Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Wang Laoqi was honest and kind-hearted, with a soft heart, and couldn't bear to see women and children suffer.

Seeing Xie Dajiao's pitiful state of being all alone after becoming pregnant, he had long felt sorry for her. After the meeting yesterday, he had been thinking about how he could help in any way, and today the opportunity came.

Moreover, adopting godparents is a win-win situation. It gives their daughter a reliable person to care for her, and it also gives Xie Dajiao a close companion. It's a win-win situation.

He immediately agreed with a smile, without even discussing it with his wife:

"This is a good thing. I thought it was something difficult. It's a blessing for Xiao Meng to have such a capable and strong godmother like you. Your sister-in-law and I are more than willing. We're just afraid that the child is young and doesn't know any better and will cause you trouble."

Xie Dajiao quickly stood up, her face beaming with surprise:

"Seventh Brother, don't say that. I really like Xiao Meng. It's strange, out of all the girls in the village, I'm only close to Xiao Meng. She can chat with me often, and it always makes me feel better. Maybe this is our destiny."

Seeing how attentive Xie Dajiao was, Xiao Meng's mother smiled along with her, got up to refill Xie Dajiao's water, and spoke to her in a warm and affectionate tone:

"Big Foot, don't worry. When you're pregnant and can't move around easily, if you need anything or there are any odd jobs around the house, just tell Xiao Meng to do them. Don't be polite with her. She's a kind-hearted girl who's willing to work hard. We'll feel at ease knowing that you'll be teaching her."

The huge weight that had been hanging over Xie Dajiao's heart was finally lifted, and she smiled brightly as she held Xiao Meng's mother's hand:

"I love this child so much, how could I let her do any work? Xiaomei and her husband can handle the chores. She can just chat with me. So, this deal is finalized! The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day, especially suitable for family reunions and marriages according to the almanac. It's the most lucky day."

Wang Laoqi nodded and said:

"Big Foot Xing, you know these things best, you decide."

"Okay, then I'll set up two tables at home and invite a few families and village officials to witness a simple family reunion ceremony, so everyone knows it's perfectly legitimate!"

Wang Laoqi quickly waved his hand:

"There's no need to go to such lengths. We're all from the same village, we know each other well, a verbal agreement is enough, there's no need to make a fuss."

"That won't do!"

Xie Dajiao's attitude was serious and her tone sincere:

"Seventh Brother, we can't skip the formalities. There has to be a reason for it. It won't cost much. It's mainly for good luck. Otherwise, if Xiao Meng keeps running to my place every day, some people with sharp tongues will gossip. You may not care about Xiao Meng, but I will."

Having said that, Mr. and Mrs. Wang no longer declined, and were even more satisfied with Xie Dajiao. Look at what she thought of; it was so prudent.

The three chatted amiably, finding themselves getting along better and better, their atmosphere as harmonious as that of real relatives.

Wang Xiaomeng walked in at this moment. Xiaomeng's mother pulled her over, told her what had just happened, and asked Xiaomeng what she thought.

Without thinking, Xiao Meng said:

"Of course I'd like to. I'll go visit Aunt Big Feet whenever I'm done with my work."

Xie Dajiao, arm in arm with Wang Xiaomeng, said to Wang Laoqi and his wife:

"See? I told you Xiaomeng is a kind-hearted child. But I'm not that fussy. You young people are all busy during the day, so just keep me company in the evening. If it gets too late, we can sleep together on the same bed, okay?"

Wang Xiaomeng looked up at Wang Laoqi, who had no objection, and nodded, saying:

"Okay, I'll listen to Aunt Big Foot. I also like chatting with Sister Xiaomei; she knows a lot."

Xie Dajiao thought to herself, "How could you not know a lot? You've known a lot since you got together with Lin Chen."

……

Two days later—

The courtyard of Lin Chen's house was very lively. The firewood on the makeshift stove outside crackled and popped as one main dish after another was cooked, the fragrant aroma making people's appetites soar.

Three tables of food were set up in the courtyard, and almost all the prominent figures in the village were present.

Village officials, including Wang Changgui, the women's director, and Accountant Xu, all took their seats.

Xie Guangkun arrived early, all ready to go. Seeing the young people in the village helping out, he felt a pang of sadness. His stubborn donkey was always clearing land on the mountain, as if it were possessed.

Liu Neng, wearing rubber shoes, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and chatted with Zhao Si while cracking them open. Zhao Si stood aside, nodding in agreement from time to time. The courtyard was bustling with noise and excitement.

Lin Chen was busy inside and out, serving tea and cigarettes with great efficiency and impeccable manners. He showed no signs of the superiority complex often associated with the wealthy and was gentle and composed in his interactions with others.

The villagers present saw this and all praised Xie Xiaomei, saying that she had a sharp eye and found a reliable and sensible partner like Yinyi. Some even kept urging the two to get married quickly.

Xie Xiaomei laughed heartily:

"I'm ready anytime. I'll do whatever Brother Chen says. Whenever he says we should get married, we'll get married."

After finishing the casual conversation at the table, the simple ceremony officially began.

The entire process was conducted according to the most practical old customs of rural Liaobei, emphasizing decorum and making a public announcement to the villagers.

Wang Xiaomeng changed into a clean and simple outfit, held a glass of water, walked confidently to Xie Dajiao, bowed respectfully, and handed the glass over with both hands.

"Um... Mother, please take good care of yourself from now on and don't overwork yourself. If there's anything you need to do around the house, just call me anytime, and I'll be there whenever you need me."

Wang Xiaomeng found it difficult to speak up. No matter how she thought about it, the relationship seemed complicated. But so what if it was complicated? As long as she could be with Lin Chen, it was all worth it.

His manners were impeccable and his attitude sincere, which earned him nods of approval from all the elders present.

Xie Dajiao smiled as she took the cup and drank a sip. She then pulled a neatly folded red cloth bag from her pocket and, with a smile, stuffed it into Wang Xiaomeng's hand.

Inside was a red envelope containing 1,000 yuan, and a pair of pure silver bracelets, simple yet elegant in design, symbolizing peace, prosperity, and worry-free years.

"Oh, my dear girl."

Xie Dajiao spoke gently, smiling as she began:

"Wear this bracelet every day for protection and good fortune. Come back to visit me often, and I'll cook you delicious food every day. See that room over there? We'll live together, mother and son. If anyone dares to bully you or wrong you, just tell me, and I'll definitely stand up for you!"

As she said this, Xie Dajiao glanced at Lin Chen intentionally or unintentionally, and Lin Chen glared back.

Wang Changgui, standing to the side, took the lead in clapping and cheering, and said loudly with a big smile:

"Great! This marriage is a good one, and a worthwhile one! Big Foot will have Xiao Meng to look after her from now on, and Xiao Meng will have someone who loves her more. It's double happiness, everyone's happy, and this is a good thing for our Ivory Mountain!"

The women's director also joined in with praise:

"What a wonderful thing! Big Foot has had a hard life, divorced and pregnant all alone, with no one to rely on. Now she has finally reaped the rewards and has such a sensible and filial daughter."

Xiao Meng is kind, honest, and down-to-earth. With the mother and son supporting each other, their lives will surely prosper. They are a role model for the whole village!

The elders present all nodded in approval, saying that this marriage was a good match, both reasonable and emotional, and a matter of fate between the two.

Xie Guangkun chimed in with a few kind words, Liu Neng and Zhao Si cheered repeatedly, and Wang Laoqi and his wife, needless to say, drank a few more cups of wine. The festive atmosphere in the courtyard lingered for a long time.

After the banquet ended, Xie Dajiao had prepared two large bags full of wedding candies and asked Xie Xiaomei to accompany Wang Xiaomeng to distribute the candies at the village entrance.

With that, all the formalities were settled, all concerns were dispelled, and no one would gossip about Wang Xiaomeng and Lin Chen being together from now on.

……

Once you enter Ivory Mountain at the end of October, the wind completely changes.

Two gusts of cold wind blow into the village from the mountain valley in the morning and evening. Every household in the village is busy with winter storage, stockpiling coal, stacking firewood, and pickling sauerkraut. This is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation in the rural areas of northern Liaoning.

To survive the coldest days of winter in northern Liaoning, one must have enough savings at home so that the kang (heated brick bed) can be warm and one can feel at ease throughout the winter.

Lin Chen's house has been even more lively these past few days. The empty storage room in the corner of the yard has long been cleaned up and the ground has been swept clean, leaving not even a trace of weeds.

In the morning, coal trucks from the town's coal yard rumbled into the yard, reversed, and unloaded a large pile of shiny, high-quality lump coal at the entrance of the warehouse.

The black coal chunks were uniform in size, shiny and glossy, and shone brightly in the sun. They were piled up into a small coal mountain, looking very solid.

Lin Chen rolled up his sleeves, gripped a flat-headed iron shovel in his hand, his forearm taut, and shoveled coal into the warehouse one shovelful at a time.

The coal chunks clanged against the floor and walls of the warehouse.

Zhao Yutian, who was working nearby, was covered in black coal dust on his face and a thin layer of ash on the tip of his nose. He was sweating profusely and his arms ached from swinging them so much.

He stopped what he was doing, straightened up, wiped the sweat and grime off his face haphazardly, squinted at the pile of coal, and smacked his lips with envy.

"Brother Chen, your coal looks really good."

Zhao Yutian squatted down and poked at the large piece of coal a couple of times, his tone full of envy:

"It's all high-quality coal, not a single bit of loose coal. It's much better than the pile of broken coal I got last week. Judging by the amount, it must weigh at least four tons!"

Lin Chen's hands didn't stop moving; the shovel rose and fell crisply and cleanly as he said:

"Good eye, exactly four tons."

"Why make so much? It's such a waste. If we're careful, burning one or two tons will be enough for the whole winter."

"Aunt Big Foot is staying at my house. Both rooms need to be heated, so we can't let them get cold. We'd rather use more coal than let the rooms get cold. Besides, my house is newly renovated and has a lot of space, so we can't be stingy."

"From now on, the north wind will be like a knife, and the temperature will drop to minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius. We won't have enough coal to burn, so we'll have to buy more. I'd rather not use it this year and continue using it next year."