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

Hearing this, Su Xiaoqing's worries completely subsided. She patted Zhao Qinghuan's hand, saying that it was good that things were going well. She had also told Shi Tou and Aji that this was the last time the family would pay for their imperial examinations; after that, they would have to pay for them themselves. Zhao Qinghuan agreed, saying that it was only right, and that Shi Tou and Aji were now married and should take responsibility for themselves. Su Xiaoyin stood up and said, "That's good then. You should all get some rest. Qinghuan, you're pregnant, don't stay up late." Afu saw them to the door, saying, "Aunt, Mother, don't worry, I know what's important."

The door closed. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing walked back through the courtyard. The moon had risen, its soft light spilling onto the bluestone pavement like a thin layer of mercury. They heard Shi Tou and Zhang Yuming talking softly in the east wing, and Aji and Zhang Qiuming tidying up in the west wing. The light was off in Afu's room next door. Su Xiaoyin stood there for a while, the moonlight casting a long shadow. This family was growing, but their hearts remained united. She turned around and opened her own door. Chen Dashan was still awake, sitting under the lamp weaving a bamboo basket. He looked up and asked if it was finished. Su Xiaoyin said it was all done. Chen Dashan nodded, asked no more, and continued weaving. The bamboo strips crisscrossed in his hands, winding and turning, and slowly, the sturdy basket base took shape.

----

Qingqing had been under strict control by Madam Yang lately, and she wasn't even allowed to go to the cloth shop anymore, supposedly because of her growing belly and the fatigue of standing in the shop. Qingqing had been cooped up at home for days and couldn't stand it anymore. That morning, after breakfast, she stood up, supporting her back, and said to Yang Wenhu, "Wenhu, would you come with me to the county town later to see Qinghuan? My mother said Qinghuan is also pregnant, and I want to send him a bolt of fine cotton cloth to make clothes for the baby."

Yang Wenhu was tidying up the mule cart in the yard when he heard this. He put down the reins, turned around and looked at her, asking, "Would it be alright to send one? Wouldn't that seem like too few? After all, you're siblings and grew up together." Qingqing stood under the eaves, holding onto the door frame, her belly protruding. After thinking for a moment, she said something that surprised Yang Wenhu.

"When I was first pregnant, the things he sent were worth about the same as a bolt of fine cotton cloth. We should return the favor with something similar; giving too much or too little is not good, as long as the value is about right. When relatives exchange gifts, the amounts shouldn't differ too much. Giving too little seems stingy, while giving too much puts pressure on the recipient. Qinghuan isn't the type to be calculating, but we should still be mindful of our actions."

Upon hearing this, Yang Wenhu came over and helped her walk slowly outside. He asked in a low voice, "I thought you and Afu grew up together and are siblings, so I would think of giving you more." Qingqing leaned on his arm and walked slowly, each step steady.

"Now that I've married into the Yang family, I'm a daughter-in-law of the Yang family. I have to take care of our own little family and can't always think about my own family. Besides, if Qinghuan needs anything, she'll tell Afu or my uncle and aunt. Before I got married, my parents told me that as long as my own family is doing well, that's enough. My older brother and two younger brothers will be taken care of by my parents and uncles and aunts. Besides, even if they can't cover everything, my older brother and his brothers have to manage on their own. There's no reason for a married daughter to help them. Relatives can help each other with small favors, but for big favors or decisions that need to be made, they have to do it themselves."

Yang Wenhu glanced at Qingqing, his eyes filled with surprise, but even more so with warmth. He was silent for a moment before softly saying, "You're overthinking things. I'm just not very bright. I was just thinking of giving more to show we were closer; I didn't realize there were all these rules." Qingqing smiled and said, "That's because you didn't think that much about it. Don't worry, our future will definitely get better and better."

The two boarded the mule cart, and Yang Wenhu drove it slowly towards the county town. Qingqing leaned against the cart, her hand on her stomach, and suddenly said, "But what if I'm carrying girls? I think my parents really want boys." Yang Wenhu turned to look at her, his tone reassuring and reassuring: "Your parents definitely hope for boys. You know our family has few male heirs, so naturally they hope the first child will be a boy to inherit the family business. But they like girls too; we've never had a girl before. You can make her pretty little dresses, teach her accounting and embroidery, and have a cute baby calling me 'Daddy.' I bet they'll be overjoyed. Don't think too much about it; I'll take care of everything."

Qingqing leaned against the side of the cart, watching the poplar leaves rustling in the wind on both sides of the road, and felt a sense of peace. She reached out and touched her belly, whispering, "Baby, did you hear that? Your father said he'll be happy whether you're a boy or a girl." Her belly moved slightly, as if in response. Qingqing smiled, and Yang Wenhu, driving the cart ahead, also smiled, his ears reddening, whether from the wind or something else, she couldn't tell.

Upon arriving in the county town, the mule cart stopped in front of "Chen's Grocery Store." Qingqing, supported by Yang Wenhu, slowly alighted from the cart. Pushing open the door, she immediately saw Zhao Qinghuan sitting on a low stool beside the counter, a large basin in front of her, directing Afu as she placed the prepared flower-shaped steamed buns into the steamer. Afu bent over, carefully arranging the buns, shaped like little rabbits and hedgehogs, neatly in the steamer, as if afraid of damaging them. Zhao Qinghuan sat there like a commander directing a vast army, a handkerchief clutched in her hand, ready to wipe her hands at any moment.

Seeing Qingqing come in, Zhao Qinghuan quickly stood up, holding onto the stool, her face showing both surprise and joy: "Qingqing, what brings you here? You're so pregnant and you still came all this way." Qingqing walked over and sat down on the stool next to her, saying that she knew Qingqing was pregnant and had been thinking about her, so she came to see her.

She took the bundle from Yang Wenhu, opened it, and inside was a piece of fine cotton cloth, light blue in color, simple and clean, soft to the touch, perfect for making children's clothes. Qingqing placed the cloth on the table, saying it was for making clothes for the child; the material was soft and wouldn't irritate the skin. She then took out a rough earthenware jar from the basket, covered with oil paper and tied with hemp rope. She said it was homemade plum jam made by her mother-in-law; it had been very effective in stimulating her appetite when she couldn't eat. However, she couldn't eat too much, as it would upset her teeth; just a small spoonful diluted with water was enough.

Zhao Qinghuan took the fine cotton cloth, gently stroking the fabric with her fingers. She opened the jar, smelled it, and her eyes lit up immediately. She explained that Qinghuan hadn't had a good appetite since becoming pregnant, and this was exactly what she needed. Afu came out from behind the stove, wiped her hands on her apron, wrapped a plate of freshly steamed flower-shaped buns in oiled paper, packed a bag of freshly baked sesame seed cakes, and stuffed them into Yang Wenhu's arms, saying to take them back for Qingqing as snacks. Yang Wenhu thanked her, and Afu patted him on the shoulder, telling him to take good care of Qingqing and not let her be lonely. Yang Wenhu nodded.