Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

With the autumn harvest just finished, the marriage between Zhao Yutian and Liu Ying was now completely off the table.

Zhao Si is a man who cares a lot about his reputation. He has to show off when he gets a good deal, so he specially prepared a banquet at home to formally invite Liu Neng's family of three over for dinner and to settle the matter of the two children.

The table inside was polished to a shine by Zhao Si, and it was piled high with dishes: a stewed chicken, braised pork, fried river fish, braised pork hock, home-style stir-fries, and canned mixed fruits. It looked quite appetizing with its balanced mix of meat and vegetables.

In an ordinary farmer's home, this feast would definitely be considered impressive.

Zhao Si was truly triumphant today. Liu Neng hadn't even arrived yet, but he was already standing at the courtyard gate greeting guests, his lips twitching uncontrollably.

Upon seeing people arrive, he greeted them with a polite smile and a wave.

"Come inside, come inside! Don't leave the girl out in the wind! There's nothing valuable here, just some simple home-cooked food, so please don't complain!"

Liu Neng snorted, put his hands behind his back, and went straight into the house. Liu Ying's mother smiled and said to Zhao Si:

"What are you saying, in-laws? How can you find fault with that? We're family now, come on in, let's talk inside."

Zhao Si was incredibly modest on the surface, but inside he was bubbling with smugness and overjoyed.

He had fought and clashed with Liu Neng for most of his life, always coming out on the losing end. But this time was different. His son had brought him honor, completely dominating Liu Neng and leaving him speechless and forced to admit defeat.

Looking at Liu Neng, he was completely deflated today. His usual witty and argumentative spirit had vanished without a trace.

He stared at the table laden with meat and fish, but couldn't eat a single bite. His mind kept replaying the dowry money, the thought of handing it all over to the Zhao family in one go, and it pained him so much that his heart ached.

Liu Ying's mother, who was standing next to him, saw right through his little scheme. She was both angry and speechless. This old man always messed up at crucial moments, wearing a mournful face and making herself a laughing stock.

While everyone was chatting and laughing, Liu Yingniang raised her foot and kicked Liu Neng hard in the calf.

Liu Neng was jolted awake by the kick, instantly regaining his senses, and quickly forced a stiff smile:

"I won't say any more. The two kids living a good life is more valuable than any gold or silver. Let's get the wedding done on the second day of the eleventh lunar month. That's forty days in total. I'll go back and get started right away!"

Liu Ying, standing to the side, was a master of acting. Her brows were furrowed, her lips were pursed tightly, and she looked like she was nauseous and weak from morning sickness.

Liu Neng was completely blinded by his own involvement and couldn't see that his daughter was faking it.

Seeing Liu Ying like this, he was extremely flustered, fearing that his daughter's pregnancy would not be a secret and that the whole village would gossip about her, causing his family to lose face for generations.

He grew increasingly panicked and kept urging Zhao Si:

"Fourth brother, you guys need to hurry...hurry up! Everyone pay attention, the sooner it's done, the safer it is, don't let anything go wrong!"

"Don't worry, the Zhao family will definitely prepare everything in advance. Just let us know how many tables you need, and we'll make sure you have enough face."

Under the table, Zhao Yutian secretly reached out and tightly grasped Liu Ying's hand. The two exchanged a glance, their eyes hiding a mischievous smile, but on the surface they pretended to be serious, obedient and sensible.

……

That evening, the weather outside had already turned cool, with a gust of wind blowing, but Lin Chen's house was warm and cozy, so he didn't feel uncomfortable.

Lin Chen, Xie Xiaomei, and Xie Dajiao ate at a small kang table. The side dishes were simple and appetizing, and the wine was warmed to just the right temperature.

Lin Chen took a sip of baijiu, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and chatted with the two women:

"You know what, Zhao Yutian is really cunning. He looks honest and simple, but he's more shrewd than anyone else. With just one fake pregnancy, he completely controlled Liu Neng, making him obediently hand over his dowry money and even have to put on a smiling face and acknowledge him as his in-law. He's absolutely brilliant!"

"I've done favors for both sides this time, without putting in any effort, but I've gained benefits from both, and even got two sheep! In a couple of days, we'll roast a whole lamb and drink lamb soup!"

Xie Xiaomei took a bite of the flatbread and smiled as she chimed in:

"Only you can keep these two families in check. Liu Neng needs your help, and Yutian listens to you."

The two chatted and laughed, creating a relaxed atmosphere, but Xie Dajiao seemed out of place from beginning to end, and her demeanor was unusually off.

Her face was pale, and she was clutching a newly made flatbread in her hand, but she didn't take a bite of it for a long time.

My chest felt tight and bloated, my stomach was churning, and I couldn't suppress the nausea.

She forced herself to pick up a piece of stew and swallow it, but the nausea immediately hit her.

Before she could say another word, she covered her mouth, jumped up, ran out of the house, squatted next to the bucket of dirty water, and dry heaved with tears streaming down her face.

The two people on the kang (heated brick bed) didn't take it seriously at all, thinking she was just putting on an act for fun.

Lin Chen joked as he drank:

"Look at your aunt! She's just enjoying the drama. She saw Liu Ying faking pregnancy to fool two families during the day, and now she's joining in. And you know what? Her acting is even more convincing than a real pregnant woman's! It's a waste that she runs a small shop; she should be an actress!"

Xie Xiaomei also giggled, thinking that her aunt was just making trouble for no reason.

But less than two minutes later, Xie Dajiao lifted the curtain and slowly walked back into the house.

This time she stopped vomiting and sat quietly by the kang (a heated brick bed).

Her eyes were moist, hiding panic, unease, and a hint of disbelief and joy.

Those eyes were fixed on Lin Chen, without a trace of acting.

The laughter inside the room stopped abruptly, and the air suddenly became still.

Lin Chen put down his wine glass, the playful expression vanishing from his face, and raised an eyebrow, asking seriously:

"What's wrong? You're not kidding, are you? Are you really feeling unwell?"

Xie Dajiao bit her lower lip tightly, her lips trembling slightly, her voice carrying a suppressed sob, echoing in the quiet room.

"Xiao Chen... I think I'm really pregnant."

"Snapped!"

With a crisp sound, Xie Xiaomei's chopsticks slipped from her hand and fell onto the kang table. She remained silent for a long time, still reeling from what she had just heard.

Lin Chen nodded, took out a cigarette, and just as the flame of the lighter flared up, he glanced at Xie Dajiao, paused, and extinguished the flame.

The room was deathly silent; all three of them remained silent, waiting for Lin Chen to speak.

Lin Chen silently put the cigarette back in the pack, moved closer to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and put his arm around Xie Dajiao. His eyes were calm, and his tone was not flustered:

"Are you sure?"

Xie Dajiao nodded emphatically, subconsciously raising her hand to gently stroke her lower abdomen. Years of pent-up grievances and joy instantly overwhelmed her, tears streaming down her face, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"It's almost a month late, and considering the reactions these past few days, it can't be wrong."

"I'm already this age and I've never been able to get pregnant. I thought it was my problem and I resigned myself to my fate, thinking I was destined to never have children... Who would have thought that God would actually give me one?"

37-year-old Xie Dajiao is actually pregnant!

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Chen interrupted her sobbing, his tone crisp and domineering:

"Don't cry. We have to have this child. Don't have any other crazy ideas. Just follow my instructions. I guarantee you'll be safe and sound in Ivory Mountain, and no one will say a word against you."

His mind raced, constantly calculating and arranging things in a clear and organized manner:

"Xiaomei, you two drive to the hospital for a checkup first thing tomorrow morning. Wait for my news when the results come out. Go to town and find Li Fu to get a divorce. I'll contact him. That old bastard has wanted a divorce for a long time. At worst, I'll give him some more money. After the divorce, he'll be kicked out. He'll definitely sign the papers quickly and won't dare to argue or act like a rogue."

Lin Chen looked at the two of them and continued to whisper:

"Maintain a consistent story to the outside world: the child was conceived during the marriage, and you only found out after the divorce. That way, no one can find fault with you, and the dirty water can't be thrown on you."

"After your divorce, you should open your shop, run your business as usual, be happy and cheerful, and let the whole village know that you are divorced."

Lin Chen subconsciously reached for the cigarette pack, but this time Xie Dajiao lit it for him.

"Smoke if you want. People used to smoke indoors every day, and their kids didn't seem to have any problems."

Lin Chen took a sip:

"Wait three or four days, then move a small stool to sit in front of the convenience store and wipe away your tears. Tell them that you are old, this is your first child, and it was hard to get this child. You really can't bear to abort it. Li Fu is a bad person, and you would rather suffer and work hard to raise the child."

"Our fellow villagers are the most soft-hearted and feel sorry for those who suffer. If you say that, no one will laugh at you; they will all sympathize with you."

Lin Chen then meticulously planned the follow-up arrangements:

"Taking advantage of this opportunity, I'll go public with my relationship with Xiaomei and make it clear that we've been dating for a while and will get engaged soon. Since you're Xiaomei's aunt, you're my family."

"From now on, you can move into my house and live with us. Just tell them that I will raise this child as my own. I will cover all expenses for childbirth, schooling, and starting a family. The village will not have to worry about a penny."

Xie Dajiao listened and tears streamed down her face. The panic, inferiority, and fear that had been building up in her heart vanished in an instant.

At her age, no one had ever protected her so reliably or taken such good care of her before. Overwhelmed with sadness and gratitude, she cried uncontrollably.

Xie Xiaomei had finally recovered and quickly stepped forward to grasp her aunt's hand, saying with a firm look in her eyes:

"Auntie, don't be afraid. Brother Chen's arrangements are crystal clear. I listened to them, and there's not a single flaw. From now on, the three of us will live together. If the sky falls, we'll hold it up. You don't need to worry about anything!"