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

Shi Tou stood at the gate for a while, then heard a child's babbling coming from inside the house, like a kitten meowing. He pushed open the door, and Yang Wenhu was coming out of the kitchen with a teapot in his hand. When he saw the three brothers standing in the yard, he was taken aback at first, then his face lit up with a smile.

"Big brother, Aji, Afu, you're here! Come in and sit down. Qingqing has been talking about you, asking every day when you're coming back." Yang Wenhu placed the teapot on the stone table under the eaves and called into the house, "Qingqing, big brother and the others are here!" He then turned and called to the kitchen, "Mother, add a few more dishes, big brother and the others are eating here!"

Qingqing was leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed), with the bibs she was embroidering for Song'er and Lu'er beside her. Hearing Yang Wenhu's call, she quickly sat up straight, tidied her hair, and was about to get off the kang to greet him. Shitou pushed open the door and, seeing Qingqing about to get up, quickly waved her hand to stop her: "Sit still, don't get up. The doctor said you shouldn't overexert yourself for the first hundred days. We're not strangers."

Qingqing couldn't refuse, so she leaned against the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked her three older brothers up and down. Shitou had lost some weight, his chin was more pointed, but he looked quite energetic; Aji followed behind, also thinner, but his expression was much more composed than before; Afu brought up the rear, carrying a basket. He looked around first, his gaze lingering on Qingqing's face before moving on. Qingqing told them to sit down and quickly asked Yang Wenhu to pour tea for the three of them. Shitou stopped them, telling them to rest and they could do it themselves. Aji had already poured himself a bowl of tea and was slowly sipping it, his eyes glancing towards the cradle.

"Big brother, Aji, when did you get back?" Qingqing leaned against the pillow, her voice soft and gentle, typical of someone in postpartum confinement. "Afu, how's Qinghuan? Is she feeling heavy now that you're further along in your pregnancy? Is she still managing to keep up at the shop?"

Shi Tou put down his teacup and sat down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed). He said, "They came back yesterday. I passed the imperial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service exam). Aji almost passed, and they've both decided not to take the exam anymore." Shi Tou continued, "I plan to take over Mingde School, or find another place to open a new one. Aji will stay in the yamen (government office) and help keep an eye on the school. It'll be hard running around, but with everyone at home, he won't mind the fatigue." Afu sat down at the table and said, "Qinghuan is doing well. In a few more months, when she's more pregnant, we won't let her go to the grocery store anymore. Let her take good care of herself. He can handle things up front, and she can oversee things from the rear." Qingqing was finally relieved after hearing this. She leaned against the pillow and looked at her three brothers. After a long while, she finally said, "It's good that you're all safe and sound. These past few months, the women in the family have been worried sick every day. Even though Qinghuan is pregnant, she still thinks about you and went to the temple to burn incense for you several times."

Yang Wenhu brought over tea and snacks—osmanthus cake, sesame cakes, and walnut shortbread—a full plate. He sat down beside him, then, as if suddenly remembering something, lowered his voice and mentioned the school. "It's not just you guys eyeing Mingde School. There's a scholar in the county town who's also interested. He's not young anymore; his son passed the preliminary exam, and he wants to take over so his son can practice." Upon hearing this, Shi Tou paused, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said he'd taken a look around Mingde School yesterday. The location was good, quiet despite the hustle and bustle, but the courtyard was a bit old and would need some renovation after taking over. Whether to directly take over the Mingde School name or start from scratch, he needed to discuss it thoroughly with his family.

Madam Yang carried Song'er and Lu'er from the kitchen. The two children had just finished drinking goat's milk and were full of energy, their bright black eyes looking around, their little fists clenched and waving wildly outside their swaddling clothes. Aji put down his teacup and went over, bending down to look at them for a while. He said, "They're so cute! And they've grown so chubby in just over two months. They must have good appetites." Madam Yang smiled and said, "They have excellent appetites. They eat several meals a day, and even one more in the middle of the night. Luckily, their other ewe also gave birth to a lamb, otherwise, the milk left over after feeding the lamb wouldn't be enough for the two brothers." Madam Yang put the two children on the kang (a heated brick bed). Song'er and Lu'er lay side by side, kicking their little legs, seemingly quite pleased with the lively scene. Aji leaned closer to look, and Song'er grabbed his finger and tugged it hard twice. Aji laughed and said, "That's quite strong. They'll probably be strong in the future."

Qingqing said that being able to eat is a blessing, isn't it? Song'er, Lu'er... She then asked her elder brother if they could help name the children, as her father-in-law and Wenhu had been flipping through books every day without deciding. Shitou and Aji discussed it. Shitou thought for a moment and said that the eldest son should be named Yang Jingxing, meaning "to follow the path of righteousness and integrity," hoping he would grow up to be upright and walk the right path; the second son should be named Yang Jinghong, meaning "to soar high with lofty ambitions," hoping he would have lofty aspirations. After hearing this, Madam Yang and Yang Wenhu repeatedly said it was good, saying that the names were grand and impressive, clearly from a scholarly family. Qingqing leaned against the pillow and softly recited "Jingxing, Jinghong" a few times, a smile curving her lips.

Mrs. Yang's eyes crinkled with joy. She patted her apron and said, "You two chat with Qingqing for a while. I'll go to the kitchen to get a couple more dishes. Have a couple more drinks at noon today, and eat at home. Qingqing has been cooped up in the house for so long; it's so rare to have someone come over to talk to her. Please sit a while longer." She turned and left. Soon, the sounds of chopping vegetables and the clanging of spatulas against the iron wok filled the kitchen, mingling with the aroma of hot oil, scallions, and ginger, wafting in from the kitchen doorway, filling the yard with a warm, homey atmosphere. Qingqing lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of her swaddling clothes, and said softly, "Big brother, you're so kind." Shi Tou smiled and said, "It's not just us who are kind; it's you who have made us proud." Yang Wenhu stood beside her, holding a bowl of warm water, saying nothing, simply standing beside Qingqing. He stood there with the bowl of water, like a tree planted in his own yard, unmoving. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the kang (a heated brick bed). Song'er and Lu'er were awakened by the light, yawning with their toothless mouths open, their little fists clenching and unclenching as if grasping something in their dreams. Aji squatted by the kang and gently touched Lu'er's little toes with a finger. Lu'er's toes curled up slightly and then relaxed.

From the kitchen came Madam Yang's voice calling Yang Wenhu to bring out the dishes. Yang Wenhu responded, put down his water bowl, and went out. He took a few steps and then looked back. Qingqing was tucking Song'er in. He said nothing, turned, and went back into the kitchen. The warmth of the room, mixed with the aroma of food, wafted in from the kitchen doorway, warm, sticky, and glowing, filling every corner of the main room, and filling the Yang family's afternoon. The children woke up and fell asleep again. The pomegranate tree in the yard swayed gently in the wind, and a few leaves fell.