved smile on her face. She nodded and said, "Yes, you all know what's good for you, so I'll keep it. It's not much, but little by little, it adds up."

She put away the money and looked at the four young people in front of her, whose faces were tired but whose eyes were bright. Her worries about whether the children could stand on their own after the family division completely disappeared. She thought for a moment and said, "Seeing that you can earn money on your own today, your father and mother are relieved. It just so happens that we have a long-term plan to discuss with you."

Everyone looked up at her.

"Next spring," Chen's mother continued, "I'm thinking of using the money from the family commune to buy two half-grown piglets. We have enough space in our backyard, so each of us can raise one. I'm good at raising pigs. Before I got married, my family made a living by raising pigs. I'll teach you how to feed them, how to care for them, and how to prevent diseases. If you raise them well, it will be a considerable income by the end of the year."

"Raising pigs?" Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up, but then he became a little worried. "Mom, piglets aren't cheap, are they? Will the money from the public school be enough? We still need to prepare to buy seeds and fertilizer in the spring."

Chen's father, who had been silently smoking his pipe, tapped the pipe on the sole of his shoe and spoke in a steady voice: "Don't worry. Since your mother brought it up, it means she's already thought it through. The money from the public coffers is a bit tight, but if we squeeze it out, we can still afford to buy two half-grown piglets. Your mother and I have prepared seeds and fertilizer separately. As for the livestock shed in your backyard, once it thaws in the spring, hurry up and build it up, make it sturdy. Then, besides the pigs, if either of your families wants to raise a few more chickens or ducks, there will be room, and the eggs and duck eggs can supplement your diet."

Mother Chen picked up the conversation, her gaze far-reaching: "Our family is now, in a sense, half-divided. Because we don't have much money, we haven't completely separated, so we still need to work together. But we have to look forward, not just focus on the present." She looked at her two sons, then at her two daughters-in-law, "Next year, after the spring planting is finished and things are settled in the fields, your father and I are discussing saving up to buy two more acres of wasteland."

"Wasteland?" Su Xiaoyin repeated softly, quickly calculating in her mind. She knew that wasteland here was exempt from taxes for the first few years.

"Yes, wasteland." Chen's mother nodded. "With two more mouths to feed in the family, and who knows when we'll have more children, the current land has limited output. While your father and I are still able to work, and you are young and strong, let's reclaim more wasteland and plant crops. That way, we'll feel more at ease. The harvest from wasteland might be poor in the first few years, but if we nurture it for a few years and fertilize it regularly, the soil will become more fertile, which will be the foundation for our future generations."

Chen Dashan had been listening quietly, and then spoke up, "Mother's consideration is correct. Next spring, we should prioritize the piglets and spring planting. Once those are settled, we'll see how much is left in the public funds. If it's enough, it would be best to buy an extra acre or two of wasteland. Clearing wasteland is tiring, but we brothers are not afraid of hard work. Wasteland is exempt from taxes for the first five years, which is a good time to build up our wealth."

His tone was calm yet firm, clearly indicating he had given it considerable thought. Chen Xiaohe immediately chimed in, "Yes! What's there to be afraid of in clearing land! My brother and I have plenty of strength! The more land we clear, the more grain we grow, the less worried we'll feel!"

Seeing that the children all agreed, Mr. and Mrs. Chen smiled at each other, feeling even more at ease. This family is united, hardworking, and has a plan; how could they not have a good life?

After a lively dinner at the old house and some casual conversation, the four of them returned to their new home under the moonlight.

Although tired, no one could stay idle because they had things on their minds. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe washed their faces and then went back into their respective "workshops"—Chen Dashan continued to polish several pieces of wood prepared for the next batch of small items by the light of an oil lamp, while Chen Xiaohe sat in the main room, using the same lamplight to skillfully weave the edges of an even more exquisite bamboo box.

The Su sisters didn't rest either. They moved the two bundles of precious fabric scraps they had obtained from the Tao family's cloth shop during the day to the east wing, and by the light of the oil lamp and the moonlight streaming in through the window, they began to carefully sort them. The larger, relatively neatly shaped pieces of white and blue cloth were carefully picked out and folded aside; these were to be used as the base material for embroidered handkerchiefs and simple pillowcases. The smaller scraps of dark gray, indigo, and brown were gathered into another basket, to be used later for mending clothes and making shoe soles. What delighted the sisters most were the brightly colored scraps mixed in—peach, pale yellow, and aquamarine, and even a few small pieces of cloth with simple prints.

"Sister, look at these bright colors!" Su Xiaoqing picked up a palm-sized piece of peach-colored fabric, her eyes shining. "There are even ones with little flowers! These are too small to make handkerchiefs, and not enough for anything else, but we can try making them into hair ties! Girls will definitely look better using them to tie their hair than plain strips of fabric! Maybe we can even sell them for a few coins at the market!"

Su Xiaoyin picked up a pale yellow piece, examined it, and nodded: "Hmm, good idea. We need to find a way to use all these scraps; we can't waste a single one."

The two sisters whispered among themselves, sorting and putting away the scraps of cloth, their hearts filled with concrete, tangible plans for the winter ahead.

After they finished tidying up the scraps of cloth, washed up, and prepared to rest, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe also stopped what they were doing. The two brothers looked at each other, and Chen Dashan took out two small, round, rough pottery jars from his pocket, while Chen Xiaohe chuckled and took out two identical ones from behind his back.

The two brothers walked up to their respective wives and handed them the earthenware jars.

"Here you go." Chen Dashan said succinctly, placing the pottery jar on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) next to Su Xiaoyin.

Chen Xiaohe scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and explained, "Well... it was my older brother who was so thoughtful to remind me. He said that since you do embroidery for long periods, your fingers get cold easily and crack from the rough work, so you need to put something on them to protect them. This is the cheapest kind of hand oil I bought at the market today, clam oil, it's moisturizing and prevents cracking. It's only a few coins a jar, not expensive. You can use this first, and we'll buy you more when you run out."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were both stunned, staring at the small, rough earthenware jar. Of course, they knew what it was; back in the south, their mother would use something similar when doing needlework in the winter. But since fleeing the famine, simply surviving was a blessing; how could they have spared time for such delicate care?

Su Xiaoyin picked up the jar of clam oil, still warm from Chen Dashan's palm, and gently opened the lid. A faint, simple fragrance, a mixture of wax and some kind of herbal scent, wafted out. The jar contained a milky-white paste that looked somewhat rough, but it was truly a token of her heartfelt affection.

"Thank you...husband," Su Xiaoyin said softly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the cool earthenware pot, but her heart was burning with warmth.

Su Xiaoqing gripped the small jar tightly, her nose tingling with emotion, and nodded vigorously, "Thank you, Brother Xiaohe! Thank you, Big Brother!"

Chen Dashan hummed in agreement and turned to blow out the oil lamp in the main room. Chen Xiaohe chuckled and urged, "Hurry up and try some! Go to bed early after you're done; we have to keep working hard tomorrow!"

The night was deep, and the courtyard of their new home was completely quiet. Inside the room, by the faint light of the snow outside the window, Su Xiaoyin picked up a little clam oil, slowly rubbed it between her fingertips, and then gently applied it to the backs of her hands and knuckles, which were dry from days of work. The cool oil gradually melted, bringing a touch of moisture. She glanced at Chen Dashan, who was already asleep beside her, and then looked out at the tranquil night sky.

Raising pigs, clearing land, making handicrafts, selling embroidery… the path ahead, step by step, is clear and concrete. Although every step requires hard work, there are people walking alongside her, warmth in mutual support, and visible hope. These days are like the fine snow falling quietly on this winter night, nourishing the parched earth; though slightly chilly, it foreshadows the possibility of a bountiful year to come. She gently clenched her fist, feeling the unfamiliar smoothness on her fingertips, and peacefully closed her eyes.