The mid-autumn night, devoid of the daytime hustle and bustle, was immersed in a tranquil gentleness in the Hongqi Production Brigade. The osmanthus tree in front of the Shen family's house was still adorned with delicate golden stamens. As the evening breeze blew, its sweet fragrance flowed like water over the courtyard wall and into every corner of the yard.
The kerosene lamp in the living room cast a warm, yellow glow, gently projecting the shadows of the two people sitting embracing onto the mottled wall. Shen Tingzhou's large, warm hands held Lin Wanqiu's tightly, his fingertips tracing her slightly rough fingertips—marks etched by years of housework and managing the food factory. His gaze fell on the few strands of silver that had quietly appeared at her temples, and a wave of indescribable bittersweet tenderness washed over him.
"Late Autumn, you've worked so hard all these years." Shen Tingzhou's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of sob and a touch of solemnity.
Lin Wanqiu tilted her head slightly, gazing into his deep eyes. Those eyes had been her strongest support since her rebirth. From faking her death to joining hands in tearing apart her awful in-laws, and then working side-by-side to transform a small food workshop into the renowned Chenji Food Factory, he had always stood by her side, sheltering her from the storms and protecting her. The trials and tribulations of these past years seemed like yesterday; those days and nights of gritting her teeth and persevering, those moments of joy after hardship, all flashed through her mind.
She gently shook her head, a tender smile playing on her lips, but a thin layer of moisture welled up in her eyes: "It's not hard. With you here, with the children here, no matter how hard or tiring it is, it's all worth it."
Yes, it was worth it. Back then, when she transmigrated here, she was in dire straits, her husband "sacrificed" himself, her son was frail, her in-laws tormented her, and she herself nearly lost her life in the icy river. If it weren't for that ancestral jade pendant activating the space, and if it weren't for Shen Tingzhou's unexpected return, she would probably have already turned into a handful of dust at the bottom of the river. How could she have a son and a daughter and a happy family today?
Over the years, her heart has been half devoted to her children and half to the food factory business. Nian'an was frail as a child, and she took meticulous care of him, watching him grow from a timid and thin child into a calm, wise young man with a talent for mathematics, who married the virtuous Xiaoya, started a family, and established a career. Nianxi loved to dance, so she devoted everything to supporting her daughter's dream, watching her dance gracefully in the courtyard and then step onto the international stage, becoming an ambassador for spreading Chinese culture. As for Chenji Food Factory, from its initial few pastries to later pickles, canned goods, and cooked food, it gradually grew into a benchmark enterprise in the commune and even the county, leading the neighbors and villagers to prosperity.
She was as busy as a wound-up top, never stopping for a moment, and never having the mind to think about what she wanted.
Hearing Shen Tingzhou's words and feeling the warmth of his palm, Lin Wanqiu's heart suddenly felt a gentle knock. Over the years, she had only focused on moving forward, on providing her children with a stable home, forgetting that the man beside her had also sacrificed so much for this family. He had once been a spirited military officer, but to carry out a mission, he had gone into hiding, faked his death, and returned. Then, for her, for this family, he willingly gave up his glory, staying in this small village, silently supporting her.
"Old Shen," Lin Wanqiu said softly, with a hint of guilt, "I've wronged you all these years."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tingzhou couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the fragrance of osmanthus emanating from her hair. "Silly girl, what are you complaining about? Being able to be with you, with the children, and watching this family get better and better is the greatest blessing of my life." He paused, his tone becoming even gentler. "Now, Nian'an is settled down and has a family, Xiaoya is virtuous, and the young couple manages the household affairs perfectly; Xixi has also become successful, returning from Europe with honors and becoming a little ambassador for spreading culture. The food factory business is doing very well with Nian'an and a few old partners keeping an eye on it. We should take a break."
He released her, looking intently into her eyes, and said, word by word, "Wanqiu, I want to take you on a round-the-world trip. To see the world, to visit places we've only ever seen in books. To make up for all the time we've missed over the years."
"A round-the-world trip?" Lin Wanqiu's eyes suddenly lit up, like stars that had been illuminated. She stared blankly at Shen Tingzhou, a surge of indescribable excitement welling up in her heart.
Growing up, she had never left this land. In her past life, she was a food blogger, traveling all over China and tasting all kinds of cuisines, but she never had the chance to step outside the country. In this life, she transmigrated to the 1960s, and she rarely even left her county town, her heart always preoccupied with the daily necessities of her family and the children's basic needs. Round-the-world travel—that phrase seemed as distant as a dream to her.
“Yes.” Shen Tingzhou looked at the light in her eyes, his heart softening. “I’ve already made the inquiries. The policies are becoming more and more open now, and ordinary people can apply to go abroad. I asked an old comrade-in-arms to help with the procedures. We can go to the Soviet Union first, see Red Square and the Kremlin, then go to Eastern Europe, then to Western Europe, and see the places where Xixi has performed. We can taste the food of different countries and experience different customs and cultures.”
His words were like a key, unlocking a long-sealed door in Lin Wanqiu's heart. She seemed to see it all: the snow-covered Red Square, the romantic Eiffel Tower in Paris, the ancient Colosseum in Rome, the mysterious pyramids of Egypt... those landscapes she had only seen in picture books now appeared vividly and realistically in her mind.
“But… what about the food factory…” Lin Wanqiu still hesitated. She was used to being busy and entangled in trivial matters, and suddenly having free time made her feel somewhat at a loss.
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