The voluptuous and beautiful nanny, Technician Shen fell for her.

On the afternoon of Lunar New Year's Eve, the courtyard at No. 103 Nanqiao Road was filled with the rich aroma of meat.

Su Nianhe sat in front of the dressing table in the main room, pinning her long, black hair up behind her head and securing it with a silver hairpin.

Today she wore a light red turtleneck chunky knit sweater, over which she wore a bright red coat that she had personally designed and made.

The dress had an excellent cut, and its bright red color made her fair complexion stand out, making her so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

Footsteps could be heard outside.

Shen Huai pushed open the wooden door and walked in.

He changed into a crisp black wool coat, over which he wore a white shirt and a gray sweater. He had broad shoulders and long legs, and his whole body exuded the dry, cold air from outside.

"Everything's loaded onto the truck." Shen Huai walked behind her and placed his large hand naturally on her slender shoulder.

Looking at his wife's radiant appearance in the mirror, he swallowed hard, then lowered his head and kissed her on the side of her neck.

"Stop fooling around." Su Nianhe tilted her head to avoid his prickly stubble. "The clothes were just ironed, they'll get wrinkled in a minute."

Shen Huai ignored her protests, his large hand sliding down the waistline of her coat and pinching that soft curve.

"It's just going to have a New Year's Eve dinner, just going through the motions and coming back." Shen Huai's words were full of unreasonable indulgence. "If you hear anything you don't like at the dinner table, don't hold back, just speak up. I'll take care of it even if the sky falls."

Hearing his protective words, Su Nianhe felt a warm glow in her heart and obediently nodded.

The two locked the gate, got into the car, and drove to the municipal party committee compound.

The second building was already bustling with activity.

Shen Huai carried two boxes of Moutai in one hand and wild ginseng and Zhonghua cigarettes from Changbai Mountain in the other, leading Su Nianhe across the threshold of the living room.

Everyone was in the living room.

Shen Wanshan, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, sat on the sofa drinking tea, while Shen Tao added water to his cup.

Old Mr. Shen sat on a single sofa, leaning on his cane, watching TV with his head tilted to the side. Old Mrs. Shen sat beside him, shelling peanuts.

Wang Liping was holding and playing with two-year-old Shen Ping'an when she saw the high-end New Year's goods that Shen Huai was carrying, and she gritted her teeth with jealousy.

The image of Su Nianhe throwing money at my face at the department store a couple of days ago is still swirling in my mind.

"Oh my, Xiao Huai and his wife are back." Wang Liping stood up and said sarcastically, "This big boss is really something else, bringing so many expensive things home. His wife's red dress is so festive, anyone who didn't know better would think it was your wedding banquet today."

Su Nianhe bent down to change her shoes, ignoring her.

Old Shen sat next to her, and because he was hard of hearing, he could only vaguely hear Wang Liping raising her voice to speak.

"What?!" Old Shen slammed his cane on the ground, his voice booming. "You're going back to your parents' house for your wedding? What are you going back to on New Year's Eve! Eldest daughter-in-law, you've forgotten all those customs!"

The living room was silent for a second.

Wang Liping's face turned pale from the old man's indiscriminate yelling, and she quickly shouted to explain, "Grandpa! I didn't say we were going back to my parents' home! I said my sister-in-law's clothes were festive!"

"I don't eat wedding cakes! My teeth aren't good!" Old Shen continued, switching gears and glaring at him as he cursed, "Don't cause trouble during the New Year!"

Shen Tao awkwardly tugged at his wife's sleeve, signaling her to shut up.

Grandma Shen threw down the peanut shells in her hand and waved to Su Nianhe.

"Nianhe, come here and let Grandma take a look." Grandma Shen looked at Su Nianhe with a kind face, took her hand and looked her up and down. "This figure, this appearance, so beautiful. We are so tired of our dull clothes, we have to wear such bright and cheerful clothes."

Liu Huizhen came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced ​​braised beef. When she saw Old Lady Shen being affectionate with Su Nianhe, her expression became somewhat unnatural.

She placed the plate heavily on the dining table, adopting the airs of an official's wife.

"Alright, stop standing around in the living room, wash your hands and get ready to eat."

The large round table was laden with a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.

Braised carp, four-happiness meatballs, and stewed free-range chicken—the aroma is irresistible.

Old Man Shen sat in the main seat, with Old Woman Shen next to him.

Shen Wanshan and Liu Huizhen sat in the seats of honor.

Shen Huai pulled out a chair and let Su Nianhe sit next to him, separating her from Wang Liping.

The family started eating.

The first half of the dinner was relatively peaceful.

Shen Tao raised his wine glass and toasted Shen Wanshan and Old Man Shen twice, saying a few auspicious words.

Halfway through the meal, Wang Liping picked up a piece of tender chicken leg meat with her chopsticks and put it into Shen Ping'an's bowl, then began to speak.

"Ping An has grown so fast these past few months, his little arms and legs are so much stronger." Wang Liping said with a proud look, turning to Liu Huizhen, "Mom, look at Ping An, this big, chubby grandson, he's so adorable."

Liu Huizhen glanced at her eldest grandson and nodded in satisfaction.

She picked up the white towel next to her and wiped her mouth. Her gaze then fell directly on Su Nianhe, who was drinking soup with her head down.

"Xiao Su," Liu Huizhen said in a calm but authoritative tone, "you two have been married for more than half a year now."

Su Nianhe stopped holding the porcelain spoon, looked up, and responded softly.

"It's been more than half a year."

Liu Huizhen threw the towel in her hand on the table and put on airs to cause trouble.

"It's been over half a year, why isn't there any sign of pregnancy?"

These words immediately created a cold atmosphere at the dinner table.

Su Nianhe tightened her grip on the chopsticks.

She was shy, and being asked such a private question in front of so many family members made her cheeks burn quickly, and even the roots of her ears turned red.

Liu Huizhen had no intention of letting her off so easily and continued to pressure her.

"A woman's duty after marriage is to have children and raise a good wife." Liu Huizhen looked critically at Su Nianhe's fashionable bright red wool coat. "Don't just go out there messing around and earning a few dollars. Does the family need your food and clothing? If a woman's heart isn't at home, she won't be able to give birth to a grandson. Even if she earns mountains of gold and silver, it's useless."

Wang Liping, who was listening nearby, felt extremely pleased and quickly chimed in.

"Mom is right. My sister-in-law is too strong-willed, spending all her time in that garment factory. What if she wears out her body and can't get pregnant?" Wang Liping feigned concern. "Sister-in-law, listen to your advice. Money can never be earned enough; children are the foundation of a woman's life."

Su Nianhe lowered her head, biting her lower lip hard, her grievances churning inside her.

She worked tirelessly, drawing blueprints and keeping detailed accounts, even advertising her clothing brand, "Nostalgia Clothing," in the capital, all so she could still hold her head high in her beloved fashion design career. But in Liu Huizhen's eyes, it was all just idle, pointless tinkering.

"After the New Year, the office will reopen on the sixth day of the new year." Liu Huizhen issued the order directly, leaving no room for discussion. "I'll take you to the obstetrics and gynecology department of the city hospital for a full check-up. Have Liping get you an appointment with a specialist to thoroughly check if there's anything wrong with your health. If you are sick, get treatment as soon as possible."

Su Nianhe gripped the chopsticks tightly, her knuckles turning bluish-white.

She couldn't say a word, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Shen Huai held her hand in his palm and gently squeezed it.