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

A few days later, the women of the Chen family set out. Mother Chen led the way, wearing a dark blue silk jacket, her hair neatly combed; Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing followed behind, each carrying a bamboo basket covered with a blue cloth; Zhao Qinghuan, Zhang Qiuming, and Zhang Yuming, the three granddaughters-in-law, brought up the rear, each carrying something. The group left Nanshan Village, traveling for most of the hour by mule cart, before turning into the town's alley and stopping in front of the Yang family courtyard.

Yang Wenhu was chopping firewood in the yard when he heard a knock at the door. He quickly put down his axe and opened it to find the entire Chen family there. He quickly stepped aside to let them in and called out, "Mother, our in-laws are here!" Madam Yang was busy making soup for Qingqing in the kitchen. Her apron was still covered in flour. Hearing the call, she quickly wiped her hands and came out to greet them. She was wearing a faded blue cotton shirt, her hair was a little messy, and she had dark circles under her eyes, clearly having stayed up all night. Madam Yang smiled and said, "Our in-laws are here. Please come in and sit down." Her tone was a little embarrassed—the house was messy and she hadn't had time to tidy up. As she invited everyone to sit down, she told Yang Wenhu to pour tea and instructed him to keep the goat's milk warm in the kitchen so they could get it if the children got hungry. Su Xiaoyin quickly said, "Mother-in-law, there's no need to trouble yourself. We'll be leaving soon; we still have chores to do at home." Madam Yang insisted, saying, "No, that won't do. We must eat here for lunch today. I'll be right back." After saying that, he took off his apron, picked up his basket, and went out to buy groceries. Yang Wenhu brought over some tea, then placed his homemade osmanthus cakes on the table before sitting down in a corner, clutching a handkerchief in his hand, ready to get up at any moment.

Su Xiaoyin entered the inner room and saw Qingqing leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed), wearing a light purple undergarment, her hair tied back with a handkerchief, her face rosy, and she looked even plumper than before, and in good spirits. Two children lay side by side beside her, wrapped in red swaddling clothes, chubby and fair-skinned, their little mouths slightly open, fast asleep. Su Xiaoyin bent down to look at them for a while, her eyes welling up with tears, but she held them back. She gently reached out and touched Song'er's cheek, then touched Lu'er's. The two little ones' nostrils twitched, as if they were smelling something in their dreams—perhaps the aroma of chicken soup. Qingqing smiled and said that they slept like little pigs, but were most energetic when nursing.

Chen's mother and Su Xiaoqing also came in. Chen's mother sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding Qingqing's hand and looking her up and down. She then carefully examined the children's features, saying that Song'er looked like Qingqing, and Lu'er looked like Wenhu. Qingqing said the two children looked different; Song'er was impatient and cried when hungry, wailing loudly if the milk was even a little slow. Lu'er, on the other hand, was good-natured and didn't cry when awake, just opening his eyes and looking around as if pondering something. Su Xiaoqing took out the things she had brought one by one—a jar of freshly brewed red date and longan soup, two packets of dried longan pulp, a packet of newly harvested red dates, and several pieces of fine cotton cloth for making clothes for the children. Qingqing looked at her family gathered around her, her eyes reddened slightly, and then she smiled.

Mother Chen asked, "Have you named the children yet?" Qingqing replied, "My father-in-law and Wenhu have been flipping through dictionaries for several days, but they still haven't decided. They've chosen nicknames—the eldest is called Song'er (Pine), hoping he'll be evergreen like a pine tree, and also wishing him longevity and good health; the second is called Lu'er (Deer), the deer being an auspicious animal symbolizing good fortune, hoping it will protect the child and ensure his safe growth." Mother Chen said the nicknames were good, sounding robust and sturdy.

Zhao Qinghuan, Zhang Qiuming, and Zhang Yuming also gathered around to look at the baby. Zhao Qinghuan gently touched Song'er's hand and asked Qingqing if the pain during childbirth was severe. Qingqing said she was scared at first, but felt reassured when the midwife arrived. She said Wenhu was quick, and the midwife and doctor arrived promptly. Although the delivery was painful, she didn't panic because her mother-in-law and Wenhu were there to support her. She glanced at Zhao Qinghuan and said, "Don't be afraid. Just follow the midwife's instructions and push as she says. Don't push blindly." Zhao Qinghuan nodded and placed her hand on her slightly protruding belly. Zhang Qiuming and Zhang Yuming listened nearby, occasionally handing her a handkerchief or a bowl of warm water, their gazes gentle and focused, as if they were looking at Qingqing, or perhaps at their future selves.

Qingqing asked about Shitou and Aji's imperial examinations again. Mother Chen said they should be back soon, and regardless of the outcome, their safe return was all that mattered. This trip had worried the whole family terribly. Your father and uncle wanted to go with you, but your eldest brother refused, saying several colleagues from the county school were going with you, and you'd have company on the journey. Qingqing said that her eldest brother and Aji were both lucky people; they would definitely be alright. Yang Wenhu brought in a plate of snacks and refilled everyone's teacups. Hearing Mother Chen talk about Shitou and Aji, he also recounted his experiences in the county town a few days prior.

He put down the teapot and stood by the table, saying that he had heard while delivering goods to the county town a few days ago that the "Mingde Academy," which had been open for many years, might be closing down. The master was getting old, and his son was living elsewhere, so he didn't plan to continue running it. He thought for a moment and then added, "When my elder brother and Aji come back, we can discuss whether to open a school." They were both scholars, both having passed the county-level exam, and this time they would become provincial-level scholars, more than capable of running a school in town. If Mingde Academy closed, those students wouldn't all go to the county school, and the other schools weren't that great either. If they could take in these students, they would have a ready-made pool of students, without having to recruit from scratch. Brother Shi had taught at the county school for several years and had experience, and Aji was also quite knowledgeable; the two of them together could manage. Su Xiaoyin listened, put down her teacup, and said, "We'll go and inquire about it when we get back tomorrow. If there's a real opportunity, it's definitely worth considering." A school doesn't need to be too big; a town or county seat is fine. The key is the student body. Now that the children are all grown up, we have more free time, so we don't care about the size of the place. We just need to establish a foothold first.

Madam Yang returned from grocery shopping and busied herself in the kitchen, soon filling the table with dishes. The women of the Chen family ate lunch at the Yang family's house before leaving. Before leaving, Su Xiaoyin hugged Song'er and Lu'er one last time; the two little ones slept peacefully in her arms, their little mouths slightly open. Su Xiaoyin gently put them down, tucked them back into their swaddling clothes, and then secretly took out ten taels of silver from her bosom and handed it to Qingqing. Yang Wenhu escorted her to the alley entrance. Su Xiaoyin walked to the alley entrance and glanced back at the Yang family's courtyard gate, which was ajar. She stood there for a moment, then quickened her pace to catch up with the people ahead.

As Su Xiaoyin walked, her steps gradually became lighter than when she left. The child was safe, both mother and child were well, and Shitou and Aji would be back soon. If the school could really open, it would be another good thing. She thought she should go back and have a good talk with Chen Dashan, and also discuss it with Chen's father, to see how to proceed. She heard Su Xiaoqing's voice urging her from ahead, and she responded and quickened her pace to catch up.