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

Chen Xiaohe pushed open the courtyard gate, and his joyful cry of "Dad, Mom, we're back!" had barely left his lips when he saw his father sitting on a small stool in the yard, twisting hemp rope in his hands. His rough hands moved with practiced skill, the hemp fibers obediently twisting into strong strands of rope at his fingertips. His mother sat at the loom, the shuttle moving rhythmically in her hands, making a "click-clack" sound as a rough but thick piece of hemp cloth slowly stretched out. Hearing the sounds, the two of them stopped their work almost simultaneously, looked up, their faces filled with concern and expectation.

Mother Chen put down the shuttle, hurried to the well, scooped several bowls of water from the bucket of freshly drawn water with a gourd ladle, and handed them to the four weary travelers: "Quickly, have some water first. This journey has been bumpy, and under the scorching sun. What did the doctor say?"

Chen Dashan took the bowl of water but didn't drink it right away. He helped Su Xiaoyin sit down in the shade by the door of the main room before turning to his parents. His voice was steady but couldn't hide the relaxation that followed his tension: "Father, Mother, the doctor examined them and said that Xiaoyin and her sister-in-law are both carrying twins."

"Twins?!" Although Chen's mother had suspected it, hearing it confirmed from her son still made her gasp. A huge smile, a mixture of surprise and worry, instantly spread across her face. "Oh my! It really is twins! This is... an incredible joy, but also a tremendous responsibility!" She quickly looked at her two daughters-in-law, her eyes full of tenderness. "Carrying two at once is much harder than carrying one! How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable?"

Su Xiaoyin shook her head and said softly, "Mother, I feel much better now. The oxcart ride back was a bit bumpy, but I'll be fine after a rest."

Su Xiaoqing also whispered, "My legs are still a little swollen."

Chen Dashan continued, "The doctor instructed me to take good care of myself when I get back, eat more nutritious food, and avoid overexertion. I estimate the delivery will be at the end of the year, but twins are prone to premature birth, so someone must stay by my side during that time. Xiaohe and I have discussed it, and after we hand in the embroidery we brought this time, we'll stop embroidery work for now, and we'll resume after I give birth and recover."

"Stop! We must stop!" Mother Chen agreed decisively. "You're right. This isn't the time to be stubborn. From today onwards, you two don't need to lift a finger for any chores around the house—washing clothes, cooking, feeding the chickens and ducks, cleaning, etc. Just focus on resting. If you need any errands or extra strength, just ask Dashan and Xiaohe." She paused, her brows furrowing slightly, as if she were considering something extremely important. "No, this can't be delayed. I need to go to Grandma Chen's house in the village right away and make sure she comes to help you with the delivery!"

At this moment, Mr. Chen also came over, rubbed the hemp fibers off his hands, and nodded solemnly: "Your mother is right. Grandma Chen used to work for a wealthy family. She is a well-known midwife in the surrounding area. She is experienced and steady. I heard that she has even managed to deliver babies in the most difficult transverse lie positions safely, with both mother and child safe. With her by our side, we can feel much more at ease."

Hearing that her in-laws had already considered hiring a midwife, and that they had chosen the most experienced Grandma Chen, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing's hidden fears about childbirth dissipated considerably, replaced by a warm sense of reassurance.

Chen Dashan, preoccupied with another important matter, said, "Father, Mother, there's something else. The crops will be ready for harvest in about a month. My suggestion is, Mother, that you don't need to go to the fields for the autumn harvest this year."

Chen's mother was taken aback: "I'm not going to the fields? How can that be? There's so much grain..."

"Mother, please let me finish," Chen Dashan said calmly but firmly. "Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing are carrying twins. The later they get, the heavier they become, and the more inconvenient they are to move around. They need more careful care. Let's start early this year. Dad, Xiaohe, and I will work hard and harvest slowly. We'll finish eventually. You can stay home. First, you can take care of them. Second, after the harvest, someone needs to dry the grain, turn it over, and watch over it. This is a lot of work that requires human intervention. You'll be more useful looking after the grain in the drying yard than bending over in the field to rush the harvest."

Chen Xiaohe immediately chimed in, "Yes, Mother! We'll handle the heavy work in the fields! You just need to take care of our logistics, look after Sister-in-law and Xiaoqing, and watch over the grain in the drying yard. That's the greatest contribution you can make! Just bring us food and water when needed!"

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing quickly waved their hands. Su Xiaoyin said anxiously, "How can this be! The autumn harvest is a big event, and the more people there are, the faster it will be. Mother, you still need to go to the fields. Xiaoqing and I will stay at home. We can cook slowly, and we can also take our time with the housework. It won't be a problem."

Su Xiaoqing nodded, "Yes, Mother, we can't let you delay the harvest because of us. We'd feel terrible."

Mother Chen, however, hardened her face, adopting the authoritative demeanor of a matriarch: "You two, you must follow orders now! What do you mean by delay? Your safety and well-being, and the health of the babies in your bellies, is a million times more important than harvesting two extra bushels of grain! Have you forgotten what the doctor said? You need to rest well and avoid overexertion! During the autumn harvest, we have to get up before dawn and return after dark, with no regular mealtimes. How can you two, with your bellies so big, manage? What if you bump into something or get exhausted?"

Her tone softened slightly, but it was still unyielding: "It's settled then. I'll stay home for the autumn harvest, and I'll take care of cooking, drying the grain, and feeding the livestock. You two only need to focus on one thing—taking good care of yourselves and the child. If you feel like moving around, just take a walk in the yard and soak up the sun. You don't need to worry about anything else."

Father Chen took a puff of his pipe, exhaling a thin wisp of smoke. Looking at his two sons and daughter-in-law, he spoke slowly, his voice carrying the simplicity and depth characteristic of a farmer: "Da Shan Xiao He is right, and your mother's arrangements are correct. Harvesting grain is tiring, but we have enough manpower. We can work slowly, and at most, the grain will be stored a couple of days later, which won't matter. But if people collapse from exhaustion, no amount of money or grain can bring them back. You two," he looked at Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, "are the most precious things in our family right now. Take good care of them, and when the adults and children are safe and healthy, that will be the greatest blessing for our whole family, and it will be our greatest motivation for working."

Their father's words were like a reassuring pill, completely calming the sisters' still somewhat uneasy hearts. They exchanged a glance, no longer insisting, but the gratitude and warmth in their hearts were so heavy that they almost overflowed.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Chen's mother stood up decisively: "Alright, you all rest and have some water. I'm going to Grandma Chen's house now. I need to tell her early, so she doesn't agree to go with someone else." As she untied her apron, she hurried out, muttering to herself, "What should I bring... eggs? Or that bag of brown sugar Dashan brought back from the market last time? Grandma Chen is old and likes sweet things..."

Watching his mother's hurried departure, Chen Dashan gently squeezed Su Xiaoyin's hand and whispered, "Don't overthink it, listen to your parents. Now that you've handed over the embroidery, you should rest well."

Chen Xiaohe sidled up to Su Xiaoqing, grinning, and said, "Did you hear that? You're now our family's 'priority protection target'! Do you want something sour or spicy? I'll get it for you tonight!"

Su Xiaoqing smiled, amused by his words, and gently pushed him.

In the courtyard, Chen's father picked up the hemp rope again and continued twisting it, his eyes fixed on the fields in the distance that were about to turn golden, silently planning the steps of the autumn harvest.