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

After the New Year, the weather grew warmer day by day. The old locust tree in the yard sprouted tender buds, and the snow in the corner of the wall melted away, revealing the dark brown soil underneath. The chives in the wooden trough had been harvested several times, and they were lush and green. They were used to make scrambled eggs and dumplings, filling the whole yard with their delicious aroma.

The business of Chen's General Store was better than anyone expected.

The unique aroma of the roast chicken and duck spread like wildfire throughout the county. First, neighbors came drawn by the fragrance to buy them; then customers from the east and west of the city made special trips; and later, even people from the town came to inquire. Every day, before the ovens were even lit, people were already waiting outside the shop. Each batch of roast chicken and duck yielded only seven or eight birds, and they were sold out before noon every day. Many people arrived late and had to leave disappointed, only to arrive even earlier the next day.

Along with the roast chicken, the shop's braised meats, pastries, dried fruits, tofu, and ceramic figurines all sold significantly more than before. Some people bought roast chicken and also picked up a couple of pieces of tofu, while waiting for the roast duck, some picked up a few hair ties, and some even came from afar just to try the legendary herbal roast chicken. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were so busy they barely had time to breathe, getting up before dawn every day and working until dark before they could rest.

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe were also busy in the village. With spring approaching, it was time to get to work in the fields.

That evening, the family was finally able to gather together. Mr. Chen returned from the county town, and Mrs. Chen came back with him—the children were on spring break from school, and the family could finally have a proper reunion dinner. The light in the kitchen was on, and Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were busy at the stove, the spatula flying, and the fire in the stove was burning brightly, illuminating the kitchen.

After finishing his meal, Chen Dashan put down his bowl, looked at his father, and said what he had been holding back all winter: "Dad, spring is here, so you don't need to work in the fields. You and Mom can stay in the county town, help the children with their studies, and maybe run a small stall. Xiaohe and I will do the field work; if we can't manage, we'll hire someone. You just need to give directions on when to sow seeds and when to fertilize."

Chen Xiaohe chimed in, saying that last autumn's harvest had exhausted his father, and his back had ached for so long. Doctor Li said he couldn't do heavy work anymore and needed to rest. "If you don't listen," he added, "we won't let you go to the county town and will lock you at home." Chen's father wanted to say something more, but Chen's mother patted his hand and said, "The children care about you, so don't be stubborn. They can handle the work in the fields; just listen to them." Chen's father looked at his two sons, then at his two daughters-in-law, remained silent for a moment, and nodded.

A smile appeared on Chen's mother's face.

There was also new news from De Ge's family. His eldest son remarried, and this time it was a grand affair, with a banquet of over a dozen tables, attended by everyone in the village. The new bride was a farm girl, a year older than De Ge's eldest son, with a pretty face, not talkative, always smiling, and very efficient. When Chen's mother returned, she told Su Xiaoyin that the girl seemed like a practical person; when washing dishes, she wiped the bottoms of the bowls spotless, and after cleaning the stove, she folded the dishcloth neatly before putting it down. De Ge had finally found the right person; he could finally settle down and live a peaceful life.

De Ge also opened the small shop in town for his eldest son, selling groceries and food. Although business wasn't as good as the Chen family's grocery store, it was still decent. De Ge told everyone he met that he felt at ease now, not seeking great wealth or status, just peace and safety.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing's embroidery is becoming increasingly famous.

Shopkeeper Sun acquired a pomegranate and many seeds embroidery, which he displayed prominently in the house. Every time someone came, they would ask where he bought such a fine piece of embroidery. Madam Qian then ordered a gourd and auspicious motif, saying she wanted to hang it in the main hall of her new house. What delighted the sisters most was that someone from the prefectural city had come specifically to order a painting of abundant grapes, a silk merchant who had traveled half a day by carriage to the county town to present to his mother on her birthday.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing were extremely busy, but they were happy. The embroidery sold well, bringing in more money, and their family's life became even more comfortable.

Qingqing followed behind, and after learning for several years, she could now independently embroider handkerchiefs and purses. She was skillful and meticulous, her color matching even better than Su Xiaoqing's; the butterflies she embroidered seemed to fly off the handkerchiefs. When she took her embroidery to the shop to sell, it was always snapped up. Qingqing kept half of the money she earned, saying she wanted to save it for her dowry, and gave the other half to the family coffers. Chen's mother felt sorry for her, saying, "You're still young, you don't need to give it to the family coffers, keep it for yourself." Qingqing refused, saying, "My mother and aunt give a portion of the embroidery they sell to the family coffers, I should do my part too." Hearing this, Chen's mother's eyes reddened.

Stone and Aji and Afu grew up day by day. The three boys all studied until they were fourteen years old, and had been in school for seven or eight years. They were promoted from Class C to Class A, and the teachers all said that they had a solid foundation.

Afu was the first to say he didn't want to study anymore. That evening, the family was enjoying the cool air in the courtyard. Afu sat next to Su Xiaoqing, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke up: "Mom, I don't want to continue studying. I feel I don't have the talent for studying, and continuing would be a waste of time."

Su Xiaoqing paused, her hand holding the palm-leaf fan stopping. She looked at her son and asked, "What do you want to learn? Do you want to learn carpentry and bamboo weaving from your father and uncle? Your hands have never been very skillful since you were little. You can never weave a neat bamboo basket, and I'm afraid you can't endure the hardship of carpentry."

Afu shook his head and said he wanted to learn at the clinic. Even if he couldn't learn to diagnose or take pulses, he could learn how to process medicinal herbs. He counted on his fingers how many medicinal herbs his family grew on the mountain—Bletilla striata, Bupleurum chinense, honeysuckle—and how much they harvested every year, which they only roughly processed and sold. If he could learn how to process them, slicing, stir-frying, and honey-roasting, his value would increase several times over. Moreover, he wanted to learn how to make ointments and medicinal wines for bruises, sprains, mosquito repellents, and itch relief. If he made them well, he could use them himself and also sell them at the shop. In the future, he would have a skill to support himself and wouldn't have to rely on his family for a living.

After listening, Chen Dashan remained silent for a while, then turned to look at Chen Xiaohe. Chen Xiaohe thought for a moment and said that Doctor Li was short of an apprentice, and if Afu wanted to go, he could ask him.

The next day, Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe took Afu to Doctor Li's clinic in the county town. Doctor Li asked Afu a few questions, had him identify some medicinal herbs, stroked his beard, nodded, and said, "This child is meticulous and can sit still. Let him stay. Two hundred coins a month, with food and lodging provided, and two days off a month to go home."