Lin Wanqiu laughed heartily at his words: "Eat more if you like it, and Auntie will make you more if you're still hungry."
Shen Tingzhou raised his glass to Gu Yanchen: "Yanchen, I'd like to toast you. Nianxi has been spoiled by us since she was little. She's a bit stubborn and sometimes throws tantrums. Please be more tolerant of her in the future."
Gu Yanchen quickly picked up his wine glass and said earnestly, "Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Nianxi. I like her stubbornness, I like her dedication to dance, I like everything about her. I will protect her for the rest of my life and never let her suffer any injustice."
His tone was sincere and firm, and his gaze was full of affection when it fell on Shen Nianxi. Shen Nianxi looked at him, her eyes slightly red, and her heart felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey.
Shen Tingzhou nodded in satisfaction, clinked glasses with him, and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
At the dinner table, everyone chatted enthusiastically. Gu Yanchen was eloquent and refined, able to speak fluently about everything from dance to traditional culture. He even talked about calligraphy with Shen Tingzhou, and the two found themselves getting along so well that they felt as if they had known each other for a long time.
Looking at the scene before her, Lin Wanqiu felt a warm glow in her heart. She recalled how hard life had been when she first transmigrated. Back then, she was raising her frail Nian'an, facing difficulties from her in-laws and bullying from relatives, and she couldn't even afford a decent meal. But now, she not only had a happy and fulfilling family, but also a filial son, a gentle daughter-in-law, and an adorable grandson. And now, her daughter had also found her own happiness.
All of this felt like a dream, an incredibly sweet dream.
The afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting a warm golden glow on the floor. Gu Yanchen was practicing calligraphy with Shen Tingzhou in the study, while Shen Nianxi and Su Yue'e played with little Nianzu. Shen Nianxi, meanwhile, lay on the table, admiring Gu Yanchen's handwriting and exclaiming, "Brother Gu, your handwriting is so good! It's even better than my dad's!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Tingzhou pretended to be angry and tapped her on the head: "You little brat, why are you siding with outsiders?"
A burst of laughter and cheerful voices came from inside the house, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere.
In the evening, Gu Yanchen offered to help Lin Wanqiu wash the dishes. Lin Wanqiu couldn't refuse him, so she agreed. In the kitchen, Gu Yanchen washed the dishes while listening to Lin Wanqiu tell him funny stories about Shen Nianxi's childhood.
“Nianxi has loved dancing since she was little. Back then, her family was poor and couldn’t afford to buy her a dance outfit, so she would wear old clothes and dance in the yard. Sometimes she would fall and bruise her knees, but she wouldn’t cry. She would get up and keep dancing.” Lin Wanqiu’s tone was full of heartache and pride.
Gu Yanchen listened attentively, a gentle smile playing on his lips: "She told me that back then, you would always secretly take things from your space to nourish her body and help her find dance materials. She said that you are the person she is most grateful to in her life."
Lin Wanqiu's eyes reddened, and she nodded: "We're all parents, it's what we should do."
After washing the dishes, Gu Yanchen sat with Lin Wanqiu under the grape trellis in the yard. A gentle evening breeze carried the sweet scent of grapes. Xiao Nianzu was already asleep, and Shen Nian'an held him, pacing back and forth in the house. Shen Nianxi leaned on Gu Yanchen's shoulder, looking at the stars in the sky, a happy smile curving her lips.
Gu Yanchen suddenly grasped Lin Wanqiu's hand, his gaze sincere and earnest: "Auntie, I know that Nianxi and I are still young. But I promise you, I will work hard to give Nianxi a happy future. I want to work with her to bring Eastern dance to more places. I want to work with her to protect our common roots."
Lin Wanqiu looked at him, at the determination and deep affection in his eyes, and couldn't help but tear up. She nodded, her voice choked with emotion, "Good child, Auntie believes in you. Auntie is at ease knowing Nianxi is with you."
At this moment, the moonlight was bright and the stars were dazzling. The gardenias in the courtyard exuded a rich fragrance. Gu Yanchen and Shen Nianxi smiled at each other, their eyes filled with deep affection.
Shen Tingzhou walked over, sat down next to Lin Wanqiu, and took her hand. The two smiled at each other, their eyes filled with relief and happiness.
They knew that Shen Nianxi had found her own happiness, a partner who could walk alongside her and share the same ideals. And their family, because of this young man's arrival, became more complete and warmer.
As night deepened and the wind grew cooler, the lights in the Shen family's small building remained on, shining warmly and dazzlingly.
Meanwhile, in the warehouse of Shenji Food Factory, a new batch of goods was being loaded onto a truck. Shenji Food Factory's reputation had already spread throughout the entire county, attracting many merchants from other places. Looking at the night outside the window, Lin Wanqiu suddenly had a thought—perhaps it was time to let Shenji Food Factory step out of the county and into a wider world.
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