Just then, a loud crash came from the woodshed, like firewood falling over. Zhao Jianjun's eyes lit up, and he pushed past Lin Wanqiu and rushed into the woodshed: "Look! There's definitely someone inside!"
Lin Wanqiu was extremely anxious. Just as Zhao Jianjun was about to push open the woodshed door, Aunt Wang's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate: "Wanqiu, are you home? My daughter said she saw Comrade Zhao coming to your house. I came to see if something happened."
Zhao Jianjun paused—although he was domineering, he was also afraid of being gossiped about by a gossipy old lady like Aunt Wang. He glared at Lin Wanqiu and lowered his voice, "Consider yourself lucky! If I catch you making tofu again, I won't let you off the hook!" After saying that, he hurriedly left with his two henchmen.
Lin Wanqiu breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Aunt Wang walked in, looked at the mess in the yard, frowned and asked, "Wanqiu, did Zhao Jianjun come to bully you again? Don't be afraid, if he dares to come again, I'll go call the militia!"
"Thank you, Aunt Wang, I'm fine." Lin Wanqiu smiled. "He just came to ask about something, nothing else. Did you need something from me?"
"Oh, I've come to bring you some sweet potatoes," Aunt Wang said, taking a few sweet potatoes out of her basket. "My daughter says she likes your tofu. Next time you make it, don't forget to save a piece for me."
"Don't worry, Aunt Wang, I won't forget." Lin Wanqiu took the sweet potato and saw Aunt Wang to the gate of the courtyard.
After Aunt Wang left, Lin Wanqiu walked to the door of the woodshed and gently pushed it open. Shen Tingzhou was standing inside, holding a piece of firewood in his hand. Seeing her come in, he quickly put it down and said, "Thank you for earlier."
"No need to thank me," Lin Wanqiu said, looking at him with mixed feelings. "Now that you're still alive, what are you planning to do next? You can't just keep hiding in the woodshed, can you?"
Shen Tingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "I can't reveal my identity right now, so I can only find a place to stay for the time being. Zhao Jianjun will definitely not let this go. If he comes to cause you trouble again, just blow this whistle, and I will come over as soon as possible." He took out a brass whistle from his canvas bag and handed it to Lin Wanqiu.
Lin Wanqiu took the whistle; its cool touch reassured her somewhat. She looked at Shen Tingzhou, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "What have you been doing all these years? Why can't you reveal your identity?"
Shen Tingzhou's eyes darkened, and he said, "There are some things I can't tell you right now. I'll tell you everything when the time is right. Don't worry, I won't let you and Nian'an suffer any more grievances."
Just then, Shen Nian'an's voice came from the inner room: "Mother, has Uncle Zhao left?"
Lin Wanqiu quickly said, "Let's go, Nian'an, come out now."
Shen Nian'an came out of the inner room and saw Shen Tingzhou, his little face full of curiosity. He walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, tugged at her sleeve, and whispered, "Mother, who is he?"
Shen Tingzhou looked at Shen Nian'an, his eyes filled with tenderness and guilt. He slowly squatted down, trying to make his tone sound gentle: "Little friend, I'm your father's friend, my name is... Brother Shen. I'm here to help your mother."
Shen Nian'an blinked, said nothing, and simply shrank back behind Lin Wanqiu. Although he didn't understand the complexities between adults, he could sense a reassuring aura emanating from this stranger.
Lin Wanqiu looked at Shen Tingzhou, thinking to herself—although she didn't completely believe Shen Tingzhou's words, at least he had just helped her out of a predicament. Moreover, with him there, Zhao Jianjun probably wouldn't dare to bully her so blatantly again.
"Where do you plan to stay next?" Lin Wanqiu asked.
“I have an old courtyard at the west end of the village, which was left by my grandfather. No one has lived there for a long time. I plan to go there and tidy it up first, and then stay there temporarily,” Shen Tingzhou said. “If you need anything in the future, just go there to find me, or blow your whistle and I will hear you.”
Lin Wanqiu nodded: "Okay. But remember, don't cause trouble for me and Nian'an."
"I know." Shen Tingzhou looked at her, his eyes full of gratitude. "Don't worry, I will protect you."
After saying that, Shen Tingzhou picked up his canvas bag and quietly left through the back door. Lin Wanqiu watched his figure disappear into the night, still feeling uneasy—was this suddenly appearing "Shen Tingzhou" her and Nian'an's savior, or the beginning of another trouble?
She glanced down at the brass whistle in her hand, then at Shen Nian'an beside her, and took a deep breath. No matter what, she had to protect Nian'an and ensure their survival in this era. As for Shen Tingzhou, she would have to observe him carefully to see if he was truly "Shen Tingzhou."
Shen Nianan tugged at Lin Wanqiu's sleeve and whispered, "Mother, is Brother Shen a good person?"
Lin Wanqiu patted his head and said with a smile, "I don't know. But I will protect you. No matter if he is a good person or a bad person, he will not bully you."
Shen Nian'an nodded and held Lin Wanqiu's hand tightly.
Lin Wanqiu looked at the messy courtyard and began to tidy up. As she did so, she pondered in her heart—Shen Tingzhou's appearance, while temporarily rescuing her, had also brought new questions. Why couldn't he reveal his identity? What exactly went wrong with the mission back then? Did he have another purpose in returning?
These questions, like a tangled mess, swirled in Lin Wanqiu's mind. She knew that to unravel them, she could only rely on her own careful observation and couldn't easily trust anyone.
After tidying up the yard, Lin Wanqiu led Shen Nian'an into the inner room. She hid the copper whistle under her pillow and took out some biscuits from her spatial storage, giving Shen Nian'an a few pieces. Looking at Shen Nian'an's gradually sleeping face, Lin Wanqiu secretly vowed in her heart—no matter what difficulties they encountered in the future, she would live well with Nian'an and live a wonderful life that belonged to the two of them.
At that moment, in the old courtyard at the west end of the village, Shen Tingzhou stood by the window, looking in the direction of Lin Wanqiu's house. He held a photograph in his hand, a picture of a young Lin Wanqiu and an infant Shen Nian'an. He gently stroked the photograph, his eyes filled with guilt and determination: "Wanqiu, Nian'an, I'm sorry for making you suffer. From now on, I will never let anyone bully you again."
Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing him in its glow and illuminating his resolute figure. A storm surrounding Lin Wanqiu and her son was only just beginning.
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