After finishing his meal, Zhou Muyan took a shower and returned to his room. He took out paper and pen to draw a simple blueprint.
On the left was a relatively large bedroom—Yao Yao preferred spacious rooms. On the right was the kitchen, with a door connecting it to the bedroom.
The kang hole for the bedroom would be opened in the kitchen, so the kang could be heated while cooking, making it convenient to warm it up at night.
Next to the kitchen, a shed for firewood would be built for easy access when cooking or heating the kang. Beside the firewood shed, an outhouse would be constructed.
The two-fen private plot in front of the house could be turned into a yard, enclosed by a wall. Perfect.
Zhou Muyan picked up the simple blueprint in his hand, nodded with satisfaction, and decided to proceed with construction according to this plan.
He placed the blueprint under his pillow and went to sleep.
The next day, Shen Jingyao woke up at 5:30 a.m. and went outside to use the outhouse. The smell was so overpowering it nearly sent her to the afterlife, assaulting her senses intensely.
She resolved her physiological needs as quickly as possible, held her breath, and rushed back to the room, where she took deep, relieved breaths.
After pouring hot water into a basin, she went outside to wash up.
Back in the room, she applied snow cream to her face, then squeezed out a coin-sized amount of sunscreen and spread it evenly.
Since she couldn’t use the hat from her Space, she had to be diligent about applying more sunscreen.
She definitely didn’t want to end up looking like a lump of charcoal after the autumn harvest.
Breakfast at the Educated Youth Point was the same as usual. Shen Jingyao had already eaten sponge cake and drunk milk in her room beforehand.
In the kitchen, Wei Meixia avoided making eye contact with Shen Jingyao when she entered.
Shen Jingyao completely ignored her existence. People like her were typical cases of green-eyed envy—they couldn’t stand others doing better than them.
If she dared to cause trouble again, Shen Jingyao wouldn’t mind giving her a hard slap.
Shen Jingyao took her wotou and left the kitchen, eating one on the way and storing the remaining one in her lunch box.
Just like the day before, she carried her gloves, water bottle, and lunch box, following the brigade out.
On the way, they encountered some elderly women whose eyes lit up at the sight of Shen Jingyao. Such a pretty girl was truly a sight for sore eyes.
They were all very outgoing and enthusiastically greeted her.
“Shen Zhiqing, how did you find work yesterday? Was it tiring?”
Shen Jingyao, wanting to escape the situation immediately, forced an awkward smile and replied, “It was alright, thank you for your concern.”
With that, she quickened her pace, soon putting distance between herself and the women.
The women behind her remarked, “Shen Zhiqing looks delicate and frail, but she walks quite fast.”
One of them, completely unaware that Shen Jingyao was avoiding them, added, “Exactly, it’s as if something were chasing her.”
“But Shen Zhiqing’s awareness is truly high. Those female educated youths before always dragged their feet when working—Shen Zhiqing is quite impressive.”
The speaker was Li Jinhua, the wife of the Village Party Secretary. Having often heard her husband use the word “awareness,” she had a rough idea of its meaning.
The others didn’t really understand what “awareness” meant, but since she was the Party Secretary’s wife, they chimed in, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Walking ahead, Shen Jingyao had no idea people were praising her high awareness, but it wasn’t a bad thing—at least they weren’t speaking ill of her.
Shen Jingyao headed toward the same field as yesterday, where she and A Yan had left a small portion unfinished.
Zhou Muyan had been waiting for her at the fork in the road. When he caught sight of her graceful figure, a smile immediately softened his stern expression.
Shen Jingyao spotted him from several meters away too—standing tall and straight by the roadside with a water flask, waiting for her.
She walked up and stood beside him, her dark eyes sparkling brightly. “A Yan, were you waiting for me?”
Taking advantage of the deserted surroundings, Zhou Muyan affectionately tapped the bridge of her nose with his bent finger. “Yes, I was waiting for you. I was afraid you might get lost.”
A tingling sensation lingered on the tip of her nose, making her instinctively reach up to touch it. She let out a soft humph. “I wouldn’t get lost. I’m not directionally challenged.”
“Alright, Yao Yao isn’t directionally challenged. I just wanted to walk with Yao Yao,” Zhou Muyan coaxed gently.
“That’s more like it. Let’s go, then.” Shen Jingyao walked ahead, with Zhou Muyan following a few steps behind.
Zhou Jianghe, passing by on a side path, witnessed the scene. He knew then—Zhou Muyan also had feelings for Shen Zhiqing, trailing after her like a loyal shadow.
Zhou Jianghe’s face lit up with determination. He wouldn’t give up; he would compete fairly with Zhou Muyan.
He believed that once he confessed his feelings to Shen Zhiqing, she would come to like him.
He had never seen a girl as beautiful as Shen Zhiqing. Ever since he laid eyes on her yesterday, she had occupied his thoughts.
All the girls his mother had introduced to him before were rather plain—none could compare to Shen Zhiqing’s beauty.
His mind made up, he watched their retreating figures for a moment before walking away.
Shen Jingyao and Zhou Muyan arrived at the field from yesterday and began their work.
Zhou Muyan updated her on the progress of the house construction and explained the blueprint he had drawn.
Squatting on the ground to gather sweet potatoes, Shen Jingyao said, “That’s fine, A Yan. I don’t understand these things—just handle it as you see fit.”
Leaning on his hoe, Zhou Muyan turned to gaze at her radiant face. “Alright. Yao Yao, I’m thinking of telling my parents about us in a few days.”
“Sure, I’ll follow your lead.” Shen Jingyao looked up with a smile. She was fine with it—in fact, the thrill of their secret relationship was rather exciting.
Hearing her response, Zhou Muyan felt even more motivated. Rolling up his sleeves, he threw himself into the work with renewed vigor.
Just like the day before, Shen Jingyao took breaks whenever she felt tired.
She no longer minded the muddy ground, finding the simple act of sitting right on the earth wonderfully refreshing.
Midway through, they moved to another plot of land, having finished yesterday’s section.
Looking at the cleared field, Shen Jingyao felt a deep sense of accomplishment. Indeed, seeing the fruits of her labor lifted her spirits.
Before the noon break, Shen Jingyao hid behind a large rock and filled Zhou Muyan’s flask mostly with milk.
She also took a bag of beef jerky from her Space, tore it open, and poured the contents into her lunch box, disposing of the wrapper back into the Space.
As the break siren sounded, Shen Jingyao handed him the lunch box, chewing on a piece of jerky. “Here, A Yan, have some beef jerky. It’s so flavorful!”
She hadn’t fully appreciated it when she used to eat it regularly, but now, every bite tasted incredibly delicious.
Zhou Muyan took a piece and put it in his mouth. The rich flavor of beef filled his senses, and he suddenly felt ravenous.
He took two more pieces. “Yao Yao, I’m going to eat now. You go sit under that tree over there. I’ll join you as soon as I’m done.”
“Alright, you may go.”
After Zhou Muyan left, Shen Jingyao came out holding another steamed bun to eat, thinking to herself when this period of eating steamed buns would ever end.