Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

When Wang Yun came to Xie Dajiao's place, he brought up Li Daguo's matter. Xie Dajiao couldn't very well say that Li Daguo was bad, since he was related to her. So she said that the boy had a good heart, but he would change after getting married and settling down.

The two were chatting when Wang Yun pointed to the area under the big tree and said:

"Big Foot, look, isn't that Xie Guangkun? I've seen him sitting there for quite a while, what's he doing?"

Xie Dajiao looked out the window, also somewhat puzzled:

"That's right, it's Xie Guangkun. What's he doing standing there in this sweltering heat?"

Xie Guangkun had been squatting at the village entrance, the only way to get there, since early this morning. He parked his donkey cart by the roadside and stared intently at the road leading into the village, as if he were staking out the place.

Ever since Yongqiang broke off the engagement, Xie Guangkun has been unable to sleep soundly for nights on end. The more he thinks about it, the more regretful he becomes.

There's no other girl like Wang Xiaomeng in the entire Xiangyashan area.

She is honest, capable, and has a good personality. Most importantly, her tofu shop is becoming increasingly successful, and she has even taken on business in the county. This has greatly changed Xie Guangkun's opinion of her.

If they could rekindle this marriage, the Xie family's ancestral graves would be emitting auspicious smoke. Yongqiang's later years would be completely secure, without any worries. Tofu is incredibly profitable; it's much more lucrative than his business dealing in mountain products.

Since there's no hope for a career in government, he should at least have something to offer. His son is incredibly learned, and Xie Guangkun would feel it's a waste for him to marry a girl from an ordinary family.

Just as he was pondering this, the roar of a truck came from afar, and Xiao Meng's delivery van slowly drove back.

Xie Guangkun's eyes lit up. Without thinking, he flicked the reins, forcefully blocking the donkey cart in the middle of the dirt road, and raised his hand to stop it.

The truck driver was so startled that he slammed on the brakes, and the tires screeched as they scraped against the dirt road.

Wang Xiaomeng sat in the passenger seat, leaned out of the window, and immediately frowned. She rolled down the window and spoke with a hint of helplessness:

"Uncle, what are you doing? Why have you parked the car in the middle of the road? It's so dangerous! This dirt road is narrow, what if you crash? Why do you two always like to block the road?"

Xie Guangkun immediately put on a fawning smile, scurried to the car window, bent over halfway, and spoke in an extremely low and sincere tone:

"Xiao Meng, my good child, why haven't you been visiting your uncle lately? Are you still angry with your uncle?"

"As for what happened before, I was confused. I'm old and my eyesight is failing, and I can't think straight. I shouldn't have interfered in your and Yongqiang's affairs, and I shouldn't have tried to break you up. If you were angry, you could have scolded me, insulted me, or even hit me a couple of times, but I would have taken it all without saying a word back!"

He sighed deeply, feigning deep sorrow, and continued to play the victim:

"But let me tell you the truth from the bottom of my heart, Yongqiang has never let you go. He sits at home all day with his head down, unable to eat or sleep. He's completely listless, and it breaks my heart to see him like that."

Wang Xiaomeng remained unmoved, pushed open the car door, jumped out, stood there ramrod straight, and spoke in a calm but resolute tone, leaving no room for negotiation:

"Uncle, let's put the past behind us and not bring it up again."

"Yongqiang and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. Let's not bring up these old grievances anymore. I have someone I like now. You'd better move the donkey cart away. I still need to unload it when I get home."

"You have someone you like? Impossible!"

Xie Guangkun shook his head vigorously, not believing it at all, and just taking it as a little girl's angry words.

He took two quick steps forward, bent over, and made as if to kneel down, his face flushed with urgency.

"Xiao Meng, I know you're still angry. I'm sorry, I'll kneel down and apologize. Please forgive Yongqiang one more time, and give you both another chance!"

Just as Xie Guangkun was about to kneel down and the situation was about to escalate, the sound of a car engine suddenly came from afar.

Xie Xiaomei happened to be driving by when she glanced up and immediately saw the scene in the middle of the road.

She instantly understood. "You, Xie Guangkun, are playing the rogue and pestering me. It's obvious that Yongqiang and Xiangxiu have broken off their engagement, so he's here to beg for reconciliation. But Xiaomeng is now my brother Chen's woman. Do you think you can fool her back with a few words? Dream on!"

Xiao Mei slammed on the brakes and stopped right next to the truck. She got out, strode over, and immediately took Wang Xiaomeng's arm. Smiling confidently, she said, completely ignoring Xie Guangkun:

"Xiao Meng, I've finally found you! Brother Chen specially stewed some pork ribs at home and wants to invite you over for dinner. Come with me quickly!"

Wang Xiaomeng was feeling frustrated by Xie Guangkun's persistent pestering, but when she heard that it was Lin Chen who was looking for her, she instantly felt like she had found a pillar of support, her eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately.

She turned to the delivery driver and gave him a brief instruction:

"Drive the car back to the tofu shop first, unload the stuff, and tell my dad I'm going to Chen's house for dinner and will be back later."

After saying that, she didn't even glance at Xie Guangkun, and followed Xie Xiaomei directly into the passenger seat.

Xie Guangkun stood frozen in place, his hand still outstretched, unsure whether to kneel or not. Should he kneel before the driver?

He watched helplessly as Xie Xiaomei sped away, then slumped his head, looking utterly dejected. He slapped his thigh hard and sighed deeply.

With no other option, he could only dejectedly turn the donkey cart around and head straight for the primary school.

The village primary school had just let out for the day, and the campus was quiet except for the teachers who were finishing up in the office.

Xie Guangkun drove his donkey cart directly into the primary school and headed straight for the teachers' office.

Xie Yongqiang was sitting at his desk, engrossed in grading homework, when he looked up and saw his father burst in. He paused for a moment, startled.

"Father, what brings you here?"

Xie Guangkun pulled over a stool and plopped down, looking anxious. He was about to start rambling on, but seeing that there were too many teachers in the room, all of them listening intently to the news, he pulled Yongqiang out.

"Yongqiang, oh Yongqiang, you've worried your father to death! I waited at the village entrance to stop Xiaomeng, trying to persuade her no matter what I said, but she completely ignored me!"

Xie Yongqiang kept his head down and didn't say a word, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

"Look at you! All you do is stay at school all day and do absolutely nothing!"

Xie Guangkun became increasingly agitated as he spoke, slapping his thigh and berating:

"Wang Xiaomeng is completely different now. Her tofu shop is getting bigger and bigger, she's got a cell phone, and even a computer. I heard that Lin Chen gave her that computer!"

"She's not selling tofu anymore, she's a female boss. If you keep putting on airs and don't take the initiative, you'll never be able to win her back. You've completely missed your chance!"

"computer?"

Xie Yongqiang slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

"She bought a computer? What brand is it?"

Xie Guangkun paced anxiously in circles, stamping his feet and shouting:

"Can't you focus on the important things?"

Xie Guangkun's tone was full of anxiety:

"What does the brand have to do with you? You didn't buy it!"

"Listen to your father, tomorrow you should take some time to go see Xiaomeng, have a good talk with her, humble yourself, say a few nice words. With the deep bond you two had before, you're sure to be able to smooth things over!"

Xie Yongqiang remained silent for a long time, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew better than anyone that he had hesitated back then and let Xiao Meng down. In fact, he also felt that Xiao Meng was not good enough for him back then.

But now the two of them are completely different. Xiao Meng is becoming more and more outstanding and doing better and better, while he is still teaching in a primary school and has not made any progress. He really can't bring himself to beg for reconciliation. How can he ask for pity?

The college student hadn't taken off his long gown yet, and his worthless pride prevented him from doing so.

Xie Guangkun sat beside his son and kept nagging and persuading him for a long time, spitting as he spoke. But when his son remained silent and like a block of wood, he became furious.

"They're utterly hopeless!"

After cursing, Xie Guangkun angrily turned and walked away with his hands behind his back. The donkey, which was tied to a tree, looked back at Xie Guangkun and seemed to be saying, "What, you're not going to take care of me anymore?"

……

Lin Chen was sitting in front of the computer, setting up the newly installed broadband, fiddling with the dial-up connection, and studying this novel gadget that was unique in the whole village.

Hearing the sound of a car parking outside, he glanced back and casually asked:

"How did you two end up together?"

Xie Xiaomei tossed the small bag she was carrying onto the kang (heated brick bed) and said with a smile:

"What else could it be? We ran into her at the village entrance. Xie Guangkun was blocking Xiaomeng's way and wouldn't let her leave. He was shamelessly begging Xiaomeng to get back together with Yongqiang. I just happened to be passing by and rescued her. Didn't you say you were going to stew pork ribs tonight? This is a good opportunity to add some chopsticks and make it more lively."

Wang Xiaomeng stood to the side, a little shy, gently smoothing a stray hair behind her ear, and said politely in a low voice:

"Brother Chen, I hope I didn't disturb your work? I was planning to come another day, but it turned out to be such a coincidence."

"It's no big deal, don't worry about it bothering you."

Lin Chen smiled faintly and pointed to the bench next to him:

"Please sit wherever you like. I just got broadband installed, the first one in the whole village. It will be much more convenient to look up information in the future. I won't have to stare blankly anymore. Otherwise, I feel like I'm out of touch with the outside world."

Wang Xiaomeng sat down obediently, her eyes sparkling as she stared intently at the computer screen, her eyes full of excitement.

She was observant and attentive. When she saw Lin Chen reach for a cigarette, she immediately picked up a lighter and lit it for him. As soon as she heard Lin Chen cough lightly, she got up, poured a cup of tea, and gently placed it beside her.

She was quiet and well-behaved throughout, not disturbing anyone, not making a fuss, and not causing any trouble.

Lin Chen, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced at her sideways, a slight smile playing on his lips. He didn't speak; now wasn't the time to be honest. He had previously thought Xiao Meng was a good girl and that it was a waste for her to be with him, but after experiencing Xie Dajiao and Xie Xiaomei, he had truly come to terms with it. Whether he had two sheep or three, it was all the same; it would be a waste for such a good girl to be with someone else.

The capable should do more work, so I'll just do it myself!