Shen Meng paused mid-knock, then simply pushed the door open.

“Dad, Mom, I’m back,” she called, hurrying to push her bicycle into the yard.

Behind her, Lu Mingliang tugged on his brother’s shirt. “Brother, did you hear that? I think Grandpa’s sick. I heard him coughing.”

“Don’t say anything,” Lu Mingyang whispered back. “We don’t want Mom to worry.”

Inside, Wang Guizhi, who was helping Shen Fugui drink water, froze for a moment.

“Old man, am I hearing things? I think I just heard our daughter’s voice.”

Shen Fugui coughed harshly, his face pale. “What nonsense are you talking about? Xiao Meng’s health hasn’t fully recovered. How could she come all this way? Besides, her in-laws aren’t easy to deal with. If she’s here, they’re probably fighting again.”

“Dad, Mom, I’m back!” Shen Meng’s voice called out again.

Wang Guizhi gasped in surprise, setting the bowl of water back on the small table. “See? I told you it’s Xiao Meng! And you said it wasn’t. Meng, my girl, what are you doing here? Are you feeling better? I’m in the west room!”

She hurried out, leaving a bewildered Shen Fugui sitting up, still reaching for the water. “Cough…wife, water…cough!”

Shen Meng parked the bike and quickly entered the main house, looking around. Seeing no one, she followed the voice toward the west room, nearly bumping into her mother rushing out.

“Mom, slow down,” she said.

“Meng, my girl, why are you here? Are you tired? Sit down and rest. I’ll get you some water. Oh, and my grandkids are here too! Grandma will find you all some snacks!”

“Mom, there’s no rush. They already ate before we left, and they’re not hungry. Where’s Dad? Is he sick?”

Wang Guizhi froze. “Oh no, I forgot! Your dad was waiting for water.” She turned and hurried back toward the west room. “He’s in the west room. The partition in the main room is your brother’s now. He moved there when your dad got sick. He thought the west room might be less drafty.”

Shen Meng quickly followed her mother into the west room, her kids trailing behind.

A few moments later, Shen Fugui finally had a drink of water. Relieved, he coughed again but looked more at ease.

“How long has he been sick? Why didn’t you send me word?” Shen Meng demanded.

“It’s been on and off,” Wang Guizhi answered. “The cold weather just made it worse. It’s nothing serious. He’s taken a few days off work to rest. The doctor said it’s fine. Don’t worry.”

Shen Fugui chuckled hoarsely, looking at his daughter with warmth. She was standing tall and healthy, her children clean and visibly better-fed. It reassured him that she was taking good care of them.

“Your mother’s right. It’s just a cold. A little rest, and I’ll be fine.”

Shen Meng surveyed the room, glancing up at the ceiling. With the house in this condition, winter would be a challenge. Without repairs, the roof might not last the season.

“That’s good to hear. Mingyang, you and your siblings stay with Grandpa. Mom and I will unload the things from the bike.”

“Okay,” Mingyang replied obediently.

Wang Guizhi followed Shen Meng outside, her brow furrowing when she saw the baskets on the bike. “Good heavens, what’s all this, Meng? Why’d you bring so much?”

“These are things for you and Dad, and some for my nieces and nephews,” Shen Meng explained, pulling the baskets down. “I have to go to the county later. The kids will stay with you. If I don’t make it back by dinner, just eat without me.”

Bending under the weight of one basket, Wang Guizhi asked, “Why are you going to the county? You’ve only just arrived. Can’t you stay a while and talk?”

Shen Meng repeated the explanation she’d given Mingfang earlier, unloading the items one by one onto the low table in the main room.

Out came candies, peach biscuits, malted milk, milk powder, canned peaches, eggs, three jin of pork belly, fabric, shoes, and socks. The table overflowed with items.

Wang Guizhi stared in stunned silence. She’d never seen so many good things in her life, and now they were all piled in front of her.

“Meng, why did you bring so much? Take it back with you. Your father and I don’t need all this.”

Shen Meng, pressed for time, didn’t argue. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ve split from the family now. Whatever I want to give you is up to me. You raised me; it’s only right for me to show filial piety. Lock these away in your kang cabinet and don’t share them with anyone. These clothes will fit you and Dad. The fabric is for Xiao Bin—he’s old enough to start thinking about marriage, and he’ll need decent clothes. There are some old clothes for the kids. If they can’t wear them, use them for shoes. These candy are also for the little ones. Everything else, just put it away.”

Wang Guizhi wanted to refuse but couldn’t bring herself to after seeing the firm look on her daughter’s face. She slowly packed everything into the baskets and carried them to the west room, locking them in the kang cabinet.

What remained on the table were a bag of candies, 20 eggs, and three jin of pork belly.

Shen Meng said her goodbyes and pedaled off toward the county.

At the hospital, Cheng Yufen watched nervously as Wang Jinge and Cheng Yuan arrived, carrying several items. They looked toward the entrance repeatedly, anticipation etched on their faces.

“She’ll probably be a bit late,” Cheng Yufen reassured them. “Shen Meng has a few kids to settle first. Don’t worry.”

Wang Jinge, still feeling guilty, nodded. She’d doubted Shen Meng at first but had asked around and confirmed that Zhao Wei was indeed a soldier under Lu Zhenping. She’d kept her intentions vague, but Zhao Wei had passed the information to Cheng Yuan.

Cheng Yuan, annoyed at his mother for causing trouble, shifted uneasily. “Listen to your aunt,” Wang Jinge said. “This matter will work itself out. Don’t rush.”

Still, Cheng Yuan was restless, glancing out the window.

Shen Meng arrived at the county hospital, carrying a box as she headed toward Cheng Yufen’s office. The long bike ride had left her exhausted. She wished she could pull out the electric scooter from her hidden space. Even a car would be better than this grueling effort.

“There, the woman with her hair tied up, that’s her” Wang Jinge murmured. Cheng Yuan looked through the crowd and froze.

That person had bright eyes and white teeth, and a graceful figure. Because she walked too fast, a few strands of bangs were scattered on her forehead, and a strand of bangs was playfully placed on the tip of her nose. He just thought that this woman was so beautiful!

Shen Meng, unaware of the attention, continued toward the office, box in hand.