Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Just as the two families were arguing heatedly, a slow, clear male voice suddenly rang out, neither too loud nor too soft, but clear enough to reach everyone's ears.

"Uncle Guangkun..."

Lin Chen sat on a beer crate cover at the entrance of the grocery store and lazily began to speak:

"Just a few minutes ago, you were here, shamelessly trying to extort money from me by ordering food, making a scene that the whole village knew about."

"In the blink of an eye, you've transformed into the father of a future cadre, so confident and high and mighty! You've already started looking down on this and disdaining that? What, your son hasn't even become a cadre yet, and you've already learned to bully others and intimidate them with your title?"

Xie Guangkun's face instantly changed, turning red with embarrassment and rage, and he roared at Lin Chen:

"None of your business! Lin Chen, this is a family matter between our two families. It's none of your concern, a junior, to meddle!"

Lin Chen chuckled, slowly crossed his arms, took two steps forward, and looked down at Xie Guangkun with disdain in his eyes:

"Housework?"

"You shouted at the top of your lungs in front of everyone at the village entrance, the whole village heard it, and it became common knowledge. Is that what you call a family matter?"

"Furthermore, Xie Yongqiang's cadre position has not been finalized, his onboarding procedures have not been completed, and his post has not been assigned. To put it bluntly, it's all still far from being settled, yet you dare to act like a tyrant in the village and offend all the neighbors."

"Once he starts working, and his superiors ask about his family background, character, and reputation with his neighbors, nobody in the village will have a good word to say about you. At that point, forget about becoming an official; even getting a job will be uncertain!"

These words left Xie Guangkun speechless, unable to utter a single, forceful sentence. His lips trembled for a long time, but he couldn't squeeze out a single defiant word. He could only point at Lin Chen and say:

"You...you just wait! Once my son becomes a cadre, you'll be the first one I deal with!"

Lin Chen shrugged nonchalantly and said casually:

"I'm waiting anytime, and I'm not leaving. I'll play with you every day for the next five years. Do you think I don't know how to write a complaint letter or how to make a phone call? I don't have a job, and I don't rely on you for food. Are you trying to scare me? I'll go to the authorities and make a scene every day. Let's see who suffers!"

These words completely shattered Xie Guangkun's confidence. He froze on the spot, as stiff as a crotch, unable to muster any more courage.

Xie Dajiao quickly stepped forward to smooth things over:

"Alright, alright, stop arguing, Guangkun. Xiaochen is being blunt. It's a joyous occasion, and Yongqiang just got back. Let's not make things awkward for everyone."

Liu Yishui quickly stepped forward to ease the tension, waving his hand with a smile:

"Alright, alright, calm down! Yongqiang has finally come home, let's have a joyous and lively time. Any conflicts or disagreements, let's put them aside for now and discuss them slowly. Don't argue in public and hurt our relationship."

Xie Yongqiang shrank to the side, head down, not daring to speak. He was submissive the whole time, neither daring to persuade his father nor to comfort Wang Xiaomeng. He was so pathetic that it was worrying to watch.

Wang Laoqi's face remained ashen, his heart filled with rage, as he held tightly to Wang Xiaomeng, who was still weeping.

"There's nothing to discuss! Xiao Meng, come home with me! From now on, you're not allowed to have any contact with anyone from the Xie family! Do you hear me!"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Wang Xiaomeng turned and took a deep look at Xie Yongqiang, whose face was full of helplessness and despair. Her eyes were filled with grievance and reluctance, but Wang Laoqi held her tightly and pulled her home.

Xie Yongqiang was so anxious that he stomped his feet, wanting to chase after him, but Xie Guangkun grabbed him and he didn't dare to break free at all. He could only stand there obediently, feeling very helpless.

"What are you chasing?! You're not allowed to go!"

"It's good that she's gone! Dad will find you a suitable, respectable woman from a cadre's family, a hundred times better than her!"

"Dad! How can you be so unreasonable!"

Xie Yongqiang was both anxious and angry, feeling utterly helpless, but he couldn't go against his domineering father.

Ignoring his son's emotions, Xie Guangkun forcibly dragged him by the arm and led him towards the village.

"Don't stand here embarrassingly! Go home! Dad will stew some chicken for you to help you recover!"

The father and son walked away one after the other. Two people walked by the village road. They were Xie Guangkun's daughter, Xie Lan, and his son-in-law, Pi Changshan.

Xie Lansheng was plump and had a full, rounded figure, especially her wide hips, which stretched her black pants to their limit. Paired with high heels, she looked like a wealthy farm woman.

The two men were carrying a string of large red firecrackers. They had come to the village entrance specifically to set off firecrackers to welcome Xie Yongqiang and offer their congratulations. However, upon hearing that the two families were about to fight, they jogged over.

But as soon as Xie Lan reached the willow tree, she glanced up and saw Lin Chen at the entrance of the grocery store. Her feet immediately stopped, her legs went weak for no reason, and she leaned against the tree trunk to steady herself.

She stared intently at Lin Chen, unable to look away, and inwardly gasped:

This little brother is so handsome, even better looking than when he was a child. He's tall and broad-shouldered, exuding masculinity just by standing there. And that nose is so straight. With such a big nose, his...things must be big too. Just thinking about it made her sweat more.

Is it really sweat?

Xie Lan glanced at Pi Changshan beside her, who looked completely listless, and sighed inwardly. Compared to Lin Chen, her husband was far inferior and simply incomparable.

She leaned against the tree, lost in thought, and for a long time forgot to move forward.

Pi Changshan, completely oblivious to his wife's thoughts, stared blankly at the chaotic crowd, then at Xie Lan, who remained motionless. He scratched his head, utterly bewildered, and whispered:

"Honey, why aren't you leaving? We're here to welcome Yongqiang back. Are we still going to set off the firecrackers?"

"Say something? What's the point of saying anything now! Didn't you see everyone's gone? Help me up, let's go home!" Xie Lan said irritably.

The villagers who had been watching gradually dispersed, whispering amongst themselves as they walked away.

"This Xie Guangkun is too snobbish and too pretentious."

"Wang Xiaomeng is such a down-to-earth and capable girl, hardworking and sensible, yet he dislikes her so much."

"Lin Chen is quick-witted; he got Xie Guangkun under his thumb with just a few words. Otherwise, who knows how long this would have gone on today."

The crowd at the village entrance gradually dispersed, and the commotion came to a complete end.

Looking at the empty village entrance, Liu Yishui shook his head helplessly and sighed with a smile:

"There's always something interesting to watch in Ivory Mountain Village. Yongqiang is just too honest and too weak-willed. He can't make any decisions. Alright, I'm not getting involved anymore. I'm leaving now."

After saying that, he got into the car, started the engine, and drove away slowly.

At the vast village entrance, only Lin Chen and Xie Dajiao remained.

Xie Dajiao watched the departing figures of Xie Guangkun and his son, and sighed softly, her tone full of regret:

"This Xie Guangkun is getting more and more senile as he gets older. He wasn't like this before. He ruined a perfectly good marriage between a handsome man and a beautiful woman."

Lin Chen chuckled lightly, his tone indifferent:

"That's all he's got in his life. He only knows how to use his son's name to show off and put on airs. Only Xie Yongqiang is honest, or to put it bluntly, a coward, and can tolerate him all this time. Try replacing him with someone who has his own ideas."

Xie Dajiao turned to look at Lin Chen beside her, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration, and she spoke to him without maintaining the distance she would with other men.

"Xiao Chen, you're really something. We really owe you a lot today. Only you dare to speak the truth, otherwise this farce would never have ended."

Looking at her, Lin Chen's heart stirred slightly, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his lips, his tone tinged with teasing:

"What? Is this a compliment to my abilities?"

Xie Dajiao was both embarrassed and flustered, and scolded him playfully:

"Who cares about you! You're so unruly! I'm your aunt!"

After saying that, she smiled and turned to walk into the shop, turning back to call out softly:

"Come inside quickly, it's still hot outside. I'll get you an ice-cold soda."

Lin Chen smiled and followed her, the two walking side by side into the shady grocery store.

As the sun slowly dipped westward, its orange-red afterglow fell upon the village entrance...

After the commotion subsided, the village entrance returned to complete silence, with only the cicadas chirping tirelessly in the old trees.