Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Xie Dajiao also leaned forward and said in a puzzled tone:

"Yeah, Xiaochen, this house has already been renovated and tidied up, and it's quite comfortable to live in. Why are you thinking of building a new house? Isn't that just making a mess of things?"

Lin Chen traced the floor plan on the computer screen with his fingertip, revealing his long-planned scheme:

"I won't mess around at all; I've already figured it out."

"We won't build anywhere else, we'll just build it in our yard. Once the frozen ground thaws in the spring, we'll tear down the old house and build a villa on the spot."

"Our house is too old. No matter how well it's renovated, it won't be enough. We were thinking of making do for a few more years, but now it seems that won't work. We're about to have a child, and the house is only so big. It's too cramped."

"The worst part is the inconvenience. The dry toilet in the yard attracts flies and smells bad in the summer. Not to mention rainy days, in winter, going to the toilet makes your butt and legs freeze."

"Haven't we gotten by like this all these years?"

He glanced down at Xie Xiaomei in his arms, then at Xie Dajiao, whose belly was slightly protruding, and said with heartache:

"The situation is different now. Big Foot, you're pregnant, and your body is getting heavier every day. With your big belly, postpartum period, and taking care of the baby, it'll be too much of a hassle to go out to the toilet every day. Building a new house is all about comfort. We've installed a bathroom and shower room inside so you can take a shower. The whole house has hot water, making everything convenient. You won't have to suffer like this anymore."

The group felt a warm glow inside, knowing that Lin Chen was thinking of them.

Xie Xiaomei, being meticulous, was the first to think of the village's practical difficulties. She frowned slightly, pointed at the blueprints, and asked:

"Brother Chen, your idea is good, and it will definitely be great to live in after it's built. But our village has limited resources. There's no running water or sewage system. Where will you drain the dirty water if you install a toilet and shower? We can't rely on carrying water by hand for daily use, can we?"

Wang Xiaomeng nodded in agreement.

"Xiaomei is right. In our entire Xiangyashan, every household still has dry toilets. If you install an indoor toilet, the sewage won't drain properly, and it will stink. It's better to do it now."

Their concerns reflected the most practical problems of building a house in the countryside. Lin Chen gently held Wang Xiaomeng's hand and said with a smile:

"I've already considered all the things you're worried about. The construction team, equipment, and plans are all in place, so you don't need to worry about anything."

He started by talking about water usage:

"Drill a deep well on the west side of the yard. It will be completely different from our shallow well now. It will have a large water output and clean water quality. We will also install a pressure tank without a pressure tower to provide stable water supply for the whole house, just like the tap water in the city apartment buildings."

"All the water pipes entering the house are buried more than 1.5 meters deep, embedded under the frozen soil layer, and the outside of the pipes are wrapped with insulation cotton to completely prevent freezing."

"With an additional set of sand and activated carbon filters at the water inlet, the water quality is much cleaner than that of ordinary well water in the village, so we can use it for cooking, drinking, and washing with peace of mind."

After discussing water usage, he pulled up the chat history and the information he had researched, and said:

"I implemented a sewage and waste separation system for wastewater treatment. Sewage is piped separately into a three-chamber septic tank to ensure harmless treatment. Oily water from washing vegetables and dishes in the kitchen first passes through a three-stage grease trap to filter out all oil and residue, preventing pipe blockage and odor. Clean water and wastewater from bathing and laundry are filtered separately in a sedimentation tank."

"All the treated wastewater is eventually discharged into a deep infiltration well. I had someone dig this well deep, and the well walls are made of dry-laid pebbles for ventilation. It is completely buried under the frost line, so it won't clog, accumulate water, or smell. I only need to contact a vacuum truck to clean it every six months. It only costs a little money and it can be kept clean. It's worry-free and hassle-free."

After recounting these details, Lin Chen spoke calmly, yet with unwavering confidence, as he swept his gaze over the three women before him:

"You don't need to worry about the construction, expenses, or maintenance. I'm not short of money. I just want you to live comfortably, especially Da Jiao. Being pregnant is already hard enough. I hope you can suffer less during your postpartum period and when you're taking care of the baby."

These words warmed the hearts of the group. Wang Xiaomeng and Xie Xiaomei exchanged a glance and secretly smiled.

Wang Xiaomeng gently nudged Xie Dajiao's arm and said in a teasing tone:

"Did you hear that, Aunt Big Foot? In the entire Ivory Mountain, you won't find a man as considerate as him. He even took care of everything for you during your postpartum period and when you were taking care of the baby."

Xie Xiaomei also put her arm around Lin Chen's neck, looked at Xie Dajiao, nodded and smiled:

"You're absolutely right, your man is so sweet."

Xie Dajiao was embarrassed by the two teasing her, and her gaze towards Lin Chen was filled with endless tenderness. She even thought that as long as her body allowed, she would have a few more children with Lin Chen.

Her tone softened, with a hint of smugness:

"What do you mean 'my man'? Isn't he your man too? We're family, so naturally he thinks of us in everything he does."

A single sentence made everyone burst into laughter, and the room became lively and cozy.

……

Before we knew it, the New Year was over. Snow was piled up in every household's yard. Villagers visited each other, chatting and gossiping, or playing cards and mahjong. The whole village was relaxed and leisurely, but very comfortable, with a slow pace.

Inside Lin Chen's house, a large stack of blueprints for the new house was spread out on the table.

The top rendering is very eye-catching, with beige exterior walls and a large red sloping roof, which is very fashionable. In particular, the large floor-to-ceiling windows on the front are absolutely unique in the village.

There was a pile of densely packed construction drawings underneath, including details on water and electricity systems, apartment layouts, and so on, all laid out clearly.

The people inside were all busy with their own things, unhurried and relaxed, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made you feel at ease.

Xie Dajiao was pregnant, and her belly was slightly protruding, but she was not delicate at all. She slowly wiped the glass teacups, wiping one and setting them down one by one, her movements gentle and careful.

She had just come back and was tidying up when she said that guests were coming to her house today—a construction team from the city. Wang Yun was looking after the shop, so there wouldn't be any problems.

Xie Xiaomei was busy at the table, working quickly and efficiently.

Around 10 a.m., the sound of brakes came from the gate of the compound, and a van with an engineering logo stopped.

As soon as the car door opened, two people in overalls got out.

The leader, surnamed Zhang, looked steady and experienced, with a blueprint book in his hand. Behind him followed a young technician named Li, carrying a bag. The two of them looked like legitimate construction workers in the city, completely different from the bricklayers in the village.

Lin Chen went out to greet him with a smile:

"Zhang, Xiao Li, we finally meet. It's cold outside, come inside and warm up."

The two quickly returned the greeting, shook hands, and went inside. Hot tea was served, and after a brief chat, they got straight to the point, opening the blueprints and getting down to business.

Lin Chen pointed at the blueprint and said crisply:

"Zhang, I won't beat around the bush. I have two requirements: first, the materials must be the best; second, the construction period must be fast. Don't worry about the money; I'm not short of it."

"The steel and cement must be from reputable manufacturers; not a single defective product can be mixed in. The windows must be double-glazed and tempered. On the living room side, I want a large floor-to-ceiling window to let in plenty of natural light. It can't feel cramped; it has to look impressive."

"The tiles, bathroom fixtures, and cabinet materials in the house were all installed to the standards of a high-end residential area. We did everything to make it look good, sturdy, and comfortable to live in."

When the topic turned to the construction period, Lin Chen's tone became more serious, and his attitude was very firm:

"We have to meet the deadline. I don't care when you start work. The workers will work in two shifts, day and night, and then continue working at night with searchlights. I'm quite far from the village, so it won't interfere with your work. The main construction and decoration will be done in parallel. As long as you can do it quickly and well, I'll give you a bonus if you finish ahead of schedule."

After listening, Engineer Zhang looked down at the blueprints and checked the procedures, weather, and manpower with Xiao Li. After pondering for five or six minutes, he finally looked up and replied.

"Boss Lin, spring came early this year, and the frozen soil is thawing faster than in previous years. There's no problem starting construction in April. The foundation will definitely be stable and won't affect the quality."

"According to your plan, it can be completely completed by the end of September at the earliest. Once everything is tidied up inside and out, it will be ready for immediate occupancy."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen immediately shook his head:

"September is too late, I can't wait. It must be completed by the end of July at the latest. I still need to ventilate. Can you guys take a look and see if it's feasible? If you can, great. If not, I'll find another team. I won't delay things."

As he spoke, Lin Chen pretended to pick up the phone and get up.

Zhang Gong and Xiao Li panicked instantly and quickly reached out to stop him.

These days, there are many house construction jobs in the countryside, but it's hard to find a client as generous as Lin Chen, who's even willing to give bonuses. This deal is going to be very profitable, and we absolutely can't let this big order fall through.

"No, no, no! Boss Lin, don't worry!"

Engineer Zhang frowned, quickly calculating:

"If we squeeze the production schedule, add more people and equipment, and work on different processes in parallel, we can definitely get ahead!"

The two of them huddled together and whispered and studied for a long time before finally settling on a plan to expedite the work.

"Got it, let's do it! We'll move in ahead of schedule and start construction in late March. You guys hurry up and tidy up the house these next couple of days."

Lin Chen handed out cigarettes to the two of them, took a puff, and asked:

"Is it feasible? The land hasn't been properly fertilized yet. Can we even start construction? You can't just try to fool us."

"We can get the work done, and we absolutely won't cut corners. You can ask around about our capabilities. I wouldn't ruin our reputation for one job."