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

After dinner, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing cleaned up the dishes, while Chen's mother played with the children on the kang (a heated brick bed). Chen Dashan and Chen's father sat to one side, talking about the coming spring.

"Dad, aren't you planning to hire people for next spring's planting?" Chen Dashan said. "Should we find people in advance so we don't have to rush after the New Year and find out they've already taken jobs from other companies?"

Mr. Chen took a puff of his pipe and thought for a moment: "Alright, I'll go to Brother De's house tomorrow and ask if they hire people for the spring planting next year, and how much they'll pay. Once I've found out, I'll go to Old Li's and Old Zhao's houses to finalize the deal. That way, things will be much easier for us."

He paused, then said, "Next spring, your mother, Xiaoyin, and Xiaoqing will still be busy with the shops and stalls in the county town. As for the fields, the three of us, plus the hired help, will be enough."

Su Xiaoyin poked her head out from the kitchen: "Dad, Xiaoqing and I will take turns cooking at home. Qingqing can go to the shop in the county town and have him follow her around so he can learn accounting."

Upon hearing this, Chen's mother chimed in from the kang (a heated brick bed): "That's a good idea. Qingqing is a meticulous child with a good memory; she'll definitely learn accounting quickly."

When Qingqing heard her grandmother praising her, she smiled shyly.

Chen's mother added, "Next year, we'll raise more chickens and ducks. We need to renovate the livestock shed in the backyard. We'll only raise one or two geese; they're good at guarding the house, but they eat too much, so it's not worth raising too many."

Mr. Chen nodded, and then brought up the matter of raising pigs: "The pigsty needs to be expanded. I'm thinking of trying to raise an old sow next year."

Chen Dashan was a little worried: "Dad, is this okay? Raising sows is not the same as raising meat pigs. If you don't take good care of them, you'll lose money."

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "It's alright, I understand. I ran into Geng the cowherd when I went to the county town a few days ago. He's retired there now, and he lives not far from our house. I told him about wanting to raise sows, and he said he'd be willing to teach me."

Chen Dashan's eyes lit up: "Geng Niuguan agreed?"

Mr. Chen nodded: "He agreed. He's not only willing to teach me how to raise sows, but also how to treat livestock if they get sick. I gave him some money, and he accepted it, saying he'll teach me after the New Year."

Standing nearby, Chen's mother sighed, "This is someone's livelihood. If he hadn't retired to the county town and his children weren't so filial that he wouldn't have gone back to the village to raise livestock and be bored, he wouldn't have taught anyone."

Mr. Chen said, "Yes, that's why this opportunity is so rare. Geng Niuguan said that the key to raising sows is breeding and taking care of the piglets. Once you learn these two things, everything else is not difficult. I will go there a few more times after the New Year to learn properly."

Chen Xiaohe came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl. Hearing this, he came over and asked, "Dad, does Geng Niuguan teach anything else? What if the cows and mules get sick? They should learn that too."

Mr. Chen said, "He's willing to teach. But we only have one cow and one mule at home right now, and we take good care of them. They've never had any major problems. Let's learn how to raise pigs first, and we'll take care of the others later."

The family chatted for a while longer, and they had almost finished making arrangements for things after the New Year.

As night deepened, everyone went back to their rooms to rest. Chen Dashan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), thinking about things after the New Year. The children would be going to school, they would need to hire people for the spring planting, and they would need to raise a sow at home—each and every one of these was a big deal, but also a good thing.

He glanced at Su Xiaoyin beside him. She was still awake, her eyes bright, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Su Xiaoyin said softly, "I was thinking about Qingqing. She's a smart girl, but it's a pity the school doesn't accept girls. But we can teach her ourselves, and it won't be bad. Once she can read and write and learn accounting, she can help out at the shop. We'll work hard and try to get her a shop as part of her marriage. Xiaoqing and I will then teach her embroidery skills, so she'll have a means to make a living."

Chen Dashan hummed in agreement: "Shi Tou and the others learned it and then taught her. It's the same."

Su Xiaoyin smiled: "That's true."

----

"Old woman, have you prepared and delivered all the New Year's gifts before the holiday?"

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen's father returned home, brushing the snow off his clothes as he asked Chen's mother. The snow had started falling late last night; it wasn't heavy, just a fine, scattered layer on the ground. A path had been swept through the yard, leading from the main room to the gate, and it was spotless.

Chen's mother was sitting on the kang doing needlework when she heard this. She looked up and gave Chen's father a reproachful look: "Do you need to tell me? It's all prepared. We've sent supplies to everyone, from the village head's family to De Ge's family, Li Hu's family, and Er Mu's family. We've sent everything that needed to be sent. You've been studying with Geng Niuguan lately and you've become obsessed with it. You've completely forgotten about all the things at home."

Father Chen chuckled, rubbed his hands together, and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "It's my fault, it's my fault. I've been so focused on raising pigs these past few days that I haven't thought about anything else. I'll go see Geng Niuguan when it's time to catch the piglets. Oh, and could you remember to bring him some of our jujubes when you go to Geng Niuguan's house next time? He said the other day that the jujubes he bought at home weren't good, they didn't taste like jujubes. Our jujubes may be a bit small, but they taste good, so bring him some to try."

Mother Chen nodded and put down the needle and thread: "I understand, I'll remember. Geng Niuguan was willing to teach you a skill, that's a favor, you have to remember it."

Father Chen hummed in agreement, leaned against the quilt on the kang (a heated brick bed), and squinted at the snow outside the window. The snow was falling heavier and heavier, swirling and fluttering, covering the woodpile in the yard with white.

Lunar New Year's Eve arrived quickly.

Before dawn, oil lamps were lit in the Chen family's courtyard. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing got up early and went into the kitchen to busy themselves. Chen's mother also got up, tied on her apron, and directed her two daughters-in-law to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.

This year, the Chen family prepared an exceptionally lavish New Year's Eve dinner. A large pot of stewed pork ribs from the pig's slaughter was prepared, and braised fish was a must, symbolizing abundance year after year. A large plate of glistening braised pig's head was also served. There was also homemade tofu, home-grown bean sprouts, cabbage harvested from the garden, and dried mushrooms, each prepared in a different way. Su Xiaoyin even specially made a fruit platter, with dried apples, dried apricots, and jujube paste, all neatly arranged.

Eight dishes were laid out on the whole table.

Sitting at the head of the table, Mr. Chen looked at the table laden with dishes and then at everyone in the room, his eyes welling up with tears. He raised his wine glass, cleared his throat, and said, "This year, our whole family has worked incredibly hard. We did everything – farm work, mountain work, shop work, embroidery – without missing a single task. Thanks to everyone's efforts, our lives are getting better and better."

He looked at his four children, his voice softening: "I hope our four little ones grow up healthy and strong."

Chen's mother also picked up her glass, smiling, and said, "I hope our whole family will be safe and sound, and that next year will be a good year. Come on, let's eat!"