Chapter 13: The Pampered Little Princess

The residential compound of the machinery factory was quite large, with single-story houses featuring green bricks and gray tiles, as well as plain-looking row houses.

Deeper inside, a few small standalone houses stood out. These were allocated by the factory to some senior technical staff or leaders.

Shen Nanqing’s home was among them. However, her house was reportedly part of her mother’s dowry. The exact details, she didn’t really know—her parents always spoke of it in a vague, secretive way.

“Nanqing, you’re back!” An auntie was standing at her own doorway, calling her child to come home for dinner. Seeing Shen Nanqing, she smiled and greeted her warmly.

People in this era were mostly sincere and simple-hearted, an atmosphere that Shen Nanqing really liked.

She smiled and nodded, replying, “Yes, I’m home.”

The auntie asked again, “Haven’t eaten yet, right? Come have some at my place.”

Shen Nanqing shook her head, “No, I’ll eat at home.”

“Right, your mom was just talking about you yesterday, really worried about you. Since you rarely come back, better hurry home then.” The auntie hadn’t seen her own child return yet, so she casually closed her door and stepped out of the small yard to go find the child where they usually played.

Shen Nanqing’s mother, Ye Qilan, was an elegant and intellectual woman. The small yard was full of flowers, plants, and trees, offering a different scene every season.

It was summer evening; the sunset’s afterglow bathed the yard, casting a warm light on everything. Jasmine quietly bloomed, and the gentle breeze carried its sweet fragrance everywhere.

Shen Nanqing pushed open the gate and stepped inside. The living room was empty, but the kitchen echoed with the sound of running water. Peeking in, she saw her mother and second sister-in-law busy at work.

“Little sister!!” Su Hua turned around and saw Shen Nanqing. Her eyes instantly widened with surprise and joy. She wiped her wet hands on her apron and came forward, “You came back and didn’t tell us? How was I supposed to prepare your favorite dishes in advance?”

Suddenly, there was a clear “bang” from the kitchen.

Shen Nanqing’s mother hurried out and, upon seeing her daughter, her eyes lit up with delight. She stepped forward to take her daughter’s hand but, seeing her hands were wet, quickly withdrew it. Her voice was excited and slightly trembling, “Qingqing, why did you come back all of a sudden? Were you tired on the way?”

Shen Nanqing smiled. What’s there to be tired of? They all lived in the same city—it wasn’t far at all.

“Not tired. I just missed you all.” She reached out and held her mother’s hand, her tone unconsciously affectionate and a bit coquettish.

Even before stepping through the big yard gate, Shen Nanqing’s heart was in her throat, anxious and unsettled, unsure how to face everyone. Each step was hesitant and nervous.

But the moment she saw her mother, the surprise and love shining in her eyes wrapped Shen Nanqing in a warm embrace—something she had never truly felt before in her past life.

Noticing how carefully her mother had pulled back her hand, Shen Nanqing couldn’t help but grasp it firmly.

Her mother gently stroked Shen Nanqing’s hand, as if trying to convey all her longing and love through touch. This immediately eased Shen Nanqing’s tense heart, and without reason, she easily accepted this familial affection. Her eyes even glistened with warmth.

Watching this, Su Hua smiled and said, “Mom, little sister loves fish the most. I’ll see if there’s any left to buy now. If not, I’ll just get some ready-made food from the cafeteria.”

“Oh dear, I forgot about that,” Shen Nanqing’s mother suddenly remembered, a bit frustrated with herself. She patted her forehead—so caught up in looking at her long-awaited daughter, she’d completely forgotten.

“Besides fish, see if there’s anything else. Buy a few more things,” she said, then turned and headed straight for the bedroom. Shortly after, she came out holding meat coupons and money.

Su Hua didn’t hesitate either—she gladly took the money and coupons, took off her apron, and headed out.

“Qingqing, go upstairs and rest for a bit. I’ll call you down when the food is ready,” Shen Qian said with a smile, clearly in a good mood.

Shen Nanqing didn’t want to just sit back and enjoy; she followed her into the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and tried to help—only to be gently pushed out by Shen Qian.

Realizing she really couldn’t be of much help, Shen Nanqing decided to go upstairs to take a shower. The bus ride from her dormitory took an hour and a half, and the summer bus smelled really sour and stuffy.

She raised her arm and sniffed—it was worse than she had realized. She felt like she herself was already sour.

Her small standalone house had a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and one bedroom on the first floor—the bedroom was where her father and Shen Qian stayed.

Her own room was upstairs.

There were four rooms on the second floor: one for her second brother and sister-in-law, two for her five nephews, and one exclusively hers—the pampered little princess of the family.

Pushing open the door, everything inside was neatly arranged, clearly cleaned often. Even knowing she might not return, the bed was changed with the seasons—summer bedding and a cooling mat—like a silent message telling her there was always a place for her at home.

In her past life, her home was always empty and cold. Sometimes she wouldn’t be back for months, only to return to a house covered in dust.

But now, the care from her family was like gentle sunlight, a warmth spreading from her heart that chased away loneliness and gave her a true sense of belonging.

A few little boys clustered at the door, their cheeks flushed red as they shouted at the top of their lungs, “Auntie, come eat!” Their voices were clear and bright, full of enthusiasm.

The noise woke Shen Nanqing. It took her a moment to realize she was actually home.

Maybe because she had fully accepted everything here, she felt no burden. After showering, she just wanted to sit for a while, but somehow she’d fallen asleep.

Now the sky was completely dark. She skillfully found the light switch in the darkness, and the room instantly lit up.

The voices outside continued. Not daring to delay, she smoothed her messy hair, adjusted her clothes, and opened the door.

The moment she stepped out, the children surrounded her. They looked up at her with rosy faces and sparkling eyes, all saying in unison, “Auntie, it’s time to eat.”

Shen Nanqing was momentarily stunned, then smiled. She reached out and patted Shen Mantou, the tallest boy, on the head. “Alright, we’ll go downstairs now.”

Shen Mantou, clearly favored, proudly lifted his chin at his two brothers.

The other two immediately looked displeased. Shen Nanqing shook her head helplessly, deciding to spread her attention evenly.

The smell of food filled the air. Her father and second brother, Shen Nanru, had also returned.

Her father was tall and sturdy, and years of factory life gave him a simple yet resolute air. When he saw Shen Nanqing, his usually rugged frame seemed to warm instantly.

“Daughter, you finally remembered to come home and see your old man,” he said with concern in his eyes, unable to hide his full joy and care. He strode over, rubbed his rough hands on his clothes, then gently rested one on Shen Nanqing’s shoulder. His mouth lifted into a plain, warm smile as he added, “You’re way too thin—you can tell you haven’t been eating properly.”

“That kind of ‘too thin’ is just what your parents think,”

Shen Nanru smiled warmly, his eyes full of affection for his sister. With a light yet confident tone, he said, “Thin? I think little sister is just the right size—not fat, not thin.”