Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Seeing this, Qi Santai quickly waved his hand with a smile:

"Alright, Guangkun, stop scolding the kid like that. Yongqiang is just a bit brooding and thinks too much. Don't hold it in, Yongqiang. Listen to your uncle. The internship will be over in a flash. Do your best during this time and get to know your colleagues and superiors better."

"Once Director Xu returns, I promise I'll get it done for you as soon as possible. With your internship experience, your new supervisor will think more highly of you."

Having said all that, Xie Yongqiang had no choice but to nod, his voice muffled, no matter how unwilling he was.

"Yes, I'll listen to my uncle."

Xie Guangkun was finally relieved and immediately put on a big smile, thanking Qi Santai repeatedly.

……

Before we knew it, evening had arrived, and the sky was slowly darkening.

The town's most popular restaurant was packed. The chef was constantly stirring the food in a large iron wok, flames leaping high from the edge of the wok, and the aroma of the food wafted far and wide, reaching the entire street.

Lin Chen had been driving around since noon, figuring out all the road conditions and facilities. On his way back to the village, he passed by this restaurant and decided to stop and go inside.

During this time, Xie Dajiao had been busy taking care of him, running around and taking care of everything. She was busy until late at night every day and couldn't even get a good night's sleep. He felt really bad about it and decided to pack some dishes to treat her properly.

"Boss, pack four dishes for me."

Lin Chen found an empty seat and ordered the food as if he knew the way. There was no menu, so he just ordered whatever dishes were available.

The owner's cooking skills were excellent, and he was efficient. In no time, four dishes were ready. Lin Chen paid the bill, which came to 28 yuan. At this time, food was generally cheap, usually around 258 or 369 yuan. Carrying the packed food, he turned around and drove straight to Xiangyashan Village.

At seven o'clock in the evening, when it was completely dark, the lights were on in Big Foot Grocery Store.

The situation in the store is currently at a standstill.

Wang Changgui sat on the small kang outside, arms crossed, his face stern, brows furrowed, and expression serious.

Liu Neng sat next to him, legs crossed, holding a handful of sunflower seeds in his hand, spitting the shells onto the ground one after another. The ground was already covered with a thick layer of sunflower seeds, and there were also a few cigarette butts scattered around.

The two of them had been holed up in the shop since the afternoon, neither drinking water nor eating, just staring at each other intently for more than three hours, neither willing to take the first step.

Just then, the curtain of the grocery store was gently pushed open, and Lin Chen stepped in carrying the food. Upon entering, he saw this bizarre scene and couldn't help but burst out laughing:

"Hey! What are you two uncles doing? Practicing internal energy cultivation? Or planning to become door gods?"

Hearing the noise, Wang Changgui and Liu Neng turned their heads at the same time, their eyes still fixed on each other, neither willing to speak first.

Xie Dajiao emerged wearily from the inner room, rubbing her temples with a look of utter despair, her voice filled with helplessness:

"Don't even mention it, those two troublemakers, they've been sitting here all afternoon arguing. I've told them to leave eight hundred times, but they just won't budge. They're driving me crazy."

Lin Chen suppressed a laugh, gently placed the food on the counter, and asked curiously:

"What's the big deal that's kept you at it for an entire afternoon? What's the cause of all this arguing?"

Wang Changgui took a puff of his cigarette and said:

"He comes whenever I come; he's definitely taken advantage of me and is spying on me."

"You're just spouting nonsense! You start by insulting people!"

Liu Neng spat a mouthful of sunflower seed shells on the ground:

"When did I receive any benefits? You need to provide evidence. This grocery store is a public place, not your private kang (heated brick bed). You can squat here, so why can't I? You can lie here all afternoon and you're in the right, but I can't sit for two minutes?"

"That was official business!"

"Come on, give me a break! Official business? Don't be ridiculous!"

Liu Neng said with a face full of disdain:

"The village's road repairs and paving are such trivial matters; a few words at the village entrance would suffice, but you've been dawdling here for hours. Everyone knows what you're up to. You're an old...old bachelor, always hanging around that inn with nothing better to do. Do you think no one can see through you? And you're still pretending to be a respectable person!"

"You're talking complete nonsense and ruining my reputation!"

Wang Changgui's face flushed instantly. He stood up, pointed at Liu Neng, and raised his voice several octaves:

"Liu Neng, let me tell you, if you keep making up stories about me, I'll go to the town government and talk to the leaders right now. You're maliciously slandering village officials and deliberately stirring up trouble. Let's see if I can deal with you!"

"Who are you trying to scare? I'm not falling for your tricks."

Liu Neng also stood up, tilted his head back, and confronted him head-on, refusing to give an inch:

"Don't try to intimidate me with your title as a village...village cadre. It won't work. I'm telling you this now: if you don't leave, I'm not leaving. We'll see who stays!"

"Let's see how long it lasts! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Wang Changgui plopped back down:

"This is official business, perfectly legitimate. You're just bored and looking for trouble. If you're so capable, then stay up with me all night. I won't budge an inch!"

"Just endure it! Anyone who backs down is a coward!"

Liu Neng munched on sunflower seeds, deliberately trying to outdo him, looking determined to fight to the bitter end.

Lin Chen almost burst out laughing as he watched the two childishly arguing and refusing to give in.

"Then you two sit down. Xie Xiaomei ordered some food for her aunt and said we should eat together. We're going to eat first."

He quietly tugged at Xie Dajiao's arm and whispered:

"Ignore them. The more you try to persuade them, the more they'll take it seriously. I bought these vegetables. Let's go to the back room and have a hot meal while they watch the shop for us. It'll save us a lot of trouble."

Xie Dajiao was already exhausted both physically and mentally from being tormented by these two. Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded, wishing she could get away from them as soon as possible.

"That really hit the nail on the head. Let's go, don't waste your energy arguing with these two stubborn guys."

Just as the two were about to walk into the back room, Liu Neng immediately stood up, patted his chest, and confidently assured them, looking quite smug:

"Big...Big Foot, you two can go eat without worry. With me here watching the shop, not only will no thief dare to steal anything, but even a mosquito won't be able to fly in. I'll keep a close watch on you!"

Wang Changgui immediately sneered and started to undermine him:

"Watching the shop? Don't flatter yourself. I think you're just lying in wait for me, keeping an eye on me, afraid I'll have a private conversation with Big Foot. You're so scheming, oh my, your mind's all elsewhere. You're just idle and always causing trouble!"

"So what if I'm staring at you? I'm just staring at you!"

Liu Neng glared at him fiercely:

"Who told you to have such ulterior motives? You old bachelor, always hanging around Big Foot's shop, you're up to no good. I won't leave until you move an inch."

Seeing that their bickering was going on and on, Lin Chen deliberately teased them:

"Aren't you two uncles really going to try some? The food is still hot, and how about some drinks? You might miss out on this opportunity!"

Wang Changgui and Liu Neng spoke in unison, turning their heads and saying stiffly:

"I won't eat it! I'm going to fight him to the bitter end today. Whoever gives in is a coward!"

Xie Dajiao rolled her eyes helplessly, too lazy to look at these two clowns anymore, and quickly pulled Lin Chen's arm towards the back room:

"Ignore them, they're as stubborn as mules!"

Entering the back room, Xie Dajiao gently locked the door from the inside and then pulled the thick floral curtains shut completely, leaving no gaps.

The noisy front room was instantly shut out, and the interior was softly lit, private and quiet.

Actually, Xie Dajiao had always been sleeping on the kang (heated brick bed) in the front room of the shop, but since Lin Chen arrived, she has been sleeping there more often.

Lin Chen placed the dishes one by one on the small table, and the rich aroma of the food instantly filled the entire small house.

Intermittent arguing could be faintly heard through the door of the front room, and the noisy commotion only made the quiet and ambiguous atmosphere of the back room seem even more intense.

After a turbulent afternoon, Xie Dajiao completely let down her guard at this moment.

She slowly turned around, sat gently on his lap without any hesitation, wrapped her arms around his neck tenderly, leaned her soft body against his shoulder, and spoke with a hint of grievance in her voice.

"I'm exhausted. These two plagues have been standing in my shop all afternoon. I've been trying to persuade them to stop, afraid that they'll start fighting and attract the whole village to watch. I'd be in a terrible situation, unable to explain myself to anyone."

Lin Chen raised his hand and pinched her chin. He picked up a piece of meat and held it to her mouth.

"You've worked hard, have a taste."

Xie Dajiao obediently opened her mouth and bit down, chewing carefully. It had been a while and wasn't as crispy anymore, but her mood was instantly soothed.

"Mmm, it smells so good. Only you would think of me."

Under the dim, gentle light, the two snuggled together, feeding each other a bite of food and a sip of wine, and the temperature in the small room slowly rose.

Lin Chen's hand landed on her waist, gently caressing its delicate softness, his movements filled with unrestrained craving.

Xie Dajiao's body went limp, a slight warmth rising within her. She gently raised her hand to press down Lin Chen's restless hand, her breathing slightly erratic, and she softly scolded him:

"Stop it... There are still the two of them outside. No matter how loud they are arguing, it's still inside the shop. If someone hears the noise inside and sees them, it will be incredibly embarrassing."

Lin Chen lowered his head slightly, his voice extremely low, with a hint of mischief in it:

"What are you afraid of? They're only thinking about how to compete with each other and don't care about anything else. Even if we talk loudly inside, they won't hear us."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chen used a little force in his arms to steadily lift the person in his arms and pressed Xie Dajiao's head against the wall.

Xie Dajiao was so frightened that she held her breath instantly and quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, afraid of making a sound and causing trouble. Her eyes were full of panic and indulgence.

Feeling uneasy, she cautiously reached out and parted the curtains, leaving a narrow gap, to peek into the front room.

From afar, one could see Wang Changgui and Liu Neng still arguing heatedly, their faces red and spittle flying, their words never yielding an inch, their contest seemingly endless, with no one paying any attention to the commotion in the back room.

The sounds of arguing from the front house drifted in quietly through the cracks...

Wang Changgui was so angry that his teeth itched, and he glared at him, puffing out his beard.

"Liu Neng, have you no shame? You're so old, and instead of doing anything productive, you just wander around aimlessly, meddling in other people's business. You can't even manage your own household affairs, yet you have the time to meddle in other people's business?"