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

"Uncle Qin, you've come at the right time. I'll have Xiulian prepare a couple of dishes, and we can watch the show and have some drinks."

Qin Shan didn't stand on ceremony and sat down at the table, but his eyes kept wandering to the television screen.

A local opera is playing right now, its melodious singing accompanied by somewhat distorted drumbeats, filling the small kitchen.

"It has visuals and sound, that's great!" Qin Shan nodded, offering an expert-like assessment.

"You set up this antenna well; it's even clearer than when I was at work."

Chen Yongqiang set out chopsticks and poured wine for the two men.

The sound of the television became the perfect background noise, adding a lively touch to this simple dinner unlike any other.

Feeling unsatisfied, Chen Yongqiang got up and fried a few crucian carp in oil.

Just as he put the fried fish on the table, Qin Liping's voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Dad, come home for dinner!"

"You guys eat, I'll eat at Yongqiang's!" Qin Shan replied to the outside.

Qin Liping was clearly drawn in by the sound of the television in the room. She walked in while talking and immediately noticed the unusual object on the cabinet that could light up and make sounds: "Brother Yongqiang, you bought a television?"

"I just moved back this afternoon," Chen Yongqiang greeted with a smile.

"Liping, you've come at the perfect time! The fish is just fried. Why don't you stay and eat with us?"

"How could I possibly accept that?" Qin Liping said, and naturally walked to the cupboard and took a set of bowls and chopsticks for herself.

She had only come to freeload a meal; the food at Chen Yongqiang's house was far more lavish than what she ate at home.

Qin Liping sat down next to her father, took a bite of rice, but her eyes were glued to the TV screen as if drawn by a magnet.

Chen Yongqiang poured Qin Shan some wine, and the conversation unknowingly turned to farming.

"Uncle Qin, next spring, I plan to clear out that wasteland in the river bend and plant apple trees."

He has already cultivated disease-resistant and high-yielding saplings in the space.

Qin Shan listened, held his wine glass and thought for a moment: "That piece of land is a bit dry, but it's suitable for planting apple trees. They're drought-resistant and profitable."

He nodded and added enthusiastically, "If you need saplings, I'll try to find out if I can find a cheap and reliable nursery."

Hearing this, Chen Yongqiang felt a warmth in his heart and smiled as he filled Qin Shan's glass with wine: "Uncle Qin, thank you for thinking of me. But you don't need to worry about the saplings; I've already found a way and they're taken care of."

Seeing his determined expression, Qin Shan smiled and said, "Alright, you're always thinking ahead. Then it's settled. If you need anything in the spring, just let me know."

In the following days, the news that Chen Yongqiang had bought a television set spread throughout the village.

This is the first television set in Shimen Village.

Village chief Yang Dahai, Liang Meie, Ding Wanru... In the past few days, familiar villagers have come to Chen Yongqiang's house one after another to see what's new.

The kitchen was often crowded with people, all staring at the flickering screen, marveling at it and praising Chen Yongqiang, saying he was young and capable, the best in the village.

Of course, some people were unhappy. This person was none other than He Jun, who was preparing for his wedding.

He couldn't stand seeing Chen Yongqiang doing better than him, and he always wanted to outdo Chen Yongqiang, but he could never win.

This time, Chen Yongqiang quietly moved back the first television set in the village, attracting all the attention, which only fueled Chen Yongqiang's resentment.

"What's there to show off? It's just a TV. I can buy one myself someday."

He Jun muttered to himself at home, but he knew in his heart that there was really no certainty about next year.

But right now, there is one thing that can definitely outshine Chen Yongqiang, and that is his marriage.

Chen Yongqiang and Lin Xiulian were, in essence, brother-in-law and sister-in-law living together. There was no formal betrothal or wedding banquet. In the eyes of the older generation who valued these things, it could not be considered a "proper" marriage.

He Jun's wedding must be grand and impressive, with a lavish banquet and a grand scale. The whole village must attend; that's what makes it truly respectable.

Thinking of this, He Jun felt a little better and started to plan: he would cut a few more pounds of meat, the fish would have to be whole, and the wine couldn't be too cheap...

We need to show everyone what a proper and impeccable celebration looks like.

So what if Chen Yongqiang has a television? In this important matter of life, he is ultimately inferior to him.

That evening, Lin Xiulian turned off the television and went back to her room to rest.

She took off her coat and lay down next to Chen Yongqiang: "Why did you buy that TV? So many people watch it every day, it wastes so much electricity."

Chen Yongqiang rolled over: "At first, no one in the village had ever seen it before, so they were just curious. After a few days, the number of people naturally decreased." He didn't care too much about the electricity bill.

Sure enough, a few days later, fewer and fewer people came to watch TV.

But the Qin twin sisters, who lived nearby, became frequent visitors.

Lin Xiulian didn't say anything to the two sisters, because they were sensible and would often lend a hand and do some odd jobs.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was the sixth day of the lunar calendar, a day of great joy for He Jun.

Most of the villagers went to He Jun's house for the wedding banquet.

Lin Xiulian changed into a pair of clean, slightly worn clothes and went out with Chen Yongqiang.

This is the first time since she came to rely on Chen Yongqiang that she has so clearly identified herself as Chen Yongqiang's wife.

He appeared before the entire village and participated in this public village affair.

As she walked down the street, Lin Xiulian could feel some gazes falling on her, and some whispers about the past.

Chen Yongqiang noticed her tension: "It's okay, just follow me."

The gate of He Jun's house was decorated with a large red "double happiness" character. More than a dozen tables were set up inside and outside the courtyard, and the place was bustling with noise and activity.

He Jun, dressed in a brand-new Zhongshan suit with a red flower pinned to his chest, was greeting guests with a radiant smile.

Upon seeing Chen Yongqiang and his companion arrive, a hint of deliberate boasting inevitably crept into his smile.

"Yongqiang is here! Come in and have a seat!" He Jun said, afraid that others might not have noticed the guests.

His desire to outdo his partner in every aspect of the marriage – the scale, the rules, and the legitimacy – was practically written all over his face.

Lin Xiulian responded with a soft "Congratulations" and then followed Chen Yongqiang to sit down at a table on the side.

Chen Yongqiang, on the other hand, remained calm, nodding and greeting his acquaintances at the table, occasionally exchanging a few words.

"I'll go sit with Sister-in-law Mei'e over there!" Lin Xiulian said to Chen Yongqiang in a low voice when she saw that Liang Mei'e was with the Qin sisters and several other familiar female relatives.

Chen Yongqiang glanced over there and saw that they were all women and girls who frequented the village. He nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead and make yourself at home."

Lin Xiulian walked over to Liang Meie's table. As soon as Liang Meie saw her, she smiled and moved aside to make room for her: "Xiulian's here, come sit here!"

The Qin sisters also called out to Xiulian in their clear voices and squeezed together.

The women's conversation inevitably revolved around everyday matters and trivialities. Lin Xiulian listened, occasionally chiming in with a word or two, and the atmosphere was indeed much more comfortable than before.

On Chen Yongqiang's side, the men at the table chatted about the harvest and crops, and inevitably mentioned the He family's grandeur.