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

After watering the plants, Chen Dashan returned to the yard. Su Xiaoyin was busy in the kitchen. Seeing him come in, she asked, "Dashan, has there been little rain this year?"

Chen Dashan nodded: "It's less. In previous years, it would rain one light rain after another in the spring, but this year there have been very few."

Su Xiaoyin said, "I just thought of that too. When Dad comes back, tell him so he can make a plan."

Chen Dashan said, "Yes, I know."

Su Xiaoyin said no more and continued with her work.

In the kitchen, Su Xiaoqing was holding a bowl of bean sprouts, proudly showing it to her sister.

"Sis, look at the bean sprouts I grew! What do you think?"

The bean sprouts were snow-white with tender yellow buds, so fresh and appealing. Su Xiaoyin took them and looked at them, then smiled and said, "Your bean sprouting skills are getting better and better. These bean sprouts are so vibrant!"

Su Xiaoqing became even more smug: "Of course! I change the water every day and watch over it every day, how could it not be good?"

Su Xiaoyin placed the bean sprouts on the cutting board and said, "When our family's general store opens, we can sell these bean sprouts too. They're fresh and juicy; someone will definitely buy them."

Su Xiaoqing's eyes lit up: "That's right! And there are the sesame seeds Xiaohe brought back. If we plant them well this year and there are plenty of sesame seeds in the fall, we can try making sesame candy ourselves. If we do it well, we can sell it at the shop!"

Su Xiaoyin laughed: "Your brain works pretty fast."

Su Xiaoqing chuckled: "I learned it from my older sister."

---

At noon, Chen's father and Chen Xiaohe returned from the mountain. Both were covered in sweat, but had smiles on their faces.

"Dad, that plot of land is almost ready. We can start planting it in a couple of days," Chen Xiaohe said.

Mr. Chen nodded, washed his hands, and sat down to drink water. Chen Dashan came over and told his father about his findings that morning.

"Dad, there's been little rain this year, I'm afraid we'll have a drought. Shouldn't we start making plans now?"

Mr. Chen was silent for a moment, then nodded: "You're right. This year is drier than usual. We need to repair the irrigation canals and dig some more water storage pits. We also need to prepare on the mountain, lest the fruit rot from thirst."

Chen Dashan said, "Okay, I'll work with Xiaohe later."

Chen's mother poked her head out from the kitchen: "Dinner's ready! Stop chatting and come in!"

---

Lunch was laid out on the table: cold wild garlic salad, wild garlic stir-fried with eggs, stir-fried bean sprouts, and a steaming bowl of multigrain porridge. The family sat together, eating and chatting.

Chen Xiaohe talked about sesame seeds, Su Xiaoqing talked about bean sprouts and sesame candy, and Chen Dashan talked about drought relief. They chatted away, making it a lively and interesting conversation.

Hearing this, Mr. Chen felt reassured. With the family working together, they could overcome anything.

After dinner, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing cleaned up the dishes. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe went to the yard to sharpen their hoes. Chen's father sat on the porch, smoking his pipe, looking at the people in the yard with a smile on his face.

----

"Dad, has Brother De officially taken over as village head?"

After lunch, the family sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. Chen Dashan teased Afu, who was lying beside his legs, while asking his father a question.

Father Chen nodded and tapped his pipe: "Just this morning, the old village headman summoned everyone to the village entrance to announce that Brother De would be taking over as the new village headman."

Chen Xiaohe leaned closer and asked, "Nobody objects, right?"

Father Chen smiled: "A few people have their doubts, but most people agree. De-ge has been running around with his father for years, so he knows everything about the village. He's also a very honest person, and everyone trusts him."

Chen's mother, who was sewing shoe soles nearby, interjected, "I heard that the first thing Brother De did after taking office was to have everyone prepare for drought relief?"

Mr. Chen nodded: "That's right. Anyone with eyes can see how bad the drought is this year. Brother De said we can't wait until the drought gets bad before we start to worry; we have to prepare in advance. He organized a few people to go up the mountain to find water sources, saying that we should be prepared for any eventuality."

Chen Dashan said, "Brother De handled this matter well. With him around, our village will suffer less this year."

Chen Xiaohe chuckled, "Dad, our materials are almost ready. When are we sending them to the county town?"

Mr. Chen thought for a moment and said, "There's a lot of material; we definitely can't haul it all in one trip. Here's what we'll do: tomorrow, when your mother goes to the county town to set up her stall, she can take some of the material with her. Your mother will ride in a mule cart, and the two of you can drive an oxcart for one load. Two loads a day, and after a few days of running around, the material will be delivered."

Chen Xiaohe blinked: "Dad, can we make two more trips a day? We still have enough time."

Chen's father glared at him: "You might make it, but do you think the oxen and mules will? It's such a long way, and they're hauling logs and stones. Do you want to exhaust them to death?"

Chen Xiaohe feigned grievance: "Dad, you don't care about me and my older brother at all, aren't you afraid we'll get exhausted? You're actually worried about the ox and the mule!"

Father Chen laughed in anger, slapping his youngest son on the back of the head: "Are cows and mules so precious? Can you two compare to them?"

Chen Dashan chuckled, and even Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing next to him couldn't help but laugh out loud. Although the four children didn't quite understand what the adults were laughing about, they also giggled along.

Chen Xiaohe covered his head and chuckled, "Alright, alright, the ox and the mule are more precious than me. Then tomorrow my brother and I will follow your arrangements and pull them one trip at a time."

Chen Dashan stood up and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Come on, let's go up the mountain and check the traps. We'll also haul up the fish baskets and see if we've caught anything."

Chen Xiaohe stood up and said, "Okay, let's go."

Mr. Chen said, "You all go ahead, I'm going to the backyard to check on the livestock shed; it needs some tidying up."

---

The two brothers, carrying baskets on their backs, walked up the mountain. The setting sun cast long shadows of them along the mountain path.

As Chen Xiaohe walked, he suddenly said, "Brother, do you think our shop will do well in the future?"

Chen Dashan thought for a moment and said, "As long as our products are good, we won't have to worry about not having buyers. Look at Mother's stall at the market, all her regular customers come here by name."

Chen Xiaohe nodded: "That's true. Then I'll make more things, and fill the display with them."

Chen Dashan laughed: "Okay, let's do it together."

The two walked away, talking as they went. The afterglow of the setting sun shone warmly and quietly on the hillside.

Down the mountain, in the Chen family's courtyard, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney. Mother Chen was busy in the kitchen, while Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were collecting the clothes drying in the yard. The four children chased after the little dog in the yard, their giggles carrying far away.

Standing in the backyard, Chen's father looked at the cows and mules in the shed and reached out to stroke the old yellow ox's head. The old yellow ox flicked its tail and gently nuzzled his hand.

"Rest well, we still have work to do tomorrow," Mr. Chen said softly.

The old ox mooed, as if in response.

Life goes on like this, one day at a time. It's ordinary, but fulfilling.