The next morning, Gu Mingyue opened the window and saw that the sun was shining brightly, casting a golden glow on the courtyard.

The wind had stopped, and the air was moist with the scent of the sea, but not cold.

She turned to Zhong Yuxiu, who was tidying up inside, and said, "Mom, the weather is nice today. Let's go for a walk, see what the island looks like, and soak up some sun. It'll be nice."

Upon hearing this, Xia Huiying immediately became interested: "Great! I've never seen the sea before, so it's a good opportunity to go and take a look."

Zhong Yuxiu nodded in agreement and quickly changed into a clean cotton-padded jacket.

Lu Limin came over from next door and, upon hearing that they were going to the beach, smiled and agreed: "Let's go together. It'll be good to stretch our muscles. I was on the road all day yesterday, and my whole body is stiff."

The group left the residential compound and walked slowly along the path.

The sunlight felt warm and comforting on my skin, making me want to squint.

Some unknown vines climbed the low wall by the roadside. Although the leaves had fallen in winter, they still exuded a sense of vitality.

Gu Mingyue supported Xia Huiying's arm and walked slowly, pointing out the houses along the roadside to her.

"This is Xiahe's house, and that is Sister Qin's house. Everyone looks out for each other, and it's just as lively as a family home."

As I walked onto the seawall, a gentle sea breeze blew. In the distance, several fishing boats were slowly sailing on the sea, and seagulls circled in the sky, making clear calls.

Standing on the seawall, Xia Huiying looked at the boundless sea and couldn't help but sigh, "This sea is so big and beautiful. Just standing here makes me feel much better. It must be even more comfortable in the summer."

Zhong Yuxiu: "That's right. Back when Lao Lu and I were in the Northwest, there was a shortage of water. At that time, we envied people who lived by the sea the most."

On their way back from the beach, Gu Mingyue suggested visiting the nearby market, and Xia Huiying and Zhong Yuxiu both nodded in agreement.

Since we're already here, we might as well see what's different about the island's market. You can't see a scene like this in Beijing; the private economy doesn't allow it.

Just as I entered the market, I bumped into Qin Hongmei, who was carrying a cloth bag.

She spotted the people next to Gu Mingyue, paused for a moment, then quickly walked over and asked with a smile, "Mingyue, who are these three? They look unfamiliar."

“These are my grandparents, and this is my mother-in-law. They came from Beijing to celebrate the New Year with us.”

Gu Mingyue introduced with a smile, then turned to Xia Huiying, "Grandma, this is Sister-in-law Qin Hongmei. She lives in our front yard and often comes to visit."

Qin Hongmei immediately became enthusiastic, "Try this!"

She took out a handful of freshly bought roasted chestnuts from her cloth bag and stuffed them into Xia Huiying's and Zhong Yuxiu's hands.

"These are local chestnuts from the island. They're very sweet. You must have had a long journey. The island is warm on sunny days in winter, but it's usually a bit windy."

After thanking her, Zhong Yuxiu took the chestnut, peeled it, took a bite, and said with a smile, "It's sweet, even better than the chestnuts from our hometown. Hongmei, you're so kind. Mingyue always says you take care of her, and seeing you today, I can see you're indeed a good comrade."

As they strolled and chatted, they encountered many neighbors from the residential compound along the way.

Xia Huiying and Zhong Yuxiu responded in kind, and as they watched Gu Mingyue chatting and laughing with everyone familiarly, the smiles in their eyes gradually deepened.

As they left the market, Xia Huiying couldn't help but say, "Mingyue, the people in your family compound are so warm-hearted, much better than those in our compound."

The islanders are simple and honest, and their neighbors are warm and welcoming, unlike Beijing, where people may appear friendly on the surface, but are actually quite indifferent at heart.

Living in the same compound, you never know when a conflict of interest might arise, and sometimes it's impossible to guard against it.

Of course, we can't generalize. Whether it's an island or Beijing, there are good and bad people.

Lu Limin nodded: "We used to worry that you would be left without anyone to take care of you while you were away. But now that we see how things are, we can finally rest assured. You are living more comfortably here than at home."

Gu Mingyue smiled and took Xia Huiying's arm: "Mom, don't worry, this place feels just like home. You can come and stay here often."

When she got home, Xia Huiying put the basket she was carrying on the table. It contained the yellow croaker and oysters she had just bought.

"Mingyue, can you smell the saltiness of the sea?"

Gu Mingyue: "Grandma, that's great. Apart from a few days of morning sickness at the beginning, there's been nothing wrong. This baby is so easy to take care of."

Xia Huiying: "You're a good child, so you'll suffer less. I'll have your grandfather clean these seafood, and you can sit aside and direct him."

Lu Limin rolled up his sleeves and agreed, then sat on a small stool to process the fish.

The cleaned fish was handed to Zhong Yuxiu, who took scissors and carefully removed the fish bones and minced the fish meat.

Lu Lin didn't rest after returning. He scooped out flour from the bag and kneaded it into a smooth dough, then pinched it into small pieces.

Before long, the lid of the steamer was filled with round, evenly thick dough sheets with naturally curved edges.

"You roll out the dough faster." Xia Huiying looked up and praised her with a smile.

Lu Lin laughed and said, "Mingyue and I both love dumplings. We make them whenever we have free time, and we've gotten the hang of it over time."

Gu Mingyue was tasked with preparing the filling. She sprinkled some chopped green onions and minced ginger into the fish paste, added a spoonful of sesame oil, stirred it well, and then smelled it to confirm that the saltiness was just right.

When Lu Wanwan entered the house, her face was still a little pale. She had her period today and had been lying in bed all day. If her grandfather hadn't come to call her for dinner, she probably would have stayed in bed.

"Are you alright? Are you still feeling unwell?" Zhong Yuxiu asked her daughter with concern.

Lu Wanwan replied weakly, "I feel unwell."

"Here, holding this hot water bottle will make you more comfortable. Go inside and lie down. We'll call you when it's time to eat." Gu Mingyue shoved a hot water bottle into her hand.

Lu Wanwan felt the warmth in her hands and her heart was filled with warmth. "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Xia Huiying patted her granddaughter's head. "This can't go on. Let's go see a doctor again."

Lu Wanwan has been feeling unwell since she started her period, especially in the first few days.

They consulted doctors in Beijing and tried both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, but the treatments only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause.

Gu Mingyue: "I heard a while ago that there's a very famous doctor here. Let's make some time to go see him tomorrow."

This doctor lived in a cowshed. He had come to the island years ago due to oppression. The leaders knew he was a skilled doctor and took good care of him in terms of his living conditions.

Many people also went to him for medical treatment in private, and the authorities turned a blind eye to it.

"Okay, I'll take the day off tomorrow, and we'll go together."

Seeing his wife in distress, He Xiao's heart ached as well.

"Alright, let Wanwan lie here for a while, let's go make some food."

At Xia Huiying's command, everyone dispersed to attend to their own business, leaving He Xiao alone to keep his wife company.

Just as they finished making dumplings, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by Xing Yi's loud voice: "Is Lu Lin home?"

Lu Lin hurried out to greet them and saw that both Xing Yi and He Binglin's families had arrived, carrying fruit and candy.

"Come in quickly, it's warm inside," Lu Lin said with a smile, ushering them inside.