Two cents was a lot of money back then; it could buy half a pound of cornmeal. Aunt Li and the others were overjoyed when they heard this. Sister Zhang said excitedly, "Wanqiu, you're such a good person! We'll definitely work hard from now on and never slack off!" Looking at the smiles on their faces, Lin Wanqiu thought to herself: Once the house is built and the workshop is expanded, more villagers can come to help, and we can all make money together so that our lives can get better and better.

As the days went by, Lin Wanqiu saved more and more money. The tin box gradually filled with banknotes, so she found a wooden box to store them. Every time Shen Tingzhou returned from town, he would bring her some building materials—a booklet with house plans and slips of paper recording the prices of bricks and tiles. The couple often sat under the kerosene lamp to study the plans after putting Shen Nian'an to sleep at night. Shen Tingzhou would point to the plans and say, "This room will be Nian'an's study. The windows should be big so that the light is good." Lin Wanqiu would add, "The kitchen should be next to the backyard so it will be convenient to make fermented bean curd. We also need to build a chicken coop and raise a few hens to nourish Nian'an." The two of them chatted back and forth, and the small house was full of warmth.

That day, Lin Wanqiu was teaching Aunt Li and the others how to make fermented bean curd in the yard when she suddenly heard Old Lady Shen's shrill voice from outside the gate: "Lin Wanqiu! Come out here!" Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat, and she put down what she was doing and went to the gate. She saw Old Lady Shen leaning on a cane, followed by her sister-in-law Zhang Lan. The two of them stood at the gate, their faces full of hostility.

Grandma Shen squinted, looking Lin Wanqiu up and down. When she saw the neatly stacked pottery jars in the yard, a greedy glint flashed in her eyes: "Lin Wanqiu, I heard you've made a lot of money and are going to build a house?" Lin Wanqiu nodded, her tone calm: "Yes, I've saved some money and want to build a new house so that Nian'an can live more comfortably."

"Want to live more comfortably?" Old Mrs. Shen sneered, slamming her cane on the ground. "You, an outsider, built a house on the Shen family's territory. Did you get my permission? Let me tell you, this house-building quota has to go to my eldest grandson! My eldest grandson is getting married soon and needs a new house. This house of yours must go to my eldest grandson!"

Zhang Lan chimed in, "That's right, sister-in-law. You're a widow with a child. Why build such a nice house? It's better to give it to my eldest son. He can take care of you in your old age." Lin Wanqiu's anger flared up immediately. When she first transmigrated, Old Lady Shen and Zhang Lan treated her like free labor, tormenting her and Nian'an. Now that they saw she was doing well, they wanted to steal the house-building quota. They were simply pushing their luck!

She looked coldly at Old Madam Shen and Zhang Lan, her voice firm: "This house was earned by Tingzhou and me penny by penny, it has nothing to do with the Shen family, and the building quota will not be given to Dabao. If you want to build a house, go earn the money yourselves, don't try to take advantage of me!"

Old Mrs. Shen was furious that Lin Wanqiu dared to talk back to her. Her face turned pale with anger, and she pounded her cane on the ground with a loud thud: "You unfilial brat! If it weren't for the Shen family, could you even stand here in this village? Now that you've made money, you want to forget your roots? Let me tell you, you have to give me this house-building quota today, whether you like it or not!"

Lin Wanqiu was not to be outdone. She took a step forward and blocked the entrance to the courtyard: "I'll say it again, I will not give this house to anyone. If you continue to cause trouble here, I will go to the commune and find the secretary to settle this matter, and let everyone see how you bully people!" She knew that the commune was now advocating self-reliance, and she was in the right to earn money to build the house through her own abilities.

Old Mrs. Shen was intimidated by Lin Wanqiu's imposing manner. She paused for a moment, then started throwing a tantrum again: "You dare to go to the commune? I think you don't want to stay in the village anymore! I'm not leaving today. If you don't give me a quota for building a house, I'll sit at your door and cry!" As she spoke, she was about to sit down on the ground.

Just then, Shen Tingzhou returned pushing his wheelbarrow. Seeing the scene at the door, his face darkened instantly. He put the wheelbarrow aside, walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, and coldly looked at Old Madam Shen and Zhang Lan: "Mother, sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"

Seeing Shen Tingzhou, Old Mrs. Shen felt a little intimidated, but she still forced herself to say, "Tingzhou, it's good you're back! Your wife wants to build a house, but she won't give your eldest nephew a spot. You should talk to her about it!" Shen Tingzhou looked at Old Mrs. Shen, his tone icy: "This house was built with money that Wanqiu and I earned together. It has nothing to do with Dabao. If you continue to bully Wanqiu, don't blame me for disowning you as my mother and sister-in-law!"

Seeing that Shen Tingzhou was protecting Lin Wanqiu, Zhang Lan dared not speak again. She tugged at Old Madam Shen's sleeve and said, "Mother, let's go first and talk about it later." Old Madam Shen glared at Lin Wanqiu and was reluctantly pulled away by Zhang Lan.

Watching Grandma Shen and Zhang Lan's retreating figures, Lin Wanqiu breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to look at Shen Tingzhou, her eyes slightly red: "Tingzhou, thank you." Shen Tingzhou held her hand, the warmth of his palm making her heart feel warm: "Silly girl, you are my wife. If I don't protect you, who else will I protect? Don't pay attention to them. Let's continue building the house. No one can stop us from living a good life."

In the courtyard, Aunt Li and the others had long since stopped what they were doing, looking at Shen Tingzhou and Lin Wanqiu with faces full of sympathy. Aunt Li walked over and patted Lin Wanqiu on the shoulder: "Wanqiu, don't take it to heart. They just can't stand to see you doing well. If they come looking for trouble again, we'll stand up for you and argue with them!" The other aunties nodded in agreement, indicating their support for Lin Wanqiu.

Lin Wanqiu looked at Shen Tingzhou beside her, then at the enthusiastic villagers, her heart filled with emotion. She knew that Old Lady Shen and Zhang Lan wouldn't let it go so easily and would definitely come looking for trouble again, but she wasn't afraid—she had Shen Tingzhou as her strong support, the villagers' support, and her own two hands. As long as she worked hard, there was no difficulty she couldn't overcome.

As the sun gradually set, it dyed the sky orange-red. Lin Wanqiu looked at the pottery jars in the yard, and at Shen Tingzhou and Shen Nian'an tidying up their tools. She secretly made a resolution: she must finish building the house as soon as possible, so that her family could live in a spacious and bright new house. She wanted to show Grandma Shen and Zhang Lan that she, Lin Wanqiu, could also live a prosperous life through her own abilities. She believed that as long as her family worked together, the future would be as warm and bright as this sunset.