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

Father Chen took a sip of porridge and said, "After the New Year, Xiaohe will go to learn about fruit trees. Dashan will continue running his stall. Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing will make embroidery. If we work together, life will definitely get better and better."

Chen Dashan nodded and looked at Su Xiaoyin beside him. She was wiping Afu's mouth, a gentle smile on her lips.

Outside the window, the north wind howled, but inside the house was warm and cozy. On the kang (heated brick bed), four children huddled together, fast asleep. The little dog curled up on the straw mat, purring softly. The cat nestled beside the dog, the two small animals huddled together for warmth.

As the days went by, the Chen family's life, just like the big red seal on the property deed, became more and more prosperous and stable.

----

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Chen family was extremely busy.

Mother Chen, along with her two daughters-in-law, were steaming buns, frying meatballs, and stewing meat in the kitchen. The fire in the stove was burning brightly, the oil in the pot was sizzling, and the aroma filled the whole yard.

The four children ran wildly in the yard, with Shitou leading the way, Qingqing and Aji following behind, and Afu running slowly, stamping his feet in frustration. The little dog also ran alongside, barking loudly, scaring the chickens, ducks and geese into scattering in all directions.

Father Chen was chopping firewood in the yard, while Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe were putting up Spring Festival couplets and hanging lanterns. With the big red lanterns up and the couplets pasted on the door frames, the yard was instantly filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

"Dad, are the Spring Festival couplets pasted up correctly?" Chen Xiaohe asked, standing on a stool.

Mr. Chen took two steps back and looked at it: "A little to the left... a little more to the left... Okay, stick it!"

Chen Xiaohe pressed the Spring Festival couplets down firmly, jumped off the stool, and clapped his hands: "Big brother, it's your turn!"

After Chen Dashan finished pasting the Spring Festival couplets on the other side, the two of them busied themselves hanging lanterns. The red lanterns swayed gently in the wind, creating a festive atmosphere.

---

In the kitchen, Su Xiaoyin was frying meatballs. She used chopsticks to squeeze the seasoned minced meat into small balls and gently placed them into the oil. The meatballs quickly turned golden brown, floated to the surface, and sizzled. Su Xiaoqing scooped them out and put them in a basket, the aroma filling the air.

Chen's mother was stewing meat in another pot. Large chunks of pork belly were bubbling away in the pot, and the dark red broth had reduced to a perfect consistency. She added a few eggs to the pot and stewed them together.

"Mom, this meat smells so good!" Su Xiaoqing leaned over and took a sniff.

Chen's mother smiled and said, "That's right, it's been stewing all morning. It's the New Year, so we have to eat well."

Su Xiaoyin scooped out the last batch of meatballs, wiped her sweat, and said, "Mom, the steamed buns are ready. I'll go check on them."

In the steamer on the other side of the kitchen, plump, white steamed buns were steaming perfectly. Su Xiaoyin lifted the lid, and steam rushed out. Each bun was blooming, large and soft.

"Sister, your steamed buns are really good!" Su Xiaoqing praised.

Su Xiaoyin smiled: "It's because you kneaded the dough well."

---

At noon, the family sat around the table in the main room for lunch. The table was laden with food—braised pork, stewed chicken, fried meatballs, scrambled eggs, cold wild vegetable salad, and a large bowl of steaming hot steamed buns.

Father Chen raised his glass and said to the whole family, "This year is a good year. We've gained land, a mountain, and a house in the county town. Life is getting better and better. Come, let's have a drink!"

Everyone picked up their cups, and the four children followed suit, clinking their bowls of sugar water together.

"Happy Chinese New Year!" the family said in unison.

After dinner, Chen's mother began preparing the dumpling fillings. She prepared two large bowls of filling: one with cabbage and pork, and the other with radish and pork. The family sat around the cutting board, some rolling out the dough, others filling the dumplings, chatting and laughing.

Shi Tou also came over to help, and Su Xiaoyin gave him a small piece of dough to play with. He sculpted it for a while, finally making a crooked little animal, which he held up to show his younger siblings: "Look at my little dog!"

Qingqing and Aji also reached out for some dough, and Su Xiaoqing gave each of them a small piece. The three children busied themselves kneading, creating all sorts of strange shapes. Afu, the youngest, shaped the dough into a small ball, held it up, and said, "I made a meatball!"

The whole family laughed.

---

In the evening, the dumplings were ready. The steaming hot dumplings were served, dipped in vinegar and minced garlic, and they smelled incredibly delicious. The four children ate with gusto, their mouths drooling, and Shitou ate seven or eight by himself.

After dinner, the family sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) to stay up all night to welcome the New Year. Father Chen smoked his pipe, Mother Chen sewed shoe soles, Chen Dashan and Su Xiaoyin sat close together, and Chen Xiaohe and Su Xiaoqing sat side by side. The four children played on the kang, chasing each other and giggling incessantly.

Suddenly, Chen's father spoke up: "After the New Year, Xiaohe will go to learn about fruit trees. Study hard, and when he comes back, there will be hope for the fruit trees on our mountain."

Chen Xiaohe nodded: "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely study hard."

Chen's mother said, "After you finish your studies, you can take good care of our fruit trees. When they bear fruit, you can sell them for money."

Chen Dashan said, "I'll continue running my stall next year to stabilize my business in the county. The shop was rented out after the New Year, and with the rent coming in every month, life will be much better."

Su Xiaoyin said, "Xiaoqing and I will continue embroidering next year. Now that we have the catalog, we have even more new designs to embroider. Maybe we can even take on a few more large embroidery projects."

Mr. Chen nodded, looking at his family, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

"As long as we work together, life will definitely get better and better," he said.

---

The sound of firecrackers crackling outside the window heralded the arrival of the new year.

The four children peered out the window, their eyes sparkling. Stone turned and shouted, "Grandpa, they're setting off firecrackers outside!"

Mr. Chen laughed and said, "Tomorrow is the first day of the new year, so we'll have a holiday too. Let's go to sleep now and get up early tomorrow to pay New Year's visits."

The children were coaxed to lie down and fell asleep in no time. The adults talked for a while longer before going back to their rooms.

Chen Dashan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at Su Xiaoyin beside him. She was also looking at him, her eyes shining.

"Xiaoyin," he said.

"Um?"

"Next year will be better."

Su Xiaoyin smiled and leaned on his shoulder: "Yes, I will."

Outside the window, the sound of firecrackers gradually subsided, and the new year quietly arrived.

The days are long and the road is far, but as long as the family is together, no matter how far the road is, we can walk it, and no matter how difficult the days are, we can get through them.

The story of the Chen family continues.