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

Su Xiaoyin dressed, put on a raincoat, and went out with a kerosene lamp. Raindrops pounded on the raincoat, making a pattering sound. She trudged through the muddy ground to the carpentry shed.

The grain in the shed was piled high, covered with a thick tarpaulin, and the corners were weighed down tightly with stones. She checked it carefully and found it was all in good condition before she was relieved.

Just as she was about to turn back, she suddenly heard a noise in the corner of the shed. She held up her lamp and shone it over—it was a stray dog ​​that had somehow sneaked in and was huddled in the corner, trembling.

Su Xiaoyin paused for a moment, then squatted down to take a look. The dog was skin and bones, soaked to the bone, its eyes gleaming eerily in the lamplight, gazing at her pitifully.

"Are you here to take shelter from the rain too?" Su Xiaoyin said softly, extending her hand.

The dog flinched, but didn't run away. Su Xiaoyin gently placed her hand on its head and stroked it. The dog closed its eyes and made a soft purring sound.

Su Xiaoyin thought for a moment, then picked up the dog, tucked it into her arms, and wrapped it inside her raincoat. The dog curled up in a ball, motionless, and nestled obediently against her chest.

Back inside, Chen Dashan saw the dog in her arms and paused, then asked, "Where did it come from?"

"It's hiding in the shed from the rain, it's starving to death." Su Xiaoyin put the dog on the straw mat by the kang (a heated brick bed). "It's so pitiful, let's keep it for now."

The dog curled up on the straw mat, shook off the water, and began licking its fur. The four children were fast asleep, none of them waking up.

Su Xiaoyin took off her wet clothes and crawled into bed. Chen Dashan reached out and hugged her, whispering, "You've worked hard."

Su Xiaoyin leaned on his shoulder, softly hummed in agreement, and closed her eyes.

---

As dawn approached, the rain finally stopped.

Chen Dashan was the first to wake up. He pushed open the door and saw that the yard was a mess. The floodwaters hadn't receded yet, and fallen leaves and grass clippings floated on the surface. The chicken coop and duck shed were flooded, and several chickens huddled in a corner, soaked and shivering.

Father Chen also got up and stood on the porch looking at the courtyard, his face grave: "The rain is too heavy. I wonder how the crops in the fields are doing."

Chen Dashan walked over and stood beside him: "Dad, I'll go check on the fields after I finish eating."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Call Xiaohe to come along. I'll go check on the livestock shed first, so the animals don't get cold."

Chen's mother also got up, put on her clothes and came out. Seeing the devastation in the yard, she sighed, "This rain will ruin the crops of so many families."

At breakfast, the family sat together. The dumpling soup from last night was reheated and served with salted duck eggs; it was a simple meal.

Father Chen said, "After dinner, Dashan and Xiaohe will go to the fields to check on the situation. Although we've managed to harvest most of our grain, it wasn't as thorough as in previous years. Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing will stay home to tidy up the yard and check if any of the livestock are frozen. Old woman, you come with me to the village to see how Old Chen's harvest is going."

Su Xiaoyin suddenly remembered something: "Dad, I found a dog in the shed last night."

"A dog?" Mr. Chen was taken aback.

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "They were so pitiful, they were almost starving, so I brought them back."

Mr. Chen waved his hand: "Alright, keep it. A dog is quite big enough to be a playmate for the four children."

Upon hearing about the dog, the four children stopped eating and gathered around to see it. The dog had recovered and was curled up on its straw mat, warily watching the people around it.

Stone crouched down and said cautiously, "Little dog, don't be afraid, we won't hit you."

Qingqing also went over and reached out to touch it, but Su Xiaoqing stopped her: "Don't touch it yet, let it get used to it."

The dog looked at the group of people, seemed to sense no malice, slowly relaxed, closed its eyes, and continued to sleep.

---

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe put on their raincoats, shouldered their hoes, and headed to the fields. The road was flooded, in some places the water was ankle-deep. They trudged on, their hearts sinking deeper with each step.

Upon arriving at the destination, the sight before them made the two gasp in shock.

Unharvested corn lay sprawled on the ground, broken stalks and ears of corn soaking in muddy water. Soybeans, already harvested but not yet transported, were scattered everywhere by the rain; the yellow beans were everywhere—on the field ridges and in the ditches.

"Big brother..." Chen Xiaohe's voice trembled.

Chen Dashan took a deep breath and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Let's go back and talk to Dad. Pick up as much as we can; it's better than letting it all rot in the ground."

The two turned and walked back, their steps heavy.

---

When they got home, Chen's father was already back. He sat in the main room, his face grim. Chen's mother sighed beside him.

Chen Dashan asked, "Dad, how's things in the village?"

Father Chen shook his head: "Several families couldn't salvage their grain; it's all gone. Old Zhang's family is the worst off; they still have twenty mu of corn left to harvest. Once this rain stops, it's all over."

Chen Dashan explained the situation in the fields. After a long silence, Chen's father said, "Our family is considered lucky. We managed to salvage the grain; the losses were all small, scattered pieces. Let's go down to the fields and pick up as much as we can; we can't waste any grain."

The whole family went out, including the four children. Shi Tou led his younger siblings to pick up the beans that had been washed away by the rain on the ridges of the field, putting them one by one into their basket. The adults searched the field for any usable corn they could, trying to salvage as much as they could.

The sun came out, warming everyone's bodies. But everyone's heart was heavy; looking at the mess on the ground, they were too heartbroken to speak.

They worked until dark before they managed to harvest the remaining usable grain from the fields. Back home, Chen's mother began to tally up the losses.

"Of the ten acres of soybeans at the foot of the barren hill, 80% were harvested, but 20% were lost. Of the corn on the wasteland, 70% were harvested, but 30% were lost. The cultivated land is better; it was all harvested." She sighed. "This rain has cost us at least two or three taels of silver in harvest."

Father Chen waved his hand: "It's good that everyone is alright. We can plant more crops and earn more money. This year has been a bad year, and it's not easy for anyone. We're already lucky that we were able to salvage so much."

Su Xiaoyin served dinner, and the family ate in silence. Exhausted from the day, no one had the energy to speak.

After dinner, Mr. Chen said, "Everyone should get some rest. Starting tomorrow, we'll dry what needs drying and bring in what needs bringing in. There's still a long year ahead; we need to look forward."

Everyone went back to their rooms. Su Xiaoyin lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to the occasional chirping of insects outside, and her heart gradually calmed down.

That's life; there are sunny days and rainy days. As long as the family is together, we can weather any storm.

She glanced at Chen Dashan sleeping beside her, then at the four children sleeping soundly on the kang (heated brick bed), and at the little dog curled up on the straw mat. A smile appeared on her lips.

The rain has stopped and the sky is clear. Tomorrow, it's time to get back to work.