The warm early winter sun shone through the window lattice, casting a golden glow on the blue brick floor of the Shen family's main room. Lin Wanqiu had just sat down at the table and picked up her needle and thread to sew a little bib for her unborn child when Shen Tingzhou walked in carrying a newly made rocking chair. A thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead, but he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes: "Wanqiu, try this on. I modified it to look like the ones in the furniture shops in the county town. I put three layers of cotton cushions on it, so it will definitely be comfortable to sit on."

He put down the rocking chair, carefully helped Lin Wanqiu sit down, then reached out to adjust the angle of the backrest, his fingertips gently brushing her hair, his tone full of tenderness: "The doctor said you can't sit for long periods of time now. From now on, you'll be getting stitches done in this rocking chair. If you get tired, lie down and rest for a while. Don't push yourself too hard."

Lin Wanqiu leaned against the soft cotton cushion, warmth spreading from her spine to her limbs. She watched Shen Tingzhou's busy figure—he was squatting on the ground, wrapping the armrests of the rocking chair tightly with strips of cloth, afraid the wooden edges would hurt her. Her heart softened as if soaked in warm water. "Weren't you busy coordinating with the commune's workshops these past few days? How do you have time to do this?"

"No matter how busy I am, I have to take care of you and the baby." Shen Tingzhou looked up, his eyes shining. "Yesterday I went to the county town on business and saw a rocking chair in a furniture store. I thought it would be perfect for you, so I asked Carpenter Li to help me overnight. It took two days to finish it." He reached out and touched Lin Wanqiu's lower abdomen, his movements as gentle as if he were touching a fragile treasure. "We have to protect our baby well and not let you suffer any grievances."

Since confirming her pregnancy, Shen Tingzhou has become a different person. Although he was considerate before, he always carried a bit of the toughness of a soldier. Now, he has become exceptionally meticulous—getting up before dawn every day to pick up the pebbles in the yard so that Lin Wanqiu might slip and fall; when going to the commune to handle matters, he would always take a detour to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy her favorite soft cakes and candied fruits; before going to bed at night, he would sit by her bedside and read her the pregnancy and childbirth manual he had borrowed from the county town, his voice deep and gentle, like spring rain nourishing her heart.

That morning, Lin Wanqiu had just woken up when she smelled a faint medicinal fragrance. She put on her coat and went out of her room, where she saw Shen Tingzhou squatting by the stove, holding a clay pot and carefully stirring the contents inside. On the stove were angelica root, red dates, and goji berries, all medicinal herbs he had asked his comrades to send from out of town to replenish his qi and blood.

"Why are you up so early? And you even brewed medicine?" Lin Wanqiu walked over and gently patted his shoulder.

Shen Tingzhou turned around with a smile on his face: "The doctor said you have insufficient qi and blood. I checked the pregnancy and childbirth handbook and it said that angelica and red date soup can replenish qi and blood and will not affect the baby, so I thought I'd make some for you to try." He lifted the lid of the pot, and in the steaming heat, the sweet aroma of red dates mixed with the fragrance of herbs wafted over. "Go sit down first, and you can drink it in a little while. I also cooked millet porridge, along with freshly steamed red bean buns, which are all your favorites."

Lin Wanqiu sat in the rocking chair, watching Shen Tingzhou's busy figure—he poured the brewed medicine into a white porcelain bowl, carefully skimmed off the foam, added a spoonful of brown sugar, and gently stirred it with the spoon until the sugar was completely dissolved before bringing it to her: "Be careful, it's hot. I'll blow on it to cool it down before you drink it."

The warm herbal medicine slid down her throat without any bitterness, but rather with a faint sweetness. After finishing the medicine, Lin Wanqiu picked up a red bean bun, but then felt nauseous. She quickly covered her mouth and turned to go to the courtyard. Shen Tingzhou reacted quickly, supporting her and handing her a glass of warm water from the table: "Are you feeling unwell? It's all my fault; I shouldn't have let you drink the herbal medicine."

"It's not the herbal medicine, it's probably just pregnancy symptoms." Lin Wanqiu took a sip of warm water to calm down, and seeing Shen Tingzhou's nervous expression, she couldn't help but laugh. "Don't be so nervous, the doctor said pregnancy symptoms are normal, it will get better in a while."

But Shen Tingzhou couldn't let it go. That afternoon, he rode his bicycle to the county town, visited three clinics, and consulted five doctors, asking them in detail about ways to alleviate pregnancy symptoms. When he returned, his bicycle was laden with things—appetizers recommended by the doctors, soft biscuits specifically for pregnant women, and a small cushion to carry with him in case she got tired when she went out.

“Dr. Wang said that if you feel nauseous, sucking on a piece of preserved plum can relieve it a lot.” Shen Tingzhou put the preserved plum in Lin Wanqiu’s hand and placed a small cushion behind her back. “I also asked Dr. Zhang, who said that taking a walk every day is good for pregnant women and babies. After we finish eating, I’ll accompany you for a walk on the ridges of the fields outside the village. The air there is fresh, and we can get some sunshine.”

As dusk fell, Shen Tingzhou held Lin Wanqiu's hand and walked slowly along the ridges of the fields. The setting sun cast long shadows of the two, and fine frost flowers clung to the withered grass along the ridges, shimmering in the afterglow. In the distance, wisps of smoke rose from the village chimneys, accompanied by the barking of dogs and the laughter of children—a scene of peace and tranquility.

"Look, the wheat over there has sprouted, it's so green and beautiful," Lin Wanqiu said with a smile, pointing to the wheat field not far away.

Shen Tingzhou looked in the direction she pointed, his eyes full of tenderness: "Next spring, when the wheat is ripe, we'll bring Nian'an to harvest it, so he can experience farm work." He held Lin Wanqiu's hand tightly, his voice full of anticipation, "After the baby is born, our family will go to the county town to take a family photo, and I'll buy you some nice fabric to make you a new dress, so you can look your best."

Lin Wanqiu leaned on his shoulder, listening to him describe the future, her heart filled with happiness. She recalled the hardships she had faced after her rebirth—her husband's "sacrifice," her in-laws'刁难 (difficulties/challenges), her son's frailty, and her own desperate situation. Now, however, she had a loving husband, a harmonious family, and the imminent arrival of a child. This kind of life was something she had never dared to dream of before.

When she got home, Grandma Shen had already prepared dinner. On the table were steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and steamed egg custard—all light dishes suitable for pregnant women. "Wanqiu, sit down and eat. This fish was caught by Tingzhou from the river this morning; it's very fresh. I specially steamed it without adding too many seasonings, so it's good for you and the baby," Grandma Shen said, placing a piece of fish on Lin Wanqiu's plate and carefully removing the bones. "Eat more to nourish your body so the baby can grow strong."

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