During the meal, the club members enthusiastically toasted Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou, praising the couple's competence. Shen Nian sat comfortably in her high chair, a chicken leg in her hand, eating with grease all over her face, occasionally sharing her snacks with the children next to her. Lin Wanqiu watched all this, her heart filled with happiness. She knew this was just the beginning, and that things would only get better from there.

After dinner, the villagers left one after another. After tidying up the yard, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou began to discuss moving out of the Shen family's old house. Shen Tingzhou looked at Lin Wanqiu and said seriously, "Tomorrow I will go to the old house to move our things over. You and Nian'an can stay home and pack. Don't bring anything that shouldn't be brought, so as not to take up space."

Lin Wanqiu nodded: "I know. Apart from my dowry and Nian'an's clothes, I don't want anything else in the Shen family's old house. Be careful when you move tomorrow, and don't get into any conflicts with Old Madam Shen and the others."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Shen Tingzhou held Lin Wanqiu's hand. "From now on, we'll live in the new house and won't have to put up with their attitudes anymore."

The next morning, Shen Tingzhou, along with several familiar villagers, went to the Shen family's old house. When Old Mrs. Shen and Zhang Lan saw them coming to move things, they immediately erupted in anger. Old Mrs. Shen blocked the doorway, hands on her hips, and yelled, "Shen Tingzhou! You ungrateful wretch! I raised you with such hardship, and now that you're all grown up, you want to take your wife and son and move out, leaving this old woman here alone?"

Shen Tingzhou looked at her coldly: "I told you long ago that Wanqiu and I have nothing to do with the Shen family anymore. These things are ours, why can't we move them?"

"Why should I? Because I'm your mother!" Old Mrs. Shen threw a tantrum, rolling on the ground. "If you dare to take anything away today, I'll die right here in front of you!"

Zhang Lan chimed in, "That's right, brother-in-law, how could you be so heartless? This old house is the Shen family's root. What are we supposed to do if you move away?"

Shen Tingzhou didn't bother arguing with them and simply told the villagers to move their things out. Old Mrs. Shen tried to stop them, but Shen Tingzhou stopped her. Shen Tingzhou's eyes were icy: "If you keep causing trouble, I'll go find Secretary Zhao to judge how you've treated Wanqiu and Nian'an all these years."

Old Mrs. Shen was frightened by Shen Tingzhou's gaze and dared not cause any more trouble. Zhang Lan was also afraid that things would escalate, so she could only watch helplessly as they moved their things away. Shen Tingzhou loaded the last box onto the car, glanced back at the dilapidated old Shen family house without a trace of lingering affection, and then turned and left.

When Shen Tingzhou brought the things back to the new house, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Nian'an were already waiting in the courtyard. Seeing the carriage full of things, Shen Nian'an ran over happily, took Shen Tingzhou's hand, and asked, "Dad, are we going to live here from now on? Will we never have to go back to the old house again?"

“Yes.” Shen Tingzhou picked up his son and said with a smile, “From now on, we’ll live here and we won’t have to worry about what others think anymore.”

Lin Wanqiu looked at the things she had brought back and began to sort and organize them. She carefully placed her dowry into the closet and neatly folded Nian'an's clothes into the newly made wardrobe. Shen Tingzhou helped assemble the furniture, occasionally exchanging a few words with Lin Wanqiu, filling the courtyard with a warm atmosphere.

By evening, everything was tidied up. Lin Wanqiu stood in the living room, looking at the brand-new furniture and clean floor, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. Shen Nian'an ran to the small room on the east side, touching the crib and looking at the desk with great excitement. He ran to Lin Wanqiu, took her hand, and said, "Mom, look how beautiful my room is! Can I sleep here tonight?"

Lin Wanqiu smiled and said, "Of course you can. But the room isn't ready yet. We'll make the bed tomorrow, and then you can sleep in your own room."

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian'an jumped up with joy, hugged Lin Wanqiu's neck, and kissed her: "Mom, you're so good!"

Shen Tingzhou walked over, hugged Lin Wanqiu from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and whispered, "Wanqiu, thank you. If it weren't for you, I might not even know what I want now."

Lin Wanqiu leaned against Shen Tingzhou's chest, feeling his warmth, and whispered, "We're family, no need to thank me. Let's live a good life together, raise Nian'an, and watch him grow up and start his own family, okay?"

"Okay." Shen Tingzhou hugged Lin Wanqiu tightly, his voice full of tenderness, "From now on, we will be a family and never be separated."

The setting sun streamed through the window, casting long shadows of the two people in the room. In the next room, Chen Nian'an was still excitedly playing with her toys, humming a tuneless little tune. The chickens in the yard had already gone back to their roosts, and the dog was dozing by the door; everything seemed so peaceful and beautiful.