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

When Su Xiaoyin returned from the Yang family, she recounted Yang Wenhu's words at the dinner table: the Mingde Academy in the county town, which had been open for many years, was closing down. The teacher was getting old, and his son, who lived in another city, refused to return to take over, so they planned to sell the academy. After finishing her story, Su Xiaoyin put down her chopsticks, looked at everyone at the table, and brought up the topic: "I'd like to discuss this with you. How about Shitou and Aji partner up to open an academy? They both have academic titles, and Shitou has taught at the county school for many years, so he has experience. If they can take over the students from Mingde Academy, they'll have a ready-made pool of students, which is much easier than recruiting from scratch."

Father Chen, holding his bowl of porridge, didn't rush to drink. He placed the bowl on the table and tapped the surface with his finger. He said, "Let's all find out first, get a clear picture of the situation, and then make a decision. We can't rush things; we only discussed reopening Mingde School after it closed. Opening a school is no small matter—where to open it, how to recruit students, how much tuition to charge—we need to think about all of these in advance. The shops in the county town, besides our own, are either rented out year-round, or there are those two houses, none of which are suitable for opening a school. The houses are too small, and the shops are too noisy on the street. Let's find out about the house where Mingde School is located, whether it's for rent or sale, so we have a general idea. We'll wait for Shitou and Aji to come back and hear their thoughts before making a decision."

Everyone nodded and made a note of it.

More than twenty days later, Shi Tou and A Ji finally returned home. When they pushed open the door, they looked much thinner than when they left, their cheekbones protruding, their clothes hanging loosely on their bodies as if they could be blown away by the wind. Chen's mother was steaming buns in the kitchen. Hearing the gate open, she rushed out without even wiping her hands. Upon seeing her two grandsons, her eyes immediately welled up with tears. Su Xiaoyin brought over some water and went inside to get two thick coats. Zhang Qiuming stood at the kitchen doorway, leaning against the doorframe. Zhang Yuming turned away, wiping her eyes, but when she turned back, she was all smiles, and went to the kitchen to get the food. Shi Tou took the bowl of water and drank a few sips, saying they were just having trouble adjusting to the local climate and couldn't get used to the food outside. He said they would be fine after eating well back home. A Ji stood at the kitchen doorway, drinking soup from his bowl, sip after sip, saying he missed the food at home while he was away, and nowhere tasted quite as good as the food cooked in the pot at home.

That evening's dinner was exceptionally lavish. Mother Chen had killed the fattest old hen she'd raised, simmering it over a low flame all afternoon until the bones were tender and a layer of golden oil floated on the broth. Braised pork, scrambled eggs, cucumber salad, and steamed sausage filled the table. Shi Tou and A Ji ate intently for a while before finally putting down their chopsticks, a hint of color returning to their faces. Su Xiaoyin sat across the table, watching them eat with gusto, before bringing up the matter of the school—the Mingde School in the county town was closing down, and they hadn't decided what to do with the house yet. Renting it would be a convenient place. Shi Tou put down his bowl, saying that he and A Ji had discussed it on their way back. Shi Tou had passed the imperial examination, ranking near the bottom; although he was on the list, further advancement was impossible. The gap between him and the others was enormous; his current achievement was already a blessing from his ancestors. A Ji had almost failed the exam, but he was prepared and not too disappointed. Shi Tou meant that he planned to leave the county school and open his own. Aji would remain at the yamen—although the salary was low, having relatives there made things convenient and beneficial for the family, so he couldn't easily give it up. Once the school was open, Aji could juggle both jobs, alternating between his yamen duties and school classes to free up time. Shi Tou said they already had a plan in mind.

After listening, Mr. Chen tapped his pipe on the corner of the table and said, "It's good that you have a plan." He then recounted what they had learned over the past few days: the Mingde School's residence was their own property, not rented. It had three courtyards; the three main rooms at the front served as classrooms, there was a central courtyard, and a row of side rooms at the back, which could be used for storage, cooking, and living. If the teacher was willing to sell, it would save them the trouble of finding a place. Shi Tou said he would go and inquire further tomorrow and then discuss it with his family upon returning.

He suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask, "By the way, has Qingqing given birth? We've been gone for so long, we don't even know how she is now." Su Xiaoyin said she had, and it was a big, healthy boy. She had suffered a bit during labor, and the birth was a little early, but thankfully the Yang family took good care of her, and both mother and child are safe. Shi Tou breathed a sigh of relief and said he and Aji would go see her tomorrow; they, as her uncles, hadn't visited yet. Afu, standing beside him, also said he wanted to go too. Last time he went, Qingqing was still in her postpartum period, so he hadn't gone with his mother and the others. Shi Tou agreed, saying they would go together tomorrow.

Night had fallen, and the fire in the stove had gone out, though the warmth lingered in the cracks between the bricks. Mother Chen covered the remaining food in bowls and placed them on the stove, to be reheated and eaten the next day. Zhang Qiuming and Zhang Yuming were washing dishes in the kitchen; the soft, intermittent sound of water drifted through the kitchen curtain, like autumn rain pattering on leaves. Shitou and Aji went back to their rooms, the lights still on when they opened their doors. Zhang Qiuming stacked the washed dishes in the cupboard, dried her hands, and went back to her room. Shitou sat on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), his back slightly hunched. Zhang Qiuming sat down beside him and squeezed his hand. Shitou returned her hand and gently patted it.

The next morning, the three brothers, Shi Tou, A Ji, and A Fu, went to town together. Shi Tou drove the cart, A Fu sat beside him, and A Ji leaned against the cart, gazing at the harvested rice paddies by the roadside. The wind blew from the fields, carrying the scent of earth and rice stubble. Shi Tou didn't turn around, simply saying, "It'll be there soon." A Fu asked what was so soon, and Shi Tou explained about the school; he'd been thinking about it all night. A Ji chuckled from behind, saying he hadn't slept much either. The three brothers remained silent, the mule cart creaking and groaning along at a leisurely pace. They were going to see Qing Qing and their two newborn nephews, to see the two little ones who hadn't yet been given names, and also to take a look at the old house that might become the school.

Shi Tou tightened the reins, urging the mule cart to turn into the alleyway leading to the Yang family's house. The gate was still closed. He jumped off the cart, stepped forward, and gently knocked twice. The sound of his fingernails hitting the door was faint, but it was exceptionally clear in the afternoon quiet. He stood at the door for a while, and then the gate creaked open from the inside. Yang Wenhu saw that it was Shi Tou and his two brothers coming and quickly welcomed them inside.