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

By the time the two descended the mountain, it was almost dark. Gui Ge escorted Chen's father to his doorstep and said, "Uncle Chen, this can't be rushed. I'll go back and talk to my dad, see what he thinks. Be careful these next few days, and make sure to lock your doors and windows at night."

Mr. Chen nodded, thanked Brother Gui, and went into the courtyard.

Mrs. Chen had already prepared dinner, and Su Xiaoqing and the children were waiting in the main room. Mr. Chen washed his hands, sat down, picked up his bowl, but didn't have much of an appetite.

"Have you found any clues?" Chen's mother asked.

Mr. Chen took out the piece of cloth and placed it on the table. Mrs. Chen and Su Xiaoqing came over to take a look, but neither of them recognized it.

"This material isn't what people in our village usually wear," Chen's mother said. "Could it have been made by outsiders?"

Mr. Chen shook his head and said nothing.

After finishing his meal, Chen's father put down his bowl and said to Su Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, pack your things. We'll take the children to the county town in a bit. Load up the grain and vegetables, and I'll drive the mule cart. Don't stay at home for now; come back after we've investigated everything."

Su Xiaoqing paused for a moment, then looked at Chen's mother. Chen's mother said, "I'll stay home with your father. You take the children and go. When you get to the county town, tell your sister not to worry. I'll take care of things at home."

Knowing the seriousness of the situation, Su Xiaoqing didn't say anything and turned to pack her things. Chen's father helped load the grain, vegetables, and change of clothes onto the mule cart, while Chen's mother caught a few non-laying chickens and ducks from the backyard, tied them up with straw ropes, and told them to take them to the county town to nourish Da Shan.

The children jumped for joy when they heard they were going to the county town. They didn't know what was happening; they just thought it was a trip. They got on the bus.

Father Chen drove the mule cart, taking Su Xiaoqing and the children to the county town. Upon arriving at the house, Father Chen helped unload the belongings and then went inside to check on Chen Dashan. Chen Dashan still looked unwell, but his spirits were much better than yesterday. He was leaning against the kang (heated brick bed), and Su Xiaoyin was feeding him his medicine.

"Father, you've arrived." Chen Dashan saw his father and tried to sit up.

Mr. Chen pressed him down: "Don't move, lie down. I just brought Xiaoqing and the children here, I'll be back in a bit. You take good care of your injury, don't worry about things at home."

Chen Dashan nodded, then asked, "Dad, what about the village...?"

Mr. Chen waved his hand: "It's alright, with Brother De and Brother Gui here, don't worry. Getting better is more important than anything else."

Chen Dashan stopped asking questions and closed his eyes to rest.

After giving Su Xiaoyin a few more instructions, Mr. Chen drove the mule cart back. It was already completely dark, and there were no pedestrians on the road, only the sound of mule hooves and the creaking of the wheels. Mr. Chen thought about the piece of cloth and the person hiding in the shadows, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

When Chen got home, his mother had already closed the courtyard gate and put it on top of the gatepost. She sat in the main room, holding a needle and thread, but didn't move for a long time.

"You're back?" Chen's mother looked up.

Mr. Chen hummed in agreement and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Neither of the elderly couple spoke; they just sat there quietly.

Outside the window, the wind rustled through the courtyard wall, and the brambles whispered. A few barks came from afar, then silence returned.

Chen's father suddenly spoke up: "Tomorrow I'll go see the old village head and see if he has any news. This matter can't be left like this."

Chen's mother nodded and gripped the needle and thread tightly in her hand.

----

Days passed. Chen Dashan recuperated in the county town, while Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing took turns looking after the shop and the children. Although life was busy, things were finally stable. Back in the village, Chen's father remained vigilant for a moment.

Old Li was secretly investigating, but several days passed without any progress. The person hiding in the shadows seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace. Chen's father was anxious, but he knew he couldn't rush things. He dug up the traps he had filled in before, sharpened the bamboo spikes again, and smeared the bottom of the pit with lard, making it even more concealed than before. He added another layer of thorns around the base of the courtyard wall, making it impossible even for a dog to squeeze in.

Every night, Mr. Chen would get up several times, light a torch, and walk around the yard, listening for any sounds. Mrs. Chen also couldn't sleep soundly, so the elderly couple would each sleep half the night, taking turns keeping watch. The wooden lever by the kang (a heated brick bed) was propped up behind the door, and the hoe was placed within easy reach.

"Old man, do you think that person will come back?" Chen's mother lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring at the dark beams of the room, her voice filled with weariness.

Father Chen smoked his pipe, the firelight flickering in the darkness: "I don't know. But we can't let him succeed again. I was careless about what happened in Dashan. I should have been more careful."

Chen's mother sighed and said nothing more.

In the county town, life went on as usual. Su Xiaoyin got up before dawn every day to take her three children to school. Shitou, Aji, and Afu, carrying their little schoolbags, followed her down the alley in the early morning. The three children walked side by side, chattering away. Su Xiaoyin saw them to the school gate, gave them a few words of advice, and then turned back.

When they got home, Chen Dashan was already awake, leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed). His complexion was much better than a few days ago, but still somewhat pale. Su Xiaoyin brought him hot water to wash his face, and then brought him breakfast. Chen Dashan didn't eat much, but it was better than yesterday.

"Shouldn't you take your medicine?" Su Xiaoyin asked.

Chen Dashan nodded, and Su Xiaoyin brought the decocted medicine from the stove and fed it to him spoonful by spoonful. The medicine was very bitter, and Chen Dashan frowned, but still swallowed it down mouthful by mouthful.

"Xiaoyin, thank you for your hard work." After finishing his medicine, Chen Dashan leaned against the quilt, watching Su Xiaoyin's busy figure, and felt a little sad.

Su Xiaoyin shook her head, put the medicine bowl aside, and said with a smile, "You take good care of yourself, I'm fine. Besides, Xiaoqing is here to help. She's keeping an eye on things at the shop, so I won't be delayed here."

Chen Dashan hummed in response and then remained silent.

Su Xiaoyin went to change the gauze on Chen Dashan's head again. Dr. Li had changed the dressing two days ago and said the wound was healing well, but it would still need to rest for a while. A head injury cannot be taken lightly; he needs to rest in bed for more than a month. Once the wound has healed, he can get up and move around a little, but he cannot do heavy work.

"Dr. Li said you need to lie down and not move around too much," Su Xiaoyin instructed while changing the gauze. "After a few days when the wound has healed, you can walk around in the house, but you can't go out."

Chen Dashan lay obediently, watching Su Xiaoyin bustling around, feeling a warmth in his heart.

After changing her dressing, Su Xiaoyin opened the door of the general store. Su Xiaoqing had already arranged the goods yesterday, so she only needed to keep an eye on things. There weren't many customers in the morning, just a few scattered ones buying tofu and braised goods. Su Xiaoyin served them while working on her embroidery. The "Five Blessings Surrounding Longevity" embroidery pattern was still quite long; she needed to hurry.

Su Xiaoqing set up a stall at the market, selling small items such as hair ties, silk flowers, and tiger-head shoes. The weather had been nice these past few days, and there were more people at the market than before, so business was decent. As she sold her goods, she thought about home, imagining her older sister working alone in the shop, taking care of her older brother, and looking after the children—she must be exhausted.