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

After thinking for a moment, Mr. Chen said to Mrs. Chen, "Old woman, when Dashan and Xiaohe go to the county town tomorrow, have them buy some decent gifts. Cigarettes, alcohol, tea, candy, and the like, nothing too stingy."

Chen's mother nodded: "Okay, I'll give them the money tomorrow."

Chen Xiaohe suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Dad, with my sister-in-law and Xiaoqing embroidering, is Mom managing to manage the stall all by herself?"

Chen's mother waved her hand: "It's alright, I can manage on my own. I've rested all winter, it's time for me to get some exercise. You all go about your business."

Father Chen said, "Then it's settled. Dashan and Xiaohe will be busy with orders, Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing will stay home to do embroidery and take care of the children, and the old woman will go to the county town to set up a stall. When it's time for spring plowing, we'll all work together in the fields."

After the family agreed on the division of labor, they each went back to their rooms to rest.

---

That evening, Su Xiaoyin lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), thinking about the day's events. She had received another 45 taels of embroidery work, meaning she'd be busy for the next three months. Fortunately, she had done it once before, so this time it should be faster. Plus, she could catch up before spring planting, so there should be enough time.

----

"Dashan, are you busy?"

Chen Dashan was polishing a piece of wood in the yard when he heard the sound, looked up, and saw Brother De push open the gate and walk in. He quickly put down his work and brushed the sawdust off his clothes.

"Brother De's here! Come in and sit down!" Chen Dashan ushered him into the main room, then called out to the east wing, "Xiao Yin, pour me a bowl of water!"

Su Xiaoyin responded from inside and soon came out with a bowl of hot tea. De Ge took it, took a sip, and smiled, "Your tea is still the best."

Chen Dashan sat down next to him and asked, "Brother De, is this today? Has there been any change regarding our trip to the neighboring county tomorrow?"

Brother De shook his head: "No, no, we'll stick to the plan. We'll go buy the seeds first, and while we're at it, we'll visit that old gentleman. I came to see you about something else."

Chen Dashan looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

De Ge put down his teacup, his expression becoming more serious: "Da Shan, my father wants me to take over his position while he's still healthy. That way, he can offer some advice and give me some guidance."

Chen Dashan paused for a moment, then smiled: "This is great news! Brother De, I'll be the first to support you becoming the village head!"

Dege looked at him and asked, "Do you really think so?"

Chen Dashan nodded: "Of course. In recent years, thanks to the village head, our village has generally been doing quite well. There haven't been any particularly unfair incidents, and the village atmosphere is good. Brother De, you'll definitely do a good job taking over."

Brother De breathed a sigh of relief, and his smile became more genuine: "I'm relieved to hear you say that."

Chen Dashan was somewhat puzzled: "Brother De, what do you mean by that?"

De Ge was silent for a moment before speaking: "Da Shan, I won't lie to you. Your family's life has been getting better and better these past few years, and you're now one of the wealthiest in the village. I'm afraid your family might have some thoughts about this..."

Chen Dashan understood and quickly waved his hand, "Brother De, don't overthink it. Our family just wants to live our own peaceful lives; we don't have any other ambitions. You're more suitable for the position of village head."

De Ge nodded, finally relieved. He took another sip of tea and suddenly lowered his voice to ask, "Da Shan, did your family buy a house in the county town?"

Chen Dashan was taken aback and looked at Brother De.

Brother De laughed and explained, "Our family also found a shop in the county town by chance, and it's already been rented out. There's a small courtyard in the back of the shop, which can be used for living, and the location is quite good. We also discovered by chance that your family had quietly bought a shop as well."

Chen Dashan felt relieved and nodded, "Brother De has a good eye. We've saved some money in the past two years, and this is all the land we have. We don't plan to buy any more for now. We wouldn't be able to cultivate it all anyway. I heard that houses and shops in the county town have dropped in price, so I bought one."

De Ge asked, "Are you planning to move to the county town in the future?"

Chen Dashan shook his head, his voice lowering slightly: "I haven't decided yet. It's mainly for the sake of Xiaohe's family."

Brother De paused for a moment: "Fourth brother? Afu?"

Chen Dashan nodded and sighed, "That child was born weak and thinner than other children. Doctor Li said he needs to be raised slowly, and he probably won't be able to do heavy work in the fields in the future. We were thinking that if we could find a shop in the county town, we could let him open a small shop to sell some things, or work as a shop assistant. That would be a way out for him."

After listening, Brother De remained silent for a while, then patted Chen Dashan on the shoulder: "Dashan, you are a good uncle."

Chen Dashan gave a wry smile: "I just want to leave more options for my child."

De Ge said, "That's what I'm thinking too. We've rented out our shop for now. Once the fruit trees on the mountain are laden with fruit, if the yield is good, we'll stop renting it out and open our own mountain produce shop, specializing in mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and dried vegetables."

Chen Dashan's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! We feel more at ease selling our own products."

Brother De laughed and said, "Then our two families can be neighbors."

The two talked for a while longer before Brother De took his leave.

---

During dinner that evening, Chen Dashan recounted what had happened during the day.

After listening, Mr. Chen nodded: "If Brother De knows, then he knows. He won't talk nonsense. That boy is honest, just like his father."

Chen's mother chimed in, "That's right, De-ge isn't the type to gossip."

Mr. Chen put down his chopsticks, looked at everyone at the table, and his expression became more serious: "However, don't mention the house purchase to anyone else in the future. Remember one principle—make a fortune quietly."

Chen Dashan nodded: "Dad, I understand."

Chen Xiaohe nodded, "Dad, don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing also expressed their opinions. Only then did Mr. Chen nod in satisfaction and continue eating.

---

After dinner, the family sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and chatted. The four children played nearby. Shitou, holding a small wooden horse, led his younger siblings around. Afu, who was slower, was pulled along by Shitou, his little face flushed from running.

Su Xiaoqing looked at Afu, her heart softening. Although the child was small and thin, he was very lively, always running around with his older siblings. If they could really get a shop in the county town so he could live a stable life, that would be wonderful.

Chen Dashan was also looking at Afu. He remembered what he had said to Brother De during the day and was making plans in his mind. In a few years, when Afu was older, if he really couldn't work in the fields, he would send him to the county town to study for a few years, learn to read and write, and become an accountant or manager in the future. That would be a way out.

Chen's father, puffing on his pipe, suddenly asked, "Dashan, Xiaohe is going to the neighboring county tomorrow. Have you prepared everything?"

Chen Xiaohe said, "It's all ready. Mom prepared two packets of pastries, a large piece of cured meat, and a piece of cloth. That should be enough, right?"

Mr. Chen nodded: "That's enough. It's never a bad thing to be polite, but it shouldn't be too expensive, lest people think we have ulterior motives."

Chen's mother said, "I've selected all the best items, things that are presentable."

After giving a few more instructions, Mr. Chen told everyone to go back to their rooms to rest.

---

At night, Su Xiaoyin lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), thinking about tomorrow. Chen Xiaohe was going to a neighboring county to learn about fruit trees, leaving only her, Su Xiaoqing, Chen's mother, and Chen Dashan at home. She had to finish her embroidery, look after the children, and work in the fields; the next few months would be busy.

But despite the busyness, there's hope for the future.

She glanced at Chen Dashan beside her; he was already asleep, breathing evenly. At the other end of the kang (heated brick bed), the four children were huddled together, sleeping soundly. Afu put her feet on Shitou's back, and Shitou rolled over, hugging his younger brother as he continued to sleep.

Su Xiaoyin smiled gently and tucked the blanket around him.

Outside the window, moonlight shines quietly into the courtyard. Tomorrow will be another new day.