In the early winter of 1982, a chill crept silently over the eaves of the Hongqi Production Brigade. The crops in the fields had long been harvested, leaving only withered yellow stalks swaying in the wind, rustling softly. The old locust tree at the village entrance had shed its lush foliage, its gnarled branches pointing straight to the gray sky. Occasionally, a few sparrows would perch on its branches, chirping and adding a touch of life to the bleak winter day. Inside the "Natural Flavors" food workshop, however, a bustling scene unfolded—workers, bundled in thick cotton coats, were busy producing a batch of fruit and vegetable gift boxes destined for Europe. The roar of the machines mingled with the workers' laughter, dispelling the winter cold and filling the air with vibrant warmth.

Lin Wanqiu, wearing a camel-colored wool coat, stood in the finished product inspection area, holding a magnifying glass and carefully examining the packaging of each box of dried fruits and vegetables. Over the years, the food workshop's overseas market has expanded significantly, from Southeast Asia to Europe. The "Natural Flavor" brand has won increasing recognition from consumers thanks to its excellent quality and unique flavor. To ensure product quality, Lin Wanqiu always personally oversees every step, from raw material procurement to production and processing, and finally to finished product inspection, strictly controlling each process and allowing no room for error.

"Wanqiu, take a break. You've been inspecting this batch of goods for most of the day; your eyes must be tired." Shen Tingzhou walked over with a cup of warm jujube tea, handing it to her with a look of concern in his eyes. He wore a dark black woolen overcoat, his posture upright. Time had etched faint lines on his face, but it only made him appear more composed and refined. Over the years, he and Lin Wanqiu had worked side by side, not only managing the food workshop impeccably but also building a harmonious and happy family. Their two children were outstanding and sensible, filling his heart with pride.

Lin Wanqiu took the teacup, feeling the warmth on her fingertips, which warmed her heart. She took a sip of the jujube tea, the sweet and fragrant taste spreading in her mouth, dispelling some of her fatigue: "It's alright. This batch of goods is the first large order shipped to Europe, so we can't afford any mistakes. We've finally opened up the European market, so we must build a solid reputation."

Shen Tingzhou nodded, his gaze falling on her slightly tired face, and said softly, "I know you care, but you can't overwork yourself. By the way, the county hospital organized free physical examinations a few days ago. I thought about how Mom is getting old and her health hasn't been very good, so I signed her up. Today is the day of the examination, and I've already asked Aunt Zhang to accompany her to the county town."

Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat. She put down the magnifying glass and showed some concern on her face: "You're so thoughtful. Mom just recovered from her last illness, so she should get a proper check-up to see if there are any hidden illnesses. When she gets back from her check-up, we can adjust her health accordingly."

Speaking of Old Mrs. Shen, Lin Wanqiu no longer harbored any resentment from years past. Since Old Mrs. Shen fell ill and Lin Wanqiu arranged for someone to care for her without holding a grudge, Old Mrs. Shen's attitude had changed significantly. Although she still didn't talk much, her eyes held a gentler warmth, and she would occasionally have Zhang Lan bring over some vegetables she had grown herself. The relationship between the two families gradually improved. Lin Wanqiu knew that blood was thicker than water; no matter how many misunderstandings there had been in the past, they were still family. She only hoped that Old Mrs. Shen could enjoy her later years in peace, and that her children could grow up surrounded by complete family love.

As the two were talking, the door to the food shop opened, and Aunt Zhang helped Old Mrs. Shen in. Old Mrs. Shen was wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket, with a gray headscarf wrapped around her head. Her face looked tired and pale. Aunt Zhang looked anxious and quickly walked up to Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou: "Wanqiu, Tingzhou, you're finally here! The doctor said there's something wrong with Mom's checkup results, and they need to take her to a bigger hospital for another checkup!"

Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou's hearts tightened, and they quickly went to greet her. Shen Tingzhou held Old Madam Shen's arm, his voice urgent: "Mom, how are you? Where does it hurt? What exactly did the doctor say?"

Grandma Shen shook her head, her voice a little weak: "There's nothing seriously wrong, but the doctor said my heart isn't very good and I have some osteoporosis. He told me to go to a big hospital in the provincial capital for a detailed examination and get some medicine to regulate my body."

Lin Wanqiu frowned, a hint of worry in her heart. She knew that heart problems in the elderly were no small matter, and osteoporosis also needed proper management, otherwise fractures were easily possible. She quickly said, "Mom, don't take this lightly. Heart problems can be serious or minor; we must go to the provincial capital for a thorough checkup. Tingzhou, you accompany Mom to a major hospital in the provincial capital tomorrow for a comprehensive examination to determine the specific situation so we can treat it appropriately."

Shen Tingzhou nodded: "Okay, I'll take Mom to the provincial capital first thing tomorrow morning. I also need to go to the provincial capital to meet with a new equipment supplier, so I'll take care of it at the same time."

Looking at their tense expressions, Old Mrs. Shen was deeply moved. She had lived most of her life and never imagined that she would receive such care in her old age. Before, she had always felt that Lin Wanqiu was an outsider and constantly made things difficult for her, but now, the one who truly cared for her was this daughter-in-law whom she had hurt the most. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a soft sigh: "Thank you for your trouble..."

Lin Wanqiu smiled and said gently, "Mom, don't be so polite. This is what we should do. You are Tingzhou's mother and our elder, so of course we should take good care of you."

That evening, Lin Wanqiu specially cooked a pot of lotus seed and lily bulb porridge for Old Lady Shen. The fragrance of lotus seeds and the sweetness of lily bulbs blended together, making it nutritious and easy to digest. She also took out some modern health supplements from her spatial storage—calcium tablets and coenzyme Q10, both beneficial for the heart and bones of the elderly. Although she couldn't reveal the secret of her spatial storage, having Old Lady Shen secretly take these supplements would surely have some conditioning effect.

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