Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Lin Chen sighed and spoke softly:

"Sigh, how did I end up with such a troublesome brother-in-law like you? Get up. I'll help you this time, but only this once. If there's a next time, even if you kneel to death at my doorstep, I won't care."

Pi Changshan seemed to have crawled back from the brink of death. His eyes lit up instantly, and he scrambled to his feet, hastily brushing the dust off his pants. His face was full of gratitude as he said:

"Thank you, brother! Thank you so much! You're my savior. I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life!"

Don't thank me yet.

Lin Chen interrupted him and whispered a few words in his ear, to which Pi Changshan nodded repeatedly:

"Okay, we'll do it your way."

"Then go home right now, call Xie Lan over, and tell her I need to talk to her. Drop her off at my door and leave. Don't show your face or linger. Wait for my call for updates."

"Understood! I'll do whatever you say!"

Pi Changshan nodded his head rapidly:

"I will definitely complete the land registration procedures within a week, with all the official seals affixed, and deliver it to you cleanly and neatly!"

After saying that, he tiptoed out of the yard, afraid that something might happen if he was even a second late.

Not long after, very light footsteps came from the courtyard gate, slow and deliberate, carrying a heavy heart full of grievances.

The door was gently pulled open, and Xie Lan walked in.

She wore a floral short-sleeved top tonight; the fabric was form-fitting and perfectly accentuated her voluptuous figure, causing her to sway gently as she walked.

At this moment, he was listless and his head was hanging low, his whole body shrouded in an unyielding sense of grievance.

Upon entering the room and seeing Lin Chen sitting by the kang (a heated brick bed), she slowly moved forward two steps, her steps light and unsteady, her whole body weak, as if even standing was difficult.

As soon as I stood on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), the laces on my shoes came undone and drooped softly on the surface of my shoes.

Xie Lan squatted down to tie her shoelaces. As she reached down to gather the loose laces, she was trembling uncontrollably. An adult's breakdown could be caused by such a small thing.

Lin Chen sighed and lifted his buttocks slightly.

Xie Lan was extremely focused at this moment. Her head was shaking uncontrollably back and forth. When she sobbed, her face turned red, and even the tips of her ears turned a bright rouge color. After finally stopping the shaking of her head, she suddenly tilted her head back because the tip of her nose was sore and painful, and snot and tears came out.

Lin Chen stroked her hair, giving her strength and telling her not to be so sad. Every time she suppressed a sob, her head would tremble, and the stray hairs at her temples would shake erratically.

The redness in Xie Lan's eyes deepened, making her look especially heartbreaking.

Looking at her like this, Lin Chen spoke very gently, without a trace of lecturing, only full of consideration:

"Sister Lan, I know that Lao Pi has really acted like a jerk this time. Any woman would break down and want a divorce if she encountered something like this. It's perfectly normal for you to be angry and feel wronged."

Xie Lan lowered her head, her hair obscuring half her face. Her voice was muffled, thick with nasal tone, and indistinct, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat and she couldn't utter them.

"I'm just... so frustrated..."

"I do housework every day... I take care of this home... I've worked so hard and endured all kinds of hardships... But he... he's been cheating on me, even going to the clinic with other people... Every time I close my eyes, I can picture it, my heart feels so heavy I can't breathe, I can't eat, I feel nauseous..."

When Xie Lan got to the point of being upset, her stomach started to churn, which showed just how angry she was.

Seeing her tears, Lin Chen's tone softened, and he patiently comforted her:

"I understand. I see all your pain and your grievances."

"Don't worry, I've already had Lao Pi handle Yan Dongdong's situation. He'll be transferred in a couple of days, leaving this area forever. He'll never appear in front of you again, completely eliminating any future troubles and no longer getting in your way."

"He's completely terrified. He knows he's made a huge mistake. Let me tell you the truth, if this really escalates to the town and he loses his job, you'll be the one who suffers in the end. He'll have no income, and his family will immediately have to struggle. How will you face people in the village after that?"

"We're not going to do something that will result in mutual destruction. We have to cut our losses in time. I'll make him write a guarantee, sign it, and put his fingerprint on it. From now on, all his salary will be handed over to you. You'll have complete control over the family finances. If he dares to make another mistake, he'll be kicked out of the house with nothing."

"What are you afraid of when the money's in our hands? This way, we've taught him a lesson he'll never dare to mess around again, and you've also protected your home and your life. Isn't that better than a complete breakdown?"

Xie Lan was extremely conflicted. After a long silence, a gurgling sound came from her throat, and she finally managed to squeeze out a soft sentence:

"What if he does it again... I'm really worried, it's making me anxious, and I don't dare trust him anymore..."

Lin Chen said with certainty:

"He wouldn't dare. With me here keeping an eye on him, if he ever dares to have any more crooked thoughts, I'm sorry, you don't need to argue or make a fuss. I'll go directly to the Education Commission to report him to the leaders, get him removed from his post, and make sure he has no place to stand."

These words were like a reassuring pill, calming most of Xie Lan's anxiety.

She sniffled, her nose stinging, and swayed slightly. Finally, with a sense of helplessness and resignation, she nodded and said:

"Then...then I'll give him one last chance...If there really is a next time, I will absolutely not be soft-hearted again, and I will cut all ties with him completely..."

Lin Chen nodded slightly:

"That's right. Living together is about mutual compromise. If you can change your ways, then live well. Just wait patiently. I'll have him take you home in a bit, give you the guarantee and your salary, and then make him live an honest life from now on."

Xie Lan gave a soft "hmm," and suddenly Lin Chen's pupils contracted as he saw Xie Lan's tears welling up again. It seemed that getting over it wasn't so easy after all.

"Paper, paper, paper!"

Lin Chen quickly handed her tissues to wipe her tears.

Lin Chen took out his phone and dialed Pi Changshan's number.

The phone was answered after just one ring, and Pi Changshan's urgent voice immediately came through:

"Bro! How's it going? Has Xie Lan given up yet?"

Lin Chen leaned against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers, his voice sounding weary:

"She's finally agreed to come and pick her up. When you get home, be sincere, sign the guarantee and put your fingerprint on it, hand over your salary to Sister Lan, and live a law-abiding life from now on. If you dare to philander again, no one will help you anymore."

Pi Changshan burst into ecstatic joy on the other end of the phone, almost jumping for joy:

"Really? My God, brother! You're amazing! You're like a second parent to me! You saved my family! I'll never forget your kindness!"

"Stop talking nonsense and live your life properly. Get the paperwork for the school land done as soon as possible, don't make any mistakes, and don't let it happen again. Brother, I really...sigh, I've sacrificed too much for you."

"Don't worry! You can rest assured!"

Pi Changshan was overjoyed:

"I'll head to the town's education committee first thing tomorrow morning and work overtime to get all the paperwork done. I guarantee it'll be processed within a week. From now on, brother, if you ever need anything, just call me anytime. I, Pi Changshan, will do anything for you, even go through fire and water!"

"Alright, Salem, come and pick them up."

Lin Chen hung up the phone, casually tossed it onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and took a light puff of his cigarette.

Xie Lan sat on the sofa drinking tea, sip after sip, looking extremely thirsty.

Lin Chen looked towards the east wall of his house, a faint smile in his eyes. Three acres of fertile land, now firmly in his grasp.

No rent required, long-term ownership, compliant and secure, and with a little management, you can do whatever you want.

Life in Ivory Mountain is becoming more and more interesting and comfortable.

Xie Lan was picked up by Pi Changshan. How the couple resolved things was none of his business. He checked the time; Xie Dajiao hadn't called, so she probably wasn't coming. He turned off the lights and went to sleep.

……

The lights were still on at Big Foot Grocery Store.

Xie Dajiao squatted on the ground, taking inventory of the goods box by box, her fingers rummaging through the snacks and cigarettes, working up a fine sweat.

There was a half-bowl of leftover porridge on the counter, completely cold, with a thin layer of skin on top. She had only eaten a few bites for dinner and had been busy ever since.

Just as she bent down to move the boxes, two sets of footsteps came from outside the door, followed by three knocks that were neither too loud nor too soft.

dong dong dong.

Xie Dajiao frowned. This steady knocking style...it couldn't be someone from the village, could it? She quickly stood up, hastily wiped the dust off her clothes, and hurried over to ask through the door:

Who is it?

"From the town's police station!"

Xie Dajiao quickly opened the door, where two people in police uniforms stood with serious expressions.

The lead police officer pulled out his badge, flashed it, and asked:

"Are you a family member of Li Fu? We are from the town police station. We were on routine patrol tonight and caught Li Fu in the act of soliciting prostitution. He is currently being held at the station. You need to come over tomorrow to cooperate with the procedures and pay the fine."

These few words, like a slap in the face, landed squarely on Xie Dajiao's cheek.

Her face flushed bright red instantly, her ears burned, she felt incredibly embarrassed, and there was also a surge of anger that made her feel suffocated. All these mixed feelings piled up in her chest, leaving her speechless.

The police officer didn't waste any more words; he finished speaking and turned to leave.

Once everyone had completely gone, Xie Dajiao suddenly came to her senses, slammed the door shut with a bang, pressed her back against the door panel, and trembled uncontrollably.

I'm so angry! I'm so angry!

She was so ashamed! She wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground!

"Li Fu, you coward! You rotten bastard!"

She lowered her voice and cursed fiercely, pouring out all the nasty things she could think of.

"You're always wasting your time doing nothing, running off to town to do this shameless thing! From now on, the whole village will be talking about me behind my back!"

After cursing for a long time, she was exhausted and slumped on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), panting heavily.

My first thought was—it's embarrassing.

That's so fucking embarrassing!

Lin Chen absolutely must not find out about this.

Lin Chen is quite influential in the village and town now. If they knew she had gotten involved with such a disgraceful man, who knows what they would think of her.

"Serves him right! Let him spend the night in the police station!"

She gritted her teeth and said:

"I don't care anymore, let whoever wants to care, care. I can't be bothered with this jerk!"

The next day, as soon as it was light, Xie Dajiao opened the shop early. She had just tidied up the counter when Wang Changgui rushed in, panting and unable to speak coherently.