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

As she spoke, she picked up two large chicken drumsticks and placed one in each of Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing's bowls: "You two have worked the hardest this year, eat more."

Su Xiaoyin quickly said, "Mom, you and Dad should eat too."

Su Xiaoqing also said, "Yes, Mother, please don't just think about us."

Chen's mother smiled and waved her hand, "Alright, alright, eat up. There's so much food. Eat more to nourish yourselves. You two are always busy all year round, and you're the ones who are most tired."

The family picked up their chopsticks and began to eat in a lively atmosphere. The braised pork was stewed until tender, the fish was steamed until fresh and tender, and the braised pork was sliced ​​thinly; every bite tasted like the New Year. Shi Tou ate with his mouth full of oil, while A Fu, unable to reach the dishes in the distance, stomped his feet in frustration. Su Xiaoqing picked up a piece of spare rib for him, which he grabbed and began to gnaw on, his face covered in oil.

After the meal, Mr. and Mrs. Chen called their four children over. Mrs. Chen took out four small red envelopes from her bosom, gave one to each of them, and placed them in their hands.

"This is your New Year's money, I'm saving it for you," Chen's mother said with a smile.

The four children, holding their red envelopes, looked at each other, then all turned to Su Xiaoyin. Shitou, holding up his envelope, asked, "Mom, can we keep this money for ourselves?"

Before Su Xiaoyin could speak, Chen Dashan interjected, "What are you saving the money for?"

Afu eagerly said, "I want to buy candied hawthorns! I saw them in town last time; they were so red and delicious!"

Stone and Aji chimed in, "I want to buy sesame candy!" "Me too!"

Qingqing whispered, "I want to save up to buy silk flowers. The silk flowers Daddy bought for Mommy are especially beautiful, and I want one too."

Chen Dashan paused for a moment, then laughed, picked Qingqing up and placed her on his lap: "Then next time Dad will buy you one too, okay?"

Qingqing's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Chen Dashan nodded: "Really. What color do you like?"

Qingqing thought for a moment and whispered, "I want bright colors, like Auntie's."

Chen Dashan glanced at Su Xiaoqing, who was wearing the large red silk flower Chen Xiaohe had bought for her, making her look radiant with joy. He smiled and nodded, "Okay, no problem, Dad will buy you one next time."

Su Xiaoyin laughed and said, "Qingqing knows how to love beauty now. When spring comes, Mom will make you new clothes with new silk flowers, and our Qingqing will be the prettiest little girl."

Qingqing smiled shyly and carefully put the red envelope into her bosom.

Stone held up the red envelope and said, "I'll keep my money and buy writing materials in the spring! I'm going to school now, I need to study hard!"

Aji and Afu chimed in, "I want to buy pens and ink too! I want to study hard too!"

Everyone in the room laughed. Father Chen stroked his grandson's head, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

They stayed up until midnight to celebrate the New Year, and the children couldn't stay awake any longer, falling asleep one by one on the kang (a heated brick bed). Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing carried them back to the room and covered them with blankets. The four little ones huddled together, sleeping soundly, with Afu's little hand still clutching the red envelope tightly.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, the Chen family's courtyard was already bustling with activity.

Mother Chen got up early and swept the house again. Plates were filled to the brim with melon seeds and candies. The hard candies were for the children who came to pay New Year's visits, and the coins were for the children of close relatives. This was the custom every year; it couldn't be broken.

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe changed into new clothes, ready to go out to pay New Year's visits. Chen Dashan wore the indigo cotton-padded jacket that Su Xiaoyin had made, and Chen Xiaohe wore the gray-blue one that Su Xiaoqing had made. The two brothers were dressed neatly and smartly.

"Let's go to Brother De's house first, then Uncle Li Hu's house and Uncle Er Mu's house, and then we'll come back after a round trip," Chen Dashan said to his mother.

Chen's mother nodded: "Go ahead, and come back early. Your Uncle Li Hu said he's coming over for lunch, don't keep him waiting."

The two brothers responded and went out the door.

The streets were filled with people exchanging New Year's greetings, whether they knew each other or not. Children, dressed in new clothes, ran around in the snow, clutching candy in their hands, their faces rosy.

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe went to De Ge's house first. De Ge was setting off firecrackers in the yard. When he saw them arrive, he greeted them with a smile: "Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Come in and sit down!"

The two men wished De Ge's parents a Happy New Year, sat for a while longer, had a cup of tea, and then took their leave. De Ge's wife stuffed a handful of melon seeds and candies into each of their hands, which they couldn't refuse.

They went to Li Hu's house again. Li Hu, who had difficulty walking, didn't go out; he was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) talking to Li An. Li An was wearing new clothes and had grown taller than last year. He was still thin, but his complexion was much rosier, and he looked much more energetic. He respectfully wished Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe a Happy New Year. Chen Xiaohe took out a red envelope from his pocket and tried to give it to him. Li An blushed and refused to accept it, but Li Hu said, "Take it; it's from your Uncle Chen." Only then did he accept it and whispered, "Thank you, Uncle Chen."

After leaving Li Hu's house, they went to Uncle Er Mu's house. Uncle Er Mu was chopping firewood in the yard. When he saw them arrive, he put down his axe and said with a smile, "You two brothers are here! Come in and warm up."

The two sat at Uncle Ermu's house for a while, talked for a bit, and then headed back.

Back home, the kitchen was already filled with delicious aromas. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were busy preparing lunch; Uncle Li Hu and Li An were coming over soon, and they needed to treat them well.

Standing in the courtyard, Chen Dashan looked at the red couplets and red "Fu" characters on the doors of every household, and listened to the crackling of firecrackers in the distance. His heart was filled with warmth. This year was a year of abundant harvest. The crops in the fields, the fruits on the mountains, the shops in the county town, and the carpentry work in his hands—everything went smoothly. The family had a new house, and the children were about to start school.

----

At noon, Li Hu brought Li An over for lunch.

Chen's mother specially prepared several extra dishes: braised pork belly, stewed ribs, braised pig's head meat, scrambled eggs, and a large bowl of pickled cabbage and glass noodles. Li An had grown taller than last year, but was still thin, though his complexion was much rosier, and he looked much more energetic than last year. Chen's mother put several pieces of meat on his plate, and he glanced at his father shyly. Li Hu nodded, and only then did he lower his head and begin to eat.

After dinner, the men sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) talking, while the children played in the yard. Shi Tou led Li An to see his newly acquired wooden carved horse, and the children chattered excitedly.

Li Hu took a sip of tea and asked Chen's father, "Brother, I heard you're hiring people for spring planting too? Have you found any?"

Father Chen nodded: "We've found them. The three men from last autumn's harvest: the two brothers from the Li family and the eldest son from the Zhao family. They're honest workers, don't cheat or shirk their duties, and are easy to use. We finalized the deal before the new year, and the price is the same as last year: twenty coins per person per day, plus one meal."

Li Hu then asked, "Are there any other suitable families? Can you recommend a few? I've been back in the village for quite some time, but I haven't had much contact with the villagers, so I don't really know what kind of people they are."