The sun reached its zenith, marking the arrival of noon.
Shen Jingyao had already filled three hessian sacks that morning, with a large portion of sweet potatoes dug up by Zhou Muyan still remaining on the ground.
Zhou Muyan helped gather one basketful and poured it into the fourth sack. “Yao Yao, it’s already noon. Let’s stop working.”
Shen Jingyao stood up and shook her slightly numb legs. “A Yan, are you going back for lunch?”
Zhou Muyan led her to rest under a tree at the edge of the field. “No need to go back. My second sister-in-law will bring food over. In a moment, my mother will call me to eat with her.”
“Alright.” Shen Jingyao took two steamed buns from her Space and handed one to him.
“Then let’s eat this bun together first.” Shen Jingyao knew they would likely have coarse grains like wotou for lunch, and she wanted him to have some refined grains.
Zhou Muyan took off his gloves and accepted it. “Okay, let’s eat together.” Since Yao Yao had her Space, there was no need to deprive herself.
“A Yan, do you have a water bottle? Bring one tomorrow, and I’ll prepare some milk for you.”
Milk is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which would help nourish his body.
A warm smile spread across Zhou Muyan’s face as he replied softly, “Yes, I have an old water bottle. I’ll wash it tonight and bring it tomorrow.”
He ate quickly, finishing the steamed bun in four or five bites.
Mother Zhou, Liu Huilan, came to the field to call her third son for lunch. As she approached, she found her third son and that Educated Youth Shen sitting at the edge of the field.
They weren’t sitting particularly close, but while Educated Youth Shen was eating, her third son was staring intently at her.
He wore a smile she had never seen before, causing Liu Huilan’s eyelids to twitch.
She called out, “Third Son, it’s time for lunch.”
Hearing her voice, Zhou Muyan turned to look at his mother and noticed her meaningful gaze.
Zhou Muyan remained composed under her scrutiny—he intended to prepare his mother for this possibility.
“Alright, I’m coming.”
He stood up and whispered, “Yao Yao, I’ll head over first. Rest for a while after you finish eating.”
Shen Jingyao, her cheeks puffed out with a mouthful of bun, nodded to indicate she understood.
Zhou Muyan’s eyes warmed at the sight—she looked so adorable. His palms itched with the urge to pinch her cheeks, but his mother was watching.
If he actually did it, his mother would rush over immediately, embarrassing Yao Yao.
He walked over to Liu Huilan. “Mom, let’s go.”
Liu Huilan studied him for a moment. “Why are you working with Educated Youth Shen?”
Zhou Muyan replied earnestly, “Educated Youth Shen has been assigned to my team. It’s her first day, and as the Xiao Dui Zhang, it’s my responsibility to help her get familiar with the work.”
Liu Huilan narrowed her eyes—she didn’t believe a word of it. “Is that so?”
“Yes, Mom. Let’s walk faster. I’m hungry.” Zhou Muyan quickened his pace. He wasn’t ready to admit his feelings for Yao Yao just yet.
It would seem too sudden to outsiders. He would wait until they had spent more time together to avoid damaging Yao Yao’s reputation.
Moreover, he quite enjoyed the thrill of secretly courting under everyone’s noses—it reminded him of his high school days when he dated Yao Yao behind his parents’ backs.
For now, eating was more important. Liu Huilan didn’t press further.
After Zhou Muyan left, Shen Jingyao finished the steamed bun and ate a piece of sponge cake from the lunch box, feeling full.
She was sitting under a large tree where the sunlight was mostly blocked by the dense foliage, with only occasional rays filtering through the gaps.
She yawned, feeling drowsy, but didn’t dare fall asleep in the open field, afraid of insects and such.
She could only prop her head with her hand, yawning repeatedly.
Zhou Muyan quickly finished his meal and hurried back, not feeling at ease leaving Yao Yao alone there.
When he returned, he saw Yao Yao’s head nodding off bit by bit, and he chuckled softly.
“You’re back.” Shen Jingyao cracked her eyes open slightly and saw his figure standing before her.
Zhou Muyan sat about half a meter away from her. “I’m back. Yao Yao, you should sleep for a while. I’ll keep watch for you.”
“Okay.” Shen Jingyao took a silk scarf out from her Space and laid it on the grass.
She lay down completely, resting her face on the silk scarf, and fell asleep within a few breaths.
Zhou Muyan sat beside her, quietly watching her sleeping face, his heart melting like soft water.
Shen Jingyao slept for half an hour before waking up.
She opened her eyes and sat up, feeling slightly dizzy, and pressed her fingers against her temples.
Zhou Muyan had been sitting in place with his eyes closed, resting, but the moment she sat up, he opened his deep-set eyes.
He turned around, opened her water bottle, and handed it to her. “Yao Yao, have some water to moisten your throat.” He knew her throat might feel uncomfortable just after waking up.
Shen Jingyao was indeed thirsty. She held the water bottle and gulped down the water, her dry throat instantly soothed.
“A Yan, how long did I sleep?” Shen Jingyao put down the water bottle and wiped the droplets from her lips.
“About half an hour.” Zhou Muyan took the water bottle and screwed the cap back on.
Shen Jingyao stood up and stretched, saying in a sweet voice, “Alright, let’s get up and continue working now.”
After her nap, she felt fully recharged and ready to work again, picking up her basket and heading back to the field.
Zhou Muyan smiled with deep affection and followed behind her.
In the afternoon, Shen Jingyao maintained the same pace as in the morning—neither too fast nor too slow.
About an hour before work ended, Zhou Muyan put down his hoe and crouched to help her gather the harvest.
With Zhou Muyan joining in, they filled a basket in just a few minutes, and the hessian sack quickly swelled as well.
As quitting time approached, they had packed all the sweet potatoes from the field, waiting for someone to transport them to the brigade warehouse.
Shen Jingyao took sixty yuan out from her Space. “A Yan, I’ll give you the money for building the house. I don’t really understand these things, so you can arrange everything as you see fit.”
Zhou Muyan didn’t refuse and reached out to take it. From now on, he would prepare anything Yao Yao needed.
“Okay. After work, my father and I will first measure out your homestead and buy the necessary materials like mud bricks. We should be able to start construction officially tomorrow.”
“Good, then I’ll head back first. It’s my turn to cook at the Educated Youth Point today.” Shen Jingyao packed up her water bottle, lunch box, and other belongings, holding them in her hands.
“Alright, you go back first. I’ll find my elder brother—he’s the village record keeper. I’ll help you register today’s work points.”
Mentioning work points piqued Shen Jingyao’s curiosity. “A Yan, how many work points did I earn today?”
Zhou Muyan looked at the work they had completed. “You should have five work points today.”
Hearing she had earned five work points, Shen Jingyao was quite satisfied. “I actually got five work points!”
Of course, without A Yan’s help, she definitely wouldn’t have been able to earn five work points.
“That’s right, Yao Yao, you’re already doing great. Getting four or five work points every day is enough—no need for more.”
If she earned too many work points, it would be difficult to arrange lighter tasks for her later.
“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
When work ended, Shen Jingyao was the first to return to the Educated Youth Point.