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

"You country bumpkin, you have so many rules. You don't even want to make money?" Shen Hongjun tugged at his coat.

"It's not that there are too many rules," "A big boss made a reservation, but the person can only arrive tomorrow. He had someone ask me to put in a good word beforehand."

This was half true and half false. Apart from the middle-aged man in the leather jacket who showed some interest yesterday, no big bosses had placed any orders. He was gambling that he would run into an even more generous buyer tomorrow.

"How did you get this fish? Where did you catch it?" Shen Hongjun's attention was still drawn to the enormous creature in front of him.

"In our local reservoir." Chen Yongqiang wasn't lying about this.

Wearing a down jacket, Shen Xiaotong interjected, her eyes still glued to Tianlang: "Are you selling this dog?" She really liked the dog's spirit.

"Not for sale," Chen Yongqiang answered decisively.

They argued a few more times, but ultimately couldn't reach an agreement.

"What time do we go on sale tomorrow?" Shen Hongjun asked before leaving.

"Ten o'clock in the morning." Chen Yongqiang chose the time when the market was busiest.

Shen Hongjun nodded and called out, "Xiaotong, let's go. We'll come back tomorrow."

"Brother, I want that dog..." Shen Xiaotong was still reluctant to leave.

Shen Hongjun glanced at Tianlang: "That one is too big, and it's already attached to its owner. I'll find you a smaller one to raise another day."

Shen Xiaotong reluctantly got into the car.

Chen Yongqiang rubbed Tianlang's head: "Don't worry, I won't sell you out."

Sirius rubbed its head against his palm, making a whimpering sound as if in response.

He looked in the direction the jeep had disappeared in: "Xiaotong? What a nice name. A city girl, quite fair-skinned."

The girl's appearance had left a good impression on him.

Around noon, Liang Meie and Wang Guixiang returned carrying some things.

The cloth bag on Liang Meie's back was bulging, indicating that she had bought a lot of New Year's goods.

Wang Guixiang was also carrying a bamboo basket filled with vegetables.

"Yongqiang, let's pack up and have lunch at my place," Wang Guixiang called out.

"Okay, I'll pack up." Chen Yongqiang replied, putting the tools he would use for setting up the stall onto the sled.

Pulling the sled, they followed the two women toward the small courtyard where Wang Guixiang rented in town.

Wang Guixiang cooked two dishes and heated up some steamed buns. The three adults and one child sat down around the small table to eat.

The conversation naturally turned to the fish.

"Yongqiang, what price do you plan to sell that fish for tomorrow?" Wang Guixiang asked, picking up a piece of food with her chopsticks.

"It'll cost at least a few hundred yuan." Chen Yongqiang took a bite of his steamed bun.

Liang Meie clicked her tongue in astonishment: "So expensive? Does anyone actually buy it?"

If it were her, she might have sold it on the first day if someone made an offer; she wouldn't be so calm and collected.

"If I can't get the price I want in town, I'll just take it to the county seat to sell."

Chen Yongqiang had already planned it out in his mind. There would always be more opportunities in the county town. This fish was a rare find, so he wouldn't have trouble finding someone who appreciated its value.

During a break from eating, Chen Yongqiang suddenly had an idea: "There will definitely be a lot of people watching the fish sale tomorrow. You two should get up early, make some steamed buns, and take them with you to sell. I guarantee someone will buy them."

"Selling steamed buns? That's a good idea." Wang Guixiang immediately agreed, having tasted success from selling wild boar-filled steamed buns last time.

"What kind of steamed buns should I make?" Liang Meie had no idea.

"Buy some pork and sauerkraut, just enough to fill your stomach," Chen Yongqiang offered a practical suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Wang Guixiang already had a plan in mind: "Then I'll start preparing this afternoon."

"Can this really make money?" Liang Meie was still a little skeptical.

"Yes, I tried selling them once before and made some money." Wang Guixiang recalled that last time there was too much wild boar meat, and Chen Yongqiang used this method to not only sell the unsold wild boar meat but also earn a lot more wages.

Upon hearing that it could really make money, Liang Meie's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I won't rush back. I'll stay and lend a hand."

Anyway, the miscellaneous fish has already been sold out, and there's not much to do at the stall in the afternoon. Chen Yongqiang can keep an eye on it.

"Yay! More meat buns to eat!" Wang Guixiang's daughter, Xiaojuan, clapped her hands happily when she heard this.

That's settled then.

After finishing their meal, Wang Guixiang and Liang Meie went to the street to buy ingredients for making steamed buns.

Chen Yongqiang was able to relax and doze off for a while on the kang (a heated brick bed).

He was only awakened from his light sleep by the sound of the courtyard gate opening and the voices of the two women returning.

"I'll go to the market and set up the stall again," Chen Yongqiang said to the two people busy inside the house.

"Then be careful, you can come back for steamed buns in the evening." Wang Guixiang said in a tone as if she were talking to her husband.

"Got it!" Chen Yongqiang said, putting on his coat and walking into the yard. He then pulled the sled out of the yard.

Wang Guixiang and Liang Meie stayed behind to prepare for tomorrow's steamed bun business.

The two women were busy with their hands, and before they knew it, the conversation had turned to Chen Yongqiang.

"Yongqiang isn't much of a talker, but he's incredibly good at making money." Liang Meie kneaded the dough in the basin vigorously.

"If I didn't have two young children to support, I'd really like to just live with him."

Wang Guixiang chopped the minced meat with a kitchen knife in her hand: "Doesn't he have a young and beautiful woman named Lin Xiulian at home? There's no way you'd have a chance to squeeze onto the kang (heated brick bed)."

"That's true. What man doesn't like a young and beautiful woman? Lin Xiulian is quite capable; she got pregnant not long after she came here." Liang Meie was more informed than Wang Guixiang, who lived in town.

"Really? You're pregnant? Is it a boy or a girl?" Wang Guixiang asked casually.

"She hasn't given birth yet, who knows? But looking at the shape of her belly, it's pointed, like she's carrying a boy. It's similar to when I was pregnant with my first child." Liang Meie was more experienced.

"A boy...that's good." Wang Guixiang replied, but the knife in her hand slowed down.

She was carrying a boy for Chen Yongqiang. She didn't say this aloud; there were some things she couldn't let Liang Meie know.

As the sun was setting, Chen Yongqiang pulled the big fish back intact.

The afternoon's wait wasn't entirely fruitless; two or three people came to inquire about the price, and even Yao Lina from the state-run hotel made a special trip to check it out.

Yao Lina walked around the sled twice: "Good stuff. If you can't find a better buyer at the market tomorrow, take it to me. I'll take it for five hundred yuan."

Five hundred yuan is not a small amount these days. Yao Lina gave the actual price, but it was only the bottom line.

Chen Yongqiang didn't show much emotion on his face: "Director Yao is so generous, thank you in advance. I'll see how things go tomorrow, and if it really doesn't work, I'll definitely send it to you."

Yao Lina understood, and without saying anything more, she turned around and went back with Master Zhou.

When Chen Yongqiang brought the fish back to Wang Guixiang's courtyard, the aroma of meat buns wafted out.

Wang Guixiang and Liang Meie were busy in the kitchen, with several steamers already placed next to them.

Seeing Chen Yongqiang return, Wang Guixiang wiped her hands and asked, "You're back? Didn't you sell the fish?"

"No, we'll wait until tomorrow." Chen Yongqiang placed the sled in the corner of the yard.

"Director Yao Li of the state-run canteen gave a base price of 500 yuan."

"Five hundred! My God, is someone really willing to pay that price?" Liang Meie exclaimed in surprise.

Wang Guixiang poured Chen Yongqiang a bowl of hot water. "Have some hot water first. We'll start selling at ten tomorrow?"

Chen Yongqiang took the bowl, drank some hot water, and watched the two women busily preparing the buns: "How's the bun preparation going?"

"I've steamed a few baskets of sauerkraut and pork filling. You can try some first!" Wang Guixiang opened the steamer lid.