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

"Sister, I've finished drawing the embroidery pattern. What do you think?"

Su Xiaoqing's voice came from behind the counter, tinged with excitement and anticipation. She held a stack of Xuan paper, on which were the embroidery patterns she had drawn over the past few nights, the ink already dry and the edges pressed flat. Su Xiaoyin was sitting in the corner of the shop sewing a sachet. Hearing her sister's words, she put down her needle and thread, wiped her hands on her apron, and came over.

Su Xiaoqing laid out the embroidery patterns one by one on the counter. Pomegranate, gourd, and grape patterns each formed a separate piece, yet they complemented each other. The pomegranate was split open, revealing its plump seeds, densely packed, their translucent texture depicted with pale red silk thread; the gourd was round and full, its vines winding and intertwining, the leaves gracefully curling, even the tendrils on the vines painted with exquisite detail; the grapes hung in bunches, laden with fruit, and a small bird pecked at the fruit among the leaves, its expression lively and spirited. All three patterns were complemented by lotus and cloud motifs as a background, the composition well-balanced, with just the right amount of negative space.

Su Xiaoyin lowered her head to examine it carefully, her finger gently tracing the outline of the pomegranate. Then she leaned closer to look at the direction of the gourd vines, her eyes lighting up.

"The gourd sounds like 'good fortune and prosperity,' and its continuous vines symbolize abundant offspring. Pomegranates have many seeds, and grapes are also laden with fruit—this embroidery pattern is excellent! Even if Manager Sun doesn't buy it, we won't have to worry about selling it. Many children bring many blessings, and everyone likes that. What family doesn't want good luck when getting married?" She paused, picked up the gourd embroidery pattern, and looked at it again, becoming more and more satisfied. "You've handled the vine's movement much better than last time; it's natural and not stiff. After studying for so long, your drawing skills have really improved."

Su Xiaoqing smiled, pleased with the praise, and carefully put away the embroidery pattern, clipping it to a clean sheet of white paper and placing it in the drawer under the counter. She picked up the embroidery hoop, threaded the needle, and said in a light and determined tone, "Then I'll start embroidering now; I can't delay any longer. The weather is getting colder every day, and the end of the year is just around the corner. I need to finish the pattern before the twelfth lunar month. Go ask Mom and Dad how things are going with Brother De, and also check on them. See if they need anything. I'll look after the shop; you can go without worry."

Su Xiaoyin took off her apron, took an empty basket from the counter, dusted it off, and nodded in agreement: "Then I'll be right back. You stay here and watch the shop. If anyone comes to buy something, greet them. Once the braised meat is almost sold out, don't take any more out. Keep a few pieces for the afternoon, so we don't run out of stock all afternoon." She slung the basket over her shoulder and quickly went out the door.

The market was bustling with people, a bit quieter than in the morning, but still lively. An old man selling candied hawthorns walked by, carrying a straw basket; the bright red hawthorn skewers glistened in the sunlight. Mr. and Mrs. Chen's stall was further inside. When Su Xiaoyin approached, Mrs. Chen was giving change to a young woman, muttering, "Take care, and have a safe trip." Mr. Chen sat on a stool behind his stall, holding a half-woven bamboo basket. The bamboo strips moved deftly and neatly between his rough fingers.

After the woman left, Su Xiaoyin went up to her. She moved a small stool and sat down by the stall, placing her basket at her feet. She first recounted what had happened at home recently—Aunt Ermu had introduced furniture business, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe had taken on orders and were busy at home, and De Ge's family was having a wedding. Her voice was not loud, but her words were clear and organized, explaining each thing in detail.

Mr. Chen put down the bamboo basket in his hand, pushed his reading glasses up to his forehead, thought for a moment, and said in a slow and steady voice, "Wait for Brother De to let us know. If he's hosting a banquet, we'll go; if he doesn't let us know, then we won't go. As long as we show courtesy, that's enough. Don't rush into it."

Su Xiaoyin nodded, then asked if they should prepare some money as a gift in advance. Mr. Chen waved his hand and said no. Mrs. Chen chimed in, saying that they should just wait for news about such things; if she rushed to give it, they would think she was making a fool of herself. Su Xiaoyin then didn't ask any more questions.

While tidying up the goods, Chen's mother gave instructions, saying that when they came to the county town tomorrow, they should bring two large cabbages from home, the kind with a firm, thick core, and remove the outer leaves to use for pickling. She also told them to bring some wood carvings, hair ties, and silk flowers as well, since there weren't many left on the stall. Yesterday, an aunt bought six hair ties in one go, saying she wanted to share them with her granddaughters.

Su Xiaoyin agreed to all of them, and added, "Xiaohe has recently woven a lot of new bamboo products, such as small baskets, wicker baskets, and tea trays, all of which are very exquisite. I'll bring them over tomorrow and put them on the stall to sell. People in the county like these things; they're lightweight and practical."

Mr. Chen looked up and gave a word of advice, his tone revealing the thoughtfulness of an elder in charge: "Remember to prepare the goods that the shop and stalls need to sell for the New Year. Business is best in the twelfth lunar month, so don't be caught off guard. Sachets, colorful ropes, window decorations, couplets—prepare everything in advance. These are the same things every year, so it's better to be prepared early to avoid being caught off guard."

Su Xiaoyin nodded in agreement, saying she would discuss it with Xiaoqing, Dashan, and Xiaohe when she got home that evening. She then remembered the pig slaughtering and asked, "Dad, should we also wait until the twelfth lunar month, closer to the New Year, to slaughter our pig? Last year, it sold quite well at the general store; many regular customers came to inquire early, worried they wouldn't be able to buy any." Father Chen nodded, his tone resolute: "Yes, we should wait until the twelfth lunar month. The meat will keep better in the cold weather. When we slaughter the pig then, we can take it to the general store and sell the pork belly, ribs, and trotters separately; that will fetch a better price than selling the whole pig. We did the right thing last year, so we'll do the same this year."

Su Xiaoyin sat for a while longer, chatting about everyday matters. Seeing that it was getting late, she stood up and told Mr. and Mrs. Chen that she was going to the meat stall to buy some things, and asked them to close up shop early so they wouldn't tire themselves out. Mrs. Chen waved for her to go quickly.

Su Xiaoyin first went to the butcher's stall and bought two sets of pig offal and a large pig's head. Recently, the braised food at the general store has been selling very well, and it's sold out before noon every day. Many regular customers come specifically to buy it at that time. She then went to the spice shop to replenish some star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves—the braising liquid has been used for the past two years, and the spices are being used up quickly, so there isn't much left.

She passed a newly opened pastry shop with a long queue. She stopped to watch for a moment, then joined the end of the line. After waiting quite a while, it was finally her turn. She bought two boxes of their best-selling jujube paste pastries and osmanthus cakes, still warm and wrapped in oil paper, their sweet aroma seeping through the paper. On the next street, there was another newly opened roast chicken shop, also packed with people, its window displaying roast chickens, each one a golden-red, glistening sheen. She bought another one, wrapped it in oil paper, and carried it home.

Back at the general store, Su Xiaoqing was weighing tofu for a woman holding a child. Su Xiaoyin put the items on the counter, took off her basket, and caught her breath. After the woman left, she took out the items she had bought one by one and explained her plans.