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

During dinner that evening, Chen Yongqiang, holding his bowl, talked to Lin Xiulian about hiring a carpenter.

"Uncle Fugen inspected that batch of timber today and said the material was good. He suggested we go to Linjiatun and hire an old carpenter to make the doors and windows. That's your great-uncle."

"My great-uncle? That's wonderful! His skills are truly exceptional; people from all around come to him." Lin Xiulian wasn't just praising him because he was a relative; he genuinely had excellent skills.

"Uncle Fugen said the same thing. It's just that he's getting old and hasn't been taking on many jobs in the last two years. I don't know if we can get him to come back." This is what Chen Yongqiang is worried about.

Lin Xiulian said calmly, "My great-uncle is indeed not easy to talk to; he's stubborn and inflexible. But we're relatives, so it should be easier to discuss things with him."

"I'll go with you to invite them tomorrow. It's been a while since I've been back to my parents' home, so I'll go visit them while I'm there."

She was naturally very interested in building the house. She couldn't do the heavy work, but she could still lend a hand with errands and asking for favors.

"Does your great-uncle have any hobbies? I can bring some over tomorrow." Chen Yongqiang thought that since he was going to ask for help, he couldn't go empty-handed. Even if he was visiting relatives, he had to act like one.

Lin Xiulian tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Hobbies... I like smoking and drinking. I especially like to have a drink or two. When I used to go to his house, there was always alcohol with every meal."

"Alright, bring a bottle of good wine over tomorrow..." Chen Yongqiang was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

"No. He's getting old, and his family doesn't allow him to smoke or drink. I heard he hasn't been in good health for the past two years. If you bring him alcohol, it will only make him feel worse."

"What should I bring? I can't go empty-handed." Chen Yongqiang was at a loss for what to bring.

Lin Xiulian thought for a moment and said, "Let's bring some food; his teeth are still okay."

Chen Yongqiang still has some wild game in his space; he can bring some over tomorrow.

The conversation about hiring a carpenter had just ended when Qin Shan, who hadn't spoken until now, finally spoke up.

"Yongqiang, there's something I need to tell you. It hasn't rained for a while now, and you've only watered the apple seedlings once since you planted them. If this drought continues, I'm afraid the seedlings won't survive."

Chen Yongqiang put down his chopsticks and said, "Isn't there water in that pool we built? We built it specifically to prevent this kind of weather."

"The pond has water, and according to the solar terms, it should rain in the next few days. I want to keep the water so that if it rains, we won't have to touch it. If we use it now, and then it dries up again, we won't have any left." He understood Qin Shan's thoughts.

Farmers depend on the weather for their livelihood, and their biggest fear is drought. The water in the pond is essential for survival; they try to stay put as much as possible and wait for the rain.

But apple seedlings also have a life; if they die from drought, all the planting will have been for nothing.

"I'll go check tomorrow. If it's really not working, I'll water a batch first, and then wait a couple more days to see if it rains." Qin Shan was unaware that Chen Yongqiang had brought in spring water from Qinglong Mountain.

When Chen Yongqiang was discussing water usage with Qin Shan, a commotion arose from the field.

It was faintly visible, heading from the direction of the village towards the fields.

"What's going on?" Chen Yongqiang stood up, walked to the door, and looked outside.

In the darkness, many villagers, carrying flashlights, walked in twos and threes toward the irrigation ditch.

The beams of flashlights flickered in the darkness; some people carried shovels, while others carried buckets of water.

"They've all gone to guard the water." Qin Shan glanced at them and sighed.

Chen Yongqiang looked toward the canal.

The canal draws water from an upstream reservoir and flows through several villages. Shimen Village is located in the middle reaches, so it doesn't receive much water.

It hasn't rained for a while, and the crops are suffering from severe drought, making the water released from the reservoir even more precious.

However, not much water flows down from the reservoir.

The canal is only so wide; how much can each household get? Those who go first will be able to irrigate, while those who go later might find the bottom of the canal dried up.

No wonder everyone's rushing to keep watch late at night.

Chen Yongqiang watched for a while, then turned and went back into the house.

Qin Shan also looked grim: "Yongqiang, about the water... my few acres of land are also suffering from drought."

"No need to rush, there's still enough water in the pool. Let's water them first." Chen Yongqiang didn't think much of it; others might lack water, but he certainly didn't.

The next morning, Chen Yongqiang and Qin Shan carried hoes to the land they had contracted.

Because it hadn't rained for a long time, the soil underfoot formed a hard clump when you stepped on it.

"This land is terribly dry. If it doesn't rain soon, the crops will all be lost."

Chen Yongqiang walked around the field and found that the land was indeed very dry, with small cracks appearing in some places.

The apple seedlings that I watered a few days ago are doing a little better; their leaves are still green, but they're listless and drooping.

The two climbed to the top of the hill again. The pool that had been built last year still had three-quarters of its water level, more than he had expected.

Qin Shan also breathed a sigh of relief: "It's a good thing we built this pond back then, otherwise with this drought this year, we really wouldn't have been able to manage."

"Uncle Qinshan, I'm leaving the work in the fields to you. Water it whenever you can, don't be stingy, the seedlings are the most important thing. I also have to go to Linjiatun today to ask that carpenter for help." Chen Yongqiang also had a lot of things to do because of building the house.

"Okay, you go ahead, I'll take care of things in the fields." Qin Shan agreed and helped Chen Yongqiang with some tasks.

It wasn't like Qin Shan was working for nothing; Chen Yongqiang paid him wages.

After inspecting the fields, Chen Yongqiang drove the tractor, taking Lin Xiulian with him, towards Linjiatun.

Lin Xiulian sat in the passenger seat:

"Let's go to my parents' place first. It's been a long time since I've been back. Let's visit them first, and then we'll go invite my great-uncle. Anyway, we're all in the same village, it's just a short walk."

Chen Yongqiang also felt that it would be more appropriate to go to his father-in-law's house first.

There were some mountain produce in the tractor's back bed, so naturally I couldn't go back empty-handed. When visiting relatives, one must act like a proper relative; only when the proper etiquette is observed can the conversation flow smoothly.

The tractor drove along the dirt road, kicking up a trail of dust. On both sides, fields of crops stretched out one after another, the corn seedlings curled up by the sun.

Lin Xiulian looked at the land and said, "This year's weather is really tough."

"Your Linjiatun is closer to the reservoir, so there shouldn't be any major problems," Chen Yongqiang said, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"It is closer, but even in higher areas it's difficult to get the water up there," Lin Xiulian analyzed.

"Let's wait a little longer, maybe it will be over in a couple of days," Chen Yongqiang told her not to worry.

Upon arriving at her father-in-law's house, as soon as the tractor stopped, Lin Xiulian quickly carried her things into the yard.

"Father, Mother, I'm home!"

Lin's mother came out of the house to greet her, and her face immediately lit up with a smile when she saw Lin Xiulian.

"It's Xiulian back!"

Lin Xiulian took her mother's arm and walked inside: "I came back to see you all and take care of some things."

Chen Yongqiang followed behind and nodded to Lin's mother: "Mother."

"Yongqiang is here too, come in and sit down," Lin's mother greeted him with a smile.

Upon entering the main room, Lin Xiulian put her things down, looked around, but didn't see anyone.

"Where did Dad go?"

Lin's mother sighed, "He went to guard the irrigation canal. These past few days, the reservoir has been releasing water, and your father has been going to guard it before dawn, afraid that someone will intercept it. That's why he hasn't come back for breakfast."

"Is our land flooded?" Lin Xiulian asked, concerned about this.

"I tried to fill her up once, but not thoroughly, and she's still keeping a close watch on her," Lin's mother briefly explained the situation.