Bug/Issue Game crashes while saving. Can't get past intro

Hi. I bought the game a few days ago on Steam. I've been trying to play the game for a week now, but I can't proceed forth past the first intro save. Since it doesn't save, I can't access any save data files. I've tried the following:
Reinstall steam (and the game)
Verified files on steam
Reinstalled XNA 4.0
Tried windowed vs fullscreen mode
Deleting starup preferences
Restarted my computer numerous times

Below is the whole error log I keep getting when trying to play the game:

Message: The type initializer for 'StardewValley.SaveGame' threw an exception.
InnerException: System.InvalidOperationException: Unable to generate a temporary class (result=1).
error CS0014: Required file 'alink.dll' could not be found

at System.Xml.Serialization.Compiler.Compile(Assembly parent, String ns, XmlSerializerCompilerParameters xmlParameters, Evidence evidence)
at System.Xml.Serialization.TempAssembly.GenerateAssembly(XmlMapping[] xmlMappings, Type[] types, String defaultNamespace, Evidence evidence, XmlSerializerCompilerParameters parameters, Assembly assembly, Hashtable assemblies)
at System.Xml.Serialization.TempAssembly..ctor(XmlMapping[] xmlMappings, Type[] types, String defaultNamespace, String location, Evidence evidence)
at System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer.GenerateTempAssembly(XmlMapping xmlMapping, Type type, String defaultNamespace, String location, Evidence evidence)
at System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer..ctor(Type type, XmlAttributeOverrides overrides, Type[] extraTypes, XmlRootAttribute root, String defaultNamespace, String location, Evidence evidence)
at System.Xml.Serialization.XmlSerializer..ctor(Type type, Type[] extraTypes)
at StardewValley.SaveGame..cctor()
Stack Trace: at StardewValley.SaveGame.<Save>d__47.MoveNext()
at StardewValley.Menus.SaveGameMenu.update(GameTime time)
at StardewValley.Game1.Update(GameTime gameTime)
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Game.Tick()
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Game.HostIdle(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.GameHost.OnIdle()
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.WindowsGameHost.RunOneFrame()
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.WindowsGameHost.ApplicationIdle(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.IMsoComponent.FDoIdle(Int32 grfidlef)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ComponentManager.System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.IMsoComponentManager.FPushMessageLoop(IntPtr dwComponentID, Int32 reason, Int32 pvLoopData)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoopInner(Int32 reason, ApplicationContext context)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoop(Int32 reason, ApplicationContext context)
at System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run(Form mainForm)
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.WindowsGameHost.Run()
at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Game.RunGame(Boolean useBlockingRun)
at StardewValley.Program.Main(String[] args)

 

Try also reinstalling the "dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe" file included with the game. It's also under the "_CommonRedist" folder.