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

Chen Yongqiang ate two steamed buns and then prepared to return to the village.

Liang Meie shamelessly took a few more: "I can just heat them up and feed them to the kids, saving me the trouble of cooking."

"Take a few more," Wang Guixiang said, not being stingy at all.

"That's enough, no need." Liang Meie stuffed the last two buns into her cloth bag and walked back with Chen Yongqiang.

When they returned to the entrance of Shimen Village, Liang Meie said to Chen Yongqiang, "I'll go back first, you can leave in a few minutes."

"What's wrong?" Chen Yongqiang asked, somewhat surprised.

"That bastard He Jun was gossiping to my father-in-law yesterday, saying that I did *that* with you." Liang Meie felt a little guilty because she did have an ambiguous relationship with Chen Yongqiang.

"I'll definitely teach He Jun a lesson another day," Chen Yongqiang thought to himself.

Liang Meie carried her cloth bag, lowered her head, and hurried towards her home, her steps much faster than usual.

Chen Yongqiang stood there for a few minutes before slowly walking home.

As she pushed open the gate to her yard, Lin Xiulian poked her face out from the kitchen: "You're back."

"Mm," Chen Yongqiang replied.

"The fish haven't been sold yet?"

"No, we'll sell it tomorrow." Chen Yongqiang walked into the kitchen.

Lin Xiulian didn't ask any further questions. Men are decisive, and she was never one to meddle: "The rice is warming in the pot."

The two didn't talk much during the meal. Chen Yongqiang picked at the rice in his bowl, occasionally glancing at Lin Xiulian's stomach.

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine, I just keep craving sour things," Lin Xiulian said, a blush creeping onto her face.

"They're sour, I'll bring you some plums from town tomorrow."

The next day, before dawn, Chen Yongqiang got up. He ate something quick and then went out.

When they arrived at the village entrance, Liang Meie was already waiting there. The two chatted as they walked toward the town.

First, they went to Wang Guixiang's house and moved the big fish and the steamed bun stall to the market.

"Gui Xiang, you have quite a complete selection of items at your stall." Liang Meie helped push the sled from behind.

"Everyone who comes to town to make a living needs to be prepared," Wang Guixiang replied.

Actually, Chen Yongqiang helped her get all these things.

The meat buns were only sold once. Later, due to heavy snow blocking the mountain, Chen Yongqiang did not go hunting wild boars and therefore did not make them again because there was no meat filling.

As soon as the steamed bun stall was set up, people came to buy them, and the two women got busy.

"You guys watch the stall for now, I'll go prepare some things," Chen Yongqiang instructed before walking into the market.

Not long after, Chen Yongqiang returned.

"What are you buying these for?" Liang Meie asked, noticing that he was carrying an old-fashioned wooden steelyard and a gong.

"I'll use this to sell fish later," Chen Yongqiang said, putting the items aside for the time being.

Then, he found some long wooden sticks and hung several pieces of red cloth on them.

The red cloth, adorned with large, eye-catching characters, fluttered in the wind.

A crowd of onlookers quickly gathered in front of the stall.

"May good fortune be with you, and may you have abundance every year!"

"The largest auction of the king of fish in the country..." someone looked up and read it out word by word.

Some people questioned, "Is this really the biggest fish in the whole country?"

"Of course," Chen Yongqiang answered without hesitation.

"While your fish is indeed quite large, I'm sure there are even bigger ones elsewhere," the man retorted directly.

"You're right, there's always someone better," Chen Yongqiang said calmly.

"I also believe there are even bigger ones in the world. But I'm talking about the biggest one that's already been caught and is laid out here. Fellow villagers, seeing is believing, haven't we caught it just in time?"

Chen Yongqiang's words were tactful, neither making definitive statements nor failing to firmly grasp the title of "King of Fish."

A few laughs and whispers came from the crowd, making the atmosphere even more lively.

Taking advantage of the situation, Chen Yongqiang picked up the gong and struck it once.

"The King of Fish will be auctioned off at 10 o'clock. Everyone is welcome to come and join the fun!"

Before the fish even went on sale, the crowd of onlookers was already three or four deep.

Chen Yongqiang's claim of being "the largest in the country" and the red cloth signboard had an unexpectedly good effect, actually making the scene look like a grand event.

The steamed bun stall's business was boosted by the influx of people. Wang Guixiang and Liang Meie were so busy that they couldn't keep their feet on the ground and had no time to pay attention to Chen Yongqiang.

The reason he dared to boast like this was because he was certain that information was scarce in this day and age, and that strange tales from all over the country could not easily reach this remote town.

By nearly 10 o'clock, the area in front of the stall was already packed with people.

Chen Yongqiang coldly swept his gaze across the crowd, identifying a few potential buyers who were genuinely observing the fish and whispering among themselves.

Just then, a jeep pulled up a short distance away, and the Shen siblings arrived.

The timing was perfect. Chen Yongqiang picked up the gong and struck it forcefully.

"clang--!"

"Dear fellow villagers, friends from afar," Chen Yongqiang said, standing beside the fish.

"The auspicious time has arrived! The auction for the 'King of Fish' begins now! The rules are simple: the highest bidder wins! This is an auspicious creature; buying it will bring good fortune and good luck!"

"Young man, do you dare say this fish is the king of fish? Just how heavy is it?" someone in the crowd shouted.

"That's a good question!" Chen Yongqiang was prepared and calmly picked up the old-fashioned wooden steelyard balance.

"Seeing is believing. We'll weigh the king fish here and find out! We just need a few strong and kind-hearted villagers to lend a hand. Is there anyone willing?"

"I'll do it!" A burly man who had been watching the commotion immediately rolled up his sleeves, eager to try.

Count me in!

Another middle-aged man squeezed out of the crowd.

Under Chen Yongqiang's direction, the fish was securely bound several times with the prepared thick hemp rope in the middle and rear section, and a sturdy wooden bar was threaded through the middle.

The two men worked together to lift the giant object off the sled.

With a hemp rope attached to the large iron hook of the wooden scale, Chen Yongqiang personally lifted the scale knob.

The weight moved outwards all the way, and finally, at a certain mark, the scale achieved a difficult balance.

Chen Yongqiang pointed at the scale and announced, "Everyone, take a look! This king of fish weighs 168 jin!"

"Whoa—!"

A huge gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd.

Many people have never seen a fish weighing over 100 pounds in their entire lives.

Not only did some people believe it, but they also gathered around to see.

"Isn't this 170 pounds?"

"Uncle, I deducted the weight of the rope used to tie the fish." Chen Yongqiang lowered the figure because 168 sounded better.