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

Chen Yongqiang understood, but the tractor did not stop and continued to drive forward, as the timber needed to be transported back first.

Back on the homestead, the workers were gathered around the table, preparing to eat.

The Qin sisters were setting the table with dishes: a pot of stewed green beans, a pot of shredded potatoes, and a large bowl of pickled vegetable soup.

Seeing Chen Yongqiang drive back in his tractor, Zhao Fugen stood up and shouted to everyone:

"Come on, everyone, let's unload the timber first before we eat. Yongqiang has been running around all day, don't make him do it himself."

Several villagers put down their bowls and chopsticks and followed Zhao Fugen to gather around.

Someone took the lead and jumped onto the truck bed, passing down logs, which were then caught by the others and stacked one by one under the workers' shed.

With more people, the work gets done, and the truckload of timber was unloaded in no time.

Chen Yongqiang jumped out of the car, glanced at the dishes on the table, and then looked at the Qin sisters who were serving rice.

"Lijuan".

"What's wrong, Yongqiang?" Qin Lijuan paused in her act of serving rice.

Chen Yongqiang took out a few yuan from his pocket: "Today is the opening of Liang Meie's convenience store. Go and buy some wine. We'll all have a drink tonight."

Qin Lijuan put down her bowl, took the money first, and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

Chen Yongqiang handed the fish he had caught to Qin Liping: "Liping, prepare these fish and make it an extra meal for everyone!"

Qin Liping carried the fish and turned to the kitchen to get busy, while Lin Xiulian also helped out.

A short while later, Qin Lijuan came running back, carrying a white plastic jug that was at least four or five jin (2.5-3 kg) of liquor.

She ran up to Chen Yongqiang and handed him the wine jug: "Brother Yongqiang, the wine is back. Sister-in-law Mei'e knew it was you who bought the wine, so she gave us an extra jin (500ml) as a special opening offer."

Chen Yongqiang took the wine pot without paying much attention.

Qin Lijuan handed him the change again: "Here's your change, count it."

Chen Yongqiang glanced at it and said, "Keep it. You've been busy lately, so buy some snacks."

Qin Lijuan blushed upon hearing this, but still put the money away: "Oh, by the way, Sister-in-law Mei'e also asked me to pass on a message to you..."

"What did you say?"

"She said... tell you to drink less." Qin Lijuan didn't know what that sentence meant, but that was exactly what she said.

Chen Yongqiang naturally knew that this was Liang Meie's code for him, and that he was going to her house for drinks that night.

After the villagers helped unload the timber, they washed their hands and sat down around the table.

The group was still chatting and laughing, discussing how quickly Chen Yongqiang's house was being built and how soon the roof beams would be up.

As they were talking, Qin Liping came out of the kitchen carrying a large enamel basin.

"Braised fish is here! Brother Yongqiang, try my cooking and see how salty it is."

The fish stew in the bowl, sprinkled with chopped green onions, looks so delicious it makes your mouth water.

"Liping's cooking skills are just as good as those in the restaurants in town," Chen Yongqiang casually remarked.

Qin Liping was a little embarrassed by the praise and turned back to the kitchen to continue her work.

Qin Shan returned from the fields carrying a hoe. "The food is pretty good today."

He put down the hoe and looked at Chen Yongqiang again, "I watered all the apple seedlings in the field, and used a lot of water in the pond."

"It's fine if we use it, the seedlings are the most important thing." Chen Yongqiang knew that the seedlings would slowly fill up after being used.

Seeing that everyone was seated, he urged them to start eating: "You've all had a long day, so please eat while it's hot. The food is good today, and there's plenty of wine, so don't be shy."

Several villagers, who had been waiting impatiently, reached for the braised fish with their chopsticks, picking up pieces of fish and putting them into their mouths: "Delicious, so delicious!"

Qin Lijuan diligently carried the wine pot, circling around the table to pour wine for people.

As he approached Zhao Fugen, the wine pot was just brought close when Zhao Fugen extended his bowl.

"Fill it up, fill it up!"

Qin Lijuan poured him a full bowl, and Zhao Fugen picked it up. Before even taking a bite of the food, he took a big sip.

After drinking the liquor, he squinted his eyes, smacked his lips, let out a long "ha," and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

"This wine is good. The wine that Mei'e's little shop gets is decent, no worse than what the supply and marketing cooperative gets."

Qin Shan joked from the side, "You haven't even eaten the food yet, and you've already finished half a bowl."

"What do you know? Wine is the essence of grain; the more you drink, the younger you get. I call this health preservation," Zhao Fugen retorted.

Everyone laughed when they heard this, and the work shed was filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.

Chen Yongqiang picked up his wine bowl and raised it towards Qin Shan: "Uncle Qin Shan, my apple orchard will have to rely on you a lot from now on."

He was good at hunting, but he was a bit overwhelmed by farming on a large scale. He was deliberately looking for work to help Qin Shan so that he could legitimately pay him.

Qin Shan smiled and clinked his bowl against Chen Yongqiang's.

"I can't help much with building houses, but when it comes to farming, that's my old profession."

"I'm relieved to hear that." Chen Yongqiang had secretly started a relationship with Qin Liping, so naturally he wouldn't mistreat Qin Shan, his half-father-in-law.

Qin Shan picked up another piece of fish with his chopsticks: "The soil in your area is alright, you don't need to add much fertilizer, it's just a bit dry."

Chen Yongqiang was aware of this as well.

The reason that piece of land was able to be contracted in the first place was because of the drought, wasn't it?

The villagers all thought it was a barren wasteland that no one wanted, and nothing could be planted there, which is why he got a good deal.

If that land had plenty of water and fertile soil, it wouldn't have been his turn.

Chen Yongqiang held his wine bowl, but in his heart he was thinking:

"Wait two years, when the apple orchard starts bearing fruit, what will the villagers' expressions be like? Those who were waiting to see him make a fool of himself will probably be slapped in the face!"

Especially He Jun, who was the most enthusiastic when the contract was being taken over, making sarcastic remarks to everyone.

"If anything can grow on that land, I'll walk backwards."

After a hearty meal, the villagers who had helped build the house gradually dispersed and returned to their homes.

Chen Yongqiang got up and walked towards the thatched hut, where the Qin sisters and Lin Xiulian were sitting around a small table.

A whole braised fish was placed on the table. With so many people outside, Qin Liping had specially saved one for Lin Xiulian as a special treat.

At this moment, only the skeleton of the fish remained. The three women all wore expressions of satisfaction, and Qin Liping was still using her chopsticks to pick at the scraps of meat next to the fish bones.

Seeing Chen Yongqiang enter, Lin Xiulian looked up and asked, "Finished eating?"

Qin Liping was a little embarrassed and put down her chopsticks: "Brother Yongqiang, would you like some? There's also fish soup, and rice porridge is delicious."

"You guys eat, I've had my fill outside." Chen Yongqiang walked to the bedside, picked up his coat and put it on.

He said to Lin Xiulian, "Sister-in-law Mei'e's shop is open today. I'll go check it out and join in the fun."

Lin Xiulian simply reminded him, "Go ahead, but drink less. You still need to pick up my uncle tomorrow."

Chen Yongqiang responded and walked out. He knew that hiding things would only arouse suspicion.

Although Lin Xiulian didn't ask many questions, women are meticulous. If she acted suspiciously, Lin Xiulian would overthink things. It was better to be open and say where she was going.