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

Are you home for the Lunar New Year?

That morning, just as dawn was breaking, Chen's mother had placed a steaming bowl of mixed grain porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and several newly made cornbreads on the dining table in the old house when a weary and hesitant inquiry came from outside the courtyard gate.

As she wiped her hands on her apron, Chen's mother called out, "Who is it? So early in the morning." She gestured for Chen Xiaohe, who was closest to the door, to go and see.

Chen Xiaohe put down the bowl and chopsticks he was setting out, walked a few steps to the courtyard gate, and opened the wooden door. Standing outside the door was Chen Wufu from the same village, who was in his early fifties but looked much older than usual. His eyes were dark and his brows were furrowed, and his worn-out coarse cloth jacket was wrinkled.

"It's Uncle Wufu! Come in and sit down!" Chen Xiaohe quickly stepped aside and called into the house, "Dad, Mom, Uncle Wufu is here!"

Chen Wufu didn't move, but waved his hand, his voice a little hoarse: "No need, Brother Danian, Sister-in-law, I won't go in." He looked at Chen's father, who had come to the door of the main room upon hearing the voice, "Danian, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Seeing that his expression was off, Chen's father stepped forward and said, "Wufu, just tell me what's wrong. I'll definitely help if I can. Come in and sit down. It's lunchtime, why don't you join us for a bite?"

"I'm really not eating anymore, the house is a mess." Chen Wufu sighed, rubbing his rough hands. "It's like this... I've thought it over and over, and this family can't keep going like this. This morning, we're going to officially separate. I'd like to ask you to come and be a witness. I've already planned to ask the village head and Er Mu, so with you, three people will make it fair."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Chen's expression turned serious. Dividing the family property was a major event for farming families, especially having an outsider as a witness, often signifying deep-seated family conflicts and the need for external intervention to ensure fairness and prevent future disputes. He nodded, not asking for further details, and simply said, "Alright, I understand. Dividing the family property is a big deal; having a witness is good. I'll head over after dinner. You just wait at home."

"Well, thank you very much, Da Nian." Chen Wufu forced a smile and nodded to his mother and Chen Xiaohe. "Sister-in-law, Xiaohe, I'm sorry to bother you. I have to hurry up and tell Er Mu's family. I'll be going now." With that, he turned around, his back slightly hunched, and hurriedly disappeared at the end of the path.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen's mother shook her head and turned to call to her family, "Don't just stand there, sit down and eat. Everyone has their own things to do later."

The family sat down around the table again, but the atmosphere was more subdued than before. Father Chen took a large gulp of porridge and said, "I'll go to your Uncle Wufu's house this morning. The mountains, the river, and the crops in the fields have been suffering from severe drought these past few days. You two should go and fetch water to irrigate the fields this morning, starting with the corn and sweet potatoes. Irrigate as much as you can."

"Understood, Dad," Chen Dashan replied steadily. Chen Xiaohe nodded as well: "Don't worry, Dad, my brother and I will definitely water the land thoroughly."

After a quick breakfast, Chen's father washed his face, changed into some cleaner old clothes, and went out to Chen Wufu's house. Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe also packed up their buckets and carrying poles, preparing to go to the fields.

Over here, Chen's mother and the Su sisters cleaned up the dishes and stove. Chen's mother moved the loom to a cool, well-ventilated spot in the yard and sat down to continue weaving the flax cloth. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing moved small stools and sat in the bright light by the entrance to the main room. They took out the soft, fine cotton cloth and colorful threads they had prepared beforehand and began making little clothes and bibs for their unborn children. The two women moved gently, occasionally exchanging whispered needlework patterns, their faces adorned with the tender smiles of soon-to-be mothers.

After quietly working for a while, Su Xiaoqing couldn't contain her curiosity and looked up to ask Chen's mother, "Mother, why did Uncle Wufu's family specifically call the village head, Father, and Uncle Ermu to be witnesses when they divided their family property? When our family divided our property, we discussed it behind closed doors and didn't invite any outsiders."

Chen's mother continued weaving with her shuttle. Hearing this, she sighed and explained, "Our family had 'agreed' about it back then. It was a 'peaceful division,' and even a 'half-division,' separating the family but not the households. When we were busy in the fields, we worked and ate together; when we were less busy in the winter, we ate separately. The rules of the communal house and your share of the earnings were all agreed upon in advance. Everyone was willing, so there was no need for outsiders to judge right and wrong."

She paused, her movements slowing, and her voice lowering: "But you've heard about the current situation in your Uncle Wufu's family. His eldest and second eldest son's wives are embroiled in a huge fight over the possibility of their third son's injury dragging down the family, and the fact that his wedding will require public funds to build a house. They've even almost ruined the marriage that their third son had finally arranged. This family has already fallen out like this, so a 'half-division' won't suffice; it has to be a 'complete division.' Everything—pots and pans, houses, fields, livestock, grain, even debts—must be clearly divided, written down in black and white, with each party pressing their fingerprints. From now on, they'll live their own lives, with no further interaction."

Su Xiaoyin stopped her needlework, lost in thought: "Furthermore, how Uncle Wufu and Aunt Wufu will take care of themselves in the future should be clearly stated in the family division document, right? Also, what about the injury that the third son sustained while performing corvée labor for the whole family? If he becomes disabled in the future, there should be a clear explanation of the responsibility and compensation."

"That's exactly right." Mother Chen gave her eldest daughter-in-law an approving look. "So it's important to distinguish things clearly, with evidence and proof. We also need to invite respected and fair-minded people from the village to witness and draw up a written agreement, so that the brothers and sisters-in-law won't have any more disputes or even fights over trivial matters in the future. Your father is an honest man with a good reputation in the village, and he's also from the same clan. Wufu invited him because he trusts him."

Su Xiaoqing sighed, "I hope Uncle Wufu's family can smoothly divide their assets today and avoid any further complications. It's really distressing to think that a family has to resort to outsiders to settle their family disputes."

Mother Chen shook her head, her shuttle flying back and forth. Her voice held the wisdom of someone with experience: "This is already considered good; at least they're willing to sit down and have someone preside over the division. You haven't seen what a real fight looks like. In my mother's village, a few years ago, a family was dividing their property. The two brothers fought tooth and nail over a half-grown piglet and two jujube trees. Mother fainted from anger, and the village head and clan elders were alerted. It almost escalated to the county government. That was a real fight! Our Nanshan Village is generally quite simple and honest, but it's not uncommon for people to fight over family property. The saying 'Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes' isn't without merit."

As she spoke, she glanced at the sun, then at her two daughters-in-law's slightly protruding bellies, her tone softening: "That's why I say, harmony is the most important thing in a family. When everyone works together and thinks in the same direction, life will only get better and better. Like our family now, although we have our own separate kitchens, we're still united on important matters and help each other out. The fact that you two sisters are both pregnant is a great joy for our Chen family. Once the babies are born, this family will be even more lively and full of hope."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing felt a warm glow in their hearts upon hearing this. They exchanged a smile and continued to focus on the little garment in their hands.