Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Xie Guangkun became increasingly agitated with his cursing. He raised his shovel and headed up the mountain, seemingly determined to shatter Xie Yongqiang's hopes.

Xie Yongqiang quickly stepped forward to stop him. His voice was terribly hoarse, but he was stubborn.

"Dad, don't do anything reckless! We chose the wrong location on the mountain, but this time there won't be any problems!"

He spoke with great conviction, but the moment he thought about money, Xie Yongqiang fell silent.

He had borrowed from all his friends and classmates, but no one dared to lend him money, and he couldn't get a loan for the orchard either.

The drilling team is leaving the day after tomorrow. If this delay continues, all the money he has invested will be wasted, and his orchard will be completely ruined.

Technician Wang was caught in the middle, unable to please either the elders or the younger ones, and thus pleased neither side. He whispered:

"Uncle, to be honest, the probability of finding water at this well site halfway up the mountain is much higher than at the top..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Guangkun interrupted him:

"You think probability is worth money? Are you going to pay my wages? It's easy for you to say that when you're not in my shoes!"

Technician Wang immediately shut up, sighed helplessly, and decided to get out of the fray.

Hearing the commotion outside, Chen Guiying rushed out in her camouflage uniform, put her hands on her hips, and confronted Xie Guangkun directly.

"Xie Guangkun, what are you yelling about so early in the morning? Did you eat poop or something? Your mouth is full of filth! Your son wants to do something decent, and instead of helping him, you're constantly sabotaging him. What kind of father are you? You old scoundrel!"

"Yongqiang, get to work honestly and diligently. Stop your endless nagging! If you're so capable, show me the money and help your child! If not, shut up and stop pointing fingers!"

Xie Guangkun couldn't stand this and immediately retorted:

"What are you doing, a widow like you, meddling in the Xie family's private affairs? It's none of your business!"

"So what if I'm in charge!"

Chen Guiying took a step forward, spitting directly into his face:

"I invested money in this orchard too! You dare try cutting down a single tree! I'll rip out every last hair from your head!"

"It's just money! I'll take it! At worst, I'll sell the town's grain and oil shop! I refuse to believe this well won't produce water!"

She made Xie Guangkun stumble over a single sentence, pointing at her with his finger, unable to utter a word for a long time, his face turning pale and then red.

Just as the argument was raging, Lin Chen, carrying a bag of soda, slowly walked up the mountain path. He could hear the commotion from afar, like a bustling market.

"I could hear you yelling from far away. What's going on? What's all the commotion about?"

He ignored Xie Guangkun and went straight to Technician Wang and the foreman, handed them two bottles of soda, and quickly learned the current situation in just a few words.

The well location is fine, and there's a high probability of water being produced, but full payment is required before construction can begin. Xie Yongqiang can't come up with a single penny, and the drilling team is leaving the day after tomorrow. If this opportunity is missed, the orchard will be basically ruined.

Xie Yongqiang squatted on the mound of earth, his head bowed low, not daring to look up and speak. Lin Chen had helped him so many times, he was too ashamed to ask for help again.

Xie Guangkun saw Lin Chen and immediately came over and said:

"Lin Chen, you're a village official, you be the judge! This is utter nonsense! Whose money comes from thin air? If the water doesn't come out soon, our Xie family will be bankrupt! I can't control this kid anymore, do whatever you want!"

Lin Chen ignored him completely, walked over to Xie Yongqiang, unscrewed a bottle of soda and handed it to him.

"Yongqiang, it's just the cost of digging a well, I'll pay for it, I'll dig this well!"

Xie Yongqiang looked up abruptly, his eyes wide open, completely stunned, thinking he had misheard.

Lin Chen smiled and simply sat down on the ground, and Chen Guiying and Technician Wang gathered around him.

"Yongqiang, listen carefully. From now on, I will cover all the costs of drilling the well. You don't need to sign any IOUs or mortgage your orchard."

"Let me make this clear from the start: even if we're unlucky and the well remains dry, all the losses will be mine, and it won't have anything to do with you. But if we actually find water, the well is mine, and whatever comes out of it is none of your business."

"First, I want three acres of barren slope around the well. I'll build a small pump house and store some tools and materials. Second, I want the two acres of wasteland at the foot of the mountain near the road. I'll use it for storing goods and parking in the future. It's all the corner wasteland within your contracted area."

"The lease term will be the same as your orchard contract. I will use the land for the same number of years as you contract it. The transfer fees for these two plots will be covered by the well-drilling fee in one lump sum. I will not occupy any of your orchard land."

"If you get water from the well, you can have free irrigation for all your orchards on and around the mountain forever, and you'll always have priority."

"From now on, I'll cover all the electricity costs for pump room maintenance, pipe replacement, and everything else. You don't need to worry about anything. Just turn on the sluice gate to irrigate the fields. Even if I use extra water for other things, it will absolutely not delay your fruit tree irrigation."

"Of course, aside from giving you priority for watering, how I use the remaining water and how I develop it is my business, it has nothing to do with you. I'll only do things on my rented wasteland, I won't enter your orchard or touch your orchard business, we'll each do our own thing."

Everyone present was stunned; the scene was eerily quiet.

Xie Yongqiang held the soda bottle, his hands trembling, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Brother Chen... are you serious? You won't have to pay for the water even if we can't get any? The land is still mine? You're just using those two barren slopes?"

"Would I lie to you?"

Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder:

"I'll find the director and Accountant Xu this afternoon to write up a contract. It will be in black and white, with the land boundaries clearly marked. Even if I take more than half an inch of land, it will be considered a violation."

At this point, Xie Yongqiang completely lost his composure.

The whole village was waiting to see him make a fool of himself, relatives and friends avoided him, and his own father scolded him for being a spendthrift every day. Only Lin Chen, when he was completely desperate, took out money to support him without saying a word and always thought of him, not letting him suffer any loss.

He quickly wiped his eyes, looked up at the sky for a while to stop the tears from falling, which made people laugh.

"Brother Chen, I won't say anything more. I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life, and I agree to all your conditions! Don't just say two plots of wasteland; I'd agree to anything, even more! Once my orchard is established, you'll definitely get a share!"

Xie Guangkun, who had been eavesdropping for a long time, grew angrier and angrier. Seeing that his son's dilapidated orchard was doomed to fail and he still had to persist, he became so anxious that he jumped up and pointed at Lin Chen's nose, cursing him.

"Lin Chen, what do you mean? Huh? Are you trying to tie Yongqiang down to this lousy orchard? He's young and reckless, and you're getting involved too! What are you up to?!"

His mouth was full of nasty, offensive words, saying things like "harming people" and "tricking children," and the more he said it, the more outrageous it became.

Lin Chen's smile vanished, his eyes turned cold, and he stepped forward, grabbing Xie Guangkun by the collar and lifting him up.

"Xie Guangkun, if you can't speak human language, then shut up."

Xie Guangkun's feet left the ground, his neck was choked so badly he couldn't breathe, and his hands and feet flailed wildly.

People nearby quickly came to break up the fight. Technician Wang and the foreman pulled Lin Chen away, while Chen Guiying took the opportunity to give Xie Guangkun a good scolding, not holding back a single word.

"You old bastard! Lin Chen was kind enough to help your family, and you turn around and bite the hand that feeds you! I bet you just want your son to be a good-for-nothing for life! You're utterly heartless!"

Xie Guangkun broke free from the crowd, his eyes red, picked up a shovel, and was about to rush up the mountain to dig up the trees:

"I'll let you dig a well! I'll cut down all the trees, let's see how you get anything done then!"

Lin Chen was still angry and was about to step forward when Xie Yongqiang reached out and stopped him.

Lin Chen thought to himself, "They really are father and son. In this critical moment, the son still protects his father."

Then Xie Yongqiang said:

"Brother Chen, don't do anything. It's not worth it. I've already called the police. They just called me to confirm the address. They'll be there in a couple of minutes. Let my dad stay in there for a day to calm down. Once things are settled here, I'll have my brother-in-law pick him up."

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up:

"Yongqiang, you're ruthless!"

Xie Guangkun was so angry that he trembled all over and almost fainted. He pointed at Xie Yongqiang and roared:

"Xie Yongqiang! You unfilial son! You dare call the police to arrest your father! I am your father!"

Xie Yongqiang looked a little embarrassed, but he didn't back down at all:

"Dad, you're being too impulsive. You're making a scene and trying to destroy my fruit trees. It'll be good for you to go inside and calm down."

Within minutes, the sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance, growing ever closer.

Xie Guangkun, who had been baring his teeth and acting arrogantly just moments before, immediately wilted upon hearing the police siren.

The fierce look on his face vanished instantly, his legs went weak, and he could barely stand. He threw the shovel aside, his heart trembling.

The police officers stepped forward, asked a few simple questions, and then took him back for investigation.

Xie Guangkun kept his head down the whole time, his back hunched, and dared not utter a single harsh word. He obediently followed the police officer to the car.

His steps were slow and unsteady, each step a sway.

Just before getting on the bus, he still wouldn't give up, turning back and shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Xie Yongqiang! You just wait! You unfilial brat! I've raised you for nothing!"

"Dad, you can stay there for one day. I'll have my brother-in-law pick you up tomorrow!"

"Get lost!"

As the police car closed its doors and slowly drove away, the back mountain was finally completely quiet.