Lin Wanqiu didn't leave. Instead, she sat on a small stool beside him, watching his busy figure with a gentle smile on her lips. In the sunlight, his profile remained strong, though the silver strands at his temples were more pronounced, and the wrinkles around his eyes had deepened. But his focus and seriousness made him exceptionally charming. She suddenly remembered him when they first met, exuding the austere air of his military career, taciturn, with sharp eyes. Now, he had shed that edge, gaining a gentleness and composure that came with age, making him more like an ordinary husband, a family man.

"Are you tired? Take a break and have some water." Lin Wanqiu got up and walked over with a cup of cooled chrysanthemum tea.

Shen Tingzhou put down his hoe, took the water cup, and drank it all in one gulp. The cool tea slid down his throat, dispelling the heat from his body. "I'm not tired," he said with a smile, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "What do you want to plant? I'll plant it all for you."

"Let's plant some tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, and some leafy greens and beans, just enough for the two of us," Lin Wanqiu said, pointing to a corner of the yard. "The sunlight is good there, perfect for growing these vegetables." She paused, then added, "Let's also plant some strawberries; Nianzu will definitely love them when he comes."

Shen Tingzhou nodded: "Okay, I'll do whatever you say." He picked up the hoe and began to divide the vegetable plot according to the location Lin Wanqiu pointed out, his movements becoming more and more skilled.

Lin Wanqiu sat to the side, watching his busy figure, feeling a warmth in her heart. She suddenly realized that this was the life she had always wanted—to have someone who loved her, a comfortable home, a little world of her own, where she wouldn't have to struggle for a living or worry about trivial matters, but could simply live a peaceful life and enjoy the tranquility of time.

As evening fell, the setting sun cast its golden rays upon the villa's rooftop, bathing the entire building in a warm glow. Shen Tingzhou had already prepared the vegetable garden, and Lin Wanqiu carefully sowed the seeds, covering them with a thin layer of soil. Working together seamlessly, the two quickly completed the sowing.

"Once these seeds sprout and bear fruit, we'll be able to eat vegetables we've grown ourselves." Lin Wanqiu straightened up, looking at the vegetable patch in front of her, her eyes full of anticipation.

Shen Tingzhou walked to her side and gently put his arm around her shoulder: "We'll grow whatever you want to eat in the future." His gaze was fixed on the distance, the afterglow of the setting sun shining on his face, making him look exceptionally gentle. "We can also dig a small fish pond in the yard, raise some fish, and go fishing in our spare time."

“Great!” Lin Wanqiu’s eyes lit up. “I also want to build a grape trellis in the yard. When the grapevines climb all over the trellis in the summer, we can sit under it, enjoy the cool shade, drink tea, and eat grapes. How pleasant that would be!”

"Whatever you want." Shen Tingzhou lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "As long as you like it, we'll make it happen slowly."

Dinner was prepared by Lin Wanqiu herself, simple yet exquisite. A plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, fresh greens picked from her space, crisp and refreshing; a bowl of tomato and egg soup, sweet and sour and appetizing; and a plate of braised pork, fatty but not greasy, with an enticing aroma. Shen Tingzhou ate with relish, praising repeatedly: "Your cooking is still the best. No matter how famous the restaurant is, it can't compare to your home-cooked meals."

Lin Wanqiu smiled and put a piece of meat on his plate: "Eat more if you like it. From now on, I'll cook your favorite dishes for you every day."

After dinner, the two sat on the sofa in the living room, watching the sky gradually darken outside the window, listening to the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs in the distance, enjoying this rare tranquility. Shen Tingzhou brewed a pot of tea, and the two held their teacups, slowly savoring it, occasionally exchanging a few words, the atmosphere warm and pleasant.

"Do you remember when we first met?" Lin Wanqiu suddenly asked, her eyes filled with a hint of reminiscence. "Back then, you had just returned from the army, wearing your uniform, with a stern face and no smiles. I thought you were a difficult person to get along with."

Shen Tingzhou smiled and said, "I still remember the first time I saw you. You were wearing coarse clothes and standing in the Shen family's courtyard. Your eyes were stubborn, like a kitten with its quills raised. At that time, I felt that this girl was extraordinary." He paused, his tone tinged with guilt, "Unfortunately, I was busy with my mission at that time and was unable to take good care of you and Nian'an, causing you to suffer so much."

“It’s all in the past.” Lin Wanqiu held his hand and gently shook her head. “Those hardships, looking back now, have become the touchstone of our relationship. If we hadn’t gone through so much, we wouldn’t cherish each other as much as we do now.”

Shen Tingzhou held her hand tightly, his eyes resolute: "Wanqiu, I will never let you suffer any more grievances in the future. I will stay with you until we grow old together."

Lin Wanqiu leaned on his shoulder, a happy smile on her face. Outside the window, the stars twinkled, and the bright moonlight illuminated the entire courtyard, as well as their figures leaning against each other.

Days passed peacefully and contentedly. Lin Wanqiu tended to her vegetable garden and flowers every day, watching the seeds sprout, blossom, and bear fruit, filling her with a sense of accomplishment. Her vegetables grew exceptionally well—lush green cabbages, bright red tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans hanging heavily from the vines—a sight to behold. She also planted roses, peonies, and other flowers in the yard. During their blooming season, the yard was a riot of color, filled with fragrance, attracting bees and butterflies to flutter about.

As planned, Shen Tingzhou dug a small fish pond in the yard and put some koi in it. He also built a grape trellis in the yard, bought high-quality grape seedlings, and carefully planted them. In his spare time, he would sit under the grape trellis to fish, or accompany Lin Wanqiu to tend the garden. The two chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company.

Their lives became minimalist yet fulfilling, free from unnecessary social interactions and tedious chores, allowing them to do what they loved every day. Lin Wanqiu would cook various delicacies with vegetables she grew herself, and Shen Tingzhou would enjoy them with her; they would take walks together in the nearby mountains, picking wild fruits and admiring the natural scenery; they would sit in the study reading and writing, enjoying their alone time; and they would occasionally return to the Hongqi Production Brigade to visit old friends and see their familiar homeland.

That day, Shen Nian'an called, saying he would be bringing Su Yue'e and Shen Nianzu to visit them over the weekend. Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqiu immediately busied herself with preparations, getting ready to make some of the children's favorite snacks and dishes. She took out fresh ingredients from her spatial storage and began kneading dough and making fillings, preparing to wrap some red bean buns and meat buns, as well as some osmanthus cakes and mung bean pastries—all of which were Nian'an and Nianxi's favorite foods when they were little.

Shen Tingzhou was busy cleaning the guest room, changing the bedding, and picking some fresh fruit from the yard to put in the fruit bowl in the living room. He also went to the nearby market to buy some toys that Nianzu liked and placed them on the bedside table in the guest room.