Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

He put down his chopsticks and spoke with a serious expression:

"Dad, I have something to tell you. Guiying and I have discussed it and we're thinking of getting our marriage certificate in a couple of days and setting a date. We can't keep putting it off like this."

Upon hearing this, Xie Guangkun immediately stopped eating corn, glanced at his son sideways, and said:

"Get a marriage certificate? Sure, but let me ask you, how's the matter of changing the child's surname coming along?"

The smile on Xie Yongqiang's face vanished instantly, replaced by helplessness.

"I didn't say it. How could I bring it up? They're perfectly fine, why should their child have to change their surname? If I said it, they'd definitely argue with me."

"We have to say it, even if it's just a little argument!"

Xie Guangkun immediately threw the corn into the empty plate:

"Changing the name won't work! When a woman from the Xie family marries, the child must have the Xie surname! The Xie family can't have someone with an outsider's surname; I can't bear that shame!"

Yongqiang's mother laughed heartily upon hearing this, and then chuckled as she said to Xie Yongqiang:

"I have to say, your dad is really something else. Where did these aliens come from? The space agency hasn't even discovered them yet, but your dad has? You're a grown man, and you're always spouting nonsense."

"Don't interrupt! This is important!"

Xie Guangkun glared fiercely at his wife, then turned to stare at Xie Yongqiang, his tone firm and leaving no room for negotiation:

"Let me tell you, Yongqiang, everything else is negotiable, but this is not. If you want to get the marriage certificate, that's fine, but first, the child must change his surname to Xie. Otherwise, you can forget about getting the certificate. I don't agree."

"Dad, can't you be reasonable?"

Xie Yongqiang was also a bit annoyed. He put down the corn, looked at his father, and said resentfully, "..."

"How did Guiying treat our family? She bought the car, and she always helps out with money and effort when there's trouble at the orchard. And then I tell her the child should have the Xie surname? Is that something a human being would do? What does she want from me?"

"What for? To become a daughter-in-law of the Xie family!"

Xie Guangkun spoke with righteous indignation:

"She's a member of the Xie family now that she's married into the family. Isn't it only natural that her children should have the Xie surname? What, does she think she can take over? Let me tell you, if any child in our family takes a different surname, I'll be too ashamed to face your grandfather even after I die!"

"You should say less. Let the child live their life however they want. Why are you meddling?"

Yongqiang's mother quickly tried to smooth things over, giving Xie Guangkun a push:

"You can't even shut up a meal; you make the child unhappy with a perfectly good meal."

"Who am I doing this for? I'm doing it for this family!" Xie Guangkun retorted, wanting to continue arguing.

Xie Yongqiang completely lost his appetite, picked up an ear of corn, and stood up:

"Alright, Dad, stop talking. I can't bring this up with Guiying. Let's postpone the marriage registration. I'm going to the orchard."

After saying that, he turned around and left, avoiding the situation.

Xie Guangkun watched his son storm off, and slammed his fist on the table in anger:

"Look at this! This is what you've spoiled him with! He's completely useless! Let me tell you, Xie Yongqiang, if he doesn't agree to this, nothing I say will change his mind!"

Yongqiang's mother rolled her eyes at him and said irritably:

"You're something else! You can't even enjoy your meal in peace, you've driven the kids away. I think you're just bored!"

Xie Guangkun angrily grabbed a ear of corn and continued munching on it, muttering to himself:

"Anyway, I'm in charge of this. If you don't change your name, don't even think about entering the Xie family!"

"Then I'll change my name too. I'm not a member of the same family. Tomorrow I won't be called Zhao Jinfeng anymore, I'll be called Xie Jinfeng, okay? All you do is talk nonsense all day long. I'm not eating anymore, you can eat by yourself!"

At the same time, the atmosphere at Liu Neng's home was also tense.

The couple sat outside eating in dim lighting. A simple dinner was laid out on the table, consisting of just two simple side dishes.

Liu Neng sat on a small stool, holding a wine glass in his hand, sipping his wine one sip at a time. Ever since he came back in the afternoon, he had been like this, sighing and looking unhappy.

Liu Yingniang came out of the outer room carrying two bowls of sorghum rice porridge. She put the bowls on the table, looked at him, and scolded him impatiently:

"Drink, drink, drink! All you do all day is sip that horse piss. Ever since you came back this afternoon, you've been sighing and groaning. What's wrong? Who upset you?"

Liu Neng put down his wine glass, pouted, and said with a frustrated expression:

"Who else could it be? You didn't see Xie Guangkun's smug look! He stood at the gate all afternoon, telling everyone that his Yongqiang bought a car for over 80,000! He was practically strutting around like a madman. It was infuriating to look at."

"It's none of your business if they buy what they want."

Liu Yingniang sat down and ate her rice, looking completely indifferent.

"They are indeed capable, what's the use of being envious? Even if you bought them a car, would you be able to drive it? Just focus on your own life and stop worrying about things that don't concern you."

"No... No way!"

Liu Neng slammed his hand on the table, making the wine glasses on it shake violently, his face serious:

"I can't let Xie Guangkun outdo me! His Xie family has a car, our Liu family can't be left behind! I... I need to buy a car too!"

Liu Ying's mother almost spat out her food, staring at him as if he were a fool:

"Come on, you can't even handle a donkey cart, let alone a car? Besides, what are you going to use to buy one? Do you even have enough money in your pocket to buy a wheel? Stop talking nonsense."

"I don't have money, but some people do."

Liu Neng's eyes darted around, and a wicked smile appeared on his face:

"Zhao Si is rich. Let Zhao Si pay for it for me. Didn't he sell a batch of flowers?"

"Is Zhao Si your father? He spoils you like this?"

Liu Yingniang rolled her eyes at him:

"Why should they buy you a car? They haven't even paid off their loan yet. Don't cause trouble for our daughter. Liu Ying is pregnant. If you let this cause her to have conflicts with her in-laws, just shut up!"

"Don't make a fuss, he'll definitely be happy to."

Liu Neng picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said confidently:

"Our daughter is pregnant with his son's child right now, and he's been longing for a grandson like crazy. He'll agree to anything I say!"

Besides... I don't really want it, it's just for show. They'll still drive the car after we buy it. Yutian can use it to haul seedlings or something. I'll just drive it out occasionally to show off and let Xie Guangkun see that we have a car too, so we don't get all cocky.

"You'd better stop embarrassing yourself."

Liu Yingniang didn't believe it at all:

"Zhao Si is so stingy, would he really give you that money? Even rich people have to pay off their loans in town. I think you're delusional."

"Just you wait and see."

Liu Neng put down his wine cup; his mind was made up.

"Let me tell you, we have to buy this car, otherwise I'll never be able to hold my head up in the village again. Let Xie Guangkun look down on me? No way!"

The more he thought about it, the happier he became. He could already picture himself driving his little car in front of Xie Guangkun. He happily popped a peanut into his mouth, and even the wine tasted extra sweet.

Liu Yingniang sighed helplessly beside her, knowing her husband's temperament all too well.

"Keep trying to be clever. If you push Zhao Si too far, see how you'll explain it to your daughter."

Liu Neng waved his hand casually, not taking it to heart at all. His mind was full of thinking about how to get Zhao Si under his thumb tomorrow and smoothly get the money for the car.

……

Around 8 p.m., most of the resort's staff had gone home to rest.

After taking a shower, Lin Chen changed into a loose-fitting short-sleeved loungewear outfit and leaned against the headboard playing on his phone.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door twice.

Secretary Li walked in carrying a plate of cut fruit, her footsteps very light.

She gently placed the fruit plate on the bedside table, took a step back, and immediately stood up straight, motionless by the bed, quietly waiting as if ready to give orders at any moment.

Lin Chen looked at her for two seconds, turned off his phone screen, casually tossed it onto the pillow, and said with a half-smile:

"Hey girl, what are you doing? Your posture is perfect, are you a retired soldier?"

Xiao Li paused for a moment, then quickly shook his head:

"Oh? No, Mr. Lin, I've never served in the military."

"Never done it before?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow:

"When I saw you suddenly stand right in front of me, completely still, I thought you were my bodyguard. What, are you afraid I'll run away in the middle of the night?"

Xiao Li hurriedly explained:

"No, no, Mr. Lin, I just thought that since you're staying here, it's not good to have someone to take care of you. I'll stand here and keep watch. If you need anything, like water or something, I can get it for you anytime."

"Mr. Liu said that I must take good care of you, provide one-on-one service, and not neglect you in the slightest."