> Sister Qingwan

Shen Yuewei read the letter word by word, her fingertips tracing the familiar handwriting on the paper. She could almost see Qingwan's expression as she wrote, a mixture of shyness, reproach, and boundless anticipation. When she read the news of Qingwan's pregnancy, her heart skipped a beat, followed by a surge of warmth mixed with an indescribable bittersweet feeling. In her past life, Qingwan had never been pregnant… to receive this joyous news in this life—how wonderful! How wonderful! Reading about her second brother's silly antics—overturning the inkstone and muttering about the longevity lock made of Jiangnan silk—she couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. Those vivid images dispelled the gloom that had shrouded her heart for days, bringing back the long-lost warmth of family.

"Second Aunt... An'an is going to have a little cousin..." she murmured, pressing the letter to her heart, feeling the deep joy and anticipation conveyed between the lines. Southward! Qingwan and her second brother were going south! A tremendous, almost overwhelming joy, like something lost and found, instantly filled her chest. It was as if she had finally grasped a warm piece of driftwood in a cold, deep pool. She could almost see Qingwan, her slightly protruding belly, smiling gently as she walked into this small courtyard in Jiangnan, and her second brother, travel-worn but with eyes full of smiles, lifting An'an high in the air... That was the idyllic world she had longed for in her past life, the world she had carefully protected in this one.

She carefully folded her second sister-in-law's letter, pressed it to her heart for a moment, and then picked up the next few sheets of paper. It was indeed her second brother Shen Wenbai's handwriting. His characters were bold and vigorous, seemingly penetrating the paper, but the content was more "practical":

> Wei Mei:

> Your sister-in-law's letter must have brought good news! Haha, your second brother is going to be a father! I'm so happy! I'm fucking happy! Ten times happier than when I made my first deal worth ten thousand taels of silver!

> Your sister-in-law's pregnancy is stable, so we'll set off! This time, your second brother is going to make a big splash in the south! Besides bringing you the goods from Beijing, the main thing is to check out the market in Jiangnan! I heard that the newly released "soft silk gauze" and "cloud-mist silk" are in high demand there? Our Chenji brand can't fall behind in the capital! Also, save me a few good pieces of those new and ingenious designs from your shop; I'll bring them back and have the embroiderers in Beijing copy them! We'll discuss the business in detail when we meet. Your second brother has brought all his savings this time, ready to make a big splash!

> Also, I've attached a few pictures of the latest trendy patterns in Beijing. See if they're fashionable in Jiangnan. There are also a few portraits of An'an; they were drawn in a hurry, only capturing her spirit, but please bear with them. Oh, and your sister-in-law made some new clothes for you and An'an, using the softest fabrics. I'm sending them with this letter; don't hesitate to wear them!

> Just wait! Your second brother will soon be bringing your sister-in-law and your unborn nephew (I'm guessing it's a boy!) to Jiangnan! Let's see who dares to bully my sister and niece!

> Second Brother Wenbai's name (a smug little figure with his hands on his hips is drawn next to it)

Looking at the letter brimming with pride and joy, and the rough yet clumsy yet caring tone, Shen Yuewei couldn't help but smile through her tears. Especially the portraits of An'an—the lines were rough, the proportions off, barely revealing the outline of a round-faced little figure with big eyes, accompanied by crooked annotations like "An'an biting her hand" and "An'an chasing the cat"—full of Shen Wenbai's exaggerated and comical style. She gently stroked the drawings, then looked at the real An'an babbling in her nanny's arms, and the gloom in her heart was largely dispelled by this deep affection.

"Madam, is the Second Young Mistress pregnant? What wonderful news!" Chun Tao also came over to see, clapping her hands with joy. "The Second Young Master is even personally escorting the goods to see you! This is great! Our little courtyard is going to be very lively!"

Shen Yuewei smiled and nodded, carefully putting away her second brother's letter. The few little garments that had been sent with the letter were indeed made of extremely soft and comfortable material, with fine stitches and embroidered with lovely butterflies and flowers; it was clear at a glance that they were the work of her second sister-in-law, Qingwan. She picked up a pale yellow jacket and held it up against An'an. An'an seemed to sense her mother's joy, reaching out her little hand to grab the butterflies on the jacket and giggling. This clear laughter, like the warm winter sun, finally completely dispelled the chill that had lingered in the courtyard for days.

"An'an, you'll soon see your uncle and aunt, and... your unborn little cousin or cousin-in-law." Shen Yuewei hugged her daughter tightly, her cheek pressed against the child's soft hair, and whispered softly. With the anticipation of her brother and sister-in-law's imminent arrival, even the days of waiting for Xiao Chengjing's unknown reply seemed less unbearable.