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

Su Xiaoqing picked up the conversation, stacking the empty bowls together as she tidied up, saying, "Dad, we hadn't really decided what to embroider next, so we're taking a break. Let's prepare the things we'll sell for the Dragon Boat Festival first—sachets, five-colored ropes, and little tiger shoes. We rely on these to make a good living every year, so we can't be careless. Then we'll make some summer work clothes for you, Dad, Mom, Big Brother, and Xiaohe." She glanced at the faded old jacket Chen's father was wearing, the cuffs worn and frayed, "Most of what you're wearing now is worn out; it's time to get new ones."

Chen Xiaohe was gnawing on a bone when he heard this. He replied nonchalantly, "I think it's alright, I can still wear it. I just made this last year, and it's not torn. My older brother's is passable too."

Su Xiaoyin chimed in, her tone leaving no room for argument: "We've already bought the coarse linen; it'll only take a few days to make them. Summer clothes are easy to make, requiring little labor and fabric. Your clothes, on the other hand, have frayed collars and short sleeves, and you still say they're not torn?"

Mr. Chen put down the bowl, wiped his mouth, and added, "Don't forget to make two sets of clothes for the four children as well. They're growing a lot, and last year's clothes won't fit this year." He glanced at Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, and lowered his voice, "Make one set for yourselves too. I've noticed you haven't had new clothes for two years. Women shouldn't neglect themselves."

Just as Su Xiaoyin was about to say "no need," Chen Dashan chimed in, his tone resolute: "Yes, let you make them yourselves first. We're not in a hurry. Clothes made of coarse linen are just a few stitches away. Your fine cotton clothes, however, need to be made properly; we can't be careless."

Su Xiaoqing laughed, her voice crisp and clear: "Okay, my sister and I will do it together, it won't take more than a few days. My sister is quick, and I'll help out, so we can each make a new outfit for the Dragon Boat Festival." She added, "Oh, right, I also bought some clay animals at the market today—dogs, cats, and rabbits—they were cheap. I'm thinking of selling them at the general store. When we got back, my sister and I painted them—red, green, yellow, all sorts of colorful things, they look so festive. Tomorrow we'll put a row of them in the shop, and the kids will definitely be unable to resist them."

Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up. He put down his chopsticks and leaned over to look. Su Xiaoqing took the item out of the basket and handed it to him. He looked at it over and over. The colors were bright, the puppy's eyes were shiny black, and the kitten's whiskers were fine. Although it wasn't anything fancy, it was charmingly simple.

"Sure, this is great. The color really makes a difference; the dull, gray clay has come alive. We can sell them for a few coins each in the shop, as a small bonus or as a full-fledged item; they'll definitely be popular." Chen Xiaohe put the puppy back on the table and then asked, "Sister-in-law, how much are you planning to sell them for?"

Su Xiaoyin thought for a moment and said, "Let's set the price at five copper coins each. Buy two and get one free, small profit, quick turnover. The cost isn't high; the paint and clay costs are minimal. We'll make a profit on every one we sell, so we won't lose money."

Father Chen steered the conversation back to business, his voice low but firm: "The crops in the fields need fertilizing. These next few days, you two sisters should focus on running the shop in the county town; you don't need to worry about the fields. I've hired someone to weed; we'll start tomorrow. We'll fertilize ourselves. Xiaohe, you come with me tomorrow to get the manure ready so it'll be ready to be used in the fields."

Upon hearing about fertilizing, Chen Xiaohe's face contorted in pain. His expression was strained, and his voice betrayed his reluctance: "Dad, I know. It's just that the smell is awful." Everyone at the table was amused by his expression. Su Xiaoqing laughed so hard she almost dropped her chopsticks, and even Chen's usually stern father couldn't help but smile. Su Xiaoqing laughed so hard she could barely stand, and it took her a while to recover. Wiping away the tears of laughter, she said to Chen Xiaohe, "I'll make you and Dad two cloth covers to plug your noses. Stuff them with cotton, sew on straps, and tie them behind your head. That should block a lot of the smell." Chen Xiaohe hesitated, then shook his head, his tone carrying a feigned heroic tragedy: "No need, I'll try. Farmers are afraid of the smell of manure? People will laugh at us. I was just saying, it's not like I can't stand it."

Chen Dashan swallowed the last bite of his steamed bun and slowly said, "My furniture will be finished in a few days. When I'm too busy in the fields, I'll come help." Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up immediately. His previous worried expression vanished, and he moved closer to Chen Dashan, raising his voice slightly, and said with a grin, "Brother, you're so kind. Your arrival makes things much easier."

Chen Dashan didn't reply and lowered his head to drink his soup.

----

As noon approached, the number of customers in the grocery store gradually decreased. The last old lady left with her basket. Su Xiaoyin wiped the debris off the counter, sprinkled a basin of water at the door, and pressed down the loose dirt.

"Sister, I'm going to make lunch. You watch the shop." Su Xiaoqing took off her apron and walked towards the backyard.

Su Xiaoyin suddenly remembered something and added, "Xiaoqing, make some cold noodles. It's too hot for soup noodles. Also, boil two salted duck eggs; Mom loves them."

Xiao Qing responded and walked away with light steps.

The water in the kitchen boiled, and the noodles were cooked after a few quick dips in the boiling water. Su Xiaoqing scooped the noodles out, rinsed them in cold water, and put them in a large bowl. She shredded the cucumber, minced the garlic, added vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili oil, then poured in a spoonful of leftover bone broth from yesterday, mixed it all together, and the aroma was irresistible. The salted duck egg was cut open; the yolk was a glistening reddish-brown, looking incredibly appetizing.

Su Xiaoyin put the cold noodles into a basket, covered it with a clean, damp cloth, and wrapped two salted duck eggs in oil paper and stuffed them around the edge of the bowl.

"Sister, go and deliver food to Mother. I'll watch the shop." Su Xiaoqing took the apron from Su Xiaoyin, tied it on, and stood behind the counter.

Su Xiaoyin carried the basket out, turning back to remind him, "You eat first, don't wait for me."

Su Xiaoqing shook her head, her tone resolute: "It's okay, I'm not hungry. We'll eat together when you get back. Sister, you should go quickly, or Mom will have already eaten. You know Mom, when she's hungry she won't be picky about anything. If there's bread, she'll eat bread; if there's no bread, she'll drink water. We can't let her make do."

Su Xiaoyin said no more and quickened her pace toward the market.

The midday sun was blazing, making the stone slabs on the ground scorching hot. There weren't many people on the road; even the dogs lay panting under the eaves. Su Xiaoyin walked through two streets, turned into the market, and saw Chen's mother's stall in the distance.

Chen's mother sat on a small stool behind the stall, with a rough porcelain bowl in front of her containing broken pieces of flatbread and a dish of pickled vegetables beside her. She had just picked up her chopsticks and hadn't even had a chance to eat when she heard Su Xiaoyin call out "Mother."

Chen's mother looked up and saw Su Xiaoyin walking over, her basket covered with a cloth.

"Mom, I'm here. I brought you some cold noodles. You can keep the flatbread for tonight." Su Xiaoyin put the basket on the side of the stall, lifted the cloth, took out the bowl of cold noodles, and took out a salted duck egg from the oil paper package. She cut it open with chopsticks, and the orange-red yolk flowed out.