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

Chen Dashan nodded: "Dad, I'll get up early tomorrow to harness the ox and haul the manure to the fields."

Chen Xiaohe mumbled a response while chewing on a biscuit.

The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting its soft light across the floor. The fire in the stove was still burning, and the pots and pans on the stove were still piled up unwashed. Su Xiaoyin stood up to clear the dishes, while Su Xiaoqing helped wipe the table.

----

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Su Xiaoyin got up. She quietly dressed without disturbing Chen Dashan, who was still fast asleep. She opened the door, and the morning breeze carrying the damp scent of earth rushed in. In the old locust tree in the yard, several sparrows were already chirping.

In the kitchen, Su Xiaoqing had already started the fire. The firewood crackled in the stove, making her face glow red. The water in the iron pot was just beginning to steam; she sprinkled in a small handful of millet, preparing to cook porridge.

"Sis, why don't you go to the general store in town today? I'll cook at home." Su Xiaoqing stirred the porridge in the pot with a spatula without looking up.

Su Xiaoyin tied on her apron, scooped a ladle of water from the water vat to wash her face; the cool water made her shiver. "Okay, then I'll go to the county town. Help me get the wild vegetables and put them in the car."

Su Xiaoqing responded, put down the spatula, and went into the yard. The wild vegetables she had picked last night were packed in several baskets and covered with damp cloths to keep them fresh. She uncovered the cloths, revealing shepherd's purse, water celery, and dandelion, each one fresh and vibrant, with soil still clinging to its roots—clearly just dug up from the mountain.

She divided the wild vegetables into two portions. One portion was packed in a basket on her back, ready to be sold at the general store; the other portion was tied into small bundles with thin straw rope and stacked in a basket to give away. She also brought out a small jar from the corner of the kitchen, containing pickled bamboo shoots that had been fermenting for two days. Opening the lid, a tangy aroma wafted out. Yongxiao filled a small bowl to give to your Chen's mother. She picked out a few good-looking spring bamboo shoots, wrapped them in oil paper, and put them in the basket as well.

Su Xiaoyin came out of the house carrying a clean blue cloth bundle containing several freshly made pastries, which she planned to take to the shop for her regular customers to try. She put the bundle in the cart and checked it over again.

"Oh, right, sis," Su Xiaoqing suddenly remembered something, "did you put the bamboo shoots for Manager Liu separately? He said last time that his mother was talking about wanting to eat bamboo shoot stew with meat, don't forget."

Su Xiaoyin patted the bamboo basket on the car: "It's all put in here, separately. There's also shepherd's purse, water celery, and dandelion, I've packed some of each, they're all so fresh and clean, his mother will definitely be happy to see them."

Su Xiaoqing added, "Sister, remember to buy an extra set of pig offal when you come back this afternoon. Dad and the others are working hard on spring planting, they need to eat well. Make a pot of it and keep it on hand, it'll be convenient to have with porridge in the morning and with drinks in the evening."

Su Xiaoyin nodded, sat on the carriage shaft, and cracked the whip: "Okay, I got it. Xiaoqing, I'm leaving now. I'll be back early this afternoon. I've already prepared the dough for lunch; it's in a basin on the kitchen counter. You can steam the buns right away."

Su Xiaoqing saw the mule cart off at the gate of the courtyard and watched it turn the corner of the alley before turning back.

Su Xiaoyin drove her mule cart at a leisurely pace towards the county town. Spring sowing had already begun in the fields on both sides of the road. Rows of black soil were turned up by plows, and people were sowing seeds and applying fertilizer. Several oxcarts were parked at the edge of the fields, their boards piled with seed bags and manure baskets, and a few teenagers were squatting by the field playing in the mud. She slowed down, waiting for an oxcart full of manure to pass before continuing on her way.

Upon arriving in the county town, she parked the mule cart in front of the general store and began unloading. Tofu, bean sprouts, braised meats, and pastries were arranged one by one on the counter. Wild vegetables were placed in bamboo baskets in the most conspicuous spot by the door. No sooner had she finished setting everything up than a regular customer came in.

"Madam Chen, how much are these shepherd's purse?" A woman in a blue cloth jacket carried a basket, bent down and looked through the wild vegetables. The leaves were so tender they were dripping with moisture, and the roots were still covered with damp soil. It was clear that they had been dug up that morning.

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "Three coins a bunch, how many do you want?"

The woman picked out three bunches of shepherd's purse and a bunch of water celery, paid for them, and left happily.

Throughout the morning, a steady stream of people arrived. Wild vegetables sold out quickly, disappearing before noon. Most of the bamboo shoots were also gone; Su Xiaoyin collected the rest, intending to take them to Chen's mother at the stall.

The sun rose higher, and the streets thinned out. Su Xiaoyin took a sip of water and leaned against the counter to rest. Remembering Xiao Qing's instructions, she took out the basket she had prepared for Manager Liu from under the counter, locked the shop, and headed towards the market.

Mother Chen was busy at her stall. Several young women were picking out hair ties and silk flowers, discussing which color looked best. Mother Chen was busy serving customers and collecting money, but she was organized and efficient.

Su Xiaoyin placed the basket behind the stall and greeted the women for a few moments. After they left, she handed the basket over: "Mother, this is bamboo shoots and wild vegetables for Steward Liu. If you see him later, please give them to him for me. The bamboo shoots were just dug this morning, they're very tender. I also packed a little shepherd's purse, water celery, and dandelion; doesn't his mother like these?"

Mother Chen took the basket, lifted the cover to look inside, and nodded in satisfaction: "Okay, I'll give it to him when he comes to patrol later. Xiaoyin, how's business at the shop today?"

Su Xiaoyin said, "It's alright. The wild vegetables sold quickly, and most of the bamboo shoots are gone too. Mom, I'm going back now. Xiaoqing can't manage all the work by herself at home. Spring planting will take a few more days, and the work in the fields is heavy, so I need to go back and cook."

Chen's mother waved her hand: "Go on, go on, drive carefully."

Su Xiaoyin returned to the shop, tidied up a bit, locked the door, and drove the mule cart back. Passing a butcher's stall, she stopped and bought two sets of pig offal, a pig's head, and several large bones. The butcher helped her wrap them in lotus leaves, tied them with straw rope, and put them in the cart.

Back home, Xiaoqing was busy in the kitchen. Chopped vegetables were laid out on the cutting board, and the large pot on the stove was bubbling away, steaming buns. A wheat aroma wafted from the gaps in the pot lid.

"Sister, you're back? Did you buy any pig offal?" Su Xiaoqing took the bundle from her hand, poured the pig offal into a wooden basin, and soaked it in clean water.

Su Xiaoyin washed her hands, tied on an apron, and helped chop vegetables: "I bought two sets, as well as a pig's head and big bones. You can braise the offal later, and I'll make bone broth. Dad and the others are tired from spring planting, so they need something nourishing."

The two sisters were busy in the kitchen; one was chopping scallions, ginger, and garlic, while the other was adding firewood to the fire. The firelight reflected off their faces, making them look rosy.