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

As the family talked, the sun had already risen higher.

Chen's father stood up, picked up a hoe, and said to Chen Dashan, "Let's go to the valley. While the weather is good, let's plant all the melon seedlings."

Chen Dashan responded and followed him outside. Su Xiaoyin chased after them and stuffed a water pouch into Chen Dashan's hand: "Take this, drink when you're thirsty."

Chen Dashan took it, glanced at her, nodded, and turned to leave.

In the valley, the newly turned earth exuded a moist scent. Chen's father and Chen Dashan bent over, planting melon seedlings one by one into the soil. The tender green leaves swayed gently in the spring breeze, as if greeting the world.

Mr. Chen straightened up, looking at the newly planted melon seedlings with anticipation in his eyes: "If the weather is good this year, these melons can sell for a lot of money."

Chen Dashan said, "Dad, if we take good care of him, we're sure to have a good harvest."

The father and son then got back to work.

---

At noon, Su Xiaoyin brought lunch. She carried a basket filled with steaming hot flatbread and a pot of soup. Chen's father and Chen Dashan sat down on the edge of the field and ate heartily.

Su Xiaoyin stood to the side, looking at the newly planted melon seedlings, and felt happy too. She knew that when these seedlings grew, they would become money. That's how the family's livelihood was built up little by little.

After finishing his meal, Chen Dashan put the bowls and chopsticks into the basket and said to Su Xiaoyin, "You go back first, we'll finish planting this patch and then head back."

Su Xiaoyin nodded and walked back with the basket in her hand.

----

"Father! Mother! Eldest brother! Sister-in-law! Xiaoqing! I'm back!"

As evening fell, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and Chen Xiaohe's voice rushed in like a gust of wind. His voice carried the weariness of a long journey, but could not suppress the excitement of returning home.

Su Xiaoyin was busy in the kitchen when she heard the noise and quickly peeked out. Seeing the dark, thin figure in the yard, her heart ached, and she quickly called out, "Xiaohe's back! Sit down and rest for a while, I'll cook dinner, something nice to eat tonight!"

Chen Xiaohe chuckled, put the bundle on his back on the ground, and looked around: "Where's Xiaoqing?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Xiaoqing ran out of the house. She stood at the door, looking at her man, her eyes instantly reddening.

Chen Xiaohe had lost weight and gotten darker. His face was tanned, the calluses on his hands were thicker, and even his eye sockets were sunken. But his eyes were still bright, and he was looking at her with a silly grin.

"You..." Su Xiaoqing opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, "How did you get so thin?"

Chen Xiaohe walked over and took her hand: "You've been busy on the mountain all day, you must be tired. It's okay, you'll be fine after a few days of rest. I've learned so much from Brother De!"

Su Xiaoqing looked at him, wanting to say something but unable to, and just held his hand tightly.

Su Xiaoyin laughed from the side, "Alright, alright, it's good that she's back. Xiaoqing, you talk to Xiaohe for a bit, I'll go cook. We'll make dumplings tonight!"

Su Xiaoqing nodded and pulled Chen Xiaohe into the house. As they walked, Chen Xiaohe asked, "Where are Dad and my older brother?"

Su Xiaoqing said, "My eldest brother went to the county town to deliver the remaining goods to Manager Sun, and Dad went to the fields to see if they need watering and fertilizing. He'll be back in a bit."

Chen Xiaohe said "Oh" and followed her into the house.

---

Upon entering the house, Chen Xiaohe first went to check on the four children. Shitou was playing with his younger siblings on the kang (a heated brick bed), and when they saw him return, they all rushed over.

"Uncle! Uncle's back!"

"Uncle, where have you been? Stone misses you so much!"

"Dad, did you bring me something delicious?"

Surrounded by the four children, Chen Xiaohe's heart melted. He hugged each of them, patted their heads, and said with a smile, "Daddy went to learn some skills, and I'll bring you some good things when I come back!"

He rummaged through his bundle and pulled out a few pieces of candy, giving one to each of the four children, who jumped for joy. Looking at them, Chen Xiaohe's weariness vanished instantly.

Su Xiaoqing watched from the side, a smile playing on her lips.

After the children went back to play, Chen Xiaohe took a small box out of his bundle and handed it to Su Xiaoqing. Su Xiaoqing was taken aback: "What's this?"

Chen Xiaohe scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "I bought it in a neighboring county. The shopkeeper said it's a hand oil used by embroiderers; it keeps hands moisturized and doesn't irritate them. You do embroidery every day, your hands must be rough, try this."

Su Xiaoqing took the box, opened it, and smelled it; a faint fragrance wafted out. She looked up at Chen Xiaohe, her eyes reddening again.

"It smells so good," she whispered. "Thank you, River."

Chen Xiaohe chuckled: "No need to thank me, it's nothing."

Su Xiaoqing carefully put away the hand oil and nudged him, saying, "Go wash up and lie down for a while. I'll call you when dinner is ready."

Chen Xiaohe nodded and went to the yard to fetch water to wash his face.

---

Inside the kitchen, Su Xiaoyin was busy as a bee.

On the cutting board were diced bamboo shoots and cured meat, as well as a bowl of prepared filling. She quickly and efficiently kneaded the dough and rolled out the wrappers, completing the task in one go.

Su Xiaoqing came in, tied on an apron, and started helping to make dumplings. As she made them, she asked, "Sister, what kind of filling are we having for dinner?"

Su Xiaoyin said, "There are two fillings. One is bamboo shoots and cured pork, and the other is chives and egg. Xiaohe likes the bamboo shoots and cured pork one, and you like the chives and egg one, right?"

Su Xiaoqing smiled: "Sister, you're so kind."

Su Xiaoyin laughed too: "Alright, stop being silly. Hurry up and wrap them, Dad and the others will be back soon."

The two sisters worked together seamlessly, one rolling out the dough and the other filling the dumplings, quickly making a whole row of them. Su Xiaoyin then grabbed a large bone, put it in the pot to stew, and planned to make bone broth later.

"Sister, Xiaohe has lost a lot of weight," Su Xiaoqing said softly as she packed her bags.

Su Xiaoyin glanced at her and said, "He has lost weight. But look at his energy, he's doing great. Learning anything is tiring, isn't it? He'll be fine in a few days."

Su Xiaoqing nodded and didn't say anything more.

---

Mr. Chen returned first. He was carrying a hoe, his forehead covered in sweat. When he saw the clothes hanging in the yard, he knew his youngest son had returned, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Dad!" Chen Xiaohe ran out of the house. "You're back!"

Mr. Chen looked him up and down, then nodded: "You've lost weight and gotten darker. How's your studies going?"

Chen Xiaohe puffed out his chest: "I've learned so much! How to fertilize, how to prune, how to control pests—my master taught me everything!"

Chen's father patted his shoulder: "Good! Eat well tonight and make it up to you."

Chen's mother and Chen Dashan returned one after the other. Chen Dashan gave the money he had earned from selling goods to his mother, then went to check on his younger brother and remarked that he had lost weight. Chen Xiaohe felt a warm glow inside as the family surrounded him with questions.

---