Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Around 7 p.m., the sunset faded, and the village slowly darkened.

The light bulb at Old Zhao's house was so bright it was blinding, and countless tiny flying insects and mosquitoes buzzed around it.

Zhao Yutian stood alone in the courtyard, his brows furrowed and his face grim.

Zhao Si strolled over slowly and continued to persuade him earnestly:

"Yutian, Liu Ying wants you to pick her up. Hurry up and get ready to go to your father-in-law's house to bring Yingzi back."

"I'm not going! Absolutely not! I hate this about her the most. Every time we argue or she's upset, she runs back to her parents' house, as if she wants the whole village to know we're having a fight, right?"

"She wants a bicycle too? I'm definitely not buying her one this time! She's been spoiled rotten, and the more I pamper her, the more arrogant she gets!"

Zhao Si's lips twitched with anger. He had managed to calm her down that afternoon, but now he just sighed repeatedly.

"Why are you so stubborn, child? You just won't listen to reason!"

"She's angry with you. Where else can she go if she doesn't go back to her parents' house? Stand outside in the wind? Go pick her up. If she doesn't come back, that's her business. If you don't go, then it's your fault."

"A real man can bend and stretch. What's the point of arguing with your wife? I've coaxed your mother more than once or twice. It's not shameful. If you really drive her away, how can you live like this?"

Yutian's mother also said from the side:

"That's right, Yutian, just bend down and take it back, have a good chat, and everything will be over."

"If you keep putting on a brave face, what will people in the village say about our family? They'll definitely say that the Zhao family is bullying their daughter-in-law. Is that something to talk about?"

Zhao Yutian muttered something in a low voice, his tone noticeably softer than before, lacking the drive he had shown earlier.

"You two go if you want, I'm not going. If I humble myself to greet her today, what if she throws a tantrum and goes back to her parents' house next time? How are we supposed to live together then? Is this never going to end?!"

Zhao Si knew his son well, and he could tell from the tone that the kid was just being stubborn.

……

Once every household in the village had their lights on, Zhao Yutian slowly made his way to Liu Neng's house, taking ages to walk a single step, his face showing obvious displeasure.

He didn't want to come, but he couldn't resist his parents' nagging, one sentence after another.

When he arrived at Liu Neng's house, he went straight inside.

When Liu Neng saw that it was Zhao Yutian, his face immediately fell.

"I thought you weren't moving at all. What's wrong? You finally remembered you have a father-in-law and a wife at her parents' house?"

"Such a small matter, look how angry Liu Ying is! I thought you were so capable, but in the end you had to come to her yourself. Aren't you ashamed?"

Zhao Yutian gritted his teeth, too lazy to respond, and sat on the stool playing with the teacup lid with an impatient expression.

Liu Neng paced back and forth in front of him with his hands behind his back, repeating the same things over and over again, his mouth never stopping.

"Yutian, let me tell you the truth: you have to act with a conscience! Ever since Yingzi married into your Zhao family, has she enjoyed a single day of happiness?"

"She follows you around the flower garden every day, working from dawn till dusk, and all she wants is a bicycle. How much is that thing worth? It's no big deal!"

"And you, you immediately accuse her of being a spendthrift. She marries into your family and has to suffer this kind of humiliation?"

"This isn't over! You need to give me a straight answer! Can you treat Yingzi well from now on? Can you discuss things properly? Are you going to keep giving her the cold shoulder all the time?"

Zhao Yutian just leaned against it, without saying a word.

Normally, if Liu Neng kept rambling on and on, he would have shut him up long ago. But today he was there to pick someone up, so he knew what he was doing and had to hold it in.

I suppressed the anger in my heart again and again, letting it go in one ear and out the other, treating it as nothing more than passing breeze.

For almost ten minutes, Liu Neng kept repeating the same few sentences, over and over again about how Yingzi was wronged, how he didn't know how to care for people, and how stingy he was.

Zhao Yutian was thoroughly annoyed by what he was hearing, and his tone became somewhat perfunctory.

"Dad, you older generation have your own ideas, and we young people have our own way of living. We're just having a little argument, you don't need to take it so seriously."

"Can arguing really send someone back to their parents' home?"

Liu Neng glared at him, about to launch into another round of lecturing.

Liu Yingniang, who was inside the room, couldn't bear it any longer and came out by lifting the curtain:

"Alright! Just shut up! The child has come to our door of their own accord, doesn't that mean they know they were wrong? Why are you still making a fuss!"

As she spoke, she turned and called out to the inner room:

"Yingzi, stop cooped up inside! Come out with Yutian. Young couples shouldn't hold grudges overnight, stop being so dramatic!"

Liu Ying slowly walked out of the inner room, stood at the door without moving, and muttered to herself.

"I'm not going back. He hasn't promised to buy me a bicycle yet. If he doesn't buy it for me, I won't go with him."

Zhao Yutian took a deep breath, completely suppressing his anger. He looked up at her, his tone not particularly gentle, but his words were crisp and decisive.

"Buy it, buy it, I'll buy it for you, okay?"

With just that one sentence, Liu Ying's expression instantly shifted from gloomy to sunny.

Her previously sullen face immediately brightened, and she took two steps forward, afraid that he might change his mind.

"Really? You're not kidding me! Don't go back on your word tomorrow!"

Why would I lie to you? Hurry up, it's getting dark.

Liu Neng wanted to put on airs as a father-in-law and opened his mouth to scold him a few more times, but before he could finish, Liu Yingniang pulled him aside, glared at him fiercely, and cut him off.

Liu Ying ignored them completely and had already happily gone back to her room to get her things. She came out in less than two minutes, urging Zhao Yutian on.

"Let's go, let's go back quickly. It's dark at night, and it's not safe to go late."

The way he was so eager to go home was completely different from how he had insisted on not going back earlier.

The two greeted Liu Neng and his wife, then turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Liu Neng blinked his small eyes and looked at Liu Ying's mother, saying:

"This...you're leaving already? I haven't even had a chance to show my skills yet."

"What are you talking about! If it weren't for you, that couple would have been fine long ago!"

"What do you know? I... I'm just giving the Zhao family a warning!"

"Trying to intimidate us? Watch out, or the horse might kick up its tail!"

……

Meanwhile, in Lin Chen's home, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of food.

Xie Dajiao leaned back on the sofa, chatting idly with Chen Yannan.

"Yannan, are you from Shandong? How come you're so tall and beautiful?"

"Auntie, I'm not from Shandong, my family is from the South."

Xie Dajiao kept asking about university matters and chatting about village gossip, treating Chen Yannan like family at all.

Chen Yannan had long since lost her initial awkwardness. She had figured things out and the relationships between everyone in the family had become clear.

Xie Dajiao is Xie Xiaomei's aunt. She has just given birth and is recuperating here. Wang Xiaomeng is her goddaughter who often comes to help. She is capable, quiet, and quick-witted. She was busy all afternoon. Xie Xiaomei is Lin Chen's serious girlfriend, and he is very easygoing with her and not at all exclusive.

As we were talking, we heard footsteps coming from the stairs.

Lin Chen came down from the second floor, rubbing his neck. Chen Yannan thought he must have just finished work, but actually he had been playing games all afternoon.

"What are you all talking about so animatedly?"

He sat casually on the sofa, turned to look at Chen Yannan, and spoke in a very natural tone.

"Are you adapting well to the environment? Have you got a general idea of ​​the orchard's condition?"

Chen Yannan nodded:

"I've pretty much figured it out. Tomorrow I'll go to the field again to take a closer look at the growth of the saplings, and then I'll be able to come up with a preliminary improvement plan."

"No rush, just settle in first, a day or two won't make a difference."

Lin Chen smiled and turned to call out towards the kitchen:

"Xiaomei, let's eat when the food is ready."

Xie Xiaomei responded immediately from the kitchen, and a moment later, she and Wang Xiaomeng came out carrying the dishes one after the other.

Braised pork ribs, stewed fish, two plates of vegetables, and of course a small bowl of specially prepared postpartum meal, light in oil and salt, specially prepared for Xie Dajiao.

Xie Xiaomei handed the spoon to Xie Dajiao, then turned to call out to Chen Yannan:

"Yan Nan, please sit down. It's just home-cooked food, don't be shy."

The group sat down around the dining table, their positions appearing natural and comfortable.

Lin Chen sat in the main seat, Xie Xiaomei next to him, Xie Dajiao next to him, and Wang Xiaomeng sat on the other side of Dajiao, taking good care of her throughout. Chen Yannan consciously sat on the far side, deliberately keeping her distance and not crowding or grabbing.

At the dinner table, Xie Dajiao and Xie Xiaomei mostly talked, discussing the latest happenings in the village and chatting about the children. Wang Xiaomeng ate quietly, occasionally putting some food on Xie Dajiao's plate.

Lin Chen would occasionally interrupt, and Chen Yannan would lower her head and eat her rice, her eyes fixed on the bowl, but her ears would unconsciously follow Lin Chen's voice.

She glanced at him furtively; the warm light shone on Lin Chen's face, his casual demeanor captivating. The little bit of affection she had just suppressed resurfaced in her heart.

She immediately reminded herself:

Stop overthinking. He has a partner, they're a perfect match, and they're living happily together. You're just a technician from out of town; you'll be leaving once you finish your work. You might get assigned to the Forestry Bureau or somewhere else someday. It's really not right to have these kinds of crazy thoughts.

She quickly withdrew her wandering gaze, composed herself, and hid the unease in her heart. And sure enough, her performance improved a lot. She also talked to Lin Chen and the others about her hometown.

Lin Chen asked:

"Yannan, is there anything you like to eat? I'm afraid you won't be used to the food here."

"No, no, I've been in Northeast China for a long time and I really like the food here. I especially like spicy food, and people from my hometown really enjoy it."

"No problem, make something spicy tomorrow."

"No need, no need, I'll eat whatever you eat."