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

Liu Yilong was packing his things when he saw Chen Dashan arrive. He quickly went up to him and said, "Brother Dashan, what brings you here today?"

Chen Dashan handed over the basket and said with a smile, "Manager Liu, it's Dragon Boat Festival. I prepared some things at home and brought them to you. There are homemade zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), dried mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, and five-poison bibs and summer clothes for the children. Please don't find them too shabby."

Liu Yilong took the basket, glanced inside, and his eyes welled up with tears. He patted Chen Dashan on the shoulder, his voice hoarse, "Brother Dashan, you're too kind. I'll accept these things. Please thank my family for me."

Chen Dashan laughed and said, "It's nothing. Manager Liu has always helped us a lot, this little thing is nothing."

Liu Yilong nodded and said, "By the way, let me know when the shop opens. I'll come and support you."

Chen Dashan quickly thanked him, said a few more words, and then took his leave.

---

When I got back to the stall, most of the people had already left.

As the family was packing, a well-dressed noblewoman approached with her maid. The woman was in her thirties, with fair skin, wearing a light purple silk dress and a gold hairpin in her hair; she was clearly not from an ordinary family.

She stopped in front of the stall, her gaze sweeping over Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, before asking, "You must be Madam Chen, right? The one who made the Guanyin bestowing a child painting for Madam Yu in the county town?"

Su Xiaoyin quickly stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Yes, Madam, it was indeed my sisters and I who made it."

The woman nodded, a smile appearing on her face: "I'm from the Qian family in the county town, and I'm a close friend of Madam Yu. I saw that embroidery at her house; it was truly exquisite, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I came here today specifically to see you."

Su Xiaoyin was secretly delighted, but kept a composed expression: "Madam, you flatter me. What kind of embroidery would you like? Besides the Guanyin giving a child embroidery, my sisters and I are currently embroidering the Qilin giving a child embroidery, as well as the Five Relationships embroidery, the Pine and Crane Longevity embroidery, the Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity, and so on."

Madam Qian thought for a moment and said, "When will the Qilin Bringing a Child picture that you are currently embroidering be finished? I want to take a look at that first, and if I like it, I'll keep it. Also, I would like a picture of the Five Relationships. I saw one in the prefectural city before, and I really liked it. I've been wanting to find someone with good craftsmanship to embroider one."

Su Xiaoqing quickly took out a few handkerchiefs from the stall and handed them to Madam Qian: "Madam, these are small embroidered items we usually make. Please take a look at our craftsmanship. We embroidered two Five Relationships pictures for Manager Sun, both of which were requested by customers from the prefectural city. I wonder if this is the one you are looking at."

Mrs. Qian took the handkerchief and examined it carefully. It was embroidered with orchids and butterflies, the stitches fine and the colors elegant. The butterfly wings were as thin as cicada wings, as if they might take flight at any moment. She flipped through the handkerchiefs, looked at a few others, and nodded in satisfaction.

"The craftsmanship is indeed excellent. It's one of the best in the county." Madam Qian took out an address from her sleeve and handed it to Su Xiaoyin. "This is my home address. Once you've finished embroidering that Qilin Bringing a Child, bring it to my residence to take a look. If I like it, I'll keep it. Then we'll order another one depicting the Five Relationships."

She paused, then added, "But let me be clear from the start, if the craftsmanship isn't up to par, then there's nothing I can do. I need to see the actual product before I can make a decision."

Su Xiaoyin took the address, carefully put it away, and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, Madam, we will definitely embroider it with care. We'll deliver it to your residence first, and you can comment on it after you've seen it and are satisfied."

Madam Qian looked at the other items on the stall, picked out a few sachets and two colorful ropes, had her maid pay for them, and then left with her entourage.

---

Once everyone had walked away, Su Xiaoqing let out a long sigh of relief, tugged at her sister's sleeve, and whispered, "Sister, if Madam Qian takes a liking to our embroidery, we'll have another order! The Five Relationships design!"

Su Xiaoyin patted her hand and laughed, "Don't be too happy yet. We have to finish embroidering the Qilin Bringing a Child first, and only if someone likes it will it count. We'll do our best. If she doesn't like it, we'll sell it to someone else. Someone will always like it."

Su Xiaoqing nodded and said, "Sister, we need to hurry when we get back. We still have a lot to go on with the Qilin Bringing a Child painting."

Su Xiaoyin said, "Okay, let's get back to it. Anyway, the Dragon Boat Festival is over, so I can focus on embroidery for a while."

Hearing this from the side, Chen's mother smiled and said, "You two sisters have excellent skills, and your reputation has spread. You won't have to worry about finding work. Take your time, don't overwork yourself."

Mr. Chen glanced at the sky and said, "There aren't many people left at the market. Let's pack up and go back home. It's Dragon Boat Festival today, let's have a proper meal."

---

The family quickly packed up the stall and drove the cart back to their house.

Upon arriving at the house, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing rushed into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe hung mugwort on the door, the small broom swaying gently in the wind. Chen's mother played with her four children in the yard, Shitou leading his younger siblings in chasing the puppy, their giggles carrying far.

In the kitchen, Su Xiaoyin took out the dishes she had brought one by one. The pork was cut into chunks, marinated with soy sauce and seasonings, and prepared for braising. The fish was cleaned, a few slits were made on its body, and it was rubbed with salt and ginger slices; it would be steamed later. There was also a basket of bright green vegetables, ready to be stir-fried. The zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) were brought from home; they could be heated up and eaten immediately.

Su Xiaoqing was tending the fire by the stove, and the bone broth was simmering in the pot, its aroma filling the whole yard.

"Sister, this meal is really delicious today," Su Xiaoqing said with a smile.

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "It's a holiday, so we have to eat something good."

As the sun set, the food was laid out on the table: braised pork, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, cucumber salad, a large bowl of bone broth, and steaming hot zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). The family sat together, enjoying the meal in a lively atmosphere.

Mr. Chen picked up a piece of braised pork, tasted it, and nodded: "Xiao Yin's cooking skills are getting better and better. The meat is stewed until tender, and the flavor has penetrated it."

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "If Dad likes it, then eat more."

Chen Xiaohe ate heartily, mumbling, "Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are good enough to open a restaurant!"

The whole family laughed.

Outside the window, the moon rose. Inside the Chen family's house, the lights were on, the aroma of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) hadn't yet faded, and the family's laughter drifted far. This Dragon Boat Festival was lively and fulfilling.