The late winter wind, carrying a hint of chill, swept across the fields of the Hongqi Production Brigade, but it couldn't dispel the cozy warmth inside the office building of the Shenji Food Factory. The stove crackled, and jasmine tea in the copper kettle churned with fine white foam. Wisps of steam rose gracefully up the windowpanes, creating a hazy mist on the glass. Lin Wanqiu was braiding her youngest daughter, Shen Nianxi, her fingers flying across the fabric, colorful threads blossoming into two delicate little flowers in her daughter's soft hair. Shen Nianxi nestled obediently on her mother's lap, holding a well-worn picture book, humming a nursery rhyme she had just learned at school. Her clear, childlike voice filled the room like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

Shen Tingzhou sat in a wicker chair, holding a document sent by the county government, his gaze occasionally drifting to his wife and daughter, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Since the good news of the Singapore branch's opening arrived, laughter had never ceased in this small building. Nian'an's spirited voice on the phone still seemed to echo in their ears; the hustle and bustle mixed with firecrackers and opera music was the most vivid pride etched in the couple's hearts.

"Mom, the braids you made are so pretty! I'm going to take them to school tomorrow to show my classmates!" Shen Nianxi looked up with her rosy cheeks, reached out and touched the fluffy hair on her head, her eyes curving into two crescent moons.

Lin Wanqiu put down the comb, raised her hand and gently pinched her daughter's little nose, her eyes full of doting: "You're so vain. It'll be cold tomorrow, remember to wear your scarf, don't catch a cold."

"Okay!" Shen Nianxi replied crisply, then turned to Shen Tingzhou, "Dad, when is my brother coming back? I still want to eat the durian cake he mentioned."

Shen Tingzhou put down the documents, reached out and hugged his daughter, gently stroking her soft hair with his fingertips, his voice low and gentle: "When spring comes, Dad and Mom will take you to Singapore to see your brother, and we'll have him buy you a whole box of durian cakes, okay?"

"Yay!" Shen Nianxi cheered, snuggling into her father's arms, which made Shen Tingzhou chuckle.

Watching the father and daughter's affectionate interaction, Lin Wanqiu felt a warm glow in her heart. She got up and walked to the window, wiping the condensation from the glass, and looked out. The warm winter sun was slowly climbing to its zenith, gilding the bare poplar branches with a golden light. A few sparrows perched on the branches, chirping and singing, adding a touch of life to the bleak winter day. On the ridges of the fields, villagers carried hoes, chatting and laughing as they walked home, their faces beaming with satisfaction—since the Chenji Food Factory opened, everyone's lives had become increasingly prosperous. Not only did they receive stable wages, but they also received pastries made by the factory every few days. Such a life was unimaginable just a few years ago.

Lin Wanqiu's gaze drifted into the distance, a hint of melancholy creeping into her smile. From the widow, tormented beyond recognition by Old Lady Shen and nearly drowning in the icy river, to the now prosperous owner of Shenji Restaurant with both a son and a daughter, the journey had felt like a dream. She recalled the days and nights she secretly cultivated crops in her spatial dimension, the hardships she and Shen Tingzhou endured while running the workshop under pressure, and the calculated maneuvering she took against Old Lady Shen and Lin Moli… Her eyes welled up slightly, yet a burning sense of happiness surged from the depths of her heart.

"What are you thinking about?" Shen Tingzhou appeared behind her without her noticing, his warm palm gently resting on her shoulder, his deep voice carrying a familiar magnetism.

Lin Wanqiu turned around, looked up at him, and her eyes sparkled with tiny lights: "I was thinking, time really flies. In the blink of an eye, Nian'an can stand on his own, and Nianxi has grown up so much."

Shen Tingzhou reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, the faint scent of soap lingering in her hair. His voice was full of pity: "You've suffered so much these past years."

"It's not bitter." Lin Wanqiu gently shook her head, buried her face in his warm chest, and listened to his steady and strong heartbeat. She felt a sense of peace in her heart. "With you and the children, it's all worth it, no matter how bitter it is."

The couple stood side by side by the window, sunlight streaming through the windowpanes, casting long shadows of them. The sweet aroma of osmanthus cake mingled with the fragrance of tea, creating a tranquil and beautiful atmosphere.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by Aunt Wang's loud voice: "Wanqiu! Is Wanqiu home? It's urgent!"

Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat. She quickly exchanged a glance with Shen Tingzhou, then strode to the courtyard gate and opened the wooden door. There stood Granny Wang, panting, her face showing a mixture of anxiety and barely concealed joy, clutching a telegram tightly in her hand.

"Aunt Wang, what's wrong? What happened?" Lin Wanqiu quickly helped her up and handed her a cup of warm water.

Aunt Wang took the water glass, gulped down two mouthfuls, and finally recovered. She grabbed Lin Wanqiu's hand, her voice trembling slightly, "Wanqiu! Good news! Huge good news! A telegram from Singapore! Nian'an... there's news about that child!"

"Nian'an?" Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat, her pupils contracted sharply, and she snatched the telegram from Aunt Wang's hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. Shen Tingzhou also quickly stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the thin telegram.

Lin Wanqiu took a deep breath and unfolded the telegram with trembling hands. A line of delicate and neat handwriting came into view. It was Nian An's handwriting, but it carried an unusual joy: "Mom and Dad, Yue'e is pregnant. I'm going to be a father. When spring comes, I will take Yue'e home to reunite with my parents."

The short sentence exploded in Lin Wanqiu's mind like a thunderbolt. She stood there, stunned, the telegram in her hand feeling both light and heavy. Yue'e was pregnant… Yue'e was the overseas Chinese girl Nian'an had mentioned in his letter, gentle, kind, intelligent, and capable, helping him manage the branch company's affairs. Nian'an said she was a good girl, the one he wanted to spend his life with.

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