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

Su Xiaoyin scooped out a piece of pig liver, a piece of pig heart, and some pig head meat, arranged them on a plate, and put them in a basket. Chen's mother carried the basket first to De Ge's house, then to Li Hu's house, and finally to Chen Ermu's house. When she returned, the basket was empty, but she had a smile on her face.

"Everyone says it's delicious!" Chen's mother sat down and took a sip of water. "De's sister-in-law even said that your braised pork tastes really good, and she wants to come and learn how to make it sometime."

Su Xiaoyin laughed: "I don't have any special skills, I just tried a few more times."

Chen's mother added, "I wonder how your father's research on sows is going. If he can raise a sow next year, we won't have to buy piglets every year, which will save a lot of money."

Su Xiaoyin said, "I'll ask Dad when he gets back tonight."

As evening fell, the family returned one after another. Chen Dashan came back from the county town, and Chen's father and Chen Xiaohe also returned after closing their shop. The children played in the yard, chasing the little dog all over the place, their giggles carrying far and wide.

After dinner, the family sat around the main room. Chen Dashan spoke first: "Dad, Steward Liu told me something today. A brokerage firm in the county town wants to sell a batch of confiscated shops. The location is good, just inside the east street, two storefronts with a small courtyard in the back. The original owner committed a crime and was exiled, so the shops are fine. He wants to ask if we want to buy another one."

Mr. Chen took a puff of his pipe and asked Mrs. Chen, "How much silver is left in the public coffers?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen's mother said, "There are still more than sixty taels in the public coffers. Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing's families also have quite a bit, so together it's enough."

Su Xiaoyin said, "We have seventy or eighty taels of silver, all earned from embroidery." Su Xiaoqing said, "I have about the same amount."

Chen Xiaohe also said, "I have a little too, not much, about ten taels. My older brother also earned some from his carpentry work."

Chen Dashan nodded: "I have more than twenty taels here. It's all the money I saved from the carpentry work that Xiaoyin asked me to keep."

Mr. Chen tapped his pipe and said, "Then let's go take a look. If there's anything suitable, we'll buy it. This year, our shop, stall, carpentry, and embroidery businesses have all brought in a good income, and the crops have also been harvested. With some extra money, it's only right to acquire some property."

Chen's mother also said, "Yes, it's better to buy it and rent it out. It's a steady stream of income than to keep it in our hands."

Chen Dashan said, "Then I'll talk to Manager Liu tomorrow and go take a look at the shop."

Chen's mother added, "Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing will go together tomorrow. I'll keep an eye on the children for you. You can decide for yourselves; if it's suitable, just buy it."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing nodded.

When Mr. Chen asked about raising pigs again, Su Xiaoyin said, "Dad, how's your research on sows going?"

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "I've visited the pig farmers several times these past few days to see how they take care of sows. I have a general idea now. Tomorrow I'll ask the older folks in the village who have raised sows before and learn more. If it seems promising in the spring, I'll buy one and give it a try."

Chen Xiaohe said, "Dad, take your time learning, there's no rush. Anyway, we can't save money on piglets this year."

The whole family laughed.

As night deepened, everyone went back to their rooms to rest. Chen Dashan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), thinking about looking at the shop tomorrow. The location on East Street was good, the two storefronts weren't small, and there was a courtyard in the back; renting it out wouldn't be a problem. If the price was right, he would buy it.

Su Xiaoyin lay down beside him and whispered, "Dashan, if we buy a new shop, our family will have three shops. Life is really getting better and better."

Chen Dashan hummed in agreement and reached out to take her hand: "Things will get better and better."

----

The next morning, before dawn, the lights were already on in the Chen family's courtyard.

Chen Dashan, Chen Xiaohe, Su Xiaoyin, and Su Xiaoqing finished packing and prepared to go to the county town together. The four children were still asleep. Su Xiaoyin covered them with blankets, gave Chen's mother a few more instructions, and then went out.

The oxcart creaked along the road. The morning wind was cold, and everyone was wrapped tightly in their cotton-padded coats. Chen Xiaohe, sitting at the back of the cart, hunched his shoulders and said, "It's really cold today. The New Year isn't even here yet, and it's already this cold."

Chen Dashan drove the cart steadily, saying, "It's almost Chinese New Year, the coldest time of the year. Wear more clothes, don't get cold."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing leaned against each other, talking in hushed tones. Su Xiaoqing said, "Sister, do you think we can find a suitable shop today?"

Su Xiaoyin thought for a moment and said, "Let's go take a look and see. If we find something suitable, we'll buy it; if not, we won't force it."

Upon arriving in the county town, the group first went to a general store. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing helped Chen Xiaohe set up the goods—braised meats, bean sprouts, tofu, and preserved fruits—arranging them neatly. Chen Dashan went to the market to set up his stall, displaying the New Year's goods he had brought, ready to sell.

Business was good this morning; with the Lunar New Year approaching, there were more customers than usual. Chen Dashan sold several small wooden carvings and a few bamboo baskets. Chen Xiaohe's braised goods sold quickly, and he also sold a lot of tofu. Some people even asked when the persimmon cakes would be available again.

After a busy morning, Su Xiaoyin looked at the sky and said to Chen Xiaohe, "Xiaohe, you watch the shop for now, I'll go heat up the food. We'll go watch the shop again after we eat."

She took out the dry food she had brought that morning from the cupboard: multigrain pancakes, stewed pork with vegetables, and a platter of braised dishes, and heated them up one by one in the pot. The stewed pork with vegetables was leftover from yesterday; it was made with pickled cabbage, blood sausage, and pork belly, and it smelled even better after being heated up. The platter of braised dishes contained pig's head meat, pig's liver, and pig's heart, all sliced ​​thinly and arranged neatly.

Chen Dashan had also packed up his stall early and brought his goods over. The group sat down in the shop and enjoyed a hot meal. Chen Xiaohe picked up a piece of braised pig's head, chewing with relish: "Sister-in-law, your braised meat skills are getting better and better. It's even more fragrant than what you buy outside."

Su Xiaoyin laughed: "That's because the braising broth is so good. After braising it so many times, the flavor naturally becomes richer."

After finishing their meal, Chen Xiaohe saw that there weren't many people in the shop, so he closed the door. The group tidied up and went to find Manager Liu.

Liu Yilong was resting in a stall at the market when he saw them arrive. He stood up with a smile and said, "You've come? Come on, I'll take you to the brokerage."

Several people followed Manager Liu toward the brokerage. On the way, Liu Yilong lowered his voice and said, "I've already spoken to the brokers. Take your time looking around, and if you find something suitable, make a purchase. We're clearing out these shops before the New Year, so the price is negotiable."

Upon arriving at the brokerage firm, a young clerk greeted them. Seeing Manager Liu, he immediately put on a smiling face: "Manager Liu is here! You must be the one who looks after the shop, sir?"

Liu Yilong nodded: "Take them to see the shops that were shut down before, the ones with fair prices."

The clerk responded, picked up a bunch of keys from the counter, and led them out.

"This way, please." The waiter walked ahead, introducing the shop as he went. "It's the closest one to here, on that street just over there. It has two storefronts and a small courtyard in the back. The original owner was a grocer who got into trouble and was exiled to the army, so the shop has been closed ever since. It's in pretty good condition; with a little tidying up, it can be rented out."