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

Several people straightened up and walked over. Father Chen took the bowl, took a sip of the porridge, and hissed as it was scalding hot, but he didn't want to spit it out. Brother Li picked up a flatbread, took a big bite, and said indistinctly, "Sister Chen, your flatbread is really delicious, much better than my husband's."

Su Xiaoyin smiled: "Eat more, there's more in the pot."

While eating, Mr. Chen gave instructions: "Finish harvesting this patch this morning, and start threshing it this afternoon. Dashan is at the threshing ground; once you're done harvesting, just take it there."

The group nodded and ate in silence. Su Xiaoyin gave each of them an egg, saving the rest for the children instead of eating any herself.

When she got home, the sun was already high in the sky. Without even resting, Su Xiaoyin went to the backyard first.

The backyard is bustling with activity now. Chickens, ducks, and geese are huddled in their pens, clucking and squawking, waiting to be fed. This year, Chen's father's old sow is the most important, receiving the best food, with plenty of soybean cake and bran added to her feed. The sow's belly is round and plump, clearly preparing to give birth next year.

Su Xiaoyin fed the chickens and ducks first, then mixed some feed for the sow and poured it into the trough. The sow grunted and nudged over, burying her head in the food. She then went to check on the other pigs; they were growing well, plump and strong, and would fetch a good price at the end of the year.

She stopped and looked at the duck pen. Several ducks had stopped laying eggs and were just eating without working; keeping them was a waste. She thought about killing them in a while and trying to make roast duck. The roast duck shops in the county town were so successful; if she could make something that tasted similar, she could sell it at the general store.

"Sigh, I'll stop thinking about it now." She shook her head, suppressed the thought, and turned to go to the kitchen.

The autumn harvest is hard work, so we need to eat a good, hearty lunch. Su Xiaoyin started by simmering the bone broth. The large bones were bought yesterday; she washed them thoroughly, put them in a pot of cold water, brought them to a boil over high heat, skimmed off the foam, added ginger slices and scallions, and then simmered them slowly over low heat. The broth needs to be simmered until it turns milky white and the bone marrow has been extracted to make it flavorful.

She soaked the dried bamboo shoots in warm water until they softened, then stir-fried them for lunch. The bamboo shoots were dried last year and had been kept until the autumn harvest.

After finishing these tasks, Su Xiaoyin glanced at the sky; it was still a while before noon. She slung her basket over her shoulder, grabbed her sickle, and headed up the mountain. She needed to gather pig feed; the pigs at home were multiplying, and the vegetable and sweet potato leaves from the garden alone weren't enough.

It was cooler up in the mountains than down below, and the breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees. Su Xiaoyin walked along the familiar path, cutting pig feed as she went. This year's autumn harvest came earlier than usual, and the mountain produce wasn't ready yet. She wandered around the woods and only found a small handful of autumn mushrooms, their caps not yet fully open, looking very tender.

"Something is better than nothing." She put the mushrooms in the basket and continued cutting pig feed.

She had filled two large baskets with pig feed, and her back ached from the effort. Wiping her sweat, she carried the baskets down the mountain.

Back home, the bone broth was already ready. The broth was milky white with oil floating on top, and it smelled delicious. Su Xiaoyin took the broth down and started steaming buns. They were made with a mixture of wheat and corn flour, so they rose softly and steamed until fragrant and sweet.

She chopped a small bowl of pickled vegetables, cut them into thin strips, mixed them with chili oil and sesame oil, and sprinkled some chopped green onions on top. The colorful dish looked very appetizing. The pickled vegetables were homemade, crisp and crunchy, and they were perfect with steamed buns.

When the sun was directly overhead, Su Xiaoyin packed the food and carried the basket to the field. The bone broth was in an earthenware pot, wrapped in a cotton cloth to keep it warm; the steamed buns were covered with a clean cloth; a large plate of braised pork was sliced, a bowl of dried bamboo shoots was stir-fried, and a small bowl of pickled vegetables was served, making the meal quite substantial.

When they arrived at the field, several people were already sitting on the edge of the field, waiting. Chen's father took the earthenware pot, poured a bowl of soup, took a sip, and sighed contentedly, "This soup is good; it's oily."

Brother Li took a bite of the steamed bun, then picked up a piece of braised pork, his mouth greasy with oil as he ate: "Sister Chen, with your cooking skills, you could open a restaurant."

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "Brother Li, don't flatter me. Eat quickly, we still have work to do this afternoon."

While eating, Mr. Chen asked, "How's the threshing ground over there?"

Su Xiaoyin said, "The mountains and the river are over there; I haven't gone to see them yet. I'll bring the food over in a bit."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Okay, let them eat well too."

Su Xiaoyin carried another portion of food towards the drying ground. Chen Dashan was squatting by the mat, spreading out the rice he had just brought back to dry. Chen Xiaohe was helping him, both of them covered in sweat, their clothes soaked and clinging to their backs.

"Dinner's ready!" Su Xiaoyin called out.

The two brothers washed their hands and sat down on the edge of the field. Chen Dashan took the bowl, took a sip of soup, swallowed slowly, and said, "This soup is good. It must have been simmering all morning, right?"

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "Yes, it's simmered over low heat. You should eat more, we'll be busy this afternoon."

Chen Xiaohe took a bite of the steamed bun, then picked up a piece of dried bamboo shoot with his chopsticks, and said indistinctly, "Sister-in-law, this dried bamboo shoot is delicious, sour and spicy, it's appetizing."

Su Xiaoyin smiled: "Eat more if you like. There's still some in the pot, I'll make you more tonight."

After finishing their meal, the two brothers continued working. Su Xiaoyin cleaned up the dishes and carried the empty basket back home. On the way, she met several women from the village, also carrying baskets, who were bringing food to their husbands. They greeted each other and hurried on their way.

Back home, Su Xiaoqing had already settled the children in. Qingqing was writing in the yard, while Shitou, Aji, and Afu were peeling garlic and picking vegetables, and Li An was also helping out. Although the children were young, they were all able to lend a hand.

"Mom, you're back!" Qingqing ran over and tugged at Su Xiaoyin's clothes.

Su Xiaoyin patted her head: "Qingqing, be good. Mom will go wash the dishes and make you something delicious in a little while."

Qingqing nodded and went back to writing.

Su Xiaoyin cleaned up the dishes and wiped down the kitchen. There was still some bone broth left; she could reheat it and make a pot of flatbread for dinner, which would be enough.

She leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching the children busy in the yard, feeling a deep sense of peace. Although the autumn harvest was tiring, being together as a family made even the most exhausting task bearable.

As the sun gradually slanted westward, the sky was tinged with an orange-red hue. The work in the fields continued, the rice stalks on the threshing floor being turned over again and again. In the Chen family's courtyard, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, carrying the aroma of their meal far and wide.

Tomorrow will be another busy day. But such days bring a sense of peace.