Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

The sun was setting, its midday heat gone, casting a gentle warmth on Lin Chen's yard. Lin Chen's Passat was parked there, indicating that Xie Xiaomei had returned.

The outer room was filled with the aroma of cooking firewood crackling in the stove, flames leaping from the bottom of the pot, and the stewed potatoes and green beans bubbling and churning inside. Steaming white mist rose from the pot, and a rich, savory aroma filled the air.

Xie Dajiao was also there, wearing a coarse cloth apron that had been washed until it was almost blue and white, standing in front of the stove skillfully stir-frying.

She's been busy at the stove for most of her life, her hands are steady and strong. The green beans in the pot are stewed until they're soft and flavorful, and the potatoes are so tender they're coated in broth. They look so appetizing. Every move she makes exudes the simple and honest charm of a rural woman.

Beside the stove, Xie Xiaomei was cutting cooked food. She had just driven to buy it. The scorching heat from the stove hit her face, making her cheeks red and her nose covered with a fine layer of sweat.

Ever since she and Lin Chen broke the ice and became truly connected, her body has felt weak and limp, as if she had been working long hours and doing heavy manual labor.

She sighed, braced herself against the edge of the stove with both hands, and slowly straightened up.

As soon as I stood up straight, a sudden ache shot through my lower back, and I felt a deep, bone-deep fatigue. I couldn't help but hiss and gasp, my eyes drooping as I muttered to myself:

"Auntie, I feel terrible all over. I feel like my body is falling apart. My back aches and my legs are weak. I really can't take it anymore."

As soon as he said this, Xie Dajiao slammed the large iron ladle in her hand against the edge of the pot with a loud bang. She turned her head, a smile on her face, revealing the shrewdness of someone who had been through it all.

She slowly turned around, squinting at her niece's awkward, shy, and unnatural appearance. She knew exactly what was wrong with the girl and was both annoyed and amused.

"Oh my god, look at you, so timid. Don't be fooled by your youth. This thing is tough the first time! Don't even mention you. When Lin Chen first came back, I was in even worse shape than you. It took me several days to recover from that exhaustion."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomei's face burned hot, probably from the smoke from the stove fire.

She hurriedly stuffed some into the stove, and flames leaped up, making her face even hotter. Her ears, however, stood straight up as she fidgeted with the hem of her apron, saying shyly:

"Huh? Auntie, what are you talking about... I just had a backache from squatting by the fire, what are you talking about?"

Seeing her trying to cover up her embarrassment and being too proud to admit it, Xie Dajiao didn't expose her. With a smile on her lips, she turned back to continue stirring the vegetables in the pot.

He dipped a large iron ladle into the bubbling pot, slowly scooped out a large spoonful of thick soup, and gently stirred it in a circular motion, speaking in a leisurely tone:

"What else can I say? Let's talk about this new big ladle we bought for cooking. When it first went into the pot, I felt that this thing was really big. It's big, the handle is long, and it's generous with ingredients."

"Look, every time I use this big ladle to make kudzu soup, it's never empty, it's always full."

Xiaomei's heart was pounding. She was incredibly shy, but couldn't resist asking again out of curiosity, her voice very soft:

"So...so what? What's the use of a big spoon?"

Xie Dajiao gave a low chuckle, then deftly flipped her wrist, causing the heavy iron ladle to bounce steadily in the pot. The green beans and potatoes inside were flipped over, and the scalding broth splashed up slightly.

Her tone, tinged with the unique irony and wisdom of someone with experience, continued earnestly:

"And then? This big ladle is good, but you also need a good cook! The key is that he's good at cooking, he can swing it steadily and with great strength and vigor. If it's really high heat and intense cooking, someone with less strength simply can't control it, and he might even fry the vegetables away."

"Oh my god, that guy's cooking! When there's too much broth, he'll stir-fry the vegetables until they're foamy. Then he'll reduce the sauce over high heat, and when there's less broth, he'll stir-fry them until they're completely dry..."

"This thing requires a lot of stamina and strength; otherwise, you simply can't withstand this kind of torment. It's normal to feel exhausted!"

The whole conversation sounded like they were talking about cooking, using large spoons, and controlling the heat, but the aunt and niece knew perfectly well that it was a private conversation between women that they understood each other without words.

Xie Xiaomei nodded, and the shyness and embarrassment she had felt earlier gradually dissipated.

It turned out that it wasn't just her who was like this; her aunt was exactly the same. The thought instantly relieved her embarrassment, and she secretly smiled, feeling at ease.

Xie Dajiao glanced at her, her heart softening. She sighed softly, her tone becoming gentle:

"Silly girl, you'll get used to it eventually. We're both stuck with the same person, sharing the same fate. From now on, we'll take care of each other, keep each other company, and live a good life together."

Just then, a deep, heavy engine sound suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.

Xie Xiaomei snapped out of her embarrassment, her face full of curiosity. She casually brushed the ash off her hands and looked up into the yard:

"Huh? What kind of car is this? It's making such a loud noise..."

As she spoke, she hurriedly lifted the curtain and ran to the door to look around.

In the yard, a large, dark green vehicle was parked steadily. Its body was wide and sturdy, its paint was shiny and reflective, and its rugged body lines made it particularly eye-catching and imposing.

The car window slowly rolled down, revealing Lin Chen's handsome face with a smile on his lips.

Xie Xiaomei stared wide-eyed, circling the car twice, examining it from head to toe, clicking her tongue repeatedly, her eyes brimming with undisguised delight.

"Brother Chen! Is this a new car you bought?"

Looking at her adorable face with sparkling eyes, Lin Chen jumped out of the car, tossed the car keys to Xie Xiaomei casually, and said in a very natural tone:

"This is a Land Cruiser that my uncle brought over this morning. It has a high chassis and is very durable. It's the most reliable car for driving on the bad roads in the village. From now on, when you go to get off work, run errands in town, or go back to your home in the county, you can drive my Passat. I'm giving it to you. This new one isn't suitable for you. I'll just drive it for fun."

Xie Xiaomei looked at the composed and steady Lin Chen beside her, and a surge of warmth rushed to her head. Her backache felt much better, and she wanted to pull Lin Chen to try out the training again.

Her husband is truly capable; he never flaunts his wealth, yet he casually gifted her a nice car. With her and her aunt by his side, their future looks increasingly promising.

Value is one aspect, but more importantly, it shows how much Lin Chen values ​​him.

At this moment, Xie Dajiao also slowly walked out from the outer room, leaned against the door frame, and glanced at the new car at the door. She had been surprised when the car was delivered.

She spoke with a smile:

"This car looks really solid, much more stable than a sedan. It looks impressive, and you'll look good driving it when you go out on business."

Lin Chen turned and walked into the house, smelling the aroma of food. He casually said:

"Hmm, the country roads are easy to build, so it's hassle-free. What are you stewing? It smells so good!"

"Green beans and potatoes, freshly stewed, with plenty of lean meat added."

Xie Dajiao smiled and replied that she would go back to her work first.

"Okay, I'll eat some more. Xie Guangkun's family just finished eating."

Xie Xiaomei followed closely behind Lin Chen, and every few steps she couldn't help but turn around to glance at the new car at the gate, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.

That evening, Xie Xiaomei moved into Lin Chen's room. The atmosphere that night was quite strange. The two of them wanted to be together, but they were both a little scared. Even when they were watching TV together, they were afraid to ask each other for anything.

Lin Chen had a tough time in the afternoon. Although he was in his prime at twenty-five, he shouldn't have been so reckless. Old Xiangxiu acted like she'd never eaten pork before, and in the end, she seemed to have fainted.

After all, the system hasn't given out the reward yet. That's permanent peak physiological function. You'll have to wait for the system reward to come.

He actually feels he's in a good state right now, but there's no need for it.

Xie Xiaomei was also terrified. She really wanted to rest for a few days and take a break, because she really couldn't take it anymore.

Finally, Xie Xiaomei spoke first, yawning as she said:

"Ugh, Brother Chen, I'm a little tired today, I'm going to bed early..."

"Okay, okay, go to sleep now, I'm going to sleep too!"

The two breathed a sigh of relief and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Xie Dajiao, who was in that room, listened for a while through the door, but there was no sound. She thought to herself, "Are young people these days so restrained?"

……

The next day, around 3 PM—

The scorching sun beat down on the dirt road. The dense shade under the old tree at the village entrance offered some protection from the intense heat. Xie Yongqiang had been squatting there for half a day, radiating a sense of dejection.

Ever since his job in the county fell through, he lost all motivation at school. He couldn't concentrate on preparing lessons or reading books; his mind was filled with worries.

He lost his respectable job and became the laughingstock of the whole village. Wang Xiangxiu would criticize him relentlessly every day, never giving him a kind look.

When people are down on their luck, they always tend to reminisce about the past. You see some people who keep talking about the old days, but they're definitely not doing well now.

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, and the more he regretted it. After comparing them over and over again, he felt more and more that Wang Xiaomeng was better.

Wang Xiaomeng used to treat him gently and considerately, and she was sensible and obedient. She would never belittle him or give him the cold shoulder just because he was down on his luck.

Although Xie Guangkun was the one who interfered, he was also blinded by greed back then. He felt that there was a big gap between him and Wang Xiaomeng, so he ignored the good Wang Xiaomeng and insisted on marrying into the Wang family. As a result, he lost both sides and his life was a mess.

He slipped away to the edge of the village with a belly full of worries. He had a lot to say but no one to confide in, so he wanted to talk to Wang Xiaomeng, even if it was just a few words, it would make him feel a little better.

Just as his legs were going numb from squatting and he was getting increasingly agitated, a series of sputtering sounds came from afar.