Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

After treating the villagers who had helped him to dinner, Chen Yongqiang took out the money he had prepared and began to settle everyone's wages.

There were eleven people in total, one of whom arrived in the afternoon and only worked for half a day.

As agreed, Chen Yongqiang would receive one yuan for a full day's work and fifty cents for only half a day's work.

He went up to Yang Dahai and handed him one yuan and fifty cents: "Village chief, you've worked so hard today, running around taking care of everything. Here's one yuan and fifty cents, please keep it."

Yang Dahai smiled and accepted it: "Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony with you."

The villagers chatted and laughed as they prepared to leave. Chen Yongqiang saw them to the gate and added, "If you'd like to come back after you've finished spring planting, I'll have to trouble you uncles and brothers again with the house construction!"

The villagers responded all at once, "Don't worry, Yongqiang! We'll definitely come just for your great food!"

"Yes, I'll come over as soon as I finish working in the fields!"

"I'll definitely come!"

Yang Dahai also got up to leave, but Chen Yongqiang quickly stopped him: "Village chief, don't rush off. You've been busy all day, let's have a couple of drinks to relax."

Yang Dahai waved his hand: "No, no, I have things to do at home..."

"I have some good stuff here," Chen Yongqiang said in a low voice, feigning mystery.

Upon hearing this, Yang Dahai's interest was piqued: "Oh? What good stuff?"

Chen Yongqiang turned and went inside, closing the door behind him. A moment later, he came out carrying a bamboo rat: "I caught this while cutting bamboo today. I'll stew it to go with the wine; perfect!"

Yang Dahai's eyes lit up: "Bamboo rats! These are a rare delicacy! I haven't had them in years!"

Chen Yongqiang then called out to Qin Shan, who hadn't left yet, "Uncle Qin, don't leave either, come and have a couple of drinks with us. Drinking is more fun with someone to keep you company."

He also wanted to solidify his relationship with Yang Dahai. Building a house was a big deal, and he needed someone influential and capable in the village to help with the arrangements.

Although Qin Shan is reliable, he is not influential enough. Only someone like Yang Dahai, who has served as village chief for many years and has prestige, can be trusted.

"You guys chat for a bit, I'll go get this bamboo rat cleaned up," Chen Yongqiang said, carrying the bamboo rat towards the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the Qin sisters were clearing away the dishes when they suddenly saw the large object Chen Yongqiang was carrying. They mistook it for a large rat and screamed in fright.

"Don't be afraid, it's a bamboo rat, a wild game from the mountains," Chen Yongqiang explained with a smile.

"Liping, help with the fire. It'll be ready in a bit, and you can try this delicious food too."

"I...I wouldn't dare eat a rat." Qin Liping looked at the furry bamboo rat and was still a little scared, but she still helped with the fire-starting work.

Soon, Chen Yongqiang bled the bamboo rat, scalded it to remove its fur, gutted and cleaned it, chopped it into small pieces, and put it in a pot to stew.

The fire was blazing in the stove, and soon a delicious aroma of meat wafted out of the kitchen.

Liang Meie led the child into the kitchen: "Yongqiang, what delicious food are you making? The aroma is making my mouth water!"

Chen Yongqiang stirred the food with a spatula, saying, "I was lucky today; I caught a bamboo rat on the mountain."

Liang Meie approached the pot and looked at it: "Bamboo rats are a rare breed. They can fetch a lot of money in town. It's a bit of a waste to eat them." Her first thought was to exchange them for money.

Chen Yongqiang didn't seem to care much. While stirring the meat in the pot, he said, "It won't sell for much money anyway, so it's better to eat it ourselves."

"It can sell for seven or eight yuan, that's quite a lot!" Liang Meie was a shrewd and calculating person.

"This one's already in the pot. If we catch another one next time, I'll definitely listen to you and take it to exchange for money."

Chen Yongqiang knew that there weren't many bamboo rats in the bamboo forest, and catching even one was already a stroke of luck.

After the bamboo rat meat was stewed, Chen Yongqiang served it on the table, pot in hand. The kitchen immediately became lively.

The Qin sisters and Lin Xiulian did not join in the fun.

Only Liang Meie boldly picked up a piece, put it in her mouth, and tasted it: "Mmm! So delicious! The meat is even more tender than pork!"

Chen Yongqiang turned around and took out a bottle of hazelnut liquor produced by the county winery from the cabinet.

Yang Dahai glanced at the familiar label and exclaimed, "Hazelnut Wine? Yongqiang, you know someone at the distillery?"

He took it and looked at the label: "I've had this wine a few times at meetings in the county. It's specially reserved by the distillery for higher-ups and their cronies; it's hard to buy on the market. You've got some connections, kid!"

As Chen Yongqiang poured the wine, he casually explained, "There's no special connection. I just went to sell wild boar meat at the entrance of the winery a few days ago, and I hit it off with one of the workers inside. He likes wild game, so he traded two bottles of this wine with me. It was just a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Liang Meie ate a piece of bamboo rat meat, poured herself a small half-cup of wine, and raised it: "Village Chief, I'd like to borrow Yongqiang's wine to toast you as well."

Yang Dahai picked up his cup and took a small sip: "Meie, you've had it tough. Raising a child all by yourself, with elderly parents and young children to care for."

Liang Meie put down her cup and spoke very tactfully: "Everyone has helped us out a lot. Besides, with a good leader like you, Village Chief, leading our village, we'll always be able to move forward."

Tonight's drinks were a great success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

After a few drinks, Yang Dahai became more talkative, patting Chen Yongqiang on the shoulder and praising him for his ability, quick thinking, and potential to accomplish great things.

"Yongqiang, I think you're a good kid! If you really become successful and become one of the first in our village to get rich, don't forget your fellow villagers! Give them a hand if you can."

Chen Yongqiang smiled politely and said, "Village Chief, you're too kind. My little tricks are nothing. If anything happens in the future, I will definitely not forget the uncles and brothers of our Shimen Village."

Chen Yongqiang helped the slightly tipsy Yang Dahai to the courtyard gate. Yang Dahai waved his hand and steadied himself, saying, "Alright, Yongqiang, that's enough. I can get back by myself; it's just a short walk."

Just as Yang Dahai staggered away, Liang Meie followed him out of the house and stood beside Chen Yongqiang.

The evening breeze was slightly cool. Liang Meie pulled her coat tighter, looked at Chen Yongqiang, and said softly, "Yongqiang, there's something I want to tell you."

Chen Yongqiang turned around and looked at her: "Sister-in-law Mei'e, what do you want to say?"

The two walked tacitly to the newly built thatched hut, a secluded spot.

By the moonlight, Liang Meie looked at Chen Yongqiang and finally spoke: "Yongqiang, I see that you're getting more and more opportunities these days."

"I just want to ask if there's any work I can do to lend a hand and earn some money? You know, I'm raising a child alone, and I barely make ends meet with that little bit of land."

"Don't worry about it, I'll arrange it for you." Chen Yongqiang originally planned to give her the business of brewing and selling wine in the future.

"How can I not be anxious? I haven't made any money lately." Liang Meie said, pulling Chen Yongqiang into the thatched hut that had just been built that day.