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

Chen Dashan was happy for him, but also a little embarrassed: "Manager Liu, don't say that. It's just that you and your sister-in-law are destined to be together. The diapers we gave you were just a token of our appreciation."

Liu Yilong waved his hand, his emotions running high: "No matter what, I'll remember your kindness! I'll definitely invite you all for a drink when the baby turns one month old!"

Chen Dashan suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, "Manager Liu, is the layout of your house similar to that of Master Li's?"

Liu Yilong paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, we're neighbors, similar layouts. What's wrong?"

Chen Dashan said, "Then I understand. When we get back, we'll prepare a cradle and a stroller for you, and I'll have my brother make some small toys, and my wife and the others make some bibs, tiger-head shoes, and things like that. We'll send them over to you after the baby is born as a way to bring good luck to the child."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yilong quickly waved his hand, "How could I accept this? You all need capital to do the work..."

"Manager Liu, please don't say that," Chen Dashan said earnestly. "We've all remembered how you've taken care of our family over the past year. This is just a small token of our appreciation, please don't refuse it."

Looking into Chen Dashan's sincere eyes, Liu Yilong's throat tightened. He patted Chen Dashan's shoulder forcefully, and after a long pause, he finally managed to say, "Alright, good brother, then I won't stand on ceremony."

---

On the way back, Chen Xiaohe said, "Brother, you're so thoughtful. Manager Liu has really helped our family a lot over the past year."

As Chen Dashan drove the oxcart, gazing at the setting sun ahead, he said, "People are all made of flesh and blood. We should remember those who are kind to us. Besides, Steward Liu works in the yamen, so if anything happens to our family in the county town, we'll have someone to look after us."

Chen Xiaohe nodded, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, brother, we need to make furniture for Old Master He and prepare things for Steward Liu. Are we able to manage?"

Chen Dashan thought for a moment and said, "We can manage. Grandpa He's work won't start until after the autumn harvest, so in the meantime, let's prepare Manager Liu's things. Cradles and strollers don't require much material and can be made quickly. When you have time, make some small toys and have Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing do some needlework. We should be able to finish before the autumn harvest."

Chen Xiaohe replied, "Okay, I'll start working on it when I get back."

The oxcart moved slowly in the setting sun. The crops in the fields were beginning to turn yellow, and the autumn harvest would be just around the corner. This year, the Chen family made steady progress, from spring sowing to summer cultivation, from mountain products to carpentry, from embroidery to social interactions.

At that moment, the two brothers in the car were unaware that their reputation in the county was, like the wheels of the car, rolling further and further away.

----

At dinner time, the family sat around the table in the main room.

Several home-style dishes were laid out on the table: a pot of stir-fried green beans, a plate of smashed cucumber, a bowl of steamed eggs, and a large pot of mixed grain porridge. The four children sat on small stools. Shitou ate by himself with a spoon, Qingqing and Aji competed to see who could eat the fastest, and even the thinnest Afu ate slowly by himself, his little mouth bulging.

Chen Dashan put down his bowl and recounted everything that had happened in the county town that day.

"...Master Li was very satisfied with the furniture and settled the remaining payment. Just then, we ran into Master He, the father of the county jailer, who also wanted to order furniture. He wanted two sets made for his unborn grandson, including a stroller, cradle, and small chair. Three taels of silver, work will begin after the autumn harvest, and it should take at least two months."

Chen Xiaohe added from the side, "We even ran into Steward Liu on the way back! Parents, guess what? His wife is pregnant! Steward Liu was overjoyed and kept saying that our baby's diapers are incredibly effective."

Chen Dashan nodded and looked at his father: "Dad, so Xiaohe and I need to hurry up. Not only for Master He, but also for Steward Liu. I was thinking of making a cradle and stroller for Steward Liu's family, and having Xiaohe make some small toys, and Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing help make some bibs, tiger-head shoes and the like."

After listening, Mr. Chen pondered for a moment, "Then you and Xiaohe need to hurry up. I won't accompany your mother to the county town to set up the stall these next few days. The crops in the fields are almost ripe, and I need to keep an eye on them every day; I'm worried about them." He paused, then looked at his two daughters-in-law, "Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing, is there anything you need for the things you're making for Steward Liu's children?"

Su Xiaoyin chimed in, "Dad, I was just about to say that. Since we're making bibs for Steward Liu's child, the fine cotton fabric we have at home isn't suitable. Tomorrow, Mom and I will go to the county town to buy some better quality fabric."

Chen's mother nodded: "Okay, then you and Xiaoqing can come with me tomorrow. Consider it a day off. Staying at home doing embroidery every day is tiring."

Su Xiaoqing raised her hand from the side: "Then I'll go with you tomorrow! I'll also buy some big bones to smoke and save for bone broth after the autumn harvest. Last autumn harvest, Dad and Dashan and Xiaohe were exhausted and lost so many pounds. We need to prepare in advance this year."

Chen's mother slapped her thigh: "Speaking of which, I need to buy two more sets of pig offal. I'll marinate them, dry them in the sun, and stir-fry them directly during the autumn harvest. It's convenient and filling." She looked at Su Xiaoyin, "Xiaoyin, you should marinate all the eggs we've been saving at home tomorrow when you have some free time. This year's autumn harvest is long, so we need to prepare more meat."

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Okay, Mom, I'll pickle them when I get back tomorrow. Duck eggs, chicken eggs, goose eggs, I'll pickle them all. We won't sell these we've saved; we'll keep them for our own consumption after the autumn harvest."

Chen Xiaohe, who was listening nearby, exclaimed in surprise: "Mom, do we prepare so much food for the autumn harvest now? I remember a few years ago, we were lucky to have a hot meal."

Chen's mother glared at him: "What do you know? The past is the past, and the present is the present. Our family is better off now, so of course we should eat as well as possible. Think about it, during that month of autumn harvest, we worked like oxen every day. If we didn't eat well, what if our health collapsed? If we got sick, money would flow out like water, and that would be a real loss!"

Mr. Chen nodded in agreement: "Your mother is right. We can't skimp on food; health is the most important thing."

Chen Xiaohe chuckled and scratched his head: "I was just saying. The more Mom prepares, the happier I am."

---

The next morning, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing followed Chen's mother onto the mule cart.

Upon arriving in the county town, they first set up their stall. Chen's mother quickly arranged all the small items, while Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing helped with the organization.

"Mom, let's go to the cloth shop to buy some cloth first, and then we'll come right back," Su Xiaoyin said.

Mother Chen waved her hand: "Go on, go on, take your time choosing, no rush."