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

By the time I got home, the sun had already set, leaving only a faint orange hue on the horizon, reflecting the silhouettes of birds returning to their nests. After a long day of work, the hustle and bustle of the market had faded, leaving only the weariness and relief of returning home.

As soon as Chen's mother entered the courtyard, she quickly made arrangements: "Dashan, Xiaohe, quickly help Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing back to their rooms to lie down and rest for a while. They've been walking all day, their bodies are heavy, and they must be exhausted. I'll go to the kitchen to prepare dinner." Her tone was full of unquestionable concern.

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe responded and carefully helped their wives slowly back to the east wing. The two sisters were indeed exhausted; their bellies were heavy, their backs ached, and their legs were swollen. Back in their rooms, lying on the familiar kang (heated brick bed) with the extra-thick mattresses Chen Dashan had specially added, they were overcome with sleep almost as soon as their heads hit the pillows.

After settling his wife in, the two brothers left the room and quietly closed the door. In the yard, Chen's father had already efficiently herded the chickens and ducks back to their pen and was carrying a bucket of mixed feed to feed the pigs. Seeing his sons come out, he said, "There's not much pig feed left in the pigpen. Now is the time to fatten the pigs up, so we need to give them an extra meal tonight. You two, before it gets completely dark, go to the back hill and gather some tender pig feed."

"Okay, Dad, we're going right now." Chen Dashan agreed, and he and Chen Xiaohe each carried a large basket on their backs, along with sickles and ropes. Before leaving, Chen Dashan turned back to his mother, who was picking vegetables at the kitchen door, and instructed her, "Mom, Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing are resting inside. Please keep an eye out for any noise."

"Okay, go ahead, be careful on the road, and come back soon." Chen's mother replied without looking up, deftly picking a bunch of bright green scallions.

After feeding the pigs, Mr. Chen washed his hands and went to the vegetable garden. Even in late autumn, the garden was still full of life; the radish leaves spread out lush and green, the cabbages were tightly packed, and several rows of red and green chili peppers stood out vividly. He bent down and pulled up two plump, white radishes, then casually picked a handful of the reddest, spiciest chili peppers. Returning to the kitchen, he placed the radishes and peppers on the cutting board: "I've picked the radishes. I saw some peppers were quite red, so I picked those too."

Chen's mother was cutting the pork, which was mostly fat and mostly lean, into small pieces to render lard. Looking up and seeing the chili peppers, a smile spread across her face: "I was just thinking of asking you to pick some chili peppers, but I got so busy I forgot. I didn't expect you, old man, to remember! Not bad!"

Mr. Chen picked up a gourd ladle to scoop water and wash the radishes, smiling憨厚ly: "After living most of my life, do you think I don't know what you want to cook tonight? Stir-fried pork offal with chili peppers, it goes well with rice and warms you up, you definitely have to make it."

"You're so clever!" Chen's mother chuckled, her hands moving swiftly as she chopped the fatty pork into even cubes. "Help me wash these radishes and chilies, and peel some scallions and ginger too. I'll render the fat from this pork, and tonight we'll make radish and pork dumplings—delicious! The remaining bones and the little bit of lean meat will be kept in well water for tomorrow. Pork offal is rare, so I'll scrub it thoroughly with wood ash to remove the odor. I'll set the liver aside for Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing to replenish their blood; it'll be just right for them. The rest—the heart, lungs, intestines—will be stir-fried with chilies for you and Dashan and Xiaohe."

"Okay, whatever you say." Mr. Chen replied cheerfully, squatting at the kitchen doorway, carefully washing the dirt off the radishes with water from the wooden basin, and removing the stems from the chili peppers. In the gradually dimming kitchen, the elderly couple worked in perfect harmony, one chopping meat and rendering oil, the other washing vegetables and preparing ingredients, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones, their movements filled with the tranquility that had settled over the years.

Meanwhile, the brothers Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe went out and headed straight for the familiar slope behind the mountain. The autumn grass had already begun to wither and turn yellow, but in some shady and damp places, there were still many tender green pigweed, purslane, and lamb's quarters. The two men worked quickly and efficiently, picking only the tender tips, and the unique, crisp scent of the grass filled the air as they swung their sickles. Before long, their two baskets were full. By the time they got home, it was already getting dark. They poured the pigweed into the stone trough next to the pigpen, letting the starving pigs grunt and munch happily.

After finishing that, the two brothers didn't rest. Chen Dashan found the hunting snares and fish baskets they had collected in the fall from the storage room, while Chen Xiaohe found hemp rope and repair tools. By the light of the oil lamp in the main room, the two checked the tools for damage, the ropes for sturdiness, and repaired or reinforced them as needed. The autumn harvest was over, and the work in the fields was temporarily over, but they could pick up their livelihoods in the mountains and along the river again, so they needed to prepare these tools in advance.

"Dashan, Xiaohe, go wake Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing up, let them wake up and refresh themselves. The dumplings will be ready soon, get ready to eat!" Chen's mother's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the crisp sound of spatulas clattering and the bubbling of food, full of the warmth of home cooking.

The two brothers put down their work and went back to their rooms. Chen Dashan gently pushed open the door. Su Xiaoyin was lying on her side on the kang (a heated brick bed), fast asleep, her cheeks flushed with a faint blush. He sat on the edge of the kang, gently stroked her hair, and called softly, "Xiaoyin, Xiaoyin? Wake up, Mom's calling for dinner."

Su Xiaoyin opened her eyes groggily and saw Chen Dashan's face, which was close to hers and had a gentle smile on it. She was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening and smiled a little embarrassedly: "I was sleeping too long... I'll get up now."

On the other side, Chen Xiaohe woke Su Xiaoqing up in a similar way. The two sisters were helped to sit up, slowly moved their somewhat stiff limbs, and then washed themselves briefly with warm water, feeling much better. In late pregnancy, the body is prone to fatigue, but a good night's sleep can restore a lot of energy.

When they entered the main room, bowls and chopsticks were already set on the table. A large plate of steaming, plump, white dumplings, with thin wrappers and generous fillings, exuded an enticing aroma of radish and pork. Next to them was a large bowl of bright red, glistening stir-fried pork offal with chili peppers; the heart, lungs, and intestines were sliced ​​thinly and evenly, coated in a rich sauce and the smoky aroma of chili peppers—it looked so appetizing. There was also a small dish of crisp, refreshing pickled cucumbers made by Chen's mother herself.

"Sit down quickly and eat while it's hot," Chen's mother urged, first putting a few dumplings on each of her two daughters-in-law's plates. "You've walked all day and gone to the clinic, you must be hungry. Have some dumplings to tide you over."

Mr. Chen poured a small cup of his homemade persimmon wine for both himself and his son. He took a satisfied sip, then picked up a large mouthful of spicy pork offal and put it in his mouth, chewing it with a crunching sound. He sighed contentedly, "Mmm! This is the taste! It's spicy and satisfying, and the aroma is rich and satisfying! My wife's cooking is impeccable!"

Chen Dashan and Chen Xiaohe also ate with relish. The dumpling filling was seasoned to a perfect balance of saltiness, and the sweetness of the radish absorbed the oil from the pork, making it exceptionally delicious. The chili-braised pork offal was a perfect accompaniment to rice, making people sweat with spiciness, yet they couldn't help but keep eating it, one bite after another.

Su Xiaoyin ate the dumplings in small bites, but felt a bit greasy, so she picked up a small piece of pickled cucumber. The crisp and sour taste immediately relieved the greasiness, making her feel very comfortable.

Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Chen's mother was pleased and announced, "Tomorrow, I'll stew those big bones until they make a rich broth. I've already marinated the pig liver with soy sauce, peppercorns, and a little sugar, and it's simmering in the pot. Tomorrow morning, I'll slice a plate for Xiaoyin and Xiaoqing to eat with porridge—it'll be very nourishing. As for the lean meat, I'll mince it and make you two a minced meat and egg custard; it'll be tender, smooth, and easy to digest."

"Mom, how can you be so kind!" Chen Xiaohe deliberately used a high-pitched voice, drawing out the words and making an exaggerated expression of gratitude. "You've thought of everything so thoroughly!"

Chen's mother was amused by her youngest son and pretended to hit him: "Go away! Be normal! Eat properly and don't cause trouble!" Everyone at the table laughed, and even Chen Dashan, who usually didn't show much expression, had a noticeable smile on his lips.