"Yes!" Lin Wanqiu knelt down and hugged her daughter tightly, her voice choked with emotion yet filled with laughter, "Xixi, you have a little nephew now! You're a little aunt now!"
"Great!" Shen Nianxi cheered, her little face flushed with excitement. She broke free from Lin Wanqiu's embrace and ran to the boxes piled with baby supplies. Pointing to the top box, she exclaimed, "Mom! Let's open this box! Let's take out the clothes with the little bear on them so my nephew can wear them when he comes back!"
Seeing her daughter's joyful expression, Lin Wanqiu's tears flowed even more fiercely, yet her smile grew even brighter. Shen Tingzhou walked over, reaching out to embrace both her and Shen Nianxi, his gaze fixed on the window. The setting sun was slowly sinking, dyeing the clouds on the horizon a golden-red hue. That golden-red light spilled over the courtyard walls, over the fields, over the distant mountains and rivers, seemingly reaching all the way to faraway Singapore, illuminating the little life that had just arrived in the world.
That night, the lights in the Shen family's small building stayed on all night long.
Lin Wanqiu carefully placed the telegram under the glass of the dressing table. She sat before it, the dim light illuminating the few lines of text, reading them over and over again, as if she could never get enough of them. Shen Tingzhou sat beside her, holding an old book, but not turning a single page. His gaze lingered on her profile, his eyes filled with a gentle smile.
"I need to reorganize all the baby supplies." Lin Wanqiu suddenly stood up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I need to check the expiration dates of the formula again, wash and dry the baby clothes, and soak the bird's nest in advance so I can stew it for Yue'e when she gets back."
Shen Tingzhou put down his book, smiled and nodded: "I'll keep you company."
The two entered the bedroom, where Shen Nianxi was already asleep, clutching her picture book and lying on a box. A sweet smile lingered on her little face, her lips slightly upturned, suggesting she was dreaming of her adorable little nephew. Lin Wanqiu tiptoed, covered her daughter with a light blanket, and then, together with Shen Tingzhou, began to organize the baby supplies.
Moonlight streamed through the window screen, casting a silvery glow on the floor and gilding the colorful boxes. Lin Wanqiu picked up a white onesie, her fingertips brushing against the soft fabric. An image of a tiny baby, wearing this outfit, involuntarily flashed into her mind, babbling and waving its little fists at her. A gentle smile involuntarily curved her lips.
"Who do you think our eldest grandson will look like?" Lin Wanqiu turned her head to look at Shen Tingzhou, her eyes full of longing.
Shen Tingzhou put down the diaper in his hand, walked to her side, and gently hugged her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head: "She looks like Nian'an, and also like Yue'e. But she must be a chubby little one, just like Nian'an when she was little."
Lin Wanqiu recalled Nian'an's appearance as a child, so thin he looked like a bean sprout, yet he stubbornly insisted on walking on his own. She couldn't help but laugh: "When Nian'an was little, he wasn't the chubby little thing he used to be; he was so thin that a gust of wind could blow him over. It's much better now, our grandson has milk powder to eat and good supplements to nourish him, so he'll definitely grow up healthy and strong."
“Of course.” Shen Tingzhou’s voice was full of pride. “The children of our Shen family are always the best.”
The two nestled together, chatting about their son and daughter-in-law far away, their upcoming grandson, and their reunion after spring. The moonlight outside the window grew ever brighter, and the fire in the fireplace remained warm. The boxes piled on the floor seemed to radiate a glow of happiness in the gentle night.
Days passed by in such anticipation and joy.
The chill of late winter gradually dissipated, tender green buds sprouted from the branches, and the wheat seedlings in the fields poked their green heads out. The air above the Hongqi Production Brigade was filled with the fragrance of earth and the scent of grass, brimming with life and vitality. Shenji Food Factory's business was booming; its newly launched peach blossom cakes and green rice dumplings became hot commodities at the supply and marketing cooperative. Lin Wanqiu, however, had little mind for any of this. Her heart had already flown to faraway Singapore, to the little life that had just arrived in the world.
That morning, Lin Wanqiu was hanging out the baby clothes to dry in the yard. The warm sunlight shone on the soft fabrics, carrying a faint scent of soapberry. Shen Nianxi squatted beside her, holding a small twig and drawing her nephew's likeness on the ground. Suddenly, the tranquility of the courtyard was broken by the sound of a car horn outside the gate.
Lin Wanqiu's hand suddenly froze, and the onesie with the bear pattern slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground. Her heart pounded wildly, as if it would leap out of her throat. She looked up at the gate and saw a green Jeep slowly pulling up. The door opened, and a tall figure jumped out first.
It's Nian'an!
Lin Wanqiu's eyes instantly reddened. She almost staggered as she ran over, choking back sobs as she called out the name she had repeated countless times: "Nian'an!"
Shen Nian'an turned around and saw his mother running towards him, his eyes also reddening. He quickly went to meet her and hugged Lin Wanqiu tightly: "Mom, I'm back."
Lin Wanqiu's hand trembled as she stroked her son's back. In the years since she'd seen him, he had grown even more upright, his shoulders broad, his eyes radiating maturity and composure. Her tears fell like a broken string of pearls: "It's good you're back, it's good you're back."
Shen Tingzhou also came over, patted Shen Nian'an on the shoulder, his eyes full of relief. Shen Nian'an let go of Lin Wanqiu and called out to Shen Tingzhou, "Dad."
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