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

When Su Xiaoyin pushed open the gate to the Chen family's courtyard, the sun was already setting. A wisp of white smoke rose from the kitchen chimney, spreading into a thin layer in the evening sky, and the aroma of scallions and stir-fried oil filled the courtyard. Father Chen sat on a bamboo chair under the eaves, smoking a pipe; Mother Chen was preparing vegetables by the kitchen door; Zhao Qinghuan and Zhang Qiuming were washing vegetables by the well; and Zhang Yuming was setting the table and serving dishes in the main room. Chen Dashan squatted by the carpentry workshop door, holding a planed plank, squinting to check its flatness. Several pieces of wood of varying lengths were piled beside him, having just been moved from the storeroom that morning. Chen Xiaohe squatted in the corner of the courtyard, holding a pair of pruning shears, trimming the overly dense branches of the old pomegranate tree.

Su Xiaoyin pushed open the courtyard gate. Chen's mother was the first to look up, wiped her hands on her apron, and asked how Qingqing was doing. Su Xiaoyin put her basket on the stone table, scooped up a ladle of cold water and drank a few mouthfuls, then sat down and told her everything about Qingqing's twin pregnancy. The courtyard was quiet for a moment. Chen's mother didn't even bother to pick up the vegetable leaves that had fallen to the ground, and Chen's father took his pipe out of his mouth, not even feeling the sparks that splashed on the back of his hand. Chen Dashan put down the wooden plank, patted the sawdust off his hands, squatted down by the stone table, and said with a smile, "The crib needs to be made bigger. It's too small for two children. The original width was for one child, so it needs to be widened by a foot." Shi Tou and Aji put down their work and gathered around, asking all sorts of questions about Qingqing. Su Xiaoyin said she was doing well, but she had been eating too much lately and had gained a lot of weight. The flesh on her thighs was all bunched up, and she would get out of breath after walking a few steps. She has already told her to control her weight, eat less and exercise more, and not to overeat like before.

The news spread like wildfire through the courtyard. Mother Chen muttered "twins" several times, standing up and sitting down repeatedly, oblivious to the fact that the vegetable leaves in her hands were already crumpled. Father Chen relit his pipe, took a puff, and squinted at the pomegranate tree in the yard, saying nothing, but a slight smile played on his lips. Afu, who had been standing quietly by, waited until Su Xiaoyin finished speaking before standing up from the threshold, patting his clothes. His voice wasn't loud, but it stunned everyone.

"I also want to share some good news with my family. Qinghuan is pregnant, more than two months along. Today, while I was at Jishetang pharmacy to pick up her medicine, I had Doctor Shen take her pulse and confirm it."

Su Xiaoqing was carrying dishes out of the kitchen when she heard this. She almost dropped the plate, spilling a few drops of soup onto the back of her hand, but she didn't bother wiping them away. She rushed over to Afu and asked him if it was true, what the doctor said. Afu said it was true. The doctor said her pulse was stable, the pregnancy was going well, and Qinghuan had a good constitution, so there were no problems. He just told her not to overwork herself in the first three months and to avoid lifting heavy objects. Chen Xiaohe stood under the pomegranate tree, gripping the pruning shears tightly in his hand. After a while, he put them down, walked over to Afu, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Good, good." Chen's mother came out of the main room, leaning against the doorframe, and looked at Zhao Qinghuan. Zhao Qinghuan was standing by the well, wiping her hands. She was a little thinner, but her complexion was rosy and her eyes were bright. Chen's mother steadied herself, took Zhao Qinghuan's hand, and asked if she could still run the grocery store while pregnant. If it doesn't work, ask your mother and your aunt to help you. Don't try to tough it out.

Zhao Qinghuan sat down on the stool, her voice steady and calm, neither loud nor soft, showing no sign of panic. She was feeling well; the doctor had said there were no problems today. From now on, Afu could help her during the off-season, and she could manage the shop on her own. She glanced at Zhang Qiuming and Zhang Yuming, smiled, and said that she would have to trouble her sisters-in-law to take care of the housework. Zhang Qiuming, who was putting washed vegetables into a basket, didn't look up and said, "We'll take care of the housework; you just need to focus on your pregnancy." Zhang Yuming came out of the kitchen with a dish of pickled vegetables, placed it on the stone table, and added, "Now that you have two people, don't worry too much about the shop; Afu will take care of it." Zhao Qinghuan said, "Thank you, sisters-in-law. When you have your babies, I'll take care of all your work too."

Standing beside the stone table, Chen's mother watched her three daughters-in-law chatting and laughing amicably, and her worries gradually subsided. She had seen many families where sisters-in-law quarreled, but these three granddaughters-in-law had never argued since they entered the family. She waved her hand and said, "From now on, we'll cook breakfast and lunch. Whoever has time can cook dinner; don't let it interfere with the shop. You two are quite busy running the shop in the county town; if you're tired and can't manage, just say so, don't try to tough it out yourself." Zhao Qinghuan, Zhang Qiuming, and Zhang Yuming responded in unison, saying, "We understand, Mother."

Chen Xiaohe paced back and forth in the yard twice, putting down the pruning shears, picking them up again, and finally putting them down. He squatted down next to Chen Dashan and said, "Brother, once Qingqing's crib is finished, we need to hurry up and make one for Afu and the baby. The baby will be born this winter, and it'll be freezing cold; neither child can afford to be cold." Chen Dashan agreed, saying he'd start modifying the crib tomorrow, widening the bed frame and railings, and making a new cradle to send to Qingqing's side. Chen's mother added from the side, "Don't forget to sand the wood smooth; there can't be a single splinter." Chen Dashan nodded. Chen Xiaohe also reminded his brother to stock up on firewood and charcoal, in case the roads are difficult to travel on in the winter due to heavy snow, so the mother and baby can stay warm. Chen's father tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe, stood up, and said in a low voice, but his words sealed the deal. They said they'd chop more firewood and buy a few baskets of charcoal to stock up, so they could replenish everything they needed at home before winter. Shi Tou and A Ji chimed in, saying they'd also chop firewood on their days off; more hands mean more resources, and they could get everything ready before winter. Zhang Yuming poked her head out of the kitchen and said she'd brew ginger and jujube tea for everyone every day, a bowl for each person after chopping firewood to ward off the cold. The fire in the stove blazed brightly, the aroma of food wafting out in waves, and the yard was filled with lively chatter.

Father Chen sat down again on the bamboo chair under the veranda and lit his pipe once more. He took a couple of puffs, slowly exhaling, watching the bustling crowd in the courtyard—Chen Dashan squatting at the carpentry workshop door taking measurements, Chen Xiaohe standing beside him handing him planks, Shitou and Aji chopping firewood by the well, the three daughters-in-law moving in and out of the kitchen, and Mother Chen preparing vegetables at the stone table. Father Chen silently thought about Qingqing's two children and Qinghuan's one; this winter, the Chen family would have three more children. The Chen family's courtyard wasn't large, but it always seemed to be able to hold even more lively activity.