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

Chen Dashan walked over and asked, "Dad, the shop's all set up. What should we sell next?"

Mr. Chen said, "Let's go back and think this over carefully tonight. Let's pack our things first and go home today. I've been gone for so many days; I wonder how Xiaohe is doing at home."

Chen Dashan nodded: "Okay. Once we're done here, we'll head back."

---

The family packed their belongings, locked the courtyard gate, and drove the mule cart and oxcart towards Nanshan Village.

On the way, Chen's father looked at the crops on both sides of the road, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. The corn leaves were curled up, the soybean seedlings were drooping, and the ground was so dry that cracks appeared.

"It seems we can't escape this drought this year," Chen's father sighed.

Chen Dashan said, "Dad, I'll go back and check on the crops, and water the ones that need watering."

When he got home, the gate was open, but Chen Xiaohe wasn't there.

Mr. Chen went to the backyard to check on the livestock first. The cows and mules were in the shed, with plenty of hay and the water troughs were clean. The chickens, ducks, and geese were running around in the yard, all in good spirits. He nodded; Xiaohe, that kid, was reliable when it came to work.

Chen Dashan put down his things, picked up his basket, and headed up the mountain. The fruit trees on the mountain were what he missed most; he hadn't taken care of them these past few days and didn't know how badly they were succumbing to the drought.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Su Xiaoyin chopped the pork she bought from the county town into minced meat, while Su Xiaoqing washed a bunch of celery and chopped it finely.

"Sis, shall we make dumplings? Xiaohe's been home alone all day, he probably hasn't had a proper meal," Su Xiaoqing said.

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Okay, I'll make celery and pork filling. Xiaohe loves this."

The two sisters worked together seamlessly, one kneading the dough and the other mixing the filling. The four children were tired and fell asleep in the house, peaceful and quiet, a rare treat.

---

In the evening, Chen Xiaohe returned from the fields.

He carried a hoe, covered in sweat, his face tanned a deep red. Seeing smoke rising from his own chimney in the distance, he assumed Chen's mother had returned to cook. He quickened his pace, pushed open the gate, and immediately saw Chen Dashan squatting in the yard, sharpening his hoe.

"Big brother!" Chen Xiaohe called out, his voice trembling slightly, "You're back! I missed you all so much!"

Chen Dashan stood up, patted his younger brother on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "You've had a tough time, Xiaohe. You must be exhausted from being home alone these past few days."

Chen Xiaohe chuckled and scratched his head: "It's alright, I just miss you guys a little."

Chen's mother poked her head out from the kitchen: "Wash your hands and eat! Let's chat while we eat!"

Su Xiaoqing came out of the kitchen carrying dumplings. When she saw Chen Xiaohe, she smiled and said, "Go wash your hands quickly, the dumplings are fresh out of the pot."

Chen Xiaohe responded and ran to fetch water to wash his face. When he returned, the family was already sitting around the table. There were two large plates of steaming dumplings, a dish of pickled garlic, and a dish of cucumber salad.

Su Xiaoqing put a few dumplings on Chen Xiaohe's plate, and Chen Xiaohe said, "You eat too, don't just put them on my plate."

Chen Xiaohe took a bite of a dumpling and sighed contentedly, "Home-cooked meals are still the best. I've been just making do with whatever I can these past few days while I'm all alone."

Mr. Chen asked, "How's the field?"

Chen Xiaohe swallowed the dumpling in his mouth and said, "Dad, I'm afraid there will be a severe drought this year. The river is receding quite quickly, and I've been watering the crops almost every day lately. The crops are doing alright, barely holding on. The only ones I haven't watered yet are the fruit trees on the mountain; I plan to go there again tomorrow."

Chen Dashan said, "I'll go with you tomorrow. Two people can work faster."

Mr. Chen nodded: "I'll go check on the crops tomorrow, and then ask Brother De what arrangements the village has made."

Chen Xiaohe asked again, "Dad, is the shop finished?"

Mr. Chen smiled: "It's all built. Once the walls are dry, we can hang up the sign. Then we can put out the goods and open for business."

Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up: "Then what should we sell?"

Mr. Chen said, "Let's discuss this properly after we finish eating."

---

After dinner, the family sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air.

It was completely dark, but still a bit muggy. A few fireflies flitted around in the yard, and four children chased after them, their giggles carrying far away.

Mr. Chen, puffing on his pipe, said slowly, "Now that the shop is built, we need to think about what to sell. We can't just sell one thing; we need a wider variety so people will be willing to come."

Chen Dashan thought for a moment and said, "We can sell our melons at the shop this year. We can also take the autumn fruits and vegetables from the yard."

Chen's mother said, "We can also put some small daily necessities, like needles and thread, on the market. People appreciate the things I sell at the market."

Su Xiaoyin said, "I often go to the cloth shop to buy cloth, and I'm familiar with the manager. I can get some flawed pieces of cloth from him to sell at a cheap price, and I don't have to worry about finding buyers. I can also get some scraps of cloth to make small items."

Su Xiaoqing said, "We also have chicken and duck eggs at home. If we accumulate enough, we can sell them. City people only recognize free-range eggs, saying they taste better than store-bought ones."

Chen Xiaohe also said, "I can sell the bamboo baskets, winnowing trays, and wicker baskets I weave. My older brother's small wooden carvings can also be displayed."

Mr. Chen listened and nodded: "That's all good. Let's take it slow and put out what we have at home first. Later, I'll go to the county town and other towns to see what other general stores sell and learn from them."

Chen Dashan said, "Dad, shouldn't our melons have a sign too? So people will know they belong to our family."

After thinking for a moment, Mr. Chen said, "Yes, we need a sign. Let's find a wooden board and have Dashan carve a few words on it to hang at the door."

Suddenly remembering something, Chen's mother said, "Oh, right, our persimmon cakes sold really well at the market last year. Let's make a few more this year so we can sell them at the shop."

Su Xiaoyin said, "We also have dried fruit. If we have a lot of fruit this year, we'll try making some. The kids loved the ones we made last year."

Chen Xiaohe said, "We'll have to take good care of the fruit on the mountain this year. I see that the peach and apricot trees are already laden with fruit. If they ripen smoothly, we can harvest quite a lot."

Chen's father said, "Tomorrow you and Dashan go and water the fruit trees first. I'll figure out what to do with the crops."

The family members chatted animatedly about the shop, each taking turns to speak.

---

It was late at night, and the children were sleepy, so Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing carried them back into the house. Father Chen was still sitting in the yard, smoking his pipe.

Chen Dashan walked over and sat down next to him.

"Father, what are you thinking about?" Chen Dashan asked.

Father Chen exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly said, "I've been thinking, we went from not even having enough to eat, being dirt poor, to now having land, mountains, and a shop in the county town. Life is getting better and better."

Chen Dashan nodded: "Yes, it's all thanks to Father and Mother for taking good care of things."

Father Chen shook his head: "It's not just your mother and me who have to rely on each other. You two brothers are capable, your two daughters-in-law are hardworking, and your children are sensible. Only when the whole family works together can we live a good life."

Chen Dashan didn't say anything, but felt a warm feeling in his heart.

Mr. Chen stood up and patted his eldest son on the shoulder: "Alright, go to sleep early. You still have work to do tomorrow."

Chen Dashan responded and followed his father into the house.