Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

As dusk settled and the sun set, the summer heat dissipated slightly, and Ivory Mountain Village became completely dark.

The countryside is very quiet at night, without the noise of city traffic. All you can hear are the croaking of frogs in the fields, the chirping of insects in the grass, and the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.

Xie Dajiao sat cross-legged on the small heated kang in the outer room, with a plate of peanuts, a dish of vegetables, and a cup of loose white wine in front of her, drinking alone to relieve her boredom.

But after taking two sips, she couldn't taste any alcohol at all. Her heart was in turmoil, and her mind was filled with images of Lin Chen.

It's as if you could reach out and touch those strong muscles.

It's as if you can see Lin Chen galloping there if you close your eyes.

Last night's images kept flooding back: young, strong arms, burning body temperature, a clean, refreshing scent mixed with a faint smell of alcohol, and every touch was crystal clear.

"well……"

She sighed, subconsciously pursed her lips, and felt a strange heat rising throughout her body.

Reason was pulling her apart, repeatedly sounding the alarm bells.

I can't go looking for Lin Chen anymore, I absolutely can't.

She was still nominally Li Fu's wife, but everyone in the village gossiped about her. If even a whisper of it got out, the whole village would drown her in their spittle.

If you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet eventually. Sooner or later, someone will catch you in the act, and your reputation will be completely ruined in Ivory Mountain. You'll never be able to hold your head up again for the rest of your life.

But another thought burst forth from the depths of her mind, surging unchecked.

She is thirty-seven years old this year and has been living alone for many years, in a marriage in name only, living a lonely and torturous life.

Why make things difficult for yourself when you've finally met a young, domineering, calm, and agreeable man like Lin Chen?

Since we've already had a night of intimacy, what difference does one more or one less time make? The most important thing in life is to be happy, so just enjoy life while you can.

Two thoughts were battling in her mind, constantly entangled and tormenting her, making her feel restless and agitated.

She suddenly raised her hand and slammed the glass down on the kang table, spilling a little wine. Her brows furrowed tightly, her frustration finding no outlet.

Just then, the shop door was gently pushed open, and Wang Changgui, holding a flip phone, slowly walked into the shop.

He deliberately straightened his back, seemingly ignoring Xie Dajiao, and upon entering the room, he pretended to answer a phone call, intentionally raising his voice to flaunt his status as a village official.

"Yes, I've noted down the town's meeting schedule. The village meeting will be on time tomorrow. Yes, yes, just do as I say."

After hanging up the phone, he pretended to look worried, pulled over a stool by the door, sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and sighed deeply.

Xie Dajiao glanced at him coldly and casually replied in a flat tone:

"What's wrong, Chief Director? You look so worried all the time. What happened in the village again?"

"It's not a village matter, it's a worry for the girl in my family."

"Xiangxiu? What's wrong?"

Wang Changgui lowered his voice, as if they were having a private heart-to-heart talk:

"I'm telling you, you absolutely mustn't tell anyone. Since Xiangxiu came back, she's been getting more and more scheming. It's understandable that our daughter is all grown up. Yesterday, she asked me whether Xie Yongqiang or Lin Chen was better."

"This afternoon, Yongqiang got drunk after drinking with me and couldn't walk. Xiangxiu offered to help him home, and I thought she had taken a liking to Xie Yongqiang. But then we ran into Lin Chen there. After he came back, he started crying as soon as he closed his bedroom door and refused to eat dinner. I really can't figure out what's on the girl's mind."

Xie Dajiao instantly understood and chuckled inwardly. "You think your Xiangxiu has designs on Lin Chen? What about your niece?"

Then, feigning indifference, he spoke casually:

"I thought it was a big deal. What's there to worry about? Xie Yongqiang is a proper college student. He said he'll get a job after graduation, a stable and secure job with a bright future. Just let Xiangxiu choose Yongqiang without worry. They can even go to the city later."

Upon hearing this, Wang Changgui slapped his thigh, and suddenly everything became clear:

"You're absolutely right! Big Foot, you see things clearly. Although Yongqiang is a bit soft-hearted and a little cowardly, he has a good education, so he'll have no problem living a good life in the future. Xiangxiu won't be at a disadvantage following him. Okay! I'll have a good talk with Xiangxiu tomorrow."

The two chatted casually for a few more minutes about village life. Wang Changgui didn't linger, as it wouldn't be good to be seen by others. After clearing his mind, he got up and left.

Xie Dajiao closed the shop door completely and locked it tightly. She stayed at home by herself, her heart pounding wildly. The heat and longing she had suppressed earlier were now even more intense than before.

She paced back and forth in the cramped shop, restless and uneasy, until past ten o'clock at night.

All the lights in every household in the village were turned off, and the villagers were all fast asleep.

The inner struggle tormented her for two whole hours, the old clock on the wall ticking away, each tick striking the taut strings of her heart.

Her last line of defense crumbled. She gritted her teeth and threw all thoughts of reputation, rumors, and concerns to the wind.

I must go tonight! Even just this once is better than tossing and turning at night, suffering from lovesickness!

She got up and quickly went back to the inner room, changed out of the clothes that had been covered in dust from working during the day, and chose a pair of close-fitting, soft short-sleeved shirts and trousers. The fabric clung to her body and outlined her figure. She then smoothed her messy hair in front of the mirror and applied a light layer of face cream. The fragrance of the face cream masked the smell of alcohol on her body.

She dared not walk on the main road of the village, fearing that she might run into villagers returning home late at night and cause gossip. She quietly pushed open the back door of the grocery store, went out through the courtyard door, took the small path, and walked lightly. With her head down, she walked quickly towards the Lin family's house at the entrance of the village, taking advantage of the dappled starlight.

The mountain wind rustled the roadside weeds, and the only sounds were the chirping of insects. The entire path was dark and quiet, without a single human voice.

Xie Dajiao's heart beat faster and faster as she walked, her chest pounding wildly, her palms and back covered in cold sweat. She was afraid of being seen by someone, but she was also eager to see Lin Chen. Her steps quickened, and she broke out in a sweat.

A moment later, she stood in front of the Lin family's gate, stepped inside, her hand hovering in the air. After hesitating for two seconds, she gently knocked three times on the door, the sound so soft that only those inside the courtyard could hear it.

The next second, the door slid open inwards without delay.

Lin Chen stood in the dim night inside the door, wearing only a black tight-fitting tank top, revealing his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and his forearm muscles were clearly defined.

His dark eyes were fixed on the woman at the door, his gaze unwavering, as if he had anticipated her every move. In a low, deep voice, he whispered:

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Before Xie Dajiao could reply, Lin Chen reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the house.

The door slammed shut, the bolt clicked shut, completely isolating them from the outside world and turning them into a closed space for just the two of them.

Xie Dajiao was caught off guard and bumped into Lin Chen's arms. Her heart skipped a beat, but she was calmer than last night.

The man's burning heat emanated through the thin fabric of her clothes, creating a sense of oppression and aggression. She instinctively raised her hand to press against his chest, trying to take a half-step back, but her wrist was firmly held and she could not move.