With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

Jiang Zhiyu is determined to play the "terminally ill" role to the very end this time.

Ever since she moved into the sanatorium next to Zhuge Courtyard, she really hasn't stepped out of the door. Her face is pale, her movements are languid, and she spends all day wrapped in a thin coat, sitting on the veranda in a daze. Sometimes she doesn't even pick up her chopsticks until Ma Fangli brings them to her.

This practice spread very quickly, and within a few days, it had become known throughout the military compound.

Mrs. Zhang, who lives next door to the Song family, was washing clothes in an enamel basin at the public tap, whispering to a few family members nearby.

"Have you heard? The Song family's granddaughter-in-law's health has completely collapsed. I heard she went to some radiation zone again recently, and this time it's really damaged her foundation."

Another family member chimed in, "That's right. We used to envy the Song family for having such a capable and wonderful granddaughter-in-law, but now that her health has deteriorated..."

"Sigh, I don't have children yet, I don't even know if I'll be able to have them in the future."

Before he could finish speaking, a loud cough came from behind him.

The ladies turned around and saw Li Dama, the wife of Political Commissar Zhao in the compound, standing behind them with a stern face. She slammed the thermos in her hand to the ground, splashing water high into the air.

"What did you just say?"

Mrs. Zhang's face paled. "I...I just said it offhand..."

"Just a casual remark?" Aunt Li's voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the courtyard perked up their ears. "That young woman ruined her health for the country! The radiation zone! Is that a place for ordinary people? A young woman went there without a second thought, and now her health is damaged, and you're here saying she can't have children?"

She glanced at the faces around her. "You've lived in the military compound for so many years, and you still don't have this much awareness? If I hear anyone gossiping like this again, I'll tell your husbands, Zhang and Zhao."

The group immediately fell silent, and Mrs. Zhang slunk away with the basin in her arms.

After this news spread, no one in the compound dared to openly discuss Jiang Zhiyu anymore. It wasn't that they were afraid of Aunt Li; it was that everyone knew in their hearts that what this girl had done over the years was not something they could discuss.

……

When Zhao Lanjun heard the news at the Song family's old residence, she paused her needlework and let out a long sigh.

"Why is this child's life so miserable?"

Song Bingzheng grunted in response, saying nothing more, and continued reading his newspaper. But the hand holding the newspaper paused slightly.

When Song Huaijin returned from work and heard about it, she mentioned it to Chen Guifang, "If Zhiyu really has health problems, Yanzhou..."

Chen Guifang rolled her eyes at him. "Why are you worrying about that? Don't you know what kind of girl Zhiyu is? She knows what she's like, and your son knows even better. Just mind your own business."

Song Huaijin was speechless for a moment, and awkwardly fell silent.

In fact, the Song family was the one who breathed a sigh of relief the most.

Jiang Zhiyu really needs to rest.

It's not an act; it's a genuine need.

She had absorbed far too much nuclear radiation lately, more than she could process. The accumulated radiation energy felt like drinking a bellyful of ice water, a chill seeping from her very bones. It wasn't that she didn't want to move, but even the slightest movement made her feel heavy, her limbs weak, and she couldn't muster any energy. Seventeen said this was her body's way of regulating itself, slowly converting and storing the excess energy; it couldn't be rushed.

So her daily life consists of eating, sleeping, and sunbathing.

Since Song Yanzhou's injuries hadn't fully healed anyway, he simply moved his luggage over and started recuperating with her.

Moreover, his cooking skills have improved by leaps and bounds these days. He makes a variety of soups every day, such as pork rib soup, chicken soup, crucian carp soup, and mutton soup, rotating them so that he never repeats a dish. Ma Fangli let him have the kitchen and assisted him from the side. Watching him chop a bunch of scallions into even pieces, she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Commander Song, your knife skills are better than mine."

Song Yanzhou didn't even look up. "Just practice more. Can you check the heat for me? Zhiyu said she wants it a bit stronger."

Ma Fangli leaned over for a look, "It's been simmering for an hour and a half, it's thick enough."

"Simmer for another 15 minutes."

Ma Fangli smiled, shook her head, and left.

……

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the grape trellis in the yard cast a large patch of shade.

Jiang Zhiyu and Song Yanzhou squeezed into a double hanging chair in the corner of the yard. The hanging chair was made by Qi Zhengli a while ago. Two hemp ropes suspended a wooden board, and a thin mattress was laid on top. It swayed and creaked when you sat on it.

Song Yanzhou put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lean against him. Jiang Zhiyu lazily squinted her eyes, the grapes above her head not yet fully ripe, hanging down in bunches, green and glistening, swaying gently in the breeze.

"You know me."

"Um."

"This is the longest we've ever spent together, isn't it?"

Jiang Zhiyu thought for a moment, "From the time we got married until now, that's certainly true."

"It should be counted from when we first met until now." Song Yanzhou rested his chin on her head. "We've always been separated most of the time. You're busy with your things, and I'm busy with mine. When we finally get together, either you leave or I leave."

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled, "But you still follow me around like a puppy every time."

"Of course, what if you run away if I don't follow you?" He put his arm around her shoulder. "Just lying quietly in the yard watching the grape trellis, doing nothing, I'd be perfectly content."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't speak, but simply placed her hand on the hand that was wrapped around his shoulder.

……

Su Wanqing pushed the door open and came in at that moment, followed by Jiang Boxun.

She carried a bowl of chicken soup, careful not to let it get cold. She was concerned that her daughter hadn't been feeling well these past few days, so she specially prepared another bowl and brought it over.

The door wasn't closed properly, and when she pushed it open, she immediately saw the person on the hanging chair.

Song Yanzhou put his arm around Jiang Zhiyu, the two of them huddled together, Jiang Zhiyu's head resting on his shoulder, his hand on her waist, sunlight filtering through the grape leaves and falling on them in dappled patterns.

Su Wanqing paused for a moment.

The two of them remained calm. Jiang Zhiyu didn't even lift her eyelids, simply calling out lazily, "Mom."

Song Yanzhou reacted a little faster than her and stood up somewhat awkwardly.

"Dad, Mom's here, please sit down."

Su Wanqing remained calm, walked over and placed the chicken soup on the table. She first checked her daughter's complexion before speaking.

"Zhiyu, you've been resting lately, and Yanzhou is home too. You two should take this time to recuperate; it's time to consider having a child."

Jiang Zhiyu opened her eyes and looked at her mother.

"Look how adorable Fangli's little girl is! You should have one too, so our old couple can take care of her. We're quite free here anyway, so we can enjoy our retirement and be with our grandchildren."

Jiang Zhiyu thought about it carefully and nodded.

"Okay, Mom, it's time to think about it."

Su Wanqing was taken aback. She had thought her daughter would be shy or change the subject, but she didn't expect her to answer so readily.

Jiang Boxun turned around and looked at his daughter, his expression somewhat complicated.

Song Yanzhou sat upright beside him, his ears already turning red.

Su Wanqing reached out and slapped her daughter's forehead. "You silly child, I'm serious."

"I'm serious!" Jiang Zhiyu touched her forehead where she had been slapped. "Mom, don't worry, I really want one, no, I want two, twins would be best."

Su Wanqing laughed in exasperation, "Alright, alright, stop joking. Do you think you can just have a child whenever you want? Twins, you think you're a god? I'd be burning incense with gratitude if you could even give me one."

"You said it yourself, but I won't take care of the baby; I'll leave it all to you."

"Okay, as long as you can give birth, your dad and I will take care of it; you don't need to worry about it."

Jiang Boxun, who was standing nearby, finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Your mother is talking about serious matters, don't go around making a fuss."

"What did I do wrong?" Jiang Zhiyu tilted her head to look at her father. "Dad, don't you want a grandson?"

Jiang Boxun opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. Finally, he snorted and turned his face back.

Song Yanzhou chuckled to himself, only to be glared at by Su Wanqing.

"Alright, alright, drink the chicken soup while it's hot. I'm going back now; your godmother is waiting for me."

Su Wanqing got up and walked out, but turned back at the door and said, "Zhiyu, what Mom said is serious."

"Okay, Mom."

Su Wanqing then left with peace of mind.

The yard quieted down, and the hanging chair started creaking and swaying again.

Song Yanzhou looked down at Jiang Zhiyu. Her eyes were closed, and the corners of her mouth were turned up. He wondered what she was thinking.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

Jiang Zhiyu opened one eye and glanced at him, then placed her hand on her stomach and patted it gently.

"What's the rush? Didn't we say we just needed some conditioning?"

Song Yanzhou's ears turned red again.

Jiang Zhiyu's hand was still on her stomach, and she had already started imagining what a child would look like.