Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

A powerful Land Cruiser drove steadily down the long slope. Despite the slippery snow road, the car drove smoothly without wobbling at all, making it particularly eye-catching on the country road.

Su Guifen's eyes lit up. Forgetting the cold, she quickly stood by the roadside, waving vigorously and shouting at the top of her lungs:

"Hey buddy, could you please stop for a second? We need help! Our car's stuck in a ditch!"

The SUV slowly slowed down and pulled over to a stop, then the door opened.

Lin Chen, wearing a black down jacket with the zipper pulled up to his chest, opened the door and jumped out of the car.

With his handsome looks, clean-cut features, calm demeanor, and confident and poised manner, Su Guifen and Xie Baochang immediately recognized Lin Chen's special qualities upon first meeting him. Their charisma was undeniable.

As luck would have it, Lin Chen drove to town that morning to buy a copper pot and meat rolls. On a snowy day like this, he needed to have some charcoal hot pot. After buying the food, he was on his way back to Xiangyashan when the snow started to fall harder and harder. On the way, he ran into a couple who were stranded by the roadside.

Lin Chen strode forward, glanced down at the wheels in the ditch and the icy surface of the road, and said simply:

"Brother, the car slid into the ditch?"

"That's for sure!"

Seeing this, Xie Baochang quickly stepped forward to strike up a conversation. Even when cadres encounter difficulties, they must lower their stance, and he explained somewhat embarrassedly:

"It was too slippery when we turned, and we couldn't brake in time and slid right into the ice. We tried to scrape the ice for ages, but we couldn't get out at all."

He politely suggested:

"Hey bro, could you please help me stall for a bit? I can't let you work for nothing, I'll give you some money as a tip when it's done."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen waved his hand dismissively, his expression frank and unpretentious:

"Brother, why did you step on the brakes today? You absolutely mustn't. It's not about the money, it's no big deal. Everyone has their difficulties when they're out and about. It was just a small favor on the way."

He turned back to the car, pulled out a thick, specialized tow rope, and expertly fastened it.

"I can tow your little car with my car like it's nothing, brother. Hang this end on the front hitch of your car, make sure it's secure so it doesn't fall off."

Su Guifen quickly stepped forward to help him up, her eyes taking in the young man from head to toe. Her first impression of him was excellent, and she kept thanking him politely.

"Oh my god, brother, thank you so much today! We really wouldn't have made it in this desolate, snowy place without you."

"These days, there are so few young people as eager to help as you!"

Lin Chen smiled faintly as he secured the rear buckle:

"Sister-in-law, you're too kind. We're all from nearby towns, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

After all the docking was completed, Lin Chen got into the car, rolled down the window, and turned back to give some instructions:

"Brother, get in the car and hold the steering wheel firmly. I'll slowly pull you up."

The SUV engine gave a deep, rumbling roar, and the car lurched forward. The Santana swayed twice before being pulled out of the way, easily returning to the smooth road surface in less than a minute. The car was straight without a scratch; whether the chassis was damaged was unknown.

The whole process was crisp and efficient, without any unnecessary delays.

With the danger averted, Xie Baochang and his wife rushed forward to thank the SUV repeatedly.

Xie Baochang took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and handed it to Lin Chen, personally lighting it for him.

"Brother, we're so grateful for your help today. Without you, we don't know how long we'd be freezing in this snowdrift. Where are you headed?"

Lin Chen took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled a thin wisp of smoke, and remained composed.

"I went back to the village and just bought some copper pots from town. I'm going to make hot pot for my wife tonight. Where are you two visiting, brothers?"

"Let's go find my daughter."

Su Guifen eagerly struck up a conversation, her eyes carefully scrutinizing Lin Chen. The more she looked at him, the more pleasing he seemed, a smile playing on her lips.

"You're really good to your partner, coming out to buy hot pot in this snowy weather."

"That's right, I have to treat my woman well. Don't even mention snow, if she wants to eat something, I'll get it for her even if it's snowing." Lin Chen was thinking about Xie Dajiao right now. It's not easy for her to give birth to his child at such an old age. She should eat and drink a little without getting sick.

Su Guifen couldn't help but offer a few more words of praise, speaking from the heart without any formalities:

"Young man, you're handsome, kind-hearted, efficient, and good to your wife. Judging from the car you drive, you're not bad off, yet you have no airs at all. That's rare."

Lin Chen neatly folded the tow rope and put it back in the car, waving with a smile:

"I'm not married yet, but I've decided on this wife and I have to take responsibility. Today's incident is really nothing, but the road is all icy. You two must drive slowly and carefully, and if anything happens, brake lightly so you don't stomp your feet and kill someone. I still have things to take care of in the village, so I'll head out first."

"Alright, alright, brother, you go ahead with your work! Drive carefully on the road!" Xie Baochang and his wife nodded repeatedly as they saw them off.

Lin Chen smiled, raised his hand to say goodbye, closed the car door, and the Land Cruiser disappeared into the snow-covered landscape, turning a corner and vanishing into the white mist.

The couple got back into the Santana, where the warm air inside dispelled the chill from their bodies.

Su Guifen leaned back in the passenger seat, still talking about the young man from earlier, her eyes full of admiration:

"This young man is really good. I'm never wrong in judging people. He doesn't talk much or boast, and he's decisive and straightforward in his work. You can tell he has a big vision. Look at that car, he must be someone who has a big business."

Xie Baochang started the car and drove it forward steadily at a low speed, nodding thoughtfully:

"Hmm, he's a good prospect. He has composure and poise, unlike those frivolous and impetuous country bumpkins. It's remarkable that he has such maturity at such a young age."

He spoke with a hint of regret:

"I was so busy just now that I forgot to get their contact information. I'll thank them properly when I have time later."

Su Guifen laughed and patted his arm, teasingly saying:

"Your occupational habit has kicked in again. You see a young person with good character and you want to befriend them. Hurry up and drive on to the farm."

"When we meet Xiaomei, we'll tell her about this kind young man. Although we don't know which village he's from, in such a small place, driving this kind of car is obviously not for an ordinary person. We can find out his background by asking around."

The Santana slowly drove towards Xiangyashan Village, braving the heavy snow.

……

At this moment, Xie Xiaomei was making statistics at her desk in the farm when Liu Yishui knocked on the door and entered.

"Sister-in-law, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Xie Xiaomei suddenly looked up and asked:

"What did you call me?"

Liu Yishui was still wondering why Xie Xiaomei was so surprised, and then said:

"Sister-in-law, you're Chen-ge's girlfriend, is there anything wrong with me calling you 'sister-in-law'?"

That address of "sister-in-law" touched Xie Xiaomei's heart, and she couldn't stop smiling, but she said:

"Oh dear, we're not even married yet, why are you calling me 'sister-in-law'?"

Liu Yishui was clever; knowing Xie Xiaomei liked to hear this, he quickly said:

"Sister-in-law, whether we're married or not, I'll consider you my only sister-in-law. Brother, I have something to ask you. The Livestock Bureau has a breeding rabbit promotion project. Do you think our farm can get it?"

Xie Xiaomei slammed her hand on the table and stood up, startling Liu Yishui.

"Don't worry, just because you call me 'sister-in-law,' I have to help you get it. No matter how many people are interested, I'll do everything I can to help you!"

"Oh my god, that's wonderful, sister-in-law! Do you know anyone with connections in this area, sister-in-law?"

Xie Xiaomei was so flattered by the compliment that she couldn't stop smiling. She took out her phone and said:

"Don't worry, let me call and ask what's going on."

Just as Xie Xiaomei was about to make a phone call, she heard the sound of a car outside, and the car slowly glided to the gate of the yard.

Xie Xiaomei walked out casually, one hand in her pocket and the other on the phone. She glanced around and was stunned at first, thinking she had misread it. But the next second her eyes lit up and a smile immediately spread across her face as she closed her phone.

"Dad! Mom! What are you doing here! Why didn't you call me beforehand so I could pick you up!"

Xie Baochang got out of the car, smiling and sighing:

"I was thinking of giving you a surprise."

"We've finally finished all those year-end assessments and record-keeping drudgery at work. Your mother and I squeezed out a day to see if you're settling in well here, and also to visit your aunt in the village. We've been worried about her because she's pregnant."

Su Guifen nimbly followed her daughter out of the car, immediately reaching out to grasp her daughter's icy hand, then repeatedly rubbing it between her palms to warm it.

"Look at you, child! Your hands are as cold as ice!"

The family of three was chatting at the door when Liu Yishui heard the noise outside and quickly ran out to greet them.

When Xie Xiaomei saw Liu Yishui approaching, she introduced him generously:

"Let me introduce you two. This is Liu Yishui, my girlfriend's good friend, and also the manager of this farm."

She then turned to Liu Yishui and introduced her parents:

"This is my dad, the deputy secretary of the county's Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau, in charge of all aspects of farming, animal husbandry and agricultural technology in the county. This is my mom, the head of the Market Regulation and Management Section of the Industry and Commerce Bureau, in charge of all the market and individual business license and annual inspection in the county."

Upon hearing these two sentences, Liu Yishui immediately felt a tightness in his chest and became a little nervous.

These two are no ordinary people; they are cadres from powerful departments in the county. Liu Yishui is usually a respected figure in Ivory Mountain, but he was somewhat reserved in front of his senior leaders.

He wiped his hands clean repeatedly on his blue overalls, then bent over and offered his hand, his tone very enthusiastic:

"Oh, Uncle, Aunt! It's snowing heavily outside, come inside and warm up! Your visit was so sudden, I didn't prepare anything, please forgive me if I haven't been a good host!"