"Thank you, Aunt Zhang. You don't need to bother me now. I'll ask for your help when I can't keep up." Lin Wanqiu poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Aunt Zhang. The two sat on the porch and chatted. Aunt Zhang talked on and on about the interesting things in the team, such as whose chicken laid a double-yolk egg, whose child was admitted to the county middle school. Her tone was full of satisfaction with her life.

As they chatted, Aunt Zhang suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Wanqiu, I saw Old Lady Shen go to town yesterday, carrying a basket. It looked like she was going to buy something. Do you think she's also thinking about the child in your belly? After all, it's the Shen family's flesh and blood. No matter how wrong she was before, she should change now."

Lin Wanqiu was taken aback, recalling Old Mrs. Shen's past meanness—back when she had just been reborn, Old Mrs. Shen not only stole her dowry but also forced her to work in the fields, neglecting Nian'an completely. Now that Aunt Zhang was saying this, she suddenly felt a bit complicated: "Perhaps, after all, we're family. If she can really change, we'd be happy to see it happen."

Aunt Zhang nodded: "That's right! There's no such thing as a family grudge that lasts overnight. If she can treat you and the child well, your family's life will be even more perfect. You're pregnant now, so don't think too much. Taking good care of your health is the most important thing."

After seeing Aunt Zhang off, Lin Wanqiu carried the fish soup back into the house and sipped it slowly. The fish soup was exceptionally flavorful, its delicious taste spreading across her tongue. Remembering Aunt Zhang's words, her attitude towards Old Mrs. Shen softened a bit. Perhaps, as life gets better, Old Mrs. Shen really could change her former temperament, and the family could get along well.

In the afternoon, Lin Wanqiu sat on the porch making small clothes. The warm sunshine felt wonderful on her skin. She held needle and thread, carefully sewing the cuffs, when she suddenly heard Old Lady Shen's voice from outside the courtyard gate: "Is Wanqiu home?"

Lin Wanqiu's heart stirred. She put down her needlework, got up, and opened the door. She saw Old Madam Shen standing at the door, holding a bamboo basket covered with a blue cloth. She looked somewhat uncomfortable and said, "I...I came to see you."

"Mother, please come in and sit down." Lin Wanqiu stepped aside to let her in, feeling somewhat surprised—Old Mrs. Shen rarely came to her side on her own initiative, let alone with things in her hands.

Grandma Shen walked into the courtyard, her gaze sweeping over the small clothes under the eaves before settling on Lin Wanqiu's lower abdomen. Her tone was somewhat stiff: "I heard you had a dream yesterday, that you were born a girl? And named Nianxi?"

“Yes,” Lin Wanqiu nodded, a little curious, “Mother, how did you know?”

“I overheard Nian’an talking to someone at school.” Old Mrs. Shen put down the bamboo basket, lifted the blue cloth, and inside were more than a dozen red-shelled eggs. “These are free-range eggs I bought in town yesterday. You’re pregnant, so eat more to nourish your body. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, they both need to be healthy.”

Looking at the eggs, Lin Wanqiu felt a sudden warmth in her heart. She knew that although Old Mrs. Shen was harsh by nature, she still cared about the Shen family's children deep down. These free-range eggs were considered a rare commodity at the time, and the fact that Old Mrs. Shen had gone to the trouble of going to town to buy them for her showed that she truly cared about her and the children.

"Thank you, Mother." Lin Wanqiu took the bamboo basket, her fingertips touching the warm eggs. "Please sit down, I'll pour you a glass of water."

Grandma Shen sat on the bench under the eaves, watching Lin Wanqiu's busy figure, and suddenly sighed: "Wanqiu, I was wrong before. I always wanted you to do more work, and I wasn't good to you and Nian'an. Now that I see you are living a good life and Nian'an has grown up, I am happy. As for the child in your belly, whether it is a boy or a girl, I will love him and cherish him."

Lin Wanqiu returned with water and her eyes welled up with tears when she heard what Old Madam Shen said: "Mother, let's not talk about the past. Let's just live our lives well from now on. Nian'an and Nianxi (if they are girls) will take good care of you."

Grandma Shen took the water glass, took a sip, and her tone softened considerably: "It's good that you think that way. I went to town yesterday and bought a piece of cloth for the child. Although it's not as good as the one the commune gave us, it can still be used to make a small cushion." As she spoke, she took a piece of floral cloth out of her pocket and handed it to Lin Wanqiu.

Lin Wanqiu took the fabric. Although the material was ordinary, the pattern was very bright, clearly indicating that it had been carefully selected. Filled with gratitude, she whispered, "Mother, thank you. This fabric is so beautiful; it will surely be very comfortable to make a small cushion."

Grandma Shen smiled as she looked at her: "I'm glad you like it. I didn't have anything else to do, I just came to see you. You're pregnant, so don't overwork yourself. If you can't keep up with making clothes, just tell me and I'll sew them for you."

"Okay, thank you, Mother." Lin Wanqiu nodded, completely letting go of her resentment towards Old Madam Shen. She knew that conflicts were inevitable among family members, but as long as they showed more understanding and tolerance towards each other, they could get along well.

After seeing Grandma Shen off, Lin Wanqiu sat on the porch, holding the piece of floral cloth in her hand, her heart filled with happiness. She looked at the crabapple blossoms in the yard, then touched her lower abdomen and whispered, "Nianxi, your grandma came to see you, and she brought eggs and cloth. From now on, our family will be well, and you must come into this world healthy."

In the evening, Shen Tingzhou and Shen Nian'an returned and were surprised to see the eggs and scraps of floral fabric in the bamboo basket. Lin Wanqiu recounted the visit of Old Madam Shen, and Shen Tingzhou smiled and said, "With Mother like this, our family will be even more harmonious in the future. This is a good thing."

Shen Nian'an said happily, "Grandma is finally nice to us! I will get along well with Grandma from now on, and I will also help my little sister Xixi get closer to Grandma!"

At dinner, Shen Tingzhou made steamed egg custard with the free-range eggs given to him by Grandma Shen, and also stir-fried some vegetables. The family sat around the table, chatting and laughing, creating a particularly warm atmosphere. Shen Nian'an kept putting food on Lin Wanqiu's plate, and even said that he wanted to save the steamed egg custard for "Little Sister Xixi," which made everyone laugh.

Before going to bed, Shen Tingzhou massaged Lin Wanqiu's legs and said softly, "Now your mother is starting to care about you too, and Aunt Zhang and the others often come to help. Our family is getting better and better. When Nianxi is born, we will truly have both a son and a daughter, and our lives will definitely be even happier."

Lin Wanqiu leaned against him, closed her eyes, and smiled happily: "Yes, I feel so content now. With you, with Nian'an, with Nianxi who is about to be born, and with the care of my mother and the neighbors, this is the life I have always longed for."

Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing the two of them in the gentle night air. Only their breathing and the occasional soft movement of the fetus could be heard. Lin Wanqiu knew that her life had been completely transformed by this rebirth, from a miserable widow into a happy woman loved and cared for. In the future, she would carry this happiness with her, continuing to work hard with Shen Tingzhou to make their family even better, ensuring that Nian'an and Nianxi grew up healthy and happy in a loving environment.