As the sun set, the family began their journey home. Shen Nianxi nestled in Shen Tingzhou's arms and quickly fell asleep, a sweet smile on her face. Shen Nian'an sat in the back seat, watching the scenery outside the window gradually darken, occasionally exchanging a few words with Lin Wanqiu. Shen Tingzhou gripped the steering wheel, glancing at his wife and children in the rearview mirror from time to time, his eyes filled with tenderness and determination—he knew that he bore not only the duties of a soldier but also the responsibility of a family. No matter how busy he was, he would do his utmost to protect his family and ensure his wife and children lived a happy life.

After returning home, Shen Tingzhou carefully carried Shen Nianxi back to her room, covered her with a blanket, and then tiptoed out of the room. Lin Wanqiu was tidying up in the kitchen. He walked over and gently hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. His tone was a little tired, but full of satisfaction, "Wanqiu, I'm so happy today. It's been so long since I've spent time with you all like this."

Lin Wanqiu turned around, looked at the weariness in Shen Tingzhou's eyes, and said with heartache, "If you are tired from work in the future, don't push yourself. I'm here for you at home."

“I know.” Shen Tingzhou smiled and kissed Lin Wanqiu on the forehead. “By the way, the troops will be conducting militia training in our commune next week, which may require the use of the space near the food workshop. I have already spoken to the commune secretary, and you and Xiulian may need to coordinate with them.”

“No problem, I’ll talk to Xiulian.” Lin Wanqiu nodded. “If you need help, you can ask the workers at the food workshop to help. They’ll definitely be happy to.”

Shen Tingzhou was deeply moved. "Thank you, Wanqiu. It's so good to have you by my side."

In the days that followed, Shen Tingzhou remained busy, but he always made time for his family. Every morning he would get up early to prepare breakfast for Lin Wanqiu, and no matter how late he came home at night, he would discuss math problems with Shen Nian'an and tell Shen Nianxi bedtime stories. Whenever he had free time on weekends, he would take his family for a walk in the fields or go to the bookstore in the county town to buy books that the children liked.

Lin Wanqiu watched Shen Tingzhou busy yet still managing to take care of his family, and her heart was filled with comfort. She knew that Shen Tingzhou was not only an excellent soldier, but also a responsible husband and father. She would fully support Shen Tingzhou's work, manage the food shop well, and take good care of the home so that he would have no worries.

One evening, while browsing through "Advanced Guide to Enterprise Management" in her online space, Lin Wanqiu suddenly realized that as the food workshop continued to grow, she needed to cultivate more capable assistants to handle the increasing orders and expansion plans. She recalled that while Li Xiulian was conscientious and responsible, she lacked systematic management knowledge; and while other workers were skilled in production, they lacked the ability to handle business independently. Thus, an idea sprouted in her mind—to cultivate a group of trusted villagers and make them the core backbone of the food workshop. This would not only lighten her own burden but also help more villagers find employment and become wealthy.