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

As spring arrives, the sun grows warmer each day, melting away the last remnants of snow. The earth becomes soft and moist, exuding a fresh scent of revival. In both the old and new courtyards of the Chen family, a sense of busy activity, different from the leisurely pace of winter, is palpable, a sense of anticipation and activity.

After breakfast that day, Chen Xiaohe was tidying up his farm tools when he asked his mother, "Mom, we should be going to the fields for spring planting tomorrow, right? What should we plant this year? You and Dad need to make some arrangements."

As Chen's mother was draining the soaked wheat seeds, she straightened up upon hearing this, wiped her hands with her apron, and walked to the entrance of the main room. Chen's father also put down the plowshare he was working on, dusted himself off, and came over. The Su sisters also stopped their embroidery, and Chen Dashan came out of the carpentry shed. The whole family gathered in front of the main room of the old house.

"It's time to talk about this." Mother Chen cleared her throat, her gaze sweeping over her children. Her voice was clear and steady. "Last year's harvest was good, and we had some savings. This year, we'll proceed cautiously. Of our original eighteen mu of cultivated land, one mu will be used for wheat, and half a mu of paddy field will continue to be used for rice—these are fine grains, reserved for paying taxes, entertaining guests, or exchanging for some money. The remaining land will be used to grow more sweet potatoes, corn, and sorghum. These crops have high yields and are resilient; they are essential for feeding us."

Hearing this, Chen Xiaohe scratched his head and asked, "Mom, what about soybeans, mung beans, and other miscellaneous beans? Why don't we plant some? We could make soy milk, sprout beans, or even exchange them for tofu."

Mr. Chen picked up the conversation, a composed smile on his face as if he had accomplished something great. Instead of answering his son, he asked, "You know, I've been going to the village head's place a lot these past few days. What was I doing there?"

Everyone looked at him.

Mr. Chen slowly took a sip of the water his wife handed him before saying, "I went to inquire about the wasteland. Here, the government is encouraging land reclamation, so wasteland is very cheap. I've already found a spot, right next to our current eighteen mu of land, on that gentle slope by the ditch. It's close by, so it'll be convenient to tend to it and water it. Your mother and I have discussed it many times, and we think it's time."

Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up: "Dad, you bought wasteland? How much did you buy? What's the price now?"

"I'll buy it." Father Chen put down his bowl, held up two fingers to indicate the price, then opened his palm. "Wasteland, it's really cheap. Here, top-quality farmland costs at least three taels of silver per mu. Ordinary, medium-quality farmland costs more than one tael per mu. But this wasteland," he paused, letting the number weigh heavily on everyone's minds, "one tael of silver can buy three and a half mu!"

Three and a half mu! This price even slightly moved Chen Dashan.

Mother Chen chimed in, her tone revealing the shrewdness and decisiveness of a matriarch: "Our family currently only has eighteen mu of land. According to government regulations, the maximum land allotted to a household is sixty-five mu. Although our area is sparsely populated, with the largest village head's family owning only thirty-seven mu, we can't buy too much at once, lest we attract unwanted attention. So, your father and I calculated and recalculated, and took four taels of silver from the public funds we saved up over the winter."

She looked at Chen's father, who understood and turned to go into the inner room. A moment later, he came out carrying a small package tightly wrapped in oiled paper. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he carefully unwrapped the oiled paper, revealing two slightly yellowed official deeds stamped with bright red seals.

Chen's father handed one of the bills to Chen Dashan and the other to Chen Xiaohe.

"This is the land deed, a red deed, officially registered and stamped by the government. No one can take it away." Father Chen's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight. "Four taels of silver bought fourteen mu of wasteland. Seven mu for each family. The deed is in the names of both you brothers."

Chen Dashan took the thin piece of paper, his fingers tracing the clear ink characters and crimson official seal. The three characters "Chen Dashan" were prominently displayed. He looked up abruptly, his usually composed face unable to conceal his shock: "Father, Mother! This... why are my and Xiaohe's names written here? This should be our land; Father's name should be on it!"

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were also filled with astonishment, staring at the land deeds in their husbands' hands, their hearts churning with shock. Land was the lifeblood of farming families, the foundation of their livelihood. Their in-laws had actually registered their newly purchased, valuable wasteland under their sons' names?

Looking at his eldest son's surprised expression, and then at his younger son clutching the land deed, too excited to speak, Chen's father smiled with a mixture of relief and complex emotions. He took a sip of water and said slowly, "There are only two of you brothers in the family. The little bit of wealth your mother and I have accumulated will be yours sooner or later. Now that you're both married and capable men, you can stand on your own two feet. This newly acquired wasteland should be registered in your own names. You can plan and cultivate it yourselves; that will give you more peace of mind and more motivation."

Mother Chen said gently, "Our family's division of property is a case of 'dividing the family but not the households.' During the quiet winter months, you cook for yourselves and manage your own households so you can learn to support your own families. When spring planting, summer weeding, and autumn harvest come, and everyone needs to work together, we'll still eat from the same pot and work in the same direction, just like we haven't divided the family. The money you earn each day, forty percent goes to the communal fund, and the rest you keep, is also based on this principle. Giving you the land deeds isn't about pushing you out, but about letting you know that you have a share in this large family, and that your own families have a foundation that you must solidify yourself."

Her gaze gently swept over her two daughters-in-law: "Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing, don't overthink it. The land deed lists the names of Dashan and Xiaohe, so this land belongs to each of your families. Live well and manage it diligently. Right now, your parents are still managing these familiar plots of land. When we get old and can't work anymore, or after we pass away, it will naturally be divided among you. Let's take it one step at a time."

The main room was silent. Even the light from the oil lamp seemed to grow warmer and brighter. Chen Dashan lowered his head and looked again at the land deed in his hand. The three characters "Chen Dashan" seemed to have gained warmth, burning his palm and, even more so, his heart. This was not just a piece of paper; it was the accumulation of his parents' hard work over half a lifetime, their unreserved trust, and, more importantly, a heavy responsibility and promise about the future.

Chen Xiaohe's eyes were already red, and he choked out, "Father, Mother..."

Su Xiaoyin quietly clenched her fists, her fingertips digging into her palms. She watched Chen Dashan solemnly put away the land deed, then looked at her equally excited sister and brother-in-law. The sense of rootlessness and displacement that had been deeply ingrained in her since settling down was shattered and replaced at this moment by the real "seven acres of wasteland." From now on, they not only had a house to shelter them from the wind and rain, a skill to earn money, but also land that truly belonged to them, land they could cultivate for generations. Their roots, thus, were deeply and firmly planted in this once unfamiliar northwestern soil.

Seeing the children's expressions, Mr. Chen knew they understood, so he waved his hand, as if to dispel the overly heavy atmosphere: "Alright, keep the land deed safe. This is a great occasion for our family! Spring planting starts tomorrow, so let's focus on planting the fertile land first. After this busy period, the whole family will go together to clear those fourteen acres of wasteland! The first few years may be tough, and the harvest may be meager, but after a few years, it will be excellent land!"

"That's right!" Chen Xiaohe wiped his eyes, his energy returning. "Let's go clear the land! We have people, we have strength! We're not afraid!"

The spring sun shone brightly, streaming through the clean window paper and bathing the family. The land deed was carefully put away, but the bond of blood and the promise it held, the blueprint for fields, sweat, and a bountiful harvest, were deeply imprinted in everyone's heart. After enduring the hardships of fleeing famine, the struggles of settling down, and the savings accumulated over the winter, this family finally took a crucial step towards a more solid and expansive future this spring. Outside, the spring breeze brushed against the courtyard wall, bringing the scent of awakening earth and the faint sounds of other farmers preparing for spring planting drifting from the distant fields.