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

Mother Chen took the bowl of water from Su Xiaoqing, took a couple of sips, and said in a low, calm voice, "Third Sister Chen, according to seniority you should call her 'Auntie.' Years ago, because of a dispute over the boundaries of the fields, she didn't get along with our family. Later, her eldest son was drafted into the army and never came back... She's bitter and can't stand seeing other families doing well, especially since she sees our family doing well these past two years and has married you two. She's always making sarcastic remarks. Don't pay any attention to her. If you meet her on the street in the future, just greet her politely and keep your distance. It's not worth arguing with her."

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing exchanged a glance and nodded obediently, "Yes, Mother, we understand."

They understood that the intricacies of life in the village, including everyday family matters and interpersonal relationships, were far more complex than the delicate threads of embroidery. Their mother-in-law was both teaching them and protecting them.

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe had already spread out the beans and were hurrying back to the field to continue harvesting. Before leaving, Chen Dashan came over and whispered to Su Xiaoyin, "It's sunny, don't sit for too long. If you get tired, go back and rest. I'll take care of things here with your parents." Chen Xiaohe also winked at Su Xiaoqing and mouthed, "I'll bring you something delicious when we get back."

Watching their husbands hurry away, and then looking at their mother-in-law who kept glancing at the sky and estimating when to turn the clothes out to dry, the subtle ripples in Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing's hearts caused by the strangers' gossip were quickly soothed by the real warmth and reassurance of family.

The sun climbed higher and higher, baking the threshing ground until it was steaming hot, the air itself seeming to distort slightly. Golden bean pods were spread on the mat, emitting the unique aroma of dried grain. Mother Chen raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, glanced at the sun, and then looked worriedly at her two daughters-in-law sitting in the shade of a tree not far away, their bellies already showing.

She walked over and said softly to Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing, "The sun is getting strong. You two rest well in the shade and don't move. Just keep an eye on the beans so the sparrows don't ruin them. You don't need to do the drying work." She paused, then carefully instructed, "I need to hurry back to prepare lunch, feed the chickens, ducks, and pigs, and also take food to your father and the others. There's a lot of work to do in the fields, so I won't be back for lunch."

Su Xiaoyin hurriedly said, "Mother, don't rush, take your time."

"I understand," Chen's mother replied, but her steps were already hurried. She slung the empty basket over her shoulder and hurried home under the sun, thinking that she should first stew the half-marinated pheasant, then quickly knead the dough and make flatbreads. The fire in the stove couldn't go out...

On the threshing ground, the grains dried by each family were spread out like colorful patches. Besides the Chen family, several other diligent families had also started harvesting early and were now bringing their harvested grains and beans to dry. The sounds of people, cart wheels, and winnowing blended into a busy symphony of autumn harvest.

Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing sat in the shady spot that Chen's mother had found for them, comfortably on old futons. Their main task was to "keep watch," waving their hands or giving a soft "hoo" to scare away any sparrows or unknown birds that flew down to steal food. It was a leisurely job, but not entirely without its challenges.

The family next door was drying grain, and the person in charge of watching over it was a seven or eight-year-old boy. He was chubby-faced and was running around the yard shouting to scare away birds with a bamboo pole tied with tattered strips of cloth. His little face was sunburned and he was full of energy.

Looking at the child, Su Xiaoqing touched her own protruding belly and whispered to her sister with a smile, "Sister, look, aren't our 'jobs' now about the same as those pampered little kids in the village, or the elderly grandpas and grandmas who can't do heavy work anymore?"

Su Xiaoyin smiled too, but her eyes softened with emotion: "Yes. It's all thanks to our parents, and Dashan and Xiaohe, who care about us and don't want us to be tired." She paused, her voice lowering, "Have you forgotten what we saw in the village before? Those pregnant women who still had to go to the fields to harvest rice, their bellies so big, it was hard for them to bend over, and if they were a little slow, their mothers-in-law would scold them on the edge of the field... When they got home, they still had to cook, do laundry, and take care of the whole family while they were pregnant."

Su Xiaoqing's smile faded, and she nodded. Those memories weren't distant; in fact, they seemed even clearer and heavier because they themselves were about to become mothers. They had witnessed a pregnant woman from a neighboring village suddenly collapse, her face ashen, while harvesting rice. She lost her baby and her health deteriorated. They had also seen young wives who, after giving birth to daughters in succession, had to wash clothes in cold water during their postpartum period and were mistreated by their in-laws.

"We...we really met a good family," Su Xiaoqing said softly, her voice filled with gratitude and lingering fear.

"Yes," Su Xiaoyin held her sister's hand and patted it gently, "So we need to take better care of ourselves, get healthy, and give birth to the baby safely. That's the best way to repay our parents and husband right now."

The two sisters chatted idly, and time slipped away quietly amidst the chasing of birds, idle conversation, and the occasional warm breeze. As the sun gradually approached its zenith, the shadows on the threshing ground shrank into small clumps.

Not long after, Chen's mother returned hurriedly, this time carrying two baskets. One was heavy, clearly for the men in the fields, and the other was covered with a clean cloth. Her hair was damp with sweat and stuck to her cheeks.

"Xiaoyin, Xiaoqing!" Chen's mother called out. "I'll take your father's and the others' food over now. I've brought your lunch too, so eat here. After you're done eating, hurry home. The midday sun is too strong, don't get sunburned! Take a good nap at home this afternoon and rest, you don't need to come over again!"

Seeing her mother-in-law covered in sweat, Su Xiaoyin said with concern, "Mom, have you eaten? Why don't you eat first, and we can eat later? We ate late this morning, so we're not hungry yet."

Mother Chen placed the basket covered with a cloth in the shade beside them and said with a smile, "Look, I brought everything. I'll eat a few bites with you here, and I can rest a bit. You eat quickly, and then go back home, be good." As she spoke, she picked up the heavy basket again, "I have to hurry and take this to your father and the others, or they'll starve."

Watching Chen's mother hurry away, Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing lifted the cloth covering the basket. Inside were two bowls piled high with brown rice, topped with glistening, fragrant, spicy chicken pieces. The chicken was stewed until tender and flavorful, and the red oil and sauce looked incredibly appetizing. Beside them were a small bowl of refreshing mixed wild vegetables and a pot of warm chicken soup. The food was wrapped in a thick cloth and remained warm.

The two sisters exchanged a glance, and the slight guilt they felt for being "idle" was washed away by this thoughtful care, leaving only a feeling of warmth.

Su Xiaoqing picked up a piece of chicken and ate it in small bites. Suddenly, she said, "Sister, shall we cook dinner tonight? We're just sitting at home doing nothing anyway, so we can take our time. That way, when Mom comes back from the fields, she can rest right away without having to work on the stove."

Su Xiaoyin's eyes lit up, and she nodded: "That's a good idea. Let's prepare early, make a big bone broth, heat up the flatbread Mom left this morning, and stir-fry a couple of simple dishes. If we move slowly and carefully, it should be fine."

After finishing their meal, the two sisters carefully cleaned up the dishes, picked up their baskets, and helped each other walk home.