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

In the following days, every household in Shimen Village was busy preparing for the New Year, unaware that a danger was quietly approaching.

Chen Yongqiang had something on his mind, but he remained outwardly calm.

He was bound to the Mountain God's Guardian System and knew that there were indeed some beings in this world that defied common sense.

Dealing with a legendary ferocious beast like "Xi" requires more than just force.

An old saying goes that "Xi" is afraid of three things: red, loud noises, and fire.

Pasting red couplets and hanging red lanterns are ways to ward off evil spirits.

After everything was prepared, on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chen Yongqiang went to Liang Meie's house for dinner, and he didn't go empty-handed.

He was carrying two things: a bag of candy and a jar of canned yellow peaches.

"You're here, why bring all this?" Liang Meie greeted them from the courtyard gate.

"It's all about good luck during the New Year," Chen Yongqiang said with a smile as he handed over the items.

It was customary to bring a gift when visiting someone's home; these two items were quite common gifts in rural Northeast China during the 1980s.

A kang table had already been set up in the main room, and Liang Meie's mother-in-law was busy serving the dishes.

A large pot of chicken stew with mushrooms was steaming hot; the mushrooms were hazel mushrooms that had been sun-dried in the autumn.

A plate of homemade garlic sausage, evenly sliced, is served alongside a dish of fried peanuts and a dish of fried potato slices—all perfect accompaniments to drinks.

"Come on up on the kang, it's warm there," Liang Meie called out, then turned around and took out a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) from the cabinet.

Chen Yongqiang took off his shoes, climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and sat down cross-legged.

Liang Meie set out the bowl and chopsticks in front of him, and when their eyes met, she smiled and nodded.

"Father, dinner is ready," Liang Meie called out to her father-in-law.

Then, she led her two children over.

These two children were frequent visitors to Chen Yongqiang's home, often watching TV, and they would politely greet him as "Uncle Chen."

Chen Yongqiang responded and reached out to pat Li Gensheng's head: "You need to eat more so you can grow taller."

"Uncle Chen, can you teach me how to shoot?" Li Gensheng was still thinking about hunting.

Before Chen Yongqiang could respond, Old Li lifted the cotton curtain and came in.

He glanced at Chen Yongqiang, and that inexplicable awkwardness welled up in his heart again.

She always felt that her daughter-in-law was getting too close to Chen Yongqiang.

But then I thought about how we'd been seeing meat on the table more often lately, and I realized it was all thanks to other people.

He suppressed his inner turmoil and forced a smile as he greeted him, "Yongqiang's here! We'll have to have a couple more drinks today."

Chen Yongqiang turned around upon hearing the voice: "Uncle Li is back. He's been waiting for you. If you don't come to the table, this feast can't begin."

The group sat down around the kang table, with Old Li naturally taking the seat of honor, and Liang Meie pouring wine for Chen Yongqiang.

"Yongqiang, this year's harvest is all thanks to your leadership." Old Li raised his wine glass, his tone more relaxed than before.

"Here, let me offer you a toast first."

"Uncle Li, you're being too polite," Chen Yongqiang quickly said, raising his cup with both hands to clink glasses.

"It's all thanks to the mutual support among fellow villagers, and the favorable policies that we're able to do some small business."

Liang Meie kept urging Yongqiang to eat more, saying, "These chickens are from our own farm!"

Chen Yongqiang picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and praised it repeatedly.

The conversation gradually shifted from the year's prospects to plans for the spring. Old Li had a few drinks and became quite talkative.

Liang Meie picked up the wine bottle and, taking this opportunity, asked softly, "Yongqiang, you're knowledgeable, think about it. Next spring, besides dealing in mountain products, what other businesses can the village find? We can't keep relying on what's in the mountains."

"As for the business model, I'm still figuring it out. For now, this mountain produce business is still a safe bet for a while longer," Chen Yongqiang said honestly.

Hearing him say that, Liang Meie felt much more at ease. She raised her glass and gestured to Chen Yongqiang, "With your words, I feel relieved. Here, let me toast you."

The two men lightly clinked their glasses and were about to drink when a muffled thud came from the side.

Old Li tilted his head to the side and slumped onto the kang table, mumbling incoherent, drunken ramblings that no one could understand.

Seeing this, Grandma Liang Meie immediately put down her chopsticks and began to complain, "This old woman, once she starts drinking, she doesn't know her limits. Look at her, she's like this again..."

Liang Meie and her mother-in-law helped the limp, drunken old man Li to his feet, and with great effort, they slowly moved him towards the inner room.

After a while, only Liang Meie came out from the inner room by lifting the curtain.

Chen Yongqiang finished the remaining half-mouth of wine in his cup, put down the cup, and got off the kang (a heated brick bed).

"It's getting late, I should head back."

Liang Meie quickened her pace and grabbed his arm. Lowering her voice, she said, "What's the rush? Come sit in my room for a bit, sober up a bit before you leave."

Chen Yongqiang naturally understood the meaning behind those words. Before he could respond, Liang Meie had already turned to her son, who was fiddling with pencils at the table, and instructed him:

"Gensheng, you stay here and do your homework with your sister. Mom has something important to discuss with your Uncle Yongqiang."

After saying that, Liang Meie turned and led the way to the next room. Chen Yongqiang hesitated for a moment, but followed her.

After entering the house, Liang Meie turned around and hugged Chen Yongqiang tightly: "You heartless bastard, if I hadn't come looking for you, you wouldn't have known to come looking for me!"

Chen Yongqiang's heart softened as she hugged him, and he patted her back, saying, "How could I not want to come? I was just worried it might be inconvenient for you here."

She has two children, and her parents-in-law also live with her...

Chen Yongqiang preferred to go to Ding Wanru's place, where she lived alone, at least there wouldn't be so much trouble.

Liang Meie tilted her head back, and her warm lips pressed against mine. "Today... you have to spend some quality time with me."

"Of course!" Chen Yongqiang tightened his arms, pulling her even closer into his embrace, and lowered his head to respond to her burning kiss.

The two quickly became engrossed in a passionate kiss, and the air in the small room grew hot.

Their breathing became increasingly rapid, and their hands frantically groped around as they pulled open each other's thick cotton-padded coats.

The buttons popped open, and the bulky cotton-padded coat was haphazardly pulled off their shoulders. Soon, the two of them fell onto the earthen bed, embracing each other.

Next door, Li Gensheng was absentmindedly scribbling on his workbook, holding a pencil.

My younger sister was lying down beside me, poking at the peanuts on the table with her finger.

A faint, indistinct sound came from next door, but it was quickly drowned out by the howling north wind outside the window.

More than an hour later, Chen Yongqiang sat up, picked up his scattered clothes and put them on, while Liang Meie lay on her side on the kang wrapped in a quilt.

He buttoned up his shirt, turned to the woman wrapped in a quilt on the kang (heated brick bed), and said, "Mei'e, be vigilant on New Year's Eve. Make sure all the doors and windows are securely bolted. Prepare several strings of firecrackers for the house, and set them off at midnight."

"Okay, I got it," Liang Meie replied lazily.

For the first three years after her husband left, she was not allowed to set off firecrackers due to custom.

This year should be a real celebration. Thinking this to herself, her vague unease lessened somewhat.

Chen Yongqiang got dressed, then opened the door and went out.

In the outer room, the two children were already asleep on the kang table, which saved them the awkwardness of having to greet each other.