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

"Father, it's time for corvée labor again. Brother De told us to go to his house to register if we paid money. It's two and a half taels per person, or we'll send people if we don't pay money."

Su Xiaoqing ran back from the village entrance, panting and covered in sweat. She was holding a bunch of green beans she had just picked from the field, obviously because she had run into Brother De on the way and hadn't had time to put them down before running back.

Chen's father was helping Su Xiaoyin dry tofu in the yard when he heard this. He put down his work, dusted off his hands, and said, "I'm going to pay the money. You stay here and dry the tofu, make sure the birds don't peck at it."

Su Xiaoqing nodded: "Dad, you go ahead, I'll take care of it."

Chen's father went back into the house, took the silver, and hurriedly went out.

Su Xiaoyin poked her head out from the kitchen and asked, "Have we started doing corvée labor again?"

Su Xiaoqing squatted in front of the bamboo mat, neatly arranging the cut tofu pieces one by one, and sighed, "Yes, this is the second time this year. I wonder if they'll have any more in the fall and winter."

Su Xiaoyin came out and helped arrange the dried tofu. She thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. Last winter it snowed so much, and this spring there was only one more snowfall. Who can predict what will happen in autumn and winter?"

Su Xiaoqing nodded, then brought up the embroidery: "Sister, let's finish up the Qilin Bringing a Child embroidery these next couple of days. Once it's done, send it to Madam Qian as soon as possible. If she likes it, we can also embroider the Five Relationships embroidery. That way, we'll have buyers for all the major embroidery pieces this year."

Su Xiaoyin smiled: "You seem to have a lot of confidence in this painting of a qilin delivering a child."

Su Xiaoqing's eyes lit up: "Sister, don't you think this one is better than all the ones we've embroidered before? The color scheme, stitching, and composition are all better than before. I feel this is our best one so far."

Su Xiaoyin thought for a moment and nodded, "You're right. This time it's definitely better than before. Maybe it's because I've embroidered more often, my hands are more skilled, and I feel more confident. We've embroidered the Five Relationships twice before, so it will definitely be easier to embroider this one."

The two sisters chatted as they worked, their hands never stopping. The dried tofu pieces were arranged neatly, glistening white in the sunlight, a truly delightful sight.

Su Xiaoqing suddenly said, "Sis, how about we make scallion pancakes tonight?"

Su Xiaoyin paused for a moment: "That uses too much oil. I'll just steam some buns, it's simpler and easier."

Su Xiaoqing protested, tugging at her sister's sleeve and pleading, "Sister, eat up! And make some bone broth too, so we can nourish ourselves. Everyone's been working so hard lately, we're all exhausted. Big brother's been running to the county town every day, busy in the fields and on the hills, and Mom and Dad haven't had a moment's rest either. We should treat ourselves."

Su Xiaoyin was still hesitating when the courtyard gate opened. Father Chen returned after paying the money. Hearing the sisters' conversation, he smiled and said, "Go ahead, Xiaoyin, a little oil won't make a difference. Everyone's been quite tired lately; let's eat something good to nourish ourselves."

Hearing her father say that, Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Okay, then we'll have scallion pancakes and pork bone soup for dinner. We'll also make a side dish to cleanse our palates."

Su Xiaoqing was so happy she almost jumped up: "Sister, you're so great! I'll go to the garden and pick some scallions and cucumbers to make a salad for dinner."

Mr. Chen sat down beside her and took a sip of the herbal tea that Su Xiaoyin handed him. Su Xiaoyin asked, "Dad, has the money been paid? We don't need to send anyone from our family anymore, right?"

Mr. Chen nodded: "It's paid. Brother De noted it down and gave us a receipt. This year's case is now closed."

Su Xiaoyin breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. It's too much trouble for people to go out like this. Our family doesn't lack this little bit of money."

Chen's father stood up, picked up the hoe from the corner of the wall, and said, "I'm going to take a walk up the mountain to check on the fruit trees. You all stay home and do your work."

Su Xiaoyin quickly took a bamboo tube filled with herbal tea from the kitchen and handed it to Chen's father: "Dad, take this with you. It's hot and stuffy in the woods, don't get heatstroke."

Chen's father took it, tucked it into his waistband, and went out the door with the hoe on his shoulder.

---

The two sisters continued working in the yard.

The dried tofu was laid out to dry, and Su Xiaoyin went to check on the braising jars, thinking she'd braise another batch in a couple of days. Su Xiaoqing was kneading dough in the kitchen, preparing scallion pancakes for dinner.

"Sister, how much more do we need for the Qilin Bringing a Child painting?" Su Xiaoqing asked while kneading the dough.

Su Xiaoyin walked in, sat down in front of the embroidery frame, and looked at it carefully: "It's almost finished. We can finish it in another two or three days. We'll send it over to Madam Qian as soon as we're done. If she likes it, we can take on the Five Relationships embroidery. Then we'll have all the major embroidery designs for this year."

Su Xiaoqing nodded and then asked, "Sister, do you think Mrs. Qian will take a liking to her?"

Su Xiaoyin picked up her needle and thread and said as she embroidered, "We've done our best. Whether she likes it or not is her business. Even if she doesn't want it, there's no shortage of suitors. Manager Sun is still waiting."

Hearing this, Su Xiaoqing felt a little more at ease.

---

As they were talking, the courtyard gate rang.

Su Xiaoyin put down her embroidery frame and went outside to see Li Hu. He was leaning on his cane and slowly walked in, with some sweat on his forehead.

"Uncle Li is here! Come in and sit down!" Su Xiaoyin quickly ushered him into the main room and poured him a bowl of cold tea.

Li Hu took the drink, took a breath, and said, "Xiao Yin, I'm looking for Da Shan. I think Da Shan's carpentry skills are quite good, and I'd like to order a batch of shelves."

Su Xiaoyin said, "Dashan went to the county town to sell goods and won't be back until tonight. Uncle Li, I'll have him come find you when Dashan gets back."

Li Hu nodded, sat for a while longer, asked about his family situation, and then took his leave.

After seeing Li Hu off, Su Xiaoyin returned to the kitchen and said to Su Xiaoqing, "Uncle Li Hu came to Dashan to order shelves."

Su Xiaoqing said, "Then my brother will be busy again when he comes back. But that's good, as long as there's work, there's income."

Su Xiaoyin nodded and sat down to continue embroidering.

---

In the evening, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe returned from the county town.

The melons on the oxcart were sold out, and even the small trinkets displayed in the shop were mostly gone. Chen Xiaohe jumped off the cart, beaming, "Sales were great today! That old man came again, bought a wood carving, and brought two neighbors with him. They each bought a watermelon, as well as hair ties and silk flowers."

Chen Dashan tied up the cow and went into the yard. Su Xiaoyin went up to him and told him about Li Hu's visit. Chen Dashan nodded: "Okay, I'll go check on Uncle Li Hu in a bit."

Su Xiaoqing poked her head out from the kitchen: "Big brother, eat first! I made scallion pancakes and pork bone soup for dinner!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up: "Scallion pancakes? That's my favorite!" He washed his hands and ran to the kitchen.

The family sat around the table in the main room, where golden scallion pancakes, milky white bone broth, a dish of cucumber salad, and a dish of pickled vegetables were laid out. The scallion pancakes were crispy and fragrant with each bite; the bone broth was thick and white, and a sip warmed the heart.

Father Chen took a sip of soup and said slowly, "I paid the money today, two and a half taels. The second year's corvée labor is over."

Chen Dashan nodded: "As long as it gets us to pay, we'll pay. We won't go, but we'll pay."

Mr. Chen added, "Brother De said there might be another one this fall and winter. But it's too early to say now, we'll see when the time comes."

Su Xiaoqing placed a piece of cake on Chen Xiaohe's plate and said to her sister, "Sister, we need to hurry up and finish embroidering the Qilin Bringing a Child design. Once it's done, we should send it to Madam Qian as soon as possible. If we can also complete the Five Relationships design, this year's grand embroidery will be finished."

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Yes, let's work harder these next couple of days and try to finish this as soon as possible."

After finishing his meal, Chen Dashan wiped his mouth and stood up. "I'm going to Uncle Li Hu's house. He ordered some shelves, and I need to ask about the dimensions."

Chen's father said, "Go ahead. Li Hu is an honest man; you can't be careless when doing work for him."

Chen Dashan responded and went out.