Lin Xiaoxiao stared at Ruan Shuqin in astonishment. Her sister-in-law had really come out with some shockingly blunt advice.

Ruan Shuqin chuckled, then lowered her voice. "Don't be embarrassed. It's just my experience—that's how I had my son."

Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned by this unscientific pearl of wisdom, but couldn't help asking, "What if I want a daughter?"

Ruan Shuqin thought for a moment. "Then do it on your stomach. You and Huai'an are both young—just do it a few more times and you'll get there."

Lin Xiaoxiao considered herself fairly bold and unreserved, but Ruan Shuqin's words made her feel like an amateur. Embarrassment burned right down to her roots; her face flushed, and she couldn't bring herself to speak.

Ruan Shuqin laughed heartily. "Look at you, still so shy! There's no need—everyone goes through this when they have children."

Lin Xiaoxiao's cheeks burned. Sister-in-law, these are private matters! It's so awkward talking about them like this.

Despite her bluntness, Ruan Shuqin was an excellent cook.

During the meal, she kept putting more meat into Lin Xiaoxiao's bowl. "You need to eat more—look how thin you are! With a little body like that, childbirth will be difficult."

Lin Xiaoxiao kept her head down and stayed quiet, afraid Ruan Shuqin might say something even more shocking. She ate everything she was given, obediently and without complaint.

After leaving the Lu household, Lin Xiaoxiao rubbed her stomach and sighed. "Sister-in-law is just too generous. If we ate at her place a few more times, I'd turn into a giant."

Zhou Huai'an glanced at her. "You could have said you were full."

Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head. "I couldn't—it was her kindness. Besides, I do want a son someday."

Then, remembering Ruan Shuqin's advice, she burst out laughing.

After Zhou Huai'an and Lin Xiaoxiao left, Lu Yuanda chided his wife. "Why did you keep going on about all that? Weren't you worried you'd embarrass the poor girl?"

Ruan Shuqin, on her knees sweeping the bed, snorted. "Weren't you all saying Zhou Huai'an got the short end of the stick marrying Lin Xiaoxiao? I think she's just fine. She's clever—if anything, I'm afraid she might outgrow Zhou Huai'an one day."

Lu Yuanda shook his head. "Impossible. Zhou Huai'an is outstanding. Only a blind person wouldn't see that."

Ruan Shuqin straightened the quilts. "Blind or not, Zhou Huai'an is a dark-skinned guy, older, and way too serious. Now look at Lin Xiaoxiao—fair, delicate, and young."

Lu Yuanda clicked his tongue. "Women can be so shallow!" Shaking his head, he walked out, hands behind his back, not wanting to argue further.......Lin Xiaoxiao walked hand-in-hand with Zhou Huai'an, thinking how tall and impressive he looked without his crutches. She quickened her pace, turned around to walk backward, and smiled at him. "Let's go see a movie. I wonder if there's still a showing?"

Zhou Huai'an agreed without hesitation. "We're passing by anyway—let's check."

The cinema wasn't far, and the entrance was quiet except for a few vendors selling melon seeds from baskets and loose cigarettes from cases.

A movie was playing—the last show of the day—but the ticket window was already closed.Lin Xiaoxiao was disappointed. "If only we'd come earlier."

But seeing the title on the blackboard, she felt it wasn't a big loss—it was an older film anyway.

As they turned to leave, she spotted Chen Wei and Lai San—with Sun Ailing in tow.

Lai San saw them and immediately turned to leave, pulling on Chen Wei's sleeve with a frightened expression.

Chen Wei and Sun Ailing also turned away without a word, and the three hurried off.

Lin Xiaoxiao was puzzled. Why do they seem so afraid of us? She hadn't forgotten about settling scores with Lai San, but when she'd asked at the textile mill earlier, she was told he'd been locked up.

She watched the three hurry away, then turned to Zhou Huai'an. "Lai San used to be so arrogant. Why is he so scared all of a sudden? I still plan to teach him a lesson."

Now that Zhou Huai'an was with her, she felt even braver.

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "Not sure. Maybe a guilty conscience from all the bad things he's done."

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't quite believe that, but seeing how Chen Wei and Lai San behaved, she doubted they'd bother her again. In good spirits, she walked home with Zhou Huai'an.

Back home, she urged Zhou Huai'an to take a shower. She'd been waiting a long time to sleep skin-to-skin with him again.

But then something unexpected happened. Right after their shower, a driver from Zhou Huai'an's unit arrived to take him back immediately—there was a new assignment.

Without delay, they packed their things, loaded the car, quickly informed their landlord, and set off in a rush.

They arrived at the residential compound in the middle of the night. Lin Xiaoxiao had dozed off in the car, but now she was wide awake.

Zhou Huai'an didn't even step inside—he left with the driver for his unit right away.

Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, turned on the light, and started unpacking. After three months away, everything was covered in a layer of dust. She wiped every surface, changed the bedsheets, and laid out the bedding they'd brought back.

By the time she finished, day was almost breaking. She washed up quickly and climbed into bed.

It felt like she'd just fallen asleep when loud arguing jolted her awake, followed by the clatter of a washbasin hitting the ground. The noise drilled into her head, making sleep impossible.

Annoyed, Lin Xiaoxiao scratched her head and sat up, glaring at the ceiling.

Outside, a woman shouted: "Zhang Yimei, you heartless wretch! I wait on you hand and foot every day, and you still give me attitude? What mother-in-law gets up first thing to cook?!"

Lin Xiaoxiao recognized the earthy, quarrelsome tone—it had to be Zhang Yimei's unreasonable mother-in-law, the one Dong Hongmei had told her about.

Since she was awake anyway, she might as to go out and see what was happening.

She threw on some clothes, grabbed her washbasin and toothbrush, and stepped outside. It was only then she noticed her little vegetable garden—lush and overgrown. Tomato plants climbed halfway up their supports, heavy with ripe fruit. The peppers and eggplants were also thriving.

She felt a surge of gratitude toward Dong Hongmei. Left to her own devices, she wouldn't have managed to grow a single leaf.

Her timing was perfect. An old woman with a gray scarf tied around her head was muttering complaints as she stepped over the low fence into Lin Xiaoxiao's garden. She bent down, reaching for a cucumber.

The old woman clearly hadn't expected anyone to be home. She jumped in surprise when she saw Lin Xiaoxiao. "Someone's here? You could've said something—scared me half to death!"

Lin Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. "You're stealing my vegetables, and you have the nerve to complain?"

The woman grew defensive. "Stealing? We're all in the same compound—what's the harm in one cucumber?"

She made another move to pick the cucumber, but Lin Xiaoxiao stopped her. "Don't you dare!

Taking something without permission is stealing. Keep it up and I'll report you. And I bet you've been helping yourself while I was away."

The old woman paled at the threat. She quickly retreated back into her own yard without another word.