It's already 2026, how can we still talk about having many children and having many blessings?

He suddenly stood up and ran towards the village.

The sound of firecrackers grew closer.

He followed the map through the village lanes, past the old locust tree, and ran past the small shop at the village entrance.

Several women sitting by the door eating sunflower seeds saw him run over, exchanged glances, and muttered something to each other.

The red dot is getting closer.

Finally, he stopped.

In front of me was a two-story building with bright red couplets pasted on the door: "Congratulations on the birth of a son" and "Celebration of a full moon celebration".

Seven or eight tables were set up in the courtyard, bustling with noise and the clinking of glasses.

Red firecracker debris littered the ground, and the smell of sulfur had not yet dissipated.

Chen Mo stood at the door, panting heavily.

He recognized the building.

This is the home of his childhood friend, Li Qiang. The two had a good relationship since they were young, had fought together, and had even spied on widows...

Li Qiang got married last year. His wife is from another place and is quite good-looking.

He was working in the city at the time and couldn't attend the wedding. Later, he heard from his mother that Li Qiang's wife hadn't gotten pregnant, and Li Qiang's mother was extremely anxious, searching everywhere for folk remedies.

Are they having a full-month celebration now?

Is the child still his?

It seems Li Qiang has a problem; he can't have children, so he went to the hospital for artificial insemination...

Chen Mo's mind went completely blank.

Oh my god, what if the child grows up and looks like him...

The system's light screen was still floating before my eyes, and the line of text was clearly visible:

[Child's biological mother: Chen Rong.]

[Offspring's gender: Male]

[Date of birth: December 15]

Li Qiang's wife is named Chen Rong.

Just then, a man carrying a wine glass walked out of the courtyard; it was Li Qiang.

Wearing a brand-new jacket, his face was radiant, and he couldn't stop smiling.

Seeing Chen Mo standing at the door, he paused for a moment, then strode over.

"Xiao Mo, you're here too?" Li Qiang patted his shoulder, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Come on in, have a drink! Your sister-in-law gave birth to a big, healthy boy, I, Li Qiang, have a son now!"

Chen Mo opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Li Qiang had already grabbed his arm and was pulling him inside, calling out as they went, "Dad, Mom, Xiao Mo's here!"

Li Qiang's parents came out of the house to greet him, their faces beaming with smiles.

"Xiao Mo's here! Come, sit down. You should also share in the joy and find a wife soon to continue the Chen family line."

Chen Mo was forced to sit down at a table.

The people at the table were all acquaintances from the village. They all raised their glasses to congratulate Li Qiang, saying that the boy was very good-looking and that Li Qiang was lucky.

Chen Mo was still bewildered as he watched Li Qiang go around toasting people with his wine glass.

So you already have a child?

Just then, an older woman came over and looked at Chen Mo: "Oh, isn't this Chen Mo? I heard you haven't attended a banquet in three years, what brings you here today?"

There was a moment of silence at the table after he said that.

Chen Mo knew her; she was Aunt Liu from the village.

Last year, I introduced him to a potential partner who immediately asked for a fully paid-off house in the county town, but he refused.

From then on, Aunt Liu would tell everyone that he was ungrateful and a toad trying to eat swan meat.

"You're not just here to freeload because you think Li Qiang doesn't want your dowry, are you?"

Aunt Liu added with a smile, then picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

A few people nearby chuckled softly.

That laughter was piercing.

In rural areas, if you're thirty and still unmarried and without a proper job, you'll be the talk of the town.

What's more, Chen Mo had gone to university and still didn't do well, which made him even more despised.

Upon hearing this, Li Qiang's face darkened, and he walked over with his wine glass in hand: "Aunt Liu, what you're saying is pointless. Xiao Mo is my childhood friend, we grew up together. He's here to give me face, why would he want a gift?"

He turned to look at Chen Mo: "Xiao Mo, don't pay attention to her. Your presence is more important than anything else."

Suddenly, Chen Mo looked up at the top of Li Qiang's head.

A line of text appeared out of thin air, swaying slightly like a reflection on the water.

I'll ask Xiaomo later how driving for a ride-hailing service is going. I need to find a job quickly to earn money for baby formula; the pressure has been so great since the baby was born that I can't sleep.

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment.

The system provides "basic mind-reading skills," which allow you to see other people's most pressing needs.

Wait a minute, with Li Qiang's family wealth, why would he need to drive for a ride-hailing service?

Could it be that he's impoverished by marrying a wife?

He heard that when Li Qiang married Chen Rong, the bride price was 188,000 yuan, and he also bought a house in the county.

These days, the more rural the area, the more men marry poor wives, only to have those wives abandon their children and run away.

Then I'll give my son a big red envelope as a gift, consider it money for milk powder.

Moreover, Li Qiang helped him a lot when he was in college. Three years ago, when he was away from home, his mother fell ill, and Li Qiang paid for her medical expenses. He was very grateful to Li Qiang.

"Who said I don't give monetary gifts?"

He spoke quite loudly; everyone at the table could hear him.

Aunt Liu's chopsticks, which were about to pick up food, stopped in mid-air.

Chen Mo took out his phone, opened WeChat, and found Li Qiang's profile picture.

8888.

Transfer confirmed.

Why would I hesitate to spend money on milk powder for my son?

The amount of 8888 was just right, reflecting the relationship between him and Li Qiang, so he considered it a way of repaying a favor.

Li Qiang's phone rang. He took it out and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Xiao Mo, are you crazy? 8888? Why do you need to go by so much?"

"Keep it, Qiang-ge. Given our relationship, I didn't come to your wedding, so I should give you more now."

"No, no, that's too much." Li Qiang waved his hands repeatedly. "I'm already very happy that you came today. A token gift is enough. Please return it. I won't accept it."

"Brother Qiang, this money isn't for you, it's for the kids."

"What?" Li Qiang was stunned.

"If I can't find a wife in the future and end up as a recipient of government assistance, my nephew will have to take care of me," Chen Mo said, making up an excuse.

Li Qiang laughed and said, "Okay, I'll accept it, but you'd better hurry up. I'll give you a big gift when you get married."

The way the other people at the table looked at him changed.

In rural areas, 8888 yuan is a gift that even close brothers would never give.

Chen Mo, this good-for-nothing who just loafs around in the village, is actually so generous?

"Trying to save face when you're not. You should save that 8888 to get married. Oh, I forgot, you could save it your whole life and still not be able to afford it. Your family line would end." Aunt Liu muttered, but her voice was much softer.

"No descendants? I have a son," Chen Mo thought to himself.

The people around stopped gossiping.

Li Qiang's parents were noticeably more enthusiastic.

"Xiao Mo, eat more, you're so thin."

Li Qiang's father took out his treasured Moutai, poured a glass, and placed it in front of him.

"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Aunt."

Just then, a woman's voice came from inside the house: "Make way, let the child come out for some fresh air."

Chen Mo raised his head.

Li Qiang's wife, Chen Rong, came out of the inner room carrying their child.

She was tall and plump, with a pair of captivating eyes, but her brows were filled with sorrow, lacking the joy of a baby's one-month celebration.

[The mother's emotional state was detected, which may affect the quality of breastfeeding. It is recommended that the host provide effective reassurance within 24 hours, using any method.]

What rice?