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

Lin's mother's voice rang out immediately: "Your sister wrote back. She said the train ticket back is too expensive, so she won't bother with the trip this year and will wait until next year."

"Did the letter say anything else?" Lin Xiulian pressed.

"I told them everything was fine in the south and we shouldn't worry about them." Lin's mother's response was brief, and the sound of her chopping vegetables started up again.

Chen Yongqiang, who was in the main room, heard the conversation coming from the kitchen clearly.

He remained outwardly calm, but his mind was in turmoil.

I need to find a way to go south next year. Chen Yongqiang silently calculated in his mind. Time waits for no one. Counting the days, Lin Xiuzhen should be giving birth in a little over five months.

Lin's father's attitude was subtle at this moment. He glanced at the Daqianmen cigarette and the two bottles of Erguotou liquor on the kang table.

When she heard her daughter mention the television again, the gloom on her face eased a little, but she still maintained her composure.

He picked up the pack of cigarettes, opened it, took out one, sniffed it under his nose, and lit it.

"It's not enough to just know how to make money; you also need to know how to live a down-to-earth life. Don't spend your money recklessly on trivial things."

"My daughter is with you, if you dare to let her suffer any injustice... humph."

Ultimately, he still harbored resentment over Chen Yongqiang abducting his daughter, but now that he saw tangible benefits, his attitude changed to one of demanding and calculating.

"Since Xiulian is with me, I will naturally not let her suffer the slightest grievance."

"Don't worry, sir. From now on, I will make sure you receive all the proper courtesies during holidays and festivals."

This statement not only provided assurance but also subtly aligned with Lin's father's desire for tangible benefits.

Upon hearing this, Lin's father's expression softened somewhat, and he decided to let the matter drop for the time being.

He picked up the bottle of Erguotou that Chen Yongqiang had placed on the table, unscrewed the cap, and smelled it: "This liquor... is alright. Let's drink this for lunch."

Around noon, with the help of Lin's mother and Lin Xiulian, the big white goose was already in the pot.

Just then, a series of deafening firecrackers suddenly went off outside.

The crackling sounds indicated that guests had come to offer New Year's greetings.

Immediately afterwards, a woman's voice came in: "Brother, sister-in-law! I've come to wish you a Happy New Year too!"

This is the voice of Lin Hsiu-lien's aunt, Lin Feng-chi.

Lin's mother hurriedly came out of the kitchen to greet her: "It's Fengzhi! Come in, come in and warm up!"

Lin Fengzhi entered the room and immediately saw Chen Yongqiang sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). The smile on her face faded slightly, and her words became sarcastic: "Oh, Chen Yongqiang? What are you doing here?"

She had naturally heard about Lin Xiuzhen's story; Lin Xiuzhen had been able to go south to work precisely because she had gone to seek refuge with her.

Chen Yongqiang and Xiulian's relationship is a recent development, and Lin Fengzhi, being outside, is obviously unaware of it.

She assumed Chen Yongqiang had come for Lin Xiuzhen, and her expression turned sour.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yongqiang stood up: "Aunt, of course I've come to visit my father-in-law."

Lin Fengzhi, quick-witted and sharp-tongued, retorted, "Give up on that idea! Xiuzhen is doing just fine in the south, why would she come back to suffer poverty with you? There are plenty of rich people over there, and with Xiuzhen's looks, she won't have trouble finding a good family to marry into!"

She spoke quickly and forcefully, like a machine gun, directly silencing Chen Yongqiang's suggestion to visit his father-in-law.

Before Chen Yongqiang could speak, Lin Xiulian came in from the outer room carrying the prepared dishes. "Auntie, you're here!"

"It's Xiulian!" Lin Fengzhi's attention was drawn to her.

Looking her up and down, he thought, "It's been two years since I last saw her. She's really grown up so much, becoming more and more beautiful. Look at her face, it's so much fairer than before."

Since Lin Xiulian started dating Chen Yongqiang, he hasn't made her do much heavy work in the past six months.

With less exposure to wind and sun, their complexion naturally became fairer and rosier than that of ordinary women who toiled in the village.

Lin Fengzhi continued, "Xiulian, listen to your aunt, after the New Year, you should come south with me to work! Your sister is over there now, earning a steady eighty yuan a month! That's several times better than us toiling in the fields!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiulian subconsciously looked up at Chen Yongqiang.

Eighty dollars? That number sounds intimidating, but it's only the price Yongqiang pays for hunting a large wild boar in the mountains.

She didn't pick up on the topic of going south, but instead changed the subject: "The goose meat is almost cooked. Auntie, since you've come all this way, why don't you stay for lunch?"

After a while, Lin Fengzhi picked up a piece of goose meat with her chopsticks on the kang table: "Sister-in-law, the food at home is getting better."

Lin's mother chimed in, "It was Yongqiang who brought it."

Lin Fengzhi glanced at Chen Yongqiang, her words laced with sarcasm: "Now you know to take your things back? Where were you before! If you hadn't treated Xiuzhen badly back then, would she have gone all the way there alone to work?"

Chen Yongqiang did not refute Lin Fengzhi's barbed words, but simply apologized and remained respectful throughout.

Over the course of the meal, a subtle understanding was reached among the group, and none of them dared to reveal that Chen Yongqiang was now with Xiulian.

The conversation lingered only on the harvest and news from the south, temporarily burying the most important matter beneath the seemingly harmonious and casual atmosphere.

After the meal, Lin Fengzhi was about to leave. Before she went out, she took Lin Xiulian's hand again and brought up the old topic once more: "Xiulian, you really need to think about going south. There are more opportunities there, and you can broaden your horizons. It's better than spending your whole life stuck in this remote mountain village. I'm doing this for your own good."

Lin Xiulian wore a polite smile, neither agreeing nor refusing her aunt's request, only vaguely replying, "Aunt, I've remembered everything you said, and I'll consider it carefully."

Seeing that she hadn't made a definitive statement, Lin Fengzhi didn't press the matter further. She gave a few more instructions before turning and walking away through the snow.

After seeing Lin Fengzhi off, Lin Xiulian finished cleaning up the dishes, and the young couple prepared to go home.

Lin's mother escorted her all the way to the gate of the courtyard. While Chen Yongqiang was pushing his bicycle, Lin Xiulian took advantage of the moment.

He pulled out a few bills and stuffed them into his mother's hand: "Mom, take this twenty yuan. Don't be stingy with it... and don't let my dad know."

When Lin's mother saw that it was money, she was startled and quickly tried to push it back, saying, "You child! Where did you get this money? Take it back quickly, you all have a hard life."

"Mother, please take it." Lin Xiulian pressed her mother's hand.

"Yongqiang is earning money now, enough for us. This is the pocket money he gave me, please keep it."

Lin's mother's eyes instantly reddened, but she simply gripped her daughter's hand tightly in return, a thousand words contained in that single squeeze.

Just then, Chen Yongqiang pushed his bike over. Lin's mother quickly wiped her eyes and called out, "The road is slippery, ride slowly! Come back often when you have time!"

"Hey, Mom, we're leaving now. You and Dad should go back inside, it's cold outside." Lin Xiulian sat in the back seat and waved to her parents.