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

We had just finished tidying up when guests arrived.

Grandma Wang from the next alley was the first to come in, carrying a bamboo basket. As soon as she entered, she headed towards the wild vegetables. "Madam Chen, is there any shepherd's purse left today? I came too late yesterday and didn't get anything."

Su Xiaoyin smiled and said, "Yes, ma'am, I brought a few extra today. How many would you like?"

Aunt Wang bent down, picked out three bunches of shepherd's purse, and then took a bunch of water celery, paying with satisfaction. No sooner had she left than two more women entered, also there to buy wild vegetables. They bought three or five bunches at a time, and in less than half an hour, all the wild vegetables were sold out.

An elderly woman who arrived late stood at the door with an empty basket on her shoulder, her face filled with disappointment: "Mrs. Chen, it's gone again? I rushed here as fast as I could, but I still missed it."

Su Xiaoyin smiled apologetically, "Auntie, I didn't bring enough today. I'll try to bring more tomorrow and save some for you."

The old woman was delighted. She looked around again and pointed to the fish in the basin: "These fish are fresh. Give me one. I'll make fish soup at home to nourish my grandson."

Su Xiaoyin scooped up a lively crucian carp, weighed it, strung it on a straw rope, and handed it to the old woman. The old woman paid and slowly walked away with her basket.

By midday, the shop was nearly empty. Su Xiaoyin gathered up the remaining stock: a few pieces of braised pork, all the tofu sold out, and a few pastries left. She glanced at the sky, closed the shop early, and drove her mule cart home.

When she got home, Su Xiaoqing wasn't there. The kitchen was spotless, with chopped vegetables laid out on the cutting board and water warming in a pot. Su Xiaoyin put down her things and started preparing the dishes for dinner—cutting the pork belly into chunks, slicing the bamboo shoots, and chopping the scallions, ginger, and garlic and arranging them in small dishes. After finishing these tasks, she slung her basket over her shoulder, picked up a small hoe, and headed towards the back of the mountain.

She went to De Ge's house first.

Dege's wife was airing out the bedding in the yard when she saw Su Xiaoyin arrive and quickly came to greet her. "Madam Dashan, come in and sit down."

Su Xiaoyin sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and explained her purpose: "Sister-in-law, there's no problem with what you asked about yesterday, and there are no taboos. Just let us know in advance which day you've decided, and the children will go back to the village tonight. Shitou and the others are still at school; they can just ask for half a day off. Are there any other special considerations here?"

Dege's wife was overjoyed, holding Su Xiaoyin's hand and thanking her repeatedly, "That's wonderful! The fortune teller has chosen an auspicious date, the eighth day of next month, which is a day off, so it won't interfere with the children's school. Your whole family can come to the wedding banquet then. There are no other special requirements."

Su Xiaoyin nodded with a smile: "Okay, sister-in-law, we'll definitely come. By the way, should the child wear new clothes when they go to the 'press the bed' ceremony? Some families have that custom."

Dege's wife thought for a moment and said, "As long as they are clean and tidy, there's no need to make new ones. The children grow quickly, and they won't wear new clothes many times. Just get them dressed neatly later and come over tonight."

Su Xiaoyin agreed, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then took her leave, heading towards the back of the mountain.

In the woods behind the mountain, the wind rustled through the branches and leaves. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, dappling the ground. Su Xiaoqing squatted beside a bush, digging for wild garlic with a small hoe. Her basket was already half full, the plump white garlic bulbs still attached to their emerald green leaves, a delightful sight.

"Sis, you're here!" Su Xiaoqing looked up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Have you asked about Brother De's family's matter?"

Su Xiaoyin squatted down and picked up a small hoe to help dig: "I've asked around. The eighth day of next month is a holiday, so it won't interfere with the child's school. Mother said there are no taboos, and we should get the child ready in advance."

The two sisters talked as they dug, their hands never stopping. The wild garlic grew in clumps, hidden in the grass, easily missed if you didn't look closely. Su Xiaoyin, with her sharp eyes, spotted a large clump, dug it up by the roots with one stroke of her hoe, shook off the soil, and put it in her basket.

"Sister, how are the wild vegetables selling at the grocery store today?" Su Xiaoqing asked.

Su Xiaoyin said, "They sold out quickly, in less than half an hour. An old lady wanted some more tomorrow, and I promised to bring her more. We'll come back early tomorrow to pick them again, when they'll be fresh and juicy. City people only like this kind of thing."

After the two sisters finished digging at this spot, they moved to the side. Not far away, tender red buds were sprouting from several toon trees, clustered together like tiny flames. Su Xiaoqing put down her hoe, stood on tiptoe, and reached for the lower branches, breaking off handfuls of toon buds. Su Xiaoyin caught them below and put them into her basket.

"Sister, these toon leaves are so tender. They'll definitely be in high demand when we take them to the shop tomorrow." After breaking off the lower ones, Su Xiaoqing found a long bamboo pole and knocked down a few more from the higher ones.

Su Xiaoyin nodded and neatly arranged the toon leaves in the basket: "Don't sell all the toon leaves, keep some for our own consumption. Toon leaves stir-fried with eggs or mixed with tofu are both delicious. Dad and the others are tired from spring planting, so we need to have a variety of dishes to eat."

The two sisters found a patch of water celery at the bottom of the slope. It was tender and fresh, growing by the stream. They squatted down, picked the tender tips, and soon filled half a basket.

The sun was beginning to set, and their baskets and carrying baskets were overflowing. Su Xiaoyin straightened up, stretched her neck, and looked at the sky: "That's enough, let's go back. We still need to cook dinner."

Su Xiaoqing stood up, put away her hoe, and slung her basket over her shoulder. The two sisters walked down the mountain path, one after the other. The setting sun cast long shadows of them onto the path covered with fallen leaves.

Back home, Chen's father, Chen Dashan, and Chen Xiaohe hadn't returned from the fields yet. Su Xiaoyin tied on an apron and went into the kitchen, while Su Xiaoqing emptied the wild vegetables from her basket, soaking some and spreading them out to dry.

The aroma of food soon filled the kitchen. Pork belly stewed with bamboo shoots bubbled and steamed in the pot, the bone broth turning milky white, topped with bright green scallions. Su Xiaoyin also stir-fried a plate of toon sprouts with eggs, mixed a dish of water celery, set out the bowls and chopsticks, and waited for the people from the fields to return.

As dusk fell, the gate to the courtyard rang. Father Chen walked ahead, his trousers stained with mud, his face weary but his spirits high. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe followed behind, all three their clothes soaked with sweat and clinging to their backs.

"Dad, dinner is ready. Wash your hands and eat." Su Xiaoyin brought out the last bowl of food from the kitchen.

Mr. Chen sat down on the stool, took the damp towel Su Xiaoyin handed him, wiped his face, and let out a long sigh of relief. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe washed their hands and sat down as well.

The family sat around the table as steaming hot food was served. Mr. Chen took a sip of bone broth, squinted, and remained silent for a long time, as if he was too tired to even speak.

Su Xiaoqing recounted the story of the bed-pressing ceremony at De Ge's house again. After listening, Chen's father nodded: "Okay, make sure the children are all ready and we go there early. We can't neglect their happy occasion."

Chen Dashan picked up a piece of pork belly, chewed it, and mumbled, "Xiaoyin, did you wash Shitou's blue jacket? Make him wear it on the day of the bed-pressing ceremony."

Su Xiaoyin nodded: "I washed them and folded them neatly in the cupboard. I'll give them a bath later, trim their nails, and clean them up so they won't embarrass our family."

Chen Xiaohe laughed from the side: "Big brother, you worry even more than your sister-in-law."

Chen Dashan glared at him, and Chen Xiaohe shrank back and lowered his head to eat his rice.