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

"We're back!"

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Chen's father led the way, followed by Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe. The three of them, smelling of the mountain forest and the dampness of the river, entered the courtyard in the twilight. Chen Xiaohe brought up the rear, carefully carrying a large wooden bucket that was still dripping water, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Mother! Sister-in-law! Xiaoqing! Come and see!" Chen Xiaohe eagerly placed the wooden bucket on the ground in the center of the yard, calling to the three women who were busy in the kitchen, "Look at our catch from the fish baskets we collected on our way back from the mountain!"

Mother Chen came out wiping her hands on her apron, and Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing curiously gathered around. In the large wooden tub, water rippled, and several large fish, each about the width of a palm, with shimmering silver scales, were thrashing their tails, splashing water. Below, many small, lively fish and shrimp were huddled together. But what attracted the most attention were two dark brown creatures, their carapaces as large as bowls, perched in the corner of the tub—turtles!

"Wow! Such a big turtle!" Su Xiaoqing exclaimed, instinctively taking a small step back. Su Xiaoyin's eyes widened as well. She had seen turtles before when she was in the south, but she had never seen one this big and so wild before.

Mother Chen squatted down and examined it carefully, her face showing surprise and joy: "This is truly a rare find! Such a large turtle can be considered a real wild game! This thing... should be able to sell for a lot of money, right?" She looked up at Father Chen, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Father Chen wiped his neck with a handkerchief and said in a deep voice, "Hmm, the wealthy gentlemen in the city love this kind of nourishing wild game. Keep it in a bucket for now, change the water twice, and make sure it doesn't die. Tomorrow morning, have Xiaohe take the bucket to the county town to see what the market price is, and whether we can sell it. If the price is right, that's great; if nobody wants it, or the price is too low, we'll keep it for ourselves, stew it to nourish our bodies, it's a rare and good thing."

Chen Dashan added from the side, his thoughts clear: "Tomorrow, Xiaohe should first go to the street behind the county town and find Steward Zhou. He's the purchasing agent for a wealthy merchant in the county town; he's knowledgeable and has many connections. He's bought mountain goods before. If he likes it, the price he'll offer shouldn't be low. If Steward Zhou doesn't want it, then go to Wang's Restaurant and ask Manager Wang. This stuff is valuable; we need to find the right buyer."

Upon hearing this, Chen's mother nodded repeatedly: "Dashan is the most thoughtful. Let's do as Dashan says. Xiaohe, be careful tomorrow, and drive safely on the road. Don't hurt the turtle."

Seeing that everything was arranged, Chen's father returned to today's work: "Today we went up the mountain and dug up a lot of decaying leaves and black soil. We also took the opportunity to tidy up those traps from before, digging them deeper and making them more concealed. Let's see if we're lucky enough to catch a roe deer or a wild sheep or something these next few days. Tomorrow morning, Xiaohe will go to the county town, and Dashan and I will stay home and mix the decaying soil we brought back with the manure we've already composted. We'll go to the wasteland to fertilize it this afternoon. That land is lacking in fertilizer, so we need to take good care of it."

Looking at the fresh food in the wooden bucket, Chen's mother began to plan: "I'll clean these small fish and shrimp in a little while, and spread them out on a bamboo sieve to dry tomorrow. I'll add a handful to soups and stir-fries to enhance the flavor. I'll stew this biggest carp tonight. As for the rest of the fish, I'll clean them, rub them with salt and spices, and make smoked fish that will keep longer."

Chen Xiaohe's eyes lit up, and he suggested, "Mom, if we're making fish stew, how about I go to the tofu shop at the village entrance and exchange some for tofu? Your fish stew with tofu is absolutely amazing; the tofu soaks up all the fish broth and is even more fragrant than meat!"

"Okay! Then hurry back!" Mother Chen replied with a smile, turned around and went into the kitchen to prepare the fish and shrimp.

Father Chen wasn't idle either; he picked up a hoe and started clearing the newly sprouted weeds in the corner of the yard. Chen Dashan, meanwhile, hurried into his small workshop and, using the last rays of daylight, continued polishing the wooden horse and dog carvings that were already taking shape. In a few days, there would be a market day, and these exquisite little trinkets might just earn him some pocket money.

In the courtyard, everyone found their own tasks, busy yet orderly. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing helped Chen's mother, scaling the fish and washing the small fish with practiced ease. Soon, the rich aroma of stewed fish wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the scent of grass and earth in the courtyard, creating a vivid and comforting picture of rural life at dusk.

That evening, the family gathered around the square table in the main room. On the table sat a large, chilled, spicy and tangy mixed salad, and a steaming bowl of milky-white fish and tofu stew, the broth rich and flavorful, the fish tender and the tofu smooth and creamy. With freshly steamed mixed grain rice, everyone had a hearty appetite. Although Mr. Chen was a bit thin and dark-skinned, he was full of energy, eating two large bowls of rice and drinking several bowls of fish soup. Mrs. Chen watched with delight.

After the meal, there was also mung bean soup that had been cooked in the afternoon and cooled to a warm temperature. It was sweet and refreshing, and everyone drank a bowl. They felt comfortable all over, and the sweltering heat of the summer night dissipated a lot.

After clearing away the dishes, the family moved small stools and sat in the still-warm courtyard to cool off. Looking up, they could see a sky full of stars, like scattered diamonds on black velvet. A gentle night breeze carried the faint croaking of frogs from the distant rice paddies. They chatted idly, talking about tomorrow's plans, the crops in the fields, the prey that might fall into traps in the mountains, and the two turtles that might bring in a considerable sum of money tomorrow.

As night deepened, dew quietly condensed. Mother Chen yawned, stood up, and said, "Alright, everyone should get some rest. We'll be busy tomorrow."

The group then dispersed, still wanting more, and returned to their respective rooms.