Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

"I'd rather spend money to build the best house in the village than spend the same amount of money to buy an apartment in the city."

Xie Xiaomei's heart skipped a beat. She felt even more that Lin Chen was insightful and gentle, unlike any of the frivolous men she had ever met. She sighed softly:

"No wonder everyone in the village praises you. You are not only capable, but also have a good character. I had been looking for someone who is down-to-earth, insightful, and knows how to act appropriately. I never expected to meet such a person on my first day back in the village."

She seemed to be talking to herself in the second half of her sentence, and Lin Chen didn't hear it.

The two chatted animatedly, while Xie Dajiao, sitting on a bench nearby, watched her niece's eyes lingering on Lin Chen. Overjoyed, she slapped her thigh, interrupting their conversation and using the opportunity to invite them to stay for dinner.

"Alright, alright, stop just standing there chatting. It's lunchtime, I'll make some chive pancakes. Lin Chen, don't leave either, just have a bite in the back room of my shop!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen waved his hand and declined, saying:

"No need to trouble yourself, I'll just grab a quick bite when I get back, it won't keep you two from catching up."

Seeing Lin Chen about to leave, Xie Xiaomei felt a sudden anxiety and instinctively took half a step forward, mustering her courage to try and stop him:

"Lin Chen, please stay and eat with us! Don't be shy, my aunt's chive pancakes are absolutely amazing. I've been eating them since I was a child, and you can't find this taste in any restaurant. Also, I have a lot of questions I want to ask you, and I'd especially like to hear you talk about life in Shenzhen, a big city. Please stay!"

Xie Dajiao chimed in, grabbing Lin Chen's arm to stop him from leaving:

"Sure! We're not strangers, no need to be so polite! It's settled then. Xiaomei, go to the back and help me get it ready, that thing's super fast! The filling's already prepared!"

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Lin Chen could only smile and nod in agreement:

"Okay, let's eat here then. It'll seem fake if you refuse again. Do you need my help?"

"No need, no need, we can finish it quickly. You don't know, Xiaomei is very skillful."

With nothing to do, Lin Chen went outside to watch people play chess. After two games, Xie Xiaomei came out wiping her hands, a smile on her face.

"Lin Chen, let's go, dinner's ready!"

"So fast?"

"The dough was prepared in advance, and the filling was ready-made, so it was quick."

The two walked together to the backyard of the grocery store. After entering the store, Lin Chen looked around. This was the first time he had come here in broad daylight.

On the folding round table sat freshly cooked chive pancakes, steaming hot and filling the entire room with their aroma.

Xie Xiaomei took the initiative and went into the kitchen without saying a word. She brought out a few cloves of dried garlic, sat down next to Lin Chen, and sat beside him the whole time, quietly peeling garlic for him with her head down.

She was usually efficient and decisive in her work in the city, but now, sitting next to Lin Chen, she was clumsy and awkward when peeling garlic, her eyes and heart filled with the man beside her, feeling both nervous and excited.

Lin Chen felt a little awkward sitting there, so he turned around and called out:

"Auntie, stop making that! There's enough for the three of us!"

"This is the last batch. We've already wrapped them all up, it would be a waste not to finish them."

Lin Chen said he would go and take a look. When he arrived at Xie Dajiao's place, it was surrounded by a wall, and Xie Xiaomei was focused on peeling garlic and couldn't see it.

He quietly approached Xie Dajiao, who had already noticed him.

Lin Chen hugged her from behind, startling Xie Dajiao, who quickly patted his hand.

"What are you doing? Don't let Xiaomei see. If you want it, you'll have to wait until tonight!"

Lin Chen had a good time for a while. The chive dumplings were ready, but she would run out of energy if she waited any longer. Lin Chen was deliberately targeting her weaknesses.

The three sat down, and Xie Dajiao took a bite of the fragrant chive pancake. While eating, she subtly began to try and bring them together, speaking with a pointed tone:

"Xiaomei, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. You grew up in the city, you have a high level of education, a good job, and you're beautiful. When you look for a partner in the future, you absolutely must not choose a young man from our local rural area."

"It's not that I look down on people from the countryside, it's just that our social circles are different, our values ​​don't align, and we won't have common topics to talk about in the future, so we'll have conflicts sooner or later. You're more suited to finding someone who has come back from a big city, is worldly-wise, mature, steady, and can tolerate and understand you."

At this point, Xie Dajiao looked directly at Lin Chen, her gaze full of implication.

Xie Xiaomei instantly understood her aunt's unspoken meaning, her face flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look up and meet her gaze. She had been peeling these few cloves of garlic for a long time and hadn't finished yet. She was secretly delighted that her aunt had taken the initiative to match her up with Lin Chen.

If you had told me earlier that Lin Chen looked like this, I would have agreed long ago!

Lin Chen picked up his wine glass and took a sip; it was poured by Xie Dajiao earlier.

"Auntie, it's not as absolute as you say. What's the difference between city and countryside? Country people are simple and honest, while city people have a broad perspective. They each have their advantages. When two people live together, the key is that their values ​​match, their character is reliable, and they are tolerant of each other. This is much more important than their background."

"I think Lin Chen is absolutely right!"

Xie Xiaomei immediately looked up and agreed, since she now even said Lin Chen's poop smelled good:

"Background has never been important; character and vision are what matter most. I don't look down on rural areas at all; on the contrary, I think the air is fresh and life is peaceful and comfortable in the countryside."

Brother Lin Chen, you've worked hard in Shenzhen for many years, building your business from scratch. You're truly amazing, and I admire you immensely.

The back-and-forth chat was very comfortable, and Xie Xiaomei gradually became bolder and less reserved. She chatted easily about everyday topics, deliberately trying to bring the two of them closer with every sentence, her eyes full of affection that she couldn't hide.

"Is Shenzhen really bustling? I've always wanted to visit big cities, but I never had the chance until I started working after graduation."

"There are so many people, and so many opportunities, but as lively as it is, it's still not as quiet and comfortable as the village."

Lin Chen looked at Xie Xiaomei beside him:

"I'll call you Xiaomei then. You've always worked in the county town. Are you usually busy with work? Didn't your family object to you suddenly quitting your stable job and returning to the village?"

When her crush asked her a question, Xie Xiaomei replied softly:

"It's quite busy. I sit in the office every day. It's boring and depressing. Anyway, I don't like it. My family didn't agree at first. They felt it would be a pity to give up a secure job. But I don't want to be trapped in the office for the rest of my life. I still want to work on the front line of animal husbandry and also want to change to a new environment."

As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Chen furtively, then mustered her courage and whispered, "..."

"In hindsight, coming back was the right decision."

Her subtle actions became more and more obvious. She would turn her head to look at Lin Chen closely from time to time and speak to him. She would pick the crispiest chive dumplings from her plate and give them to him. When she saw that his wine glass was empty, she would get up and pour him more wine without saying a word.

Lin Chen quickly stopped him:

"Xiaomei, I'm not drinking anymore, this wine is too strong."

"I'll get you some beer, ice-cold!"

Xie Dajiao sat opposite, observing the two of them without making a sound. Seeing her niece's undisguised thoughts, she smiled happily. She would be reluctant to give Lin Chen to anyone else, but it would be perfect to give him to her niece. She could also visit him from time to time.

Xie Dajiao had already planned it out in her mind. After finishing the meal, she would make an excuse to leave the shop and give the two of them some alone time.

A simple home-cooked meal was quickly finished, the plates on the table were empty, and the steam slowly dissipated.

After quickly clearing away the dishes, Xie Dajiao pretended to remember something at the shop, stood up, and walked out.

"You two can chat here for a while; it won't do if no one watches the shop in the front."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Dajiao quickly walked out of the back room, and thoughtfully closed the wooden door behind her, deliberately leaving the two of them a private space to be alone.

The room fell silent instantly, and the atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous.