Walking home, Lin Wanqiu's heart was still pounding. She touched the metal tag in her arms; the cool touch calmed her down a little. Regardless of why Shen Tingzhou was faking his death, he was still alive and seemed to be in trouble. What she needed to do now was protect Nian'an and find out Shen Tingzhou's true identity and the reason for his feigned death.
Back home, she pushed open the door and saw the kerosene lamp still lit—Chen Nian'an was awake, sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) and crying softly. Lin Wanqiu quickly went over and hugged the child, saying, "My darling, Mom is back. Don't cry, don't cry."
When Shen Nian'an saw her, she cried even harder, hugging her neck tightly: "Mother, where did you go? Nian'an is scared."
"Mom's going to find you something good to eat. I'll never leave you home alone again." Lin Wanqiu patted the child's back tenderly, secretly vowing that no matter what difficulties she encountered, she would protect Nian'an and never let him suffer any more grievances.
After lulling Shen Nian'an to sleep, Lin Wanqiu sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), took out the metal tag from her bosom, and examined it carefully by the light of the kerosene lamp. The character "廷" (Ting) was deeply engraved, and the edges were somewhat worn, indicating that it was something she often carried with her. Remembering the man's gaze earlier, her doubts deepened.
"Shen Tingzhou, who exactly are you? Why are you pretending to be dead?" she murmured to herself, her eyes filled with determination. "No matter what secrets you have, I will find out. And Old Madam Shen and Zhang Lan, what you owe me, what you owe Nian'an, I will collect it all from you, bit by bit!"
The wind was still blowing outside the window, and the flame of the kerosene lamp flickered, illuminating Lin Wanqiu's resolute face. She knew that since encountering that mysterious shadowy figure, her life would be thrown into new turmoil, but this time, she was no longer afraid, because she had her space, Nian'an, and… her husband who might still be alive. No matter how many difficulties lay ahead, she would carry Nian'an, step by step, until they could live a truly good life.
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