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

When he got home, Chen's mother was still awake, doing needlework under the lamp. Seeing Chen's father return, she asked, "How did it go?"

Mr. Chen sat down and recounted what had happened that evening. After listening, Mrs. Chen sighed, "He's a man with a hard life. We'll help him out more in the future."

Mr. Chen nodded, and then brought up the matter of the barren mountain again: "I told him to take a look at that mountain to our west. If he buys it, he can be our neighbor in the future, and we can help each other out if anything happens."

Chen's mother said, "That mountain is nice, and there's plenty of land that can be developed at its foot. If he buys it, it'll be a good business."

Mr. Chen said, "Yes. We'll see how his visit goes tomorrow."

----

"Xiao An, you're free today, how about we go check out that barren mountain your Uncle Chen mentioned yesterday?"

Early in the morning, Li Hu sat in the yard, watching his son help feed the chickens. Li An put down the winnowing basket and ran over: "Dad, are your legs okay? Is that mountain high?"

Li Hu smiled and patted his son's head: "It's not high. We can make it up eventually if we walk slowly. We need to go take a look, and if it's suitable, we'll buy it. With the barren mountain, plus the rent from the shop in the county town and that little courtyard, it'll be enough for the two of us to cover our expenses."

Ang Lee nodded and helped his father up. The father and son slowly walked out of the village.

On the way, Li Hu talked to his son as they walked: "Xiao An, Dad has made up his mind. You will continue your studies at that school in the county town. Dad has inquired and found that Liu the scholar is a good teacher, and the tuition is cheap."

Li An lowered his head and walked for a while, then suddenly said, "Father, I don't want to take the imperial examination."

Li Hu paused for a moment, looking at his son.

Li An raised his head, his eyes showing a determination rarely seen in someone his age: "Dad, I want to be a doctor."

Li Hu didn't say anything, he just walked slowly.

Ang Lee continued, "My mother... and my unborn brother died because of complications during childbirth. If there had been a good doctor there, maybe..." He couldn't finish his sentence, and his eyes reddened.

Li Hu stopped and hugged his son. The father and son stood by the mountain path, neither of them speaking. The mountain breeze carried the scent of earth and grass.

After a long pause, Li Hu finally spoke: "Okay. I'll do as you say."

Ang Lee looked up at his father.

Li Hu said, "Study at school for a few more years and take care of your health. I'll inquire around in the county town and find you a good teacher so you can learn medicine from him for a few more years. Then, if I get sick, you can treat me directly."

Ang Lee nodded vigorously, and tears finally fell.

Li Hu patted him on the shoulder: "Let's go, let's go up the mountain and take a look. Aren't you going to be a doctor? You'll have to go up the mountain to collect herbs often in the future, so you need to get your body in good shape. Consider today your workout."

Ang Lee wiped away his tears, helped his father, and continued walking up the mountain.

---

The mountain wasn't high, but the path was difficult to traverse. Li Hu's legs weren't very strong, so he walked slowly. But he moved uphill little by little, without any rush. Li An supported his father from the side, occasionally reminding him to watch his step on the stones.

Halfway up the mountain, Li Hu stopped to catch his breath. Pointing to the gentle slope at the foot of the mountain, he said to his son, "Look, that piece of land at the foot of the mountain, if we cultivate it, we can grow a lot of crops. Soybeans, sweet potatoes, anything will do. The first year's harvest might be a little poor, but after a few years it will be good land."

Ang Lee followed his father's finger and nodded.

The father and son continued their ascent. The mountain was densely forested, with the occasional bird call. As they walked, Li Hu said to his son, "When you become a doctor, you'll have to go up the mountain to collect herbs often. There are good things on this mountain; it just depends on whether you recognize them."

Ang Lee said, "Dad, I will study hard."

Upon reaching the mountaintop, a crystal-clear stream flowed through the rocks. Li Hu squatted down, scooped up some water to wash his face, and said to his son, "There's water on this mountain, that's good. With water, we can grow things."

Ang Lee also squatted down and, imitating his father, cupped water to wash his face. The stream water was cool and refreshing.

Li Hu stood up, looked around, and nodded in satisfaction: "This mountain is nice. This is it."

---

After descending the mountain, Li Hu went directly to the village head's house.

The village head was feeding the chickens in the courtyard when he saw Li Hu arrive. He quickly greeted him, "Brother Li Hu, come in and sit down!"

Li Hu sat down and got straight to the point: "Village head, I've got my eye on that mountain, the one west of Brother Chen's house. I want to buy it."

The village headman laughed: "That mountain is nice, Brother Chen has a good eye. Alright, let's go to the government office tomorrow and get the paperwork done."

Li Hu asked, "Village head, how much does this mountain cost?"

The village head said, "Wasteland is cheap; one tael of silver can buy more than three mu. I estimate that mountain is about fifty mu, worth fifteen or sixteen taels of silver. We'll have to measure it to know the exact size."

Li Hu nodded, then remembered something else: "Village head, I'd also like to ask where you bought your fruit tree saplings?"

The village head said, "I bought it in a neighboring county. I'll write down the address for you later. When you go to that store, just say I recommended it, and you can get a discount."

Li Hu quickly expressed his gratitude.

The next day, Li Hu went to the yamen with the village head and bought the mountain. Holding the thin piece of paper in his hand, he felt much more at ease.

---

After returning from the yamen, Li Hu went to find Brother De again.

"Brother De, I need your help," Li Hu said. "I'm looking for someone to help me clear land, and I'll pay them. Do you know anyone in the village who can do this?"

Brother De thought for a moment: "There are a few families. They have little land, but the people are honest and often go to the county town to do hard labor. I'll go ask them for you."

Li Hu said, "Thank you for your trouble. I'll pay you the market rate; I won't treat him unfairly."

Brother De was efficient; he arrived the next day with several men. They were all honest, hardworking farmers who spared no effort in their work. Li Hu led them to the foot of the mountain, pointed out the area to be cleared, and the group got to work.

Clearing land was hard work. The hoes dug into the soil, uprooting the weeds and piling up the stones. The men worked up a sweat, but none of them slacked off.

Li Hu has difficulty walking and can't do heavy work, so he delivers water and meals every day. After school, Li An also goes to help, picking up stones and delivering water.

---

When the Chen family and most other families in the village had finished spring plowing, Li Hu's barren mountain still had a small portion left uncultivated.

That day, Chen's father and Chen Dashan arrived carrying hoes. Li Hu was delivering water at the foot of the mountain when he saw them and was taken aback: "Brother Chen? What brings you here?"

Mr. Chen put down his hoe and said with a smile, "The spring planting is finished at home, and I was just sitting around doing nothing, so I came to help you."

Li Hu's eyes welled up with tears: "Brother Chen, how could I possibly accept this..."

Chen Dashan had already rolled up his sleeves, taken a hoe, and started working with the others. Chen's father also picked up a hoe and said to Li Hu, "Don't be shy, we're neighbors, it's only right to help each other out."

Li Hu couldn't speak, he just nodded vigorously.