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

In the days that followed, the Chen family began traveling back and forth between the county town and Nanshan Village.

Every day before dawn, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe would get up to pick melons. The watermelons and cantaloupes in the melon patch were at their best, each one round and plump, glistening with a greenish luster in the morning light. The two brothers would pick the largest ones, fill the oxcart to the brim, cover it with straw mats, and then load it with small items such as hair ties and silk flowers prepared by Su Xiaoyin and her sister before driving the cart to the county town.

Sometimes Mr. and Mrs. Chen would go with them, and sometimes they would stay in the village to tend to the crops and fruit trees. The four children had gotten used to this rhythm. Every day they would get up early, ride with the adults in the car, and play quietly in the courtyard of their house when they arrived in the county town.

The watermelons from Chen's General Store gradually gained fame in the county town.

"Sweet, so sweet! Sweeter than any other melon!" This is what customers say most often. Some people go out of their way to buy them, saying their kids only like this kind. Some people buy one, try it, and then come back to buy two more, saying they're bringing them to their neighbors. Regular customers even come a day in advance to ask, "Are there any melons left for tomorrow? Please save two big ones for me."

Chen Dashan only hauls one cartload of melons each day, and closes his stall once they're sold out. Some people arrive late, see the empty shelves, and say regretfully, "Sold out again? I'll come earlier tomorrow."

Chen Xiaohe had a sweet tongue; while selling melons, he chatted with people: "Grandpa, please try these melons. They're grown in our own fields, without any chemical fertilizers, and they're very sweet. Not only are the melons good, but we also grow fruit trees on the mountain. When the apples are in season in the fall, you should come and try some too."

The old man took a bite of the melon and nodded repeatedly, "This melon is very flavorful! Do you have any apples?"

Chen Xiaohe said, "Yes, we also have peach and persimmon trees. When they ripen, we'll save the first one for you."

The old man was pleased: "Okay, I'll wait. By the way, does your shop only sell melons?"

Taking advantage of the momentum, Chen Xiaohe took out several small wooden carvings and bamboo crafts from under the counter and placed them on it: "Grandpa, look, these are homemade. Wooden carvings of little horses and rabbits, perfect for children to play with. And bamboo baskets, light and pretty, good for holding snacks or something."

The old man picked up a small wooden horse, examining it from all angles, then touching it. It was smooth and round, without a single burr. His eyes lit up: "This is great! I bought one at the market last time for my eldest grandson, and he loves it. Now my second grandson wants one too, and I've been wondering where to buy one. How much is this one?"

Chen Xiaohe said, "Twenty coins each. Sir, you're a regular customer, so I'll give you eighteen coins."

Without a word, the old man took out his money and bought one, then picked out a small basket, saying it was for his wife to use for grocery shopping. As he left, he praised, "Your things are really good; I'll come here often."

After everyone left, Chen Dashan patted his younger brother on the shoulder with a smile: "Xiaohe, you're really good with words. You can sell melons and wood carvings on the side, and you've even pre-ordered all the autumn fruits."

Chen Xiaohe chuckled: "Brother, this is like killing two birds with one stone, it's a convenient thing to do. Our shop can't just sell melons, we have to put everything from home on display. Anyway, the shelves are just sitting empty."

Chen Dashan nodded: "You're right. Tomorrow we'll bring wood carvings, bamboo weaving, hair ties, and silk flowers, and arrange them neatly. There aren't many melons left, so we need to prepare other things as well."

When we got home in the evening, the family sat together in the yard. The sunset glow on the horizon hadn't faded yet, and the evening breeze carried the scent of crops and grass—it was very pleasant.

Chen Dashan recounted what had happened that day. After listening, Chen's father took a puff of his pipe and slowly said, "Xiaohe did the right thing. The shop can't rely solely on selling melons; once the melon season is over, they're gone. We need to put everything from home on the market and gradually build up our reputation."

Su Xiaoqing took out a bundle from the house, opened it, and inside were colorful hair ties and silk flowers. She laid them out one by one, including peach-pink, pale yellow, and light purple ones, as well as a few delicate and exquisite silk flowers made from scraps of cloth.

"Dad, these are what my sister and I made these past few days. They're hair ties and silk flowers; they'd be perfect to sell at the shop."

Chen's mother also brought out a basket of chicken and duck eggs from the kitchen, saying, "I have these left. I've been saving them up for several days. City people only recognize free-range eggs, saying they taste better than store-bought ones."

Su Xiaoyin carried out a plate of sliced ​​braised pork and placed it on the stone table. The pork was thinly sliced, neatly arranged, and glistening with a dark reddish-brown color, emitting a rich aroma.

"Everyone, try this. It's my new braising sauce. See how it tastes."

Mr. Chen picked up a piece and slowly chewed it. The braised pork was tender and flavorful, with a perfect balance of saltiness. The spices had seeped into the meat without overpowering its natural aroma. He nodded, "Not bad, much better than last time."

Chen's mother also tried a piece: "It tastes good, fragrant but not greasy. Xiaoyin, how did you make this?"

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "I've thought about it several times and adjusted the proportions of the braising spices. I put in less star anise, more cinnamon, and added a few bay leaves and white sugar, and the taste is just right."

Chen Xiaohe ate several pieces in a row, and said indistinctly, "Sister-in-law, if you took this braised pork to your shop, it would definitely be a hot seller!"

Su Xiaoyin said, "I'm thinking of trying to braise a few things first. Pork offal, pig's head, eggs, potatoes, radishes, as well as dried bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and dried tofu, can all be braised."

Chen's mother asked, "You want to braise so much?"

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Braise a little of each, put them in the shop, and see which ones people like. Braise more of what they like, and don't make the ones they don't like. We'll try them slowly and eventually find a few that are good."

Mr. Chen thought for a moment and said, "Okay. I'll make tofu at home tomorrow, make a lot, and save some to make dried tofu. When you're braising it the day after tomorrow, you'll have dried tofu too."

Su Xiaoyin said, "Then I'll soak the soybeans first. I'll make more dried tofu; even if we don't sell it, it'll be good for our own consumption."

Chen's mother also said, "Tomorrow I'll go to the county town and buy a set of pig offal and a pig's head. When you're braising it the day after tomorrow, I'll help you watch the fire."

The family members, one after another, arranged the shop's affairs perfectly.

It was late at night. Su Xiaoyin soaked the soybeans, checked on the braising jars, and then went back to her room to rest. Chen Dashan lay on the kang (heated brick bed), thinking about the shop. The melons were selling well, the wood carvings had found customers, and if the braised meat went well, the shop would have a few more items. Life was getting better every day, and he felt very at ease.

Outside the window, the moon was high in the sky, casting its gentle light across the ground. The Chen family's courtyard was quiet. Tomorrow would be another busy day.