A year and a half after marriage, Qin Shui received two pieces of good news.
The copyright of her work was bought by a third party, and she received a generous payment. That night, Qin Shui was sitting in front of the vanity in the bedroom doing skincare. When she heard the phone notification, she opened her bank account and saw a number she had never even thought she would see before.
It was equivalent to Qin Sheng’s three years of salary without eating or drinking.
Half a month later, when Qin Sheng came home from work and Qin Shui had finished cooking, she held a long, thin pink box in her hands. He quickly changed clothes, washed his hands, and came into the kitchen to help.
“I transferred our gift money to Yan Jiabao today.” He hugged Qin Shui and kissed her twice. “We gave too much. It wasn’t necessary at all.”
“What we should give, we should give. Back then, she didn’t have much money, yet she still gifted us two thousand. That was a lot of sincerity.”
She brought the washed vegetables and shrimp to the table, and spoke to Qin Sheng in her slightly unclear voice: “Plug in the power. Once the pot boils, we can eat.”
Since they married, Qin Shui gradually became willing to speak. In fact, she had practiced privately for many years,but she just never used it in real interactions. Qin Sheng taught her every day, patiently correcting her pronunciation. Qin Shui learned quickly. Aside from her spoken words being slightly sticky and blurry, Qin Sheng could easily understand what she meant.
Even if she only learned to pronounce very simple vocabulary, Qin Sheng would get as happy as if his little dog learned a new trick. He hugged her, praised her, kissed her, and rubbed her, only to be mercilessly smacked by Qin Shui.
He laughed: “I should’ve realized something was off with Old Wang and her. She’d come to the factory even when nothing was going on. Turns out she fell for someone close to home.”
Qin Shui was in a good mood and replied, “Wang Quan isn’t much older than Sister Jiabao, and the hotel business is doing well too. After all, your factory is located in the city center. Hasn’t he already started taking on business from travel agencies?”
“Yes. Although it just started, if it works out, there won’t be off-season or peak-season issues anymore.” Qin Sheng said, “Back then, placing Yan Jiabao there turned out to be a good decision.”
He placed freshly boiled beef into Qin Shui’s bowl, then asked: “Wife, what’s inside that box of yours?”
“……”
Instead of answering directly, Qin Shui said: “Do you think the gift money and presents we gave Jiabao were too expensive?”
Qin Sheng nodded generously: “I don’t mind giving gifts, but that wedding toast dress, even you didn’t wear one that expensive back then.”
“Alright.” She handed the box across the table to Qin Sheng and shrugged. “Then you’ll soon receive another gift back.”
He took it in confusion, carefully opened the lid of the box.
Inside was a pregnancy test showing two lines.
Maybe the timing was good, or maybe luck had arrived. They had only begun trying for less than half a month, and the child came.
And Qin Sheng was not stupid. He knew exactly what it meant.
He held the stick carefully, looked at it, and looked at Qin Shui.
“Pregnant? Really?”
Qin Shui nodded lightly and made a cute gesture of rubbing her stomach from afar, like coaxing a child.
Qin Sheng stood up and moved close, squatting beside her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his head gently to her belly.
“That’s great… that’s great.” He couldn’t hide his joy. “Think about our luck! We only talked about trying for a baby at the beginning of the month, and before even two weeks passed, the child came on its own.”
Qin Shui could faintly smell the light scent of engine oil and metal on him, yet it didn’t make her nauseous. She patted his back, raised her thumb, and praised softly: “You’re amazing. One try and it worked.”
She remembered Yan Jiabao’s famous words in front of the hotel, urging Qin Sheng to quit smoking so Qin Shui wouldn’t suffer if she got pregnant. In the blink of an eye, two years passed. He began quitting during dating, spent one full year cutting it down, and finally quit completely before this year’s New Year’s Eve.
It seemed giving up takeout food and nicotine, maintaining balanced nutrition and a good mood, really was more effective than expected.
Qin Sheng carefully held the box like a treasure and went into the bedroom. After taking pictures as keepsakes, he placed it into the empty drawer at the foot of the bed.
Back in the living room, Qin Shui touched the back of her neck nervously and motioned for him to sit again, then asked: “Qin Sheng, have you thought about starting a business?”
“Start a business? What kind?”
Qin Shui turned the stove lower: “I’ve been thinking recently. The work at the factory is too tiring, and you often deal with chemicals. It’s not good for you. The 700,000 our parents gave us is barely touched. I can take another 200,000. Do you want to open your own repair shop?”
Counting from the year he learned the trade, Qin Sheng had worked in this industry for nearly twelve years. He had many clients, and he interacted with skilled workers in the same field. If he wanted to start his own business, it wasn’t impossible.
He thought for a moment, then declined: “Let’s wait. You’re newly pregnant. Our money should go to you and the child first. I thought about choosing a good confinement care center, and later hiring a postpartum nanny. Once you give birth safely and recover well, we’ll talk about it again.”
“I’ll save the 200,000 for the child separately. We both have stable monthly incomes. It’s fine.”
Qin Shui said gently: “We don’t have to do it now. I only mean… you can keep in touch with clients and connections, and do some market research. In three years, see if we can start.”
Seeing his concern, she added: “This isn’t a whim. I believe you have the ability. If we continue saving for two years, having one million as startup capital won’t be a problem. Whether you want to open a workshop or invest in related industries, the child and I will fully support you.”
He replied: “Wife, I know you’re doing this for the family and me, but what if something goes wrong? What if we lose the money?”
“That’s why we’re not rushing.” Qin Shui replied in sign language. “Plan thoroughly before acting. Keep emergency funds aside, and prepare initial investment funds. Don’t feel pressured. First, understand the market with low cost. When conditions are mature, choose the most feasible path.”
The phrase “breaking before building anew” had the most direct explanation in Qin Shui. If she hadn’t been cornered and forced to leave her seemingly stable job, she wouldn’t have thrown herself into side work and achieved results.
If Qin Sheng stayed in the Beidaihe Car Repair Center for life, his career trajectory was almost predictable. Calling it a “career” was difficult.
Life there was steady and ordinary, similar to Qin Shui’s state-owned enterprise job. Aside from the word “stable” in others’ eyes, there wasn’t much meaning.
Meaning was abstract, yet pursuing meaning required real cost and hardship. Before today, Qin Sheng had never thought about working independently, or rather, never dared to think.
He nodded to Qin Shui. “I have some thoughts about the market and know which industries could work. From now on, I’ll learn more, keep whatever resources I can use, and in this field it’ll be useful.”
“Can you teach me too?” Qin Shui asked. “I want to help you.”
Qin Sheng laughed: “Of course, I’ll teach you. We’ll discuss everything. After all, my wife is the major shareholder.”
Qin Shui smiled softly and placed meat into his bowl. Qin Sheng said: “No more cooking dinner from now on. The fumes aren’t good for you. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll make.”
She shook her head: “Cooking doesn’t make much smoke. We don’t eat much. You’re tired from work, don’t bother.”
“How about letting Mom come take care of you?” He pointed to the room. “There’s a spare bedroom. You being alone at home during the day worries me.”
Qin Shui smiled and said, “No need. If she comes, my dad will have to follow too. That would just be troublesome and make things less peaceful. I’m fine, everything stays the same. You even brought me lunch today.”
She said this, but Qin Sheng still forbade her from cooking lunch. For half a year, he ate at the repair center or took snacks like soup and salad Qin Shui prepared. Only dinner stayed the same, since he never got tired of her cooking.
They followed medical advice for regular prenatal checkups. Most appointments were on weekends, but when slots were full, Qin Shui chose quieter weekdays and went alone.
She didn’t have strong morning sickness and her appetite was good. Every week, Qin Jianmin sent chicken, beef brisket, and ribs. After cooking, Qin Shui invited him for meals. If it got late, she offered for him to stay overnight.
The father-and-son relationship between Qin Sheng and Qin Jianmin visibly improved. First, because the father truly helped care for Qin Shui, and second because Qin Jianmin genuinely liked Qin Shui. Though she wasn’t lively or talkative like healthy people, she was kind and steady. She and Qin Sheng lived an orderly life. As a father, this was all he ever wished for.
When Qin Shui was seven months pregnant, her prenatal checkup was scheduled for Friday afternoon. In the morning, she finished handling her work matters, then used the seafood her parents had bought online to make tomato shrimp and Mapo tofu for Qin Sheng, packing them with two boxes of rice to bring over.
After he got off work, they would drive to the hospital together.
She didn’t often come to the repair center, but everyone knew her. They often heard Qin Sheng talk about how good his wife was, how she was the most beautiful in the world.
She became pregnant last August, and the due date was May third, right in early spring. Qin Shui carried the lunch boxes in both hands as she entered the repair center. The spray-painting master at the entrance noticed her first, put down his work, and went over to greet her.
There were cranes and similar equipment in the factory, and cars went in and out frequently. He was worried that Qin Shui’s hearing problem might put her in danger, so he took the lunch boxes from her and walked into the factory first, then called Qin Sheng out.
Qin Sheng jogged over, thanked the master, took off his protective gloves, and hugged Qin Shui for a flurry of kisses. He didn’t forget to complain in sign language: “I told you not to trouble yourself. I can just eat something simple at noon.”
“Dad bought live shrimp online. They’re still fresh. I made them so we can eat together.”
She followed Qin Sheng into the work area, sat on the old sofa, and took yogurt and alkaline knot bread from the other bag. “The snacks everyone liked last time. I brought more for the masters. Go distribute them to everyone and to Sister Cao at the front desk. I made a lot this time, so there probably won’t be more for a while.”
He found a clean cushion from the break room and placed it behind Qin Shui’s lower back. He first took out his own bread and ate two pieces, praising her without restraint: “I didn’t even know what alkaline knot bread was before. Good wife, what you make tastes way better than what they sell outside.”
As soon as lunch break started, before Qin Sheng could call everyone over to get food, Sister Cao at the front desk and the masters came over one after another to greet Qin Shui.
She stood up to exchange pleasantries, letting Qin Sheng hand out the food. Even though she couldn’t hear clearly what everyone was saying, seeing that everyone liked it and that Qin Sheng was happy made her feel joyful too.
The two of them sat on the sofa and ate lunch together. Qin Sheng hadn’t even taken a couple of bites when Yan Jiabao and Wang Quan from next door arrived.
“Qin Shui!!” Yan Jiabao bounced over to the sofa and asked, “Master Qin, what peerless delicacy are you eating today?”
Wang Quan had obviously just put out a cigarette. Qin Shui could clearly smell the scent he brought in. He smiled shyly, greeted everyone, and sat down opposite the coffee table.
Qin Sheng picked up a shrimp and fed it to Qin Shui, then opened the lunch box to show Yan Jiabao. “Tomato-braised shrimp. It smells amazing.”
“Let me have a bite.” She took one from Qin Shui’s box, then asked, “How was the hundred-family quilt I gave you last time? My mother-in-law sewed it herself.”
“It’s especially good.”
Qin Shui thanked her sincerely. “My mom said she doesn’t even have that kind of skill. Your mother-in-law is amazing.”
Wang Quan said, “Qin Sheng, Qin Shui, have you seen the doctor? Is it a boy or a girl? Jiabao keeps insisting on buying baby clothes, but she doesn’t know what color to buy.”
Hearing this, Qin Sheng smiled and wagged his index finger mysteriously. “We know the gender, but we’re keeping it a secret for now. You don’t need to spend money. We already have a lot of baby supplies at home. Friends and relatives each sent a few items, and they ended up filling an entire balcony.”
“You won’t even tell me?” Yan Jiabao protested. “Then I’ll guess myself. It’s a boy, right?”
Qin Shui kept her lips sealed, neither confirming nor denying it. After struggling fruitlessly, Yan Jiabao grabbed a few more shrimp. Only when several guests who had booked rooms online arrived at the shop to check in did she reluctantly leave with Wang Quan and return to the hotel.
Everyone agreed to meet for meals a few more times before the delivery, so that once the baby was born and things got busy, it wouldn’t be so exhausting.
After eating, she sat on the sofa to rest. Qin Sheng brought her a box of Telunsu milk from the break room. Qin Shui now felt like one person carrying two weights. The baby’s position in her belly felt as if two feet were forcefully kicking her lumbar spine, and after sitting for a short while, the pain became unbearable.
Qin Sheng kept his sofa very clean. He brought over a blanket to cover her and let her lie there for a short nap.
Once the afternoon rest period ended, more cars gradually came into the repair shop, and the noise increased. Qin Shui happened not to hear any of it and slept peacefully on the sofa.
Close to four o’clock, a somewhat familiar car came into the factory. The owner specifically requested Qin Sheng to repair it, so Sister Cao at the front desk asked a master to drive the car to an empty spot near the work area.
Qin Sheng was reapplying film to an old customer’s second-hand Lexus when an experienced master came over to greet him. “Qin Sheng, there’s a Mercedes that wants to be assigned to your job list. They rear-ended someone, pretty badly. The bumper and headlights are basically scrapped, and the airbags have been deployed. I did a quick check. The dashboard and shock absorbers also have issues. Can you take a look?”
Qin Sheng didn’t even raise his head. “Later. I’m busy right now.”
The master glanced at Qin Shui sleeping on the sofa and subconsciously lowered his voice as he leaned closer. “The customer seems to be in a hurry to use the car. They’re right here and can pay extra.”
“Has the damage assessment been done?” he said. “Even with extra money, it has to follow the queue. Isn’t Old Wang free? If they’re really in a hurry, let him handle it first.”
The sound of high heels approached, and a familiar Shanghai accent asked them, “Master, how much longer before you can repair our car?”
“……”
Qin Sheng stopped his hands with a complicated expression, raised his head, and met the gaze of the Mercedes owner. As expected, it was the same couple whose car Qin Shui had rear-ended while riding an electric scooter back then.
The husband wasn’t there this time. Only the wife had come. When she saw Qin Sheng’s familiar face, she immediately tried to get close. “I told that young girl to find the most handsome master here. It was this master who fixed it last time too. You couldn’t see any trace of damage at all. His skills are really good.”
He finally stopped working, stood up, and went with the owner to check the car. It really was hit quite badly. She had rear-ended someone else.
Qin Sheng checked the dashboard and accelerator from the driver’s seat and briefly dealt with the fully deployed airbags. He suddenly asked, “Why didn’t you talk about keeping a safe distance this time?”
The woman crossed her arms. “The car in front braked too suddenly. We didn’t react in time! This car has been in two accidents in recent years. Master, you must repair it well, like last time. I can pay extra and get a maintenance card!”
“Prices are fixed. I’m not the best master here. Let the senior master fix it. It’s not delicate work, and you’ll be able to use the car sooner.”
The two of them walked back to Qin Sheng’s work area one after the other. He resumed applying the film. The owner was a bit unhappy at being brushed off. Just as she was about to argue further, she noticed Qin Shui sleeping on the sofa.
She suddenly quieted down, adjusted her red-framed glasses, and looked closely. After confirming it was indeed the same young girl who had rear-ended her before, she asked in surprise, “Oh my! The young girl who rear-ended me back then works here now? And she even sleeps during working hours?”
Qin Sheng was busy with his hands and found it annoying, so he didn’t respond. But the female owner knew he clearly remembered what happened back then, otherwise he wouldn’t have used the phrase about safe distance to retort at her.
She figured he was avenging that girl and therefore didn’t want to take her job.
The woman slung her bag and walked toward Qin Shui. Qin Sheng immediately blocked her. “No entry into the work area. Go outside.”
Qin Shui was far along now and clearly showing. With just one look, anyone could see her protruding belly through the thin blanket.
“Oh my…” The woman obediently retreated outside the area and said in surprise, “I didn’t get it wrong, did I? The young girl is pregnant, right?”
She naturally got no response from Qin Sheng, so she smiled and said, “Back then, I guessed you two knew each other, and you wouldn’t admit it. I could tell something was off.”
The customer kept pestering without bringing up changing masters. Qin Sheng didn’t want Qin Shui to wake up and see a so-called familiar rear-ender, so he took the owner to the front desk to check the details. After Sister Cao contacted the insurance adjuster, he accepted the job.
“I’m not working overtime this weekend. It’ll be next week before it’s fixed. If you urgently need the car, that won’t work,” he said. “There’s nothing else. Go home and wait for a call to pick it up.”
The female owner was satisfied and gave in. “My husband got slightly injured in the rear-end accident and is still in the hospital. Thank you for fixing the car. I’ll go check on him first.”
The two left the reception area. Before Qin Sheng returned to the work zone, she still reminded him, “Your factory has strong smells and isn’t very ventilated. Since she’s pregnant, let her rest here less. It’s not good for the baby.”
She took out five bills of cash from her bag, clenched them in her palm, and followed him, insisting on stuffing them into his hand.
“Although traffic accidents aren’t good things, this auntie can be considered the matchmaker for the two of you. Since you won’t take extra money, then accept this gift money!”
Qin Sheng didn’t explain anything and only said helplessly, “Thank you for your concern, but this is a private matter and has nothing to do with work. Don’t put me in a difficult position.”
Since it was a workplace, he refused to accept it, and she didn’t insist further. She looked once more at Qin Shui on the sofa, politely said goodbye to Qin Sheng, and agreed to come back the following week to pick up the car.