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

"Mom, you've arrived!" Su Xiaoyin went to greet her and unloaded the things.

Chen's mother wiped her sweat and said, "I'm exhausted. How's it going over there? Has Liu the bricklayer started working?"

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "They've already started digging the foundation. Dashan is watching over there."

Chen's mother glanced towards the construction site and saw Chen Dashan talking to Liu the bricklayer. She nodded in relief, gave him a few more instructions, and then drove her mule cart back to set up her stall.

---

At noon, the meal was laid out on the table: multigrain pancakes, stewed fish and tofu, braised offal, stir-fried greens, pickled vegetables, and a large bowl of mung bean soup. Liu the bricklayer and his two helpers ate with gusto, sweating profusely, repeatedly praising its deliciousness.

While eating, Chen Dashan discussed the doors and windows with Liu the bricklayer. Liu the bricklayer said, "Chen the carpenter, I've measured the dimensions of the doors and windows. Just make them accordingly. There's no rush for the shelves; we can measure them after the walls are built."

Chen Dashan nodded, understanding the situation.

After dinner, Liu the bricklayer and his helper continued working. Chen Dashan returned to the carpentry workshop and began sawing wood. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing put the four children to sleep, took out the Qilin Bringing a Child painting, and began needlework.

In the courtyard, the clanging and clattering of hammers and the rustling of embroidery needles piercing through silk intertwined, creating a scene of busy yet quiet activity.

As the sun began to set, Chen's mother came again. She brought over the pig offal needed for tomorrow, bought a set from the butcher stall before closing up shop, and checked on the children's condition.

"How was your day?" she asked.

Su Xiaoyin said, "Everything is fine. Liu the bricklayer is efficient; the foundation is already halfway done."

Chen's mother nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then drove the mule cart back to the village.

---

That evening, the family sat around the table in the main room. The four children were already asleep, and on the kang (a heated brick bed) lay the half-finished embroidery of a qilin (a mythical creature bringing a child). Su Xiaoyin embroidered under the lamp, while Su Xiaoqing helped with the stitching beside her.

Chen Dashan returned from the carpentry workshop, washed his hands, and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Looking at the embroidery, he asked, "How much longer until it's finished?"

Su Xiaoyin thought for a moment and said, "At the earliest, it will be another two months. But I still need to make sachets and colorful ropes for the Dragon Boat Festival, so I have to find some time."

Chen Dashan nodded: "No rush, take your time embroidering. You all take a rest."

Su Xiaoqing laughed from the side: "Big brother has learned to care about people now."

Chen Dashan felt a little embarrassed by what she said, and lowered his head, pretending to tidy up his tools.

Su Xiaoyin glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, and continued embroidering with her head down.

----

The next morning, "Xiaoyin, here are some vegetables and eggs. Take them. I'm going to set up my stall!"

Early in the morning, Chen's mother drove her mule cart to the house in the county town. She handed the basket to Su Xiaoyin, turned around and was about to leave, her steps hurried, as if something was chasing her.

Su Xiaoyin took the basket from her mother-in-law and, watching her mother-in-law's hurried figure, quickly called out, "Mom, don't eat pancakes for lunch, I'll bring you some!"

Chen's mother had already reached the courtyard gate. Whether she heard her or not, she simply waved and went out. The creaking sound of the mule cart quickly disappeared at the alley entrance.

Su Xiaoyin stood in the courtyard, looking in the direction her mother-in-law had disappeared, and sighed. She knew her mother-in-law's temperament; when she got busy, she wouldn't have time for herself. The few flatbreads she took with her that morning were her only food for the day. She could take a bite when they were hot, but when they got cold and hard, she would just swallow them with water.

"I need to get the food over there as soon as possible," Su Xiaoyin thought to herself as she carried the basket into the kitchen.

---

In the kitchen, Su Xiaoqing was washing the dishes. The pots and pans were almost all cleaned up, and the stove was spotless. Seeing her older sister come in, she turned and asked, "Sister, what did Mom bring over? Let me see what we should make for lunch."

Su Xiaoyin took the items out of the basket one by one. The green vegetables were tender and fresh, still glistening with dew, clearly picked from the garden that morning. There were a dozen or so eggs, not very big, but each one was firm.

"Mom brought a lot of things." Su Xiaoyin placed the vegetables on the cutting board, thought for a moment, and said, "Take out that smoked pork bone at noon and stew it with potatoes. The bone broth will be oily, and the stewed potatoes will be fragrant. Also, make a cold dish with the greens Mom brought."

Su Xiaoqing nodded and asked, "Sister, have you made herbal tea? It's hot today, and people who work are prone to heatstroke."

Su Xiaoyin said, "No, you can cook some later, cook a lot. Hang it in the well to cool, and let them drink it at noon. Dad, Dashan, and Liu the bricklayer, each have a bowl to cool off."

Su Xiaoqing responded and went to the stove to get busy.

Su Xiaoyin looked at the basket of eggs again and said, "These eggs Mom brought, let's steam some minced meat and egg custard for the child. We'll also stir-fry some greens to go with it."

Su Xiaoqing smiled: "Okay, sis, let's do it this way."

---

The two sisters busied themselves in the kitchen.

Su Xiaoyin pulled the large smoked bone from the well and placed it on the cutting board. The bone was smoked to a dark reddish-brown color, emitting a rich smoky aroma. She chopped the bone into several pieces, put it in a pot, added water, brought it to a boil over high heat, skimmed off the foam, added scallions, ginger, and a few peppercorns, and simmered it slowly over low heat.

Su Xiaoqing started brewing the herbal tea. The honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, licorice root, and a few mint leaves were all picked at home, dried, and stored. She boiled the water, added the herbs, and simmered them for a while, filling the kitchen with a refreshing herbal aroma.

"Sister, the herbal tea is ready." Su Xiaoqing took the pot off the table and set it aside to cool.

Su Xiaoyin said, "If we lower it into the well, it will be completely cold by noon."

Su Xiaoqing found a clean wooden bucket, poured the chilled tea into it, and used a rope to lower it slowly into the well. The well water was ice-cold; after hanging there for an hour or two, it would be just the right temperature to drink.

---

By noon, the food was almost ready.

The pork bone and potato stew is ready. The bones are stewed until tender, and the potatoes have absorbed all the broth, making them soft and chewy. The stir-fried greens are vibrant green and crisp. The steamed minced meat and egg custard is smooth and tender, sprinkled with chopped scallions—it looks incredibly tempting. The cold salad is also ready, with its sweet and sour flavor—very appetizing.

After dividing the food, Su Xiaoyin said to Su Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, you watch the four children eat. I'm going to take the food to Mom. Take it there early, so she doesn't have to eat flatbread again."

Su Xiaoqing nodded: "Sister, you go ahead. I'll look after the children."

Su Xiaoyin put Chen's mother's meal into a basket, covered it with a clean cloth, filled a bamboo tube with herbal tea, and hurriedly went out.

---

In the courtyard, Chen's father, Liu the bricklayer, and Chen Dashan were sitting around the stone table eating.

Liu the bricklayer picked up a piece of potato, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and nodded with satisfaction: "Brother Chen, of all the jobs I've done, your family's food is the most satisfying. It tastes just like what I make at home."

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "It's all just home-style cooking, simple fare. I'm glad Chef Liu doesn't mind. Eat more, there's more in the pot."