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

The afternoon sun shone through the window, casting warm dappled light on the kang mat. Su Xiaoyin woke up first, listened carefully, and heard slight movements from her younger sister in the next room. Neither of them lingered in sleep, knowing that the autumn harvest season meant many things to do at home.

They tiptoed to their feet, helping each other straighten their slightly clumsy clothes, and went to the kitchen. A large basin of mung beans, soaked at noon, was now fully saturated with water, each bean swollen and plump. Su Xiaoyin drained the mung beans, poured them into the largest earthenware pot, added enough well water, covered it with a wooden lid, and placed it in a corner of the still-warming stove, letting it simmer slowly in the warmth. The resulting mung bean soup was sandy and sticky, perfect for cooling off in the summer heat.

Next, the two women, carrying small baskets, went to the small vegetable garden in the backyard. The garden was still vibrant in autumn; bright red peppers hung from the branches, eggplants shone a deep purple, bok choy was emerald green, and cucumbers were topped with tender yellow flowers. They carefully bent down, avoiding their increasingly protruding bellies, and picked some vegetables for the evening. Su Xiaoyin then went to the main room, using a specially raised stool (made by Chen Dashan), and took the last half-strip of cured pork from a hook on the roof beam, cutting off a narrow strip. The cured pork was dark red and glossy, emitting a rich, smoky aroma.

"Tonight, let's make eggplant with minced garlic, stir-fried cured pork with chili peppers, a cold salad with bok choy and cucumber, and a pot of multigrain pancakes. With some mung bean soup, that should be enough for us," Su Xiaoyin said to her sister while washing the eggplant.

"Yes, stir-fried cured pork with chili peppers is the best dish to eat with rice. Dad and Dashan and Xiaohe have worked hard all day, so they must have a good appetite." Su Xiaoqing nodded, deftly removing the old leaves from the bok choy. "Let's take our time, there's no rush, we still have plenty of time."

The two sisters busied themselves in the kitchen at a leisurely pace. Although they were heavy and their movements were slower than usual, they worked together seamlessly, one chopping vegetables and the other peeling garlic, occasionally exchanging a few quiet laughs. Sunlight streamed in through the west-facing window, elongating their shadows, and the kitchen was filled with the fresh steam from the washed ingredients and the distinctive salty aroma of cured meat.

As the sun slowly sank in the west, the sky was tinged with orange and golden hues of sunset. The sounds of people and oxcarts from the threshing ground gradually subsided.

When Chen's mother, weary and dusty, pushed open the gate of the old house with Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe, who were pushing a cart full of soybeans, a warm aroma mixed with the scent of food and the smell of cooking wafted out. Chen Xiaohe sniffed, his eyes lighting up: "It smells so good! Did Sister-in-law and Xiaoqing cook?"

A helpless yet heartbroken smile appeared on Chen's mother's face. She leaned the farm tools she was carrying against the wall and hurried towards the kitchen. Sure enough, her two daughters-in-law were already huddled around the stove. Su Xiaoyin was watching the pancakes being baked, while Su Xiaoqing was preparing the sauce for the cold dish.

"Oh dear, didn't I say I'd wait for you to come back and cook?" Chen's mother hurriedly stepped forward and took the spatula from Su Xiaoyin's hand. "The kitchen is full of grease and smoke. What if you feel uncomfortable smelling it now? Besides, it's not convenient to bend over or squat down during this month of pregnancy. Go and rest."

Su Xiaoyin steadied herself against the stove and said gently, "Mother, don't worry. Xiaoqing and I felt refreshed after our afternoon nap, and since we had nothing else to do, we thought we'd prepare dinner first. We're cooking slowly, so it's not tiring at all. That way, when you come back, you can have something hot to eat right away and rest a bit longer." She had a gentle smile on her face and her eyes were bright.

Su Xiaoqing also came over, asking expectantly, "Mom, have Dad and Big Brother Xiaohe returned yet? Is dinner almost ready? Can we eat?"

Looking at the golden-brown flatbreads in the pot and the refreshing side dishes already laid out on the table, Chen's mother felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. She sighed, "Your father and the others will be working later, until it's almost dark and they can't see anything anymore. Dashan and Xiaohe unloaded the soybeans and then hurried back to the fields to help your father. Let's eat first; their food can stay warm in the pot."

So, Chen's mother, Su Xiaoyin, and Su Xiaoqing ate dinner first. The eggplant with minced garlic was soft and flavorful, with the aroma of garlic and soy sauce; the stir-fried cured pork with chili peppers was savory and slightly spicy, perfect with rice; the cold-dressed bok choy and cucumber were crisp and refreshing, just right to cut through the richness. The mung bean soup was also cooked to perfection, slightly sweet and slightly grainy, making one feel completely comfortable after drinking it.

When it was completely dark and a few lights were lit in the village, Chen's father returned with his two sons through the thick night. All three were covered in dust and their faces showed deep exhaustion, but their eyes lit up when they saw the light coming from the main room and the food covered on the table.

"Quickly, wash your face and drink some soup." Chen's mother had already prepared warm water and a clean towel.

The three of them hastily washed their hands and faces, sat down at the table, and each drank a large bowl of lukewarm mung bean soup. The sweet and smooth soup slid down their parched throats, as if washing away the heat and fatigue of the day, and the three of them breathed a long sigh of relief.

"This mung bean soup is delicious," Mr. Chen said, wiping his mouth.

Then, the lids on the dishes were lifted, releasing an even richer aroma of food. The three of them, too busy eating to say much, buried their heads in their food. The flatbreads were thick, the dishes flavorful, and the plate of stir-fried cured pork with chili peppers was almost completely devoured in no time. Chen's mother watched from the side, repeatedly whispering, "Slow down, eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

Only when their rice bowls were empty did Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe feel the bone-deep fatigue begin to subside. They both looked at their wives, their eyes filled with inquiry and concern. Su Xiaoyin and Su Xiaoqing both shook their heads slightly, offering reassuring smiles to indicate they were alright.

As Mrs. Chen cleared away the dishes, she said, "Tonight's meal was prepared by Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing. I saw they did a good job and were happy to help. In the coming days, with the busy farming season, let them prepare dinner slowly. I'll still take care of breakfast and lunch, and I'll continue feeding the livestock. Once the harvest is complete and the grain is stored, I'll take over everything." She looked at her two daughters-in-law, her tone gentle yet authoritative, "When you two are cooking, don't overexert yourselves. Rest when you're tired, take it slow, safety is the most important thing."

Mr. Chen nodded, "That makes sense. Your kindness warms the hearts of your parents and your husbands. But your health is the most important thing."