Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 81 My Feet Are Hooked by the Little Demons of the City

There are sweet and sour pork ribs, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a rich and mellow sweet and sour sauce.

There were also refreshing stir-fried seasonal vegetables and other dishes. The waiters brought the dishes to the table one by one, each one beautifully presented, with excellent color, aroma and taste, just like exquisite works of art.

Lin Yanqing placed a piece of braised pork in Lin Jie's bowl, his eyes full of concern and tenderness: "Try this, the braised pork here is very good."

Lin Jie gently picked up the braised pork and put it in her mouth. She chewed it slowly and found that the meat was tender and juicy, not greasy at all, and had a rich and mellow flavor that was very delicious.

"Mmm, it's really delicious."

Lin Jie was full of praise, her face beaming with satisfaction. During dinner, their conversation flowed like a gentle stream, ranging from the beautiful melodies of music to the exciting plots of movies, from the profound meanings of literary works to the unique charm of art. Their understanding of each other deepened with each exchange.

To their delight, they discovered that they shared many common interests and similar values. This unexpected connection brought them closer together, as if an invisible bond was binding them together.

After dinner, Lin Yanqing escorted Lin Jie home and strolled along the streets at night.

The streetlights cast a dim, soft glow, stretching their shadows long, which overlapped on the ground.

Occasionally, a vehicle would drive by, making a slight rumble that broke the tranquility of the night before gradually disappearing into the distance, leaving only a peaceful silence.

When they arrived at Lin Jie's building, Lin Yanqing stopped, slowly turned around, and looked at Lin Jie with deep affection in his eyes.

"I'm very happy today, Lin Jie. I hope we can have more opportunities like this in the future."

Lin Yanqing's voice was soft and full of emotion, making it especially moving in the quiet night.

Lin Jie slightly raised her head, her gaze meeting Lin Yanqing's. Her eyes held a hint of shyness and anticipation.

"I'm happy too, Lin Yanqing. Good night."

After saying that, Lin Jie turned around and, filled with joy and reluctance, slowly walked up the stairs.

Lin Yanqing stood quietly in place, her gaze fixed on Lin Jie's back until it completely disappeared at the top of the stairs.

Meanwhile, Jiang He was filled with longing for Lin Yanqing in the city.

She hadn't heard his voice in a long time, and every time she dialed that familiar number, all she got in return was an endless busy signal. Helpless, Jiang He could only pick up a pen and pour out her longing and yearning on a letter.

"Yanqing, are you doing well in the city? My baby and I miss you day and night. The nights in this village are very quiet, but I can't fall asleep. I'm always thinking about you. When will you have time to come home and see us? My baby is growing bigger every day in my belly. I often imagine what he looks like and think how wonderful it would be if you could be by my side."

Jiang He wrote stroke by stroke, tears welling up in her eyes, dripping onto the letter and blurring the ink.

The letter was sent to the factory where Lin Yanqing worked.

Lin Yanqing dragged her tired body back to the dormitory. When she saw the letter on the table, an ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

When he saw that it was Jiang He's letter, his brows furrowed tightly, and a hint of annoyance and helplessness flashed in his eyes.

Now that Lin Jie was in his life, the woman who could bring him a different future, Jiang He and the child in her womb seemed like a heavy burden, a big problem he was eager to get rid of. Lin Yanqing threw the letter aside, sat on the edge of the bed, and buried his head in his hands.

He began to devise a plan in his mind on how to completely sever ties with Jiang He, but every thought was held back by a trace of conscience deep within his heart.

At the factory, Lin Yanqing and Lin Jie grew closer. Lin Jie always appeared by his side with a sweet smile, and they would stroll together in the factory garden, discussing the latest happenings in the city.

Lin Jie would bring him some delicate snacks and show concern for his work and life.

When Lin Yanqing is with Lin Jie, he can temporarily forget the troubles brought by Jiang He and immerse himself in this seemingly beautiful new romance.

However, whenever the night is quiet, Jiang He's image will involuntarily appear in his mind.

He would recall their time together in the countryside, the sight of Jiang He working diligently in the fields, and her gentle gaze and caring words.

These memories caused him immense pain, and he could only keep telling himself that he had to harden his heart for the sake of his future.

Jiang He continued to work busily in the village every day, taking meticulous care of everything at home and looking forward to Lin Yanqing's return.

She was unaware that Lin Yanqing's heart had undergone a tremendous change.

Jiang He sat in her somewhat dilapidated courtyard. The afternoon sun shone on her, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart.

Her belly was already slightly protruding, and she was beginning to show signs of pregnancy.

At this moment, her mother came out of the house and sat down beside her, her eyes filled with worry and concern.

“He’er, how long has it been since Yan Qing came back? Even if a man goes to work in the city, he can’t just stay away from home forever.”

Her mother's voice was tinged with dissatisfaction and doubt. Jiang He lowered her head slightly, her hands unconsciously resting on her slightly protruding belly, and said softly, "Mom, he's probably too busy with work, there's a lot going on in the city."

The mother frowned and raised her voice slightly: "Busy? How busy can you be? No matter how busy you are, you can't forget your family, especially since you're pregnant. I think you've probably been entangled by some little vixen in the city."

Jiang He's heart tightened; she had actually had similar worries on countless nights. But she still shook her head: "Mom, don't make wild guesses. Yan Qing isn't that kind of person."

But there was an undisguised unease in her eyes. Her mother sighed, "You silly child, you always think the best of people. Once a man goes to the city and sees all the temptations, he's easily tempted. You have to think about your own future."

Jiang He fell silent, Lin Yanqing's face appearing in her mind, recalling all the little things they had shared.

Could it be that Lin Yanqing really has another woman in the city?
Only this reason can explain why he hasn't called home once in so long, and why her letters have all gone unanswered.

But now, his departure and prolonged absence have left her feeling uncertain.

She didn't know what Lin Yanqing was going through in the city, or whether he was really attracted to other women, as her mother said.

"Mom, I'll wait a little longer. He should be back once he's done with this busy period."

Jiang He's voice sounded weak. Her mother looked at her helplessly: "Are you just going to wait like this? Don't end up hurting yourself. This baby in your belly can't wait."