"Upstairs are the bedroom and study. Let me show you." Shen Tingzhou took her hand and led her up the wooden staircase. The handrails were polished smooth and delicate, making each step feel firm and secure. The second-floor hallway was carpeted softly, making each step silent. The master bedroom was at the end of the hallway, also featuring a large floor-to-ceiling window that let in sunlight, making the room feel exceptionally warm. The walls were covered with elegant floral wallpaper, and the air was filled with a faint scent of herbs and trees. A large wooden bed sat in the center, flanked by two matching wardrobes, and a small chaise lounge in the corner for a nap.
"This is the study." Shen Tingzhou pushed open the door next to the room, revealing a large desk and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf filled with his collection, including military-related professional books as well as many literary classics. The desk was placed by the window, and sunlight streamed through the window onto the pages of the books, creating a tranquil and reassuring atmosphere.
"There are two more guest rooms, so Nian'an and the others will have a place to stay when they bring their children in the future." Shen Tingzhou introduced them one by one, his gaze always fixed on Lin Wanqiu. Seeing the joy and satisfaction in her eyes, his heart was also filled with happiness.
Lin Wanqiu walked to the French windows of the master bedroom, pushed them open, and a fresh breeze rushed in, carrying the moist scent of a distant stream. Gazing at the green mountains and clear waters outside, watching the butterflies playing on the lawn, she suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears. She remembered when she first transmigrated to this era, living in the low, damp side room of the Shen family home, eating cornbread mixed with bran, watching Nian'an's thin face, struggling for survival every day. Back then, she never dared to dream of such a life—a spacious, bright house, a loving partner, filial and sensible children, and endless peace and comfort.
"What's wrong?" Shen Tingzhou noticed her unusual behavior, walked over and gently hugged her from behind.
"It's nothing, it just feels like a dream." Lin Wanqiu turned around and leaned against his chest, her voice choked with emotion. "Shen Tingzhou, thank you." Thank you for your "resurrection" back then, thank you for always standing by my side, thank you for giving me a stable home, thank you for letting me live a wonderful life of my own in this unfamiliar era.
Shen Tingzhou tightened his arms, holding her tightly in his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice low and gentle: "I'm the one who should say thank you. Thank you for raising Nian'an alone through those difficult days after my 'sacrifice'; thank you for not abandoning me, for not abandoning this family; thank you for letting me know that life can be so warm, so fulfilling." Over the years, watching her grow from a weak woman with no strength to a capable and independent woman, he felt both heartache and pride. He knew that her inherent resilience and courage were the greatest strength that had brought this family to where it is today.
The two stood embraced by the window, sunlight casting long shadows upon them. Time had etched faint marks on their faces, and the silver strands at their temples had quietly increased, but the love in their eyes, like aged wine, only grew richer and more mellow.
Over the next few days, they busied themselves decorating their new home. Shen Tingzhou unloaded carefully selected items from the car: a set of purple clay teaware, which he had specially asked someone to buy from Yixing, for the two of them to enjoy tea and chat in their leisure time; a traditional Chinese ink painting of landscapes, which hung on the living room wall, adding a touch of elegance; and several potted plants, which were placed in the corners of the living room and on the windowsill, adding a touch of life to the room.
Lin Wanqiu then took out items from her spatial storage and gradually filled the house. She filled the kitchen cabinets with various seasonings and dried goods, treasures she had accumulated over the years; she placed several family photos on the living room shelf, including pictures of Nian'an as a child, Nianxi's smiling face at her wedding, and warm moments of family reunion; she placed a small table lamp on the bedside table in the bedroom, its soft light perfect for reading at night; she also took some flower seeds from her spatial storage and scattered them on the open ground in the yard, imagining that soon the place would be filled with colorful flowers.
The days of decorating their new home were busy and fulfilling. Without the chores of the food shop and the scheming and difficult relatives, their lives became simple and pure. Shen Tingzhou would get up early to practice Tai Chi in the nearby mountains, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the tranquility of nature; Lin Wanqiu would tend to the flowers and plants in the yard or research new recipes in the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous breakfast for Shen Tingzhou.
After breakfast, they would sometimes sit together on the sofa in the living room reading. Sunlight streamed through the French windows, illuminating the pages and bathing them in warmth and comfort. Shen Tingzhou would read his military books, while Lin Wanqiu would flip through food magazines. Occasionally, they would glance at each other, understanding each other without needing many words. Sometimes they would stroll along the stream behind the house. The water was crystal clear, fish frolicked freely, and wildflowers bloomed on the banks, butterflies fluttering among the blossoms. Shen Tingzhou would hold Lin Wanqiu's hand, walking slowly, reminiscing about past anecdotes and sharing their hopes for the future, as if they had endless things to say.
That afternoon, the sun shone brightly, and Lin Wanqiu busied herself in the yard. She took out some vegetable seeds from her spatial storage, intending to cultivate a small vegetable garden in a corner of the yard. As a food blogger in her previous life, she had a natural love for gardening, and after transmigrating to this era, she relied on the planting skills in her spatial storage to solve many of her food and clothing problems. Now that she had such a large yard, she naturally wanted to plant some of her favorite vegetables, so that she could both admire them and enjoy fresh ingredients.
When Shen Tingzhou saw her turning the soil with a hoe, he quickly went over and took the hoe from her hands: "I'll do it, you can rest." His movements were not very skilled, but he was very serious. He turned the soil one hoe at a time, and fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.
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