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

That evening, Brother De banged a gong to call everyone to gather at the village entrance. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe rushed over, and the crowd was buzzing with discussion, all wondering if there was more bad news.

De Ge stood on the stone mill, a hint of relief finally appearing on his face. He cleared his throat and said loudly, "Listen up, everyone! News from the government says that although the wanted fugitive hasn't been caught yet, it's confirmed he's fled to another prefecture or county, and is no longer in our area. However, we still can't let our guard down. We still need to lock our doors and windows at night, and go out in groups."

A buzzing sound arose from the crowd; some breathed a sigh of relief, while others whispered among themselves. Although the person hadn't been caught yet, at least they were no longer nearby, and a weight was finally lifted from their hearts.

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.

The county government had also informed them, and Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were overjoyed. Su Xiaoqing took her sister's hand and said, "Sister, let's go back and see? It's been so many days, I don't know how things are at home."

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "I also want to go back and see them. Dashan and Xiaohe are both at home, they probably haven't eaten properly."

The two women went to discuss it with Mr. Chen. He was chopping wood in the yard. After listening to them, he put down his axe and said, "Let's go back together. The children are on holiday now, let's have a good family meal. Everyone's been on edge these past few days, it's time for us to get together."

Su Xiaoyin was delighted and quickly said, "Dad, I'll go buy some things. I'll buy some meat and a roast duck."

Mr. Chen nodded: "Okay, go ahead. We'll set off once you've bought everything."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing carried baskets and headed towards the market. At the meat stall, there were only a few pieces of pork belly left. Su Xiaoyin picked out a piece with a good balance of fat and lean meat and had the vendor weigh it out to two jin (approximately 1 kg). They then went to the old-established roast duck shop in the county town; there were several people queuing outside. After waiting quite a while, they finally bought a duck. The roast duck was wrapped in oil paper, still piping hot, and the aroma filled their nostrils.

"Sis, this roast duck smells so good. I wish we could make it taste like this someday." Su Xiaoqing sniffed.

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "Take your time and figure it out, you'll be able to make it eventually. Let's go buy two more big bones and make soup."

The two then bought some large bones before carrying their purchases back home.

Father Chen had already harnessed the mule cart. Mother Chen and the children sat in the cart. Shi Tou was playing cat's cradle with Aji, A Fu was dozing off in Mother Chen's arms, and Qing Qing was playing with a rag doll.

"Get on the cart, let's go." With a flick of his whip, Father Chen sent the mule cart creaking and groaning out of the county town and heading towards Nanshan Village.

The crops on both sides of the road had already been harvested, leaving the fields bare, with only a few sparrows hopping around on the ridges. The children chattered away, but the adults remained mostly silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Su Xiaoyin leaned against the car floor, looking at the familiar outline of the village in the distance, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her. After so many days of anxiety and trepidation, she could finally go home.

The mule cart turned into the village entrance. The old locust tree was still there, and several old people were sitting under it, basking in the sun. They greeted them with smiles. Mr. Chen responded a few times and drove the cart home.

The gate was open, and Chen Dashan was squatting in the yard repairing farm tools. Hearing the car, he looked up, saw a car full of people, paused for a moment, then stood up with a smile on his face.

"You're back?" He walked over and took the things from Su Xiaoyin's hands.

Su Xiaoyin nodded and looked at him. He had lost some weight and looked tired, but he was in good spirits.

"Is everything alright at home?" she asked.

Chen Dashan nodded: "It's all good. It's just that it feels a bit deserted without you all here."

Chen Xiaohe ran out from the backyard and, seeing Su Xiaoqing and the children, shouted happily, "You're finally back! I missed you all so much!"

Su Xiaoqing rolled her eyes at him, but her eyes were also a little red.

The family went inside. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing tied on aprons and went into the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Chen rested in the main room, while the children played in the yard. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe helped out, chopping wood, starting the fire, and washing vegetables.

The kitchen quickly became lively. Pork belly was cut into chunks and braised; pork bones were simmered into broth; roast duck was sliced ​​thinly and arranged on a plate; several green vegetables were stir-fried, and a cold salad was prepared. The aroma filled the entire yard.

The children, drawn by the delicious aroma, ran in and out. Stone, standing on tiptoe, peered at the stove and swallowed hard. "Mom, when is dinner?"

Su Xiaoyin smiled and patted his head: "Almost done, almost done. Go tell Grandpa and Grandma to wash their hands."

The family sat around the table in the main room, which was laden with food: braised pork, roast duck, bone broth, stir-fried vegetables, cold dishes, and a plate of pickled vegetables. Father Chen picked up his wine glass, looked at his family, and slowly said, "These past few days have been tough for everyone. Come, have a drink to calm your nerves."

Several people raised their glasses and clinked them together.

Mr. Chen added, "Although that person has escaped, we still can't let our guard down. Be careful when you go out, and make sure to lock the doors and windows at night. Life goes on, but we can't be careless."

Chen Dashan nodded: "Dad is right. We still need to be careful. By the way, Dad, after Xiaoyin and the others went to the county town, a thief broke into the house." Then Chen Dashan told him about how he and Xiaohe dug a trap and found bloodstains the next day.

Upon hearing this, Chen's father hurriedly asked, "Did De-ge discover anything afterward? Did he catch the person?" Chen Xiaohe added from the side, "My older brother and I also observed carefully, but we couldn't find out who it was. However, there were traces of someone else coming afterward, but we didn't catch them, and we didn't suffer any losses."

Mr. Chen said, "It's probably someone trying to take advantage of the situation, or they're just jealous of how well our family is doing. Everyone should be more careful and vigilant from now on."

Su Xiaoyin served food to the children and then put a piece of roast duck on Chen Dashan's plate: "Eat more, you've lost weight." "Don't worry, Dad, we know. We'll be more careful in the future."

Chen Dashan smiled and lowered his head to eat.

After dinner, the family sat in the yard. The moon rose, casting its soft light across the ground. The children chased after the little dog in the yard, their giggles carrying far away.

Mr. Chen, puffing on his pipe, said slowly, "Those days were really tough. Thankfully, they're all over now."

Chen's mother nodded: "Yes. It's best to stay safe and sound from now on."

Su Xiaoyin leaned on Chen Dashan's shoulder and whispered, "We'll never be apart again. No matter what happens, we'll be together."

Chen Dashan held her hand, said nothing, but squeezed it tightly.

A breeze swept through the yard, carrying the scents of crops and grass. As night deepened, the children were carried back inside, and the adults returned to their rooms.

Lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), Su Xiaoyin listened to the chirping of insects outside the window, and finally felt at ease. Being together as a family, safe and sound, was better than anything else.

Chen Dashan held her close and whispered, "Go to sleep, we have work to do tomorrow."

Su Xiaoyin hummed in agreement and closed her eyes.

Outside the window, the moon is high in the sky, casting its gentle light across the ground. Tomorrow will be another new day.