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

Just as they were about to pack up their stall, another sedan chair stopped in front of it.

The sedan curtain was lifted, and a woman in her thirties stepped out. Her face was dignified, but she carried a hint of worry. Su Xiaoyin recognized her as the lady who had inquired about embroidery a few days ago.

The woman walked to the stall, her gaze lingering on the empty bundle for a moment, then disappointment appeared on her face: "That painting of wealth and longevity... sold?"

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Yes, Madam, it was just sold."

The lady sighed, her expression growing even more somber. She stood there, seemingly wanting to leave, yet also somewhat reluctant. Su Xiaoyin looked at her, feeling a pang of pity, and tentatively asked, "Madam, if you would like an embroidery pattern, it can be custom-made. What kind of pattern would you like?"

The woman's eyes lit up, then dimmed again: "I...I want a painting of Guanyin praying for a child. Can you embroider it?"

A Guanyin praying for a child? Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing exchanged a glance. They had embroidered this kind of picture before; although it was quite difficult, it wasn't impossible.

"Madam, we can embroider the Guanyin praying for a child painting." Su Xiaoyin thought seriously for a moment. "The quality is the same as the one you just saw, the 'Wealth and Longevity' painting. It's just that this painting is larger, and it will take the two of us sisters at least four months to finish it."

Upon hearing this, the lady's face lit up with delight, and she nodded repeatedly: "Four months is fine, fine! As long as the embroidery is good, I can wait."

She introduced herself as Ms. Yu, and her husband's family as Mr. Zhao, the owners of Zhao's Silk Shop in the county. She had been married into the Zhao family for three years without conceiving, causing her in-laws great anxiety. The Zhao family had a tradition of only having one son for three generations, and there was a custom within the clan—if a woman hadn't conceived within five years of marriage, she would have to take a concubine. Now, with only two years left, she was extremely worried, seeking medical help everywhere and praying to gods and Buddhas. Hearing that some families had commissioned Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy) paintings for fertility, she also considered doing the same.

"I've looked at several embroidery shops, but I'm not satisfied with any of them," Madam Yu said, her eyes slightly red. "Yesterday, I saw that 'Wealth and Longevity' embroidery at your stall. The stitches were fine, and the colors were beautiful, so I fell in love with it. Although that design didn't suit my taste, I admired your craftsmanship. I came here today specifically to ask if I could order one, but I never expected..."

She paused, then looked at Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, her eyes filled with expectation: "You brought four children to set up your stall. I can tell you're a family with many children. I was thinking that your embroidered Guanyin praying for a child might... might be more effective."

These words, though simple, brought a pang of sadness to Su Xiaoyin's heart. She recalled how she herself had climbed her way into the Chen family step by step. Although she hadn't experienced the hardship of having children, she understood the anticipation and anxiety she felt.

"Madam Yu, please rest assured," Su Xiaoyin said gently, holding her hand. "We will embroider this Guanyin praying for a child picture with all our heart. You can come and pick it up in four months, and we guarantee you will be satisfied."

Madam Yu's eyes reddened even more, and she nodded vigorously: "Then it's settled. I'll give forty taels of silver for this painting. I'll pay a twenty-tael deposit first, and the remaining twenty taels will be paid when I take delivery of the painting."

Forty taels! That's five taels more than the previous one! Su Xiaoyin was startled and quickly said, "Madam, this is too much..."

"Not much." Madam Yu shook her head. "Your craftsmanship is worth the price. Besides, this design is very important to me." She gestured for the maid to fetch the silver and then instructed, "Please embroider with care. I won't rush you. As long as it's well done, I'll wait as long as it takes."

The twenty taels of deposit felt heavy, and Su Xiaoyin felt a similar weight in her heart as she accepted it. It represented trust, and also a responsibility.

Madam Yu left her address, got into her sedan chair, and left. Only then did Mother Chen approach, both surprised and delighted: "Xiao Yin, Xiao Qing, you two are amazing! Not only did the embroidery sell, but the next one is already pre-ordered for forty taels!"

Su Xiaoqing blushed with excitement and grabbed her sister's arm, exclaiming, "Sister, sister! Forty taels! Our next embroidery design is taken!"

Su Xiaoyin patted her with a smile and said to Chen's mother, "Mother, please wait for us at the market for a while. Xiaoqing and I are going to the cloth shop to buy silk fabric and embroidery thread. This Guanyin praying for a child painting must be made with the best material; we can't be careless."

She counted out ten taels of silver from her bosom and put them away, then handed the rest, along with the twenty taels of deposit, to Chen's mother: "Mother, please hold onto this silver for us. It's not safe for us to go to the cloth shop without carrying so much."

Chen's mother smiled and took it, saying, "Okay, you guys go ahead, I'll wait here."

---

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing walked quickly toward the cloth shop.

All the way there, Su Xiaoqing was still excited: "Sister, forty taels! We've never earned so much money in our lives! And it's the first time!"

Su Xiaoyin laughed and said, "Don't just be happy. This picture is not easy to embroider. The Guanyin image is very particular about the expression. If it is even slightly wrong, the whole picture will be ruined."

"I know, I know," Su Xiaoqing nodded. "Let's take our time embroidering, there's no rush. Four months is enough."

Upon arriving at the cloth shop, the shopkeeper, recognizing them as regular customers, greeted them warmly. This time, the two sisters bought the finest silk fabric and top-quality embroidery thread, spending almost half an hour just choosing the colors. In the end, it cost them four taels of silver.

As usual, the shopkeeper gave her two bundles of fabric scraps, this time made of fine cotton and in brighter colors. Su Xiaoqing took them, already wondering what she could do with them.

Leaving the fabric shop, Su Xiaoqing pulled her sister toward the butcher stall: "Sis, let's go buy some meat! We're so happy today, we have to celebrate!"

Su Xiaoyin smiled and let her pull her along: "Okay, let's buy some. My family has been exhausted these days, they need some nourishment."

There were still two pounds of pork belly left at the butcher stall, with a good balance of fat and lean meat. Su Xiaoqing also took a fancy to a set of offal, asked the price, and bought it. The big bones were sold out, so she would have to buy them another time.

Carrying the meat and offal, the two sisters returned to their stall. Their mother had already packed everything up and, seeing them return, smiled and said, "All done shopping? Let's go home!"

---

On the way home, the setting sun cast long shadows of the three people.

Sitting in the carriage, Su Xiaoyin felt a sense of peace and warmth as she clutched the remaining silver in her arms. From fleeing famine to arriving here, from having nothing to now, life had truly improved step by step.

She looked at the golden fields by the roadside and the familiar village silhouettes in the distance, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

When they arrived home, Chen's father and the others had already returned from the fields. Chen Dashan was playing with the four children in the yard. Seeing them return, Shitou was the first to rush over: "Mom! Aunt! You're back! Did you buy anything yummy?"

Su Xiaoqing smiled and held up the meat, shaking it: "I bought it! We're having meat tonight!"

The children immediately cheered.

Chen's mother told Chen's father about what happened today, and Chen's father nodded repeatedly: "Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing are so promising. This skill is our family's cash cow."

At dinner, Su Xiaoqing made braised pork belly, stewing it until tender and flavorful, filling the yard with its aroma. She also braised a pot of offal, sliced ​​it thinly, arranged it on a plate, and drizzled it with a garlic and vinegar sauce—perfect with both wine and rice. The family sat together, enjoying a lively and cheerful meal.

With his mouth full of meat, Chen Xiaohe mumbled, "Sister-in-law, Xiaoqing, you guys are amazing! I, as your younger brother, am just basking in your glory!"

Chen Dashan rarely joked with him, saying, "Then you should eat more and take full advantage of the situation."

The four children ate with gusto, their mouths glistening with oil. Stone, while gnawing on some meat, asked, "Mom, will we have meat again tomorrow?"

Su Xiaoyin smiled and wiped his mouth: "There won't be any tomorrow. We'll buy some next time they sell embroidery."