After leaving the police station, Shen Tingzhou went to the grain station and bought twenty catties of soybeans. He also bought Nian'an a piece of fruit candy—his son had been frightened yesterday and needed some comforting. Passing by the blacksmith's shop in town, he stopped to order some iron bars to reinforce the lock on the courtyard gate, so he could sleep more soundly at night.
It was already noon when he returned to the village. As soon as he arrived at the village entrance, he saw several villagers gathered under the old locust tree, talking animatedly. When they saw Shen Tingzhou, they greeted him warmly: "Tingzhou, you're finally back! The police came to the village this morning and arrested those thugs. They even went to Secretary Zhao's house!" Shen Tingzhou felt relieved. It seemed that Old Zhang had acted faster than he had expected.
He pushed his cart home, and as he rounded the corner, he saw Zhao Jianjun standing outside his gate, his face alternating between pale and flushed, like a wilted eggplant. Upon seeing Shen Tingzhou, Zhao Jianjun instinctively took a step back, his eyes filled with apprehension, but he still forced himself to say, "Shen Tingzhou, don't go too far. My father is the brigade secretary!"
Shen Tingzhou stopped, his gaze as cold as ice in winter: "You're the one who went too far. You colluded with thugs to harass my family, and you think this is all over?" He took a step forward, the powerful pressure making Zhao Jianjun shiver involuntarily. "Let me tell you, Zhao Jianjun," Shen Tingzhou's voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm, "if you ever dare to lay a finger on my wife and children again, or cause trouble for my family, don't blame me for being impolite. Even if your father is the brigade secretary, he can't protect you!"
Zhao Jianjun was so intimidated by his imposing manner that he couldn't speak. After the thugs were arrested yesterday, his father had given him a severe scolding and said that Secretary Zhou of the commune had warned that if he caused any more trouble, his father would be dismissed from his post. Now that Shen Tingzhou had come knocking on his door again, he dared not be arrogant anymore and could only meekly say, "I understand, I won't dare to do it again."
Shen Tingzhou snorted coldly, ignored him, and pushed the cart into the yard. Lin Wanqiu was drying soybeans in the yard. When she saw him return, she hurriedly went to greet him: "How is it? Is everything resolved?" Shen Tingzhou nodded, handed the fruit candies he had bought to Nian'an, and watched his son run away cheering before saying to Lin Wanqiu: "The thugs have been arrested, and Zhao Jianjun has also warned them. They shouldn't cause any more trouble in the future."
Lin Wanqiu breathed a sigh of relief and picked up a towel to wipe Shen Tingzhou's sweat: "I knew you could handle it. By the way, I planted some tomatoes in my space this morning, and they sprouted in just one day. Maybe they'll bear fruit in a few days." Shen Tingzhou's eyes lit up—it was late autumn, and there were no fresh vegetables on the market. If he could grow off-season tomatoes, he could not only supplement Nian'an's nutrition but also sell them for a good price in town.
"Really?" He pulled Lin Wanqiu into the inner room. "Let me see." Lin Wanqiu closed her eyes and concentrated on entering the space. Shen Tingzhou felt a blur before his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was standing in front of a patch of black earth. Rows of tender green seedlings were planted in the ground, their leaves still adorned with glistening water droplets, shimmering with a vibrant green light under the sunlight in the space.
“Look,” Lin Wanqiu pointed to the seedlings, “time inside the space is ten times faster than outside. In a few days, these tomatoes will be ripe. Then we can make tomato sauce and pickle tomatoes, and we can eat fresh tomatoes in winter.” Shen Tingzhou squatted down and gently touched the leaves. The touch from his fingertips was real and vivid, making him exclaim, “This jade pendant is truly a treasure.”
Lin Wanqiu smiled and leaned on his shoulder: "With this, our lives will get better and better. Once the house is built, we'll build a shed in the yard and grow some vegetables. We'll never have to worry about food and clothing again." Shen Tingzhou held her hand, the warmth of his palm passing through her fingertips, filling her heart with peace. He knew that as long as the family was together, they could overcome any difficulty, and the vitality in this space was the brightest hope for their future.
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the sky a vibrant orange-red. In Lin Wanqiu's courtyard, Shen Nian'an was turning the soil with a small shovel, preparing to plant some vegetable seeds that Shen Tingzhou had bought. Shen Tingzhou was reinforcing the gate lock; the newly ordered iron bars gleamed with a cold, hard luster, contrasting interestingly with the red peppers drying on the courtyard wall. Lin Wanqiu was busy in the kitchen, the aroma of stewed soybeans and vermicelli filling the entire courtyard with an enticing fragrance.
"Mom, when will the tomatoes be ripe?" Shen Nian'an looked up, her little face full of anticipation. Lin Wanqiu poked her head out from the kitchen and said with a smile, "Soon. When the tomatoes are ripe, Mom will make you scrambled eggs with tomatoes." Shen Nian'an cheered and became even more energetic, swinging her little spatula quickly.
Shen Tingzhou watched his wife and child, his heart filled with happiness. He knew that although Zhao Jianjun and Old Lady Shen were still watching from the shadows, and there might be more challenges in the future, as long as his family worked together, and with the help of the spatial ability, there was no obstacle they couldn't overcome. He remembered what Wanqiu had said last night, "With Dad here, no one can bully us," and he secretly vowed to protect his wife and child for the rest of his life, ensuring they could live a peaceful and prosperous life in this turbulent era.
As night deepened, the light from the kerosene lamp shone through the window, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor. Lin Wanqiu sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), mending Shen Tingzhou's worn-out cuffs. Shen Nian'an was already asleep, a sweet smile on her little face. Shen Tingzhou sat at the table, looking at the house's blueprints, adding a few more strokes to the kitchen area—once the house was built, he would definitely get Wanqiu a spacious stove so she could comfortably cook her favorite dishes.
"Tingzhou, do you think this will do?" Lin Wanqiu held up the sewn cuff. "I added a patch, so it'll be more durable." Shen Tingzhou looked up at the calluses on her fingertips and felt a pang of heartache. He went over and took her hand. "Don't overwork yourself. Ask Aunt Li to come and help tomorrow. You can rest for a day." Lin Wanqiu shook her head. "I'm not tired. Life is so good now. I'm happy."
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating everything inside. The tin box on the table was nearly full of cash, and neatly arranged earthenware jars stood in the corner. Tomato seedlings were quietly growing in the space. This ordinary yet warm night, like a plump seed, had taken root in the soil of time, waiting for the day it would blossom and bear fruit. Lin Wanqiu knew that as long as her family was together, working hand in hand, they would surely be able to cultivate a prosperous life of their own in this 1960s.
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