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

"Mom, you stay home and rest tomorrow. Xiaohe and I will go set up a stall."

After dinner, the family sat around the table in the main room when Chen Dashan suddenly spoke. The soft glow of the oil lamp illuminated his face, revealing a rare sense of relaxation.

Chen's mother was stunned for a moment, then realized: "The furniture is all finished?"

Chen Dashan nodded: "Yes, Mr. He's set is all finished. Tomorrow, Xiaohe and I will deliver the goods and set up the stall. You haven't rested since the autumn harvest, running to the county town every day. You should take a good rest at home for a day."

Hearing this, Chen's mother felt very comforted, but said, "I'm fine, I'm not tired."

Mr. Chen tapped his pipe beside him: "Just rest when I tell you to. The children care about you, but you don't appreciate it."

Mother Chen laughed, patting the loose threads off her clothes: "Alright, alright, I'll stay home and rest for a day. I'll take this opportunity to mend the children's cotton-padded coats and see if they need anything else."

Chen Xiaohe leaned closer and asked, "Dad, are you going tomorrow too?"

Mr. Chen nodded: "I'll go with you. We'll also get some medicine from Doctor Li while we're at it."

Chen Xiaohe's expression changed: "Dad, what's wrong? Are you sick? Is it serious?"

Mr. Chen waved his hand and laughed, "Don't make a fuss. I'm perfectly fine, nothing's wrong. It's just that this winter is unusually cold, so I was thinking of getting some medicine from Doctor Li to keep on hand. In case someone in the family catches a cold, we won't have to travel all that way to get the medicine; we can just brew it at home."

Chen Dashan nodded in agreement: "Father is right. It's getting colder and colder, so it's better to be prepared."

---

The next morning, while it was still dark, Chen's father took his two sons out the door.

The mule pulled the cart, its hooves clattering along the quiet village road. A cold wind blew into their collars, making them shiver. Fortunately, they were all wearing rabbit-skin gloves and hats made by Su Xiaoyin and her sisters, which warmed them considerably.

They arrived in the county town just as dawn was breaking. The three of them first set up their stall, arranging the bamboo weaving, wood carvings, and embroidery they had brought one by one. Chen's father stood guard at the stall, while Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe began to greet customers.

Around midday, the stall gradually became more crowded. Chen Dashan kept track of the time while selling his goods. Once the crowd thinned out, he quickly tidied his clothes and drove his mule cart towards Master He's house.

Master He was reading in his study when a servant announced that Carpenter Chen had arrived, so he quickly came out to greet him.

"Carpenter Chen, come in quickly!" Master He's eyes lit up as he looked at the furniture that had been unloaded in the yard.

That set of furniture was indeed well-made. The materials were solid, the mortise and tenon joints were perfectly fitted, and every edge and corner was polished smooth and rounded, without a single burr. Mr. He examined each piece carefully, becoming more and more satisfied with each look.

"Excellent! Excellent! Carpenter Chen, your craftsmanship is truly first-rate!" Master He patted Chen Dashan on the shoulder, "Even better than I expected!"

Chen Dashan smiled modestly: "I'm glad Mr. He is satisfied. It's all my duty."

Master He readily settled the final payment and gave him an extra few dozen coins as a tip: "Take this, buy some candy for the child. I'll come back to you if I need anything in the future!"

Chen Dashan accepted the silver, feeling much more at ease. As he left, he thought about Master He's words, a warm feeling welling up inside him. Having his carpentry skills recognized over the years was more important than anything else.

Driving the mule cart back home, Chen Dashan suddenly stopped when he passed the market. He thought for a moment and decided to buy some meat to improve his family's meals.

Two pounds of pork belly, three large bones, and a big pig's head. The butcher recognized him and asked with a smile, "Carpenter Chen, struck it rich today? Buying so much!"

Chen Dashan laughed too: "It's good to nourish the family. They've been busy since the autumn harvest, so they deserve a good meal."

---

Back at the stall, Chen's father was taken aback when he saw what he had bought: "Why did you buy so much meat all at once?"

Chen Dashan handed the remaining silver to his father and said, "Dad, since the autumn harvest, our family has been on high alert, not a single day has been a break. Now that Master He's work is finished, it's time to improve the family's meals and give everyone a little nourishment."

Mr. Chen nodded and said nothing more. He took out a small bundle from his pocket and handed it to Chen Dashan: "Here are some plasters I bought for you. Doctor Li made them recently, saying they're good for your legs. Try them when you get home."

Chen Dashan took the bundle, his heart warmed: "Thank you, Dad."

After noon, the market gradually emptied out. Looking at the sky, Chen's father said to his two sons, "It's about time. Let's pack up and go home. It's cold; let's get home early."

Just as the three were about to pack up their stall, they suddenly heard someone shout, "Chen Dashan! Wait!"

Chen Dashan looked up and saw it was Manager Liu. He had come running over, panting.

"Thank goodness you didn't leave!" Liu Yilong patted his knees, catching his breath. "Do you still have any embroidery pieces made by your sister-in-law? Someone wanted to buy a large embroidery design, so I recommended it to them!"

Chen Dashan quickly said, "Manager Liu, the large embroidery that my wife and sister-in-law made has already been sold to Madam Yu. Now we only have some smaller items—cushions, pillowcases, handkerchiefs, and the like."

Liu Yilong thought for a moment and said, "Then take a few items and come with me. Let's give it a try; what if they like them?"

Chen Dashan told his father and Chen Xiaohe to wait at the stall, and then he followed Liu Yilong away.

---

As they walked, Liu Yilong introduced him, "This man is Manager Sun from the bookstore in the county town. His family has been in business for generations, and they even have a shop in the prefectural city. If he takes a liking to his younger siblings' craftsmanship, he's definitely not short of money."

After hearing this, Chen Dashan understood the situation.

The two arrived at a bookstore. The store was small, but very clean, with various books neatly arranged on the shelves. A middle-aged man in his forties was using an abacus behind the counter. He looked up when he saw them enter.

"Manager Liu, who is this?" Manager Sun put down his abacus and stood up.

Liu Yilong introduced with a smile: "Manager Sun, this is the carpenter Chen I told you about. His wife and sister-in-law are both skilled at embroidery. Take a look at these."

Chen Dashan opened the bundle in his hand, revealing several small embroidered items inside—a pair of pillowcases with mandarin ducks playing in the water, a handkerchief embroidered with orchids, and an adorable little cloth tiger.

Shopkeeper Sun took it and examined it carefully, turning it over and over several times, then holding it up to the light to check the stitches. He nodded, a satisfied look on his face: "The craftsmanship is indeed excellent. The stitches are fine and the color scheme is elegant."

Chen Dashan breathed a sigh of relief.

Shopkeeper Sun thought for a moment and said, "Here's what we'll do, Mr. Chen, have your wife come to the bookstore tomorrow. I'd like to order a birthday painting for my mother's 60th birthday. If your craftsmanship is up to par, we'll place the order."

Chen Dashan nodded quickly: "Okay, Manager Sun, my wife will definitely come tomorrow."

---