Grandma Shen slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Lin Wanqiu, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes—surprise, guilt, and a barely perceptible dependence. She opened her mouth, her voice weak: "Wanqiu…I…"
"Mom, don't talk, just lie down and rest." Lin Wanqiu interrupted her, her tone softening. "Dr. Wang will be here soon, you'll be fine."
Looking at Lin Wanqiu's earnest profile, Old Mrs. Shen's eyes reddened slightly. She recalled how she had tormented this daughter-in-law back then, how she had coveted her dowry, and how she had conspired with Zhang Lan to bully her, her heart filled with remorse. Now, as she lay seriously ill, the one by her side was none other than this daughter-in-law whom she had hurt the most.
Dr. Wang arrived quickly, gave Grandma Shen a thorough examination, inquired about her symptoms, and finally said, "It's nothing serious. It's just that she's old, her blood pressure is a bit high, and she has a cold, which is why she's feeling dizzy and nauseous. I'll prescribe some blood pressure medication and cold medicine. Take them on time, and get some rest for a few days, and she should be fine."
Lin Wanqiu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly instructed Zhang Lan to fetch the medicine as prescribed. Seeing Old Madam Shen's frail appearance, she felt a pang of resentment, but couldn't bring herself to ignore her. Shen Tingzhou was a man of deep affection; if he knew his mother was ill, he would surely be extremely worried. Moreover, Nian'an and Xixi were still young, and she didn't want the children to witness the estrangement between their elders, nor did she want them to lack the love and care of their grandparents as they grew up.
"Mom, please rest well at home these few days. I'll have Aunt Zhang from the food shop come over to take care of your daily needs," Lin Wanqiu said carefully. "Aunt Zhang is quick and efficient, and very attentive. If you need anything, just tell her. I'll have her deliver your medicine to you on time, so please be sure to take it on time."
Grandma Shen looked at Lin Wanqiu, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only managed a soft "Mmm." She knew that she had been too harsh on Lin Wanqiu in the past, and that Lin Wanqiu's willingness to take care of her without holding a grudge was already more than enough.
After arranging things for Old Madam Shen, Lin Wanqiu returned to the food workshop. Shen Tingzhou had already returned from the county town and, upon learning of his mother's illness, hurriedly asked, "How is Mom? Is it anything serious?"
"It's nothing, just high blood pressure and a cold. Dr. Wang prescribed some medicine, and I asked Aunt Zhang to go and take care of her." Lin Wanqiu explained the whole story in detail. "If you have time, go back and see her. After all, she's an elder, and she needs someone by her side when she's sick."
Shen Tingzhou nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Wanqiu, thank you. Mom treated you so badly before, yet you still take care of her without holding a grudge. I'm sorry you had to go through all that."
Lin Wanqiu shook her head, a relieved smile on her face: "It's all in the past. She is your mother, and also Nian'an and Xixi's grandmother. I won't make things difficult for you, nor will I disappoint the children. As long as she doesn't make things difficult for us like before and enjoys her old age in peace, I can let bygones be bygones."
Shen Tingzhou held her hand tightly, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that Lin Wanqiu had already sacrificed a great deal to achieve this. This woman not only held up half the sky for him, but also forgave past grievances with a broad mind, making their family more complete and harmonious.
Over the next few days, Lin Wanqiu had Aunt Zhang report on Old Mrs. Shen's health every day and would also personally prepare some nourishing soups for Aunt Zhang to deliver. Old Mrs. Shen's health gradually improved, and her spirits were much better than before. Looking at the soups Lin Wanqiu brought, she was filled with mixed emotions, and her opinion of this daughter-in-law completely changed.
That afternoon, Lin Wanqiu brought Shen Nianxi to visit Grandma Shen. As soon as Shen Nianxi entered the door, she rushed to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sweetly called out, "Grandma! Are you feeling better? Xixi brought you something delicious!" As she spoke, she took out a piece of fruit candy from her pocket and handed it to Grandma Shen.
Looking at her granddaughter's adorable appearance, Grandma Shen's face showed a long-lost smile. She reached out and took the candy, gently patting Shen Nianxi's head: "Xixi is so good, Grandma feels much better."
Lin Wanqiu stood to the side, watching the heartwarming interaction between the grandmother and grandchildren, her heart filled with warmth. She knew that some grudges would fade with time. And all she could do was to protect this hard-won home with a forgiving heart, allowing the children to grow up in a loving environment.
As they left the Shen family's old house, the setting sun was slowly sinking, painting the sky a warm orange hue. Shen Nianxi, holding Lin Wanqiu's hand, skipped and hopped, saying, "Mommy, Grandma doesn't seem so fierce anymore! She even patted my head!"
Lin Wanqiu smiled, bent down and picked up her daughter: "Because Grandma knows Xixi is a good child. We should come to see Grandma often in the future, so that Grandma can be happy and her health can get better and better."
Shen Nianxi nodded vigorously: "Okay! I also want to teach Grandma to dance!"
Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with happiness. Success in their careers, the excellence of their children, and the harmony of their family—all these were her most precious gains since her rebirth. And the recovery of Old Mrs. Shen brought even more warmth and fulfillment to the family. She knew that the road ahead was long, and they might encounter various challenges, but as long as the family was united and worked together, there was no difficulty they couldn't overcome.
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