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

Qingqing smiled and stood up, supporting her back as she slowly walked to the counter. She spoke politely but firmly. She explained that she was pregnant and wouldn't be taking any embroidery work for the time being, until after giving birth. However, she had recently finished a large embroidery piece, which Madam Zhao could take a look at and see if she liked it. If not, she could introduce Madam Zhao to her mother's and aunt's embroidery pieces; their skills were even better than hers, and they were among the best in the county. Madam Zhao agreed, saying she would take a look. Qingqing turned and took a bundle from a drawer under the counter. Inside was a picture of a Qilin delivering a child. The Qilin in the center of the picture strutted proudly, its four hooves treading on clouds. Its scales were made of varying shades of blue silk thread, layered upon layered, shimmering in the light. On the Qilin's back sat a chubby, white child, holding a lotus flower, with an innocent smile, wearing a bright red bib embroidered with the Five Poisons, and tiger-head shoes, looking utterly endearing. Surrounded by auspicious clouds, blooming peonies, and fluttering bats, the entire embroidery is magnificent yet elegant.

Madam Zhao gazed at the embroidery for a long time, her finger hovering above the fabric, wanting to touch it but hesitant to. She asked Qingqing, "Did you embroider this?" Qingqing nodded. Madam Zhao then looked at Qingqing's belly, and a thought suddenly struck her. This girl was pregnant, and the embroidery was of a Qilin bringing a child—wasn't it imbued with spiritual power? She would take it back and have her eldest daughter-in-law hang it up; perhaps it would truly come true. Her eldest daughter-in-law had been married for many years and had only given birth to a daughter. She was anxious to have a grandson, so much so that she developed blisters on her lips, and all her prayers and pilgrimages had been in vain.

Madam Zhao immediately made her decision. Fifty taels—she would buy the embroidery. Qingqing didn't haggle and smiled in agreement. Madam Zhao then added, "When your mother has a large embroidery finished, let her know; she'd like to see it." Qingqing nodded in agreement. Madam Zhao then selected several bolts of fine cotton cloth, took them home to make clothes for her family, paid the money, and left with her maid and the cloth.

After Madam Zhao left, Yang Wenhu put the silver into the money box, turned around, and gave Qingqing a thumbs up.

"My lady is truly remarkable. Not only did she sell the embroidery, but she also got Madam Zhao to buy several more bolts of cloth. Especially those two bolts of brocade, which had the highest profit margin; this one order alone is equivalent to half a month's worth of business normally."

Qingqing leaned against the counter, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and said slowly, "I've heard people say that Madam Zhao only has one son, and her daughter-in-law has only one daughter after many years of marriage. Madam Zhao doesn't say it, but she's incredibly anxious. I'm pregnant now, and the embroidery I did was a Qilin bringing a child, doesn't that mean the embroidery has a spirit? Madam Zhao is green with envy for a grandson, she'll definitely buy it." Yang Wenhu listened, stunned, and after a long while, he said, "My wife, I understand." Qingqing smiled and patted him, saying, "Stop talking nonsense, quickly put the money away."

Yang Wenhu took out fifty taels of silver from the money box, its gleaming white light dazzling in the room. He thought for a moment and said, "As we agreed before, part of this silver will go to Mother tonight, and the rest is yours." Qingqing didn't argue with him and said, "Okay, you decide." Yang Wenhu wrapped the silver separately and put it in the drawer under the counter.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on Qingqing's profile. Her face looked rounder, her complexion rosy, and she possessed a gentler charm than when she first married into the family. Yang Wenhu looked at her, then suddenly reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Qingqing paused, her face flushing slightly, and lowered her head, pretending to tidy the fabrics on the counter. Yang Wenhu didn't speak, turning to greet the guests who had just entered, a smile playing on his lips.

The cloth shop was small, with piles of colorful fabrics behind the counter, the air thick with the scents of cotton, linen, and silk. Qingqing sat behind the counter, an abacus in hand, reviewing today's accounts—two bolts of brocade, some fine cotton cloth, and fifty taels of embroidered fabric; today's earnings were quite substantial. She finished adjusting the last bead, closed the ledger, leaned back in her chair, and placed her hand on her belly, feeling the tiny life within her gently moving. This feeling was wondrous, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Nineteen-year-old Madam Yang, carrying the next generation of the Yang family, was doted on by her in-laws, cherished by her husband, and her family frequently brought her gifts. She touched her belly and whispered, "Baby, be good, Mommy's doing the accounts, don't fuss." Her belly was quiet for a moment, then moved gently again.

Yang Wenhu heard this from behind the counter, his head bowed as he arranged the fabric, the tips of his ears slightly red. There were no customers in the shop; sunlight streamed in from the doorway, illuminating the floor. The sounds of Qingqing using the abacus and Yang Wenhu rustling the fabric blended together, a soft, fragmented sound, like autumn leaves falling on a flagstone path, one after another, gentle and lingering. Life moved quietly forward amidst these mundane sounds, unhurried but never ceasing.

----

After the cloth shop closed, Yang Wenhu and Qingqing locked the door and drove their mule cart home. The setting sun painted the sky orange-red, and the wheat fields on both sides of the road were lush and green, rippling in the wind. Qingqing leaned against the side of the cart, her hand on her stomach, her eyes half-closed, as if she were about to fall asleep. Yang Wenhu drove slowly, careful not to jostle her. After a while, Qingqing suddenly opened her eyes and said, "Remember to inquire about Li An for me." Yang Wenhu couldn't help but laugh, saying, "You haven't forgotten." Qingqing said, "Of course! With such a big commotion, I won't feel at ease without knowing the results." Yang Wenhu said, "Okay, okay, I'll go and inquire for you tomorrow."

The next day, while delivering goods to the county town, Yang Wenhu took a detour to Li An's shop. The shop was open, but Li An wasn't there; only a shop assistant was dozing behind the counter. Yang Wenhu didn't go in but instead went to the teahouse next door, ordered a pot of tea, and chatted with the owner. The teahouse owner, being well-informed, spilled everything he knew. The girl's family at the grain and oil shop was relentless, demanding an explanation from the Li family. Li Hu was furious, saying the betrothal gifts had already been given and the engagement was set, and it couldn't be called back. The girl's family then went to the town to make a scene, bringing several prominent figures to mediate. Li An hadn't dared to leave the house these past few days, avoiding the shop and hiding at home. Li Hu had tried everywhere to get people to mediate, but the girl's family insisted that the Li family break off the engagement and marry their daughter, which the Li family refused, leaving the situation at a stalemate.

After listening, Yang Wenhu paid for the tea and drove his mule cart back to the cloth shop. Qingqing was standing behind the counter arranging goods when she saw Yang Wenhu enter. She quickly went to greet him and asked what he had found out. Yang Wenhu told her everything the teahouse owner had said. After listening, Qingqing sighed. It was such a pity that their childhood friendship had come to this. Yang Wenhu said that she had chosen her own path and couldn't blame anyone else. Qingqing didn't say anything more, turned around, went back behind the counter, opened the account book, and started working on the abacus.