The notice from the Post Office was for a package sent by Feng Shihui, and Song Ziyao had to go to the town’s Post Office herself to collect it.
However, the farm work was busy at the moment, and she had no time to go. She could only wait a few more days.
After spending two days breaking corn off the cobs, the female educated youths followed the older women, aunts, and young wives of the production team to shell corn kernels.
The corn distributed to the commune members was still on the cob, but the corn handed over to the state had to be shelled, after which the kernels were dried in the sun.
It was not a particularly exhausting job, but it was very hard on the hands.
Wearing work gloves reduced efficiency, but working barehanded quickly left the hands red and swollen from friction.
In the end, Song Ziyao came up with a solution. She slipped her rubber shoes over the legs of a stool and used the friction of the shoe soles to rub the corn kernels off.
Not only did it greatly improve efficiency, but it also spared her hands from injury!
However, her method quickly drew attention from others.
Because it was too extravagant.
Buying rubber shoes required industrial coupons. In the countryside, being able to wear a pair of rubber shoes was a matter of pride.
Yet Song Ziyao was using such valuable shoes to shell corn. What a waste!
But this also indirectly showed that Song Ziyao came from a well-off family, and many of the older women began surrounding her and asking all sorts of questions.
Song Ziyao answered modestly and vaguely, but she still left everyone in the production team with the impression that she was wealthy.
In truth, she did not need to deliberately appear rich. Just by looking at her, one could tell she was delicate and pampered, the sort of girl raised in comfort.
One woman nudged Wang Chunhua’s arm and laughed quietly: “Isn’t your youngest son supposed to have high standards and think ordinary girls aren’t good enough for him? Would someone like Educated Youth Song catch his eye?”
Wang Chunhua snorted lightly. “Even if he liked her, I wouldn’t agree. One look and you can tell she’s the pampered type who doesn’t know how to run a household. Whoever marries her is asking for trouble.”
“Oh, stop it!” the woman teased. “Don’t flatter yourself. She’s from the Provincial Capital City, and her family is so wealthy. If she really married into your family, you’d be over the moon!”
The woman sighed deeply. “The only issue is whether she’d look down on rural people!”
Wang Chunhua was just about to say something when she heard a snort of laughter from nearby.
It was Zhou Kailian!
Wang Chunhua frowned. “What are you laughing at?!”
Zhou Kailian smiled. “I’m laughing at how thick-skinned some people are! They can say absolutely anything. If your son were really such a fine catch, would he still be unable to find a wife in his twenties?”
Wang Chunhua’s face immediately turned red. “Y… You think your son is such a fine catch? He’s just a little hooligan who got dumped by a girl!”
Zhou Kailian threw down the corn in her hands and pointed at Wang Chunhua through gritted teeth. “My son and that girl from the Li family were never even formally engaged. How is that a broken engagement?! If you keep spewing nonsense, I’ll risk my life before I let you live in peace!”
Wang Chunhua was somewhat intimidated by Zhou Kailian’s fierceness. Upon hearing that, most of her arrogance instantly vanished. Not knowing how to retort, she held it in for a long while before finally blurting out: “Anyway, Educated Youth Song wouldn’t fancy your son either!”
Zhou Kailian sneered. “So what if she doesn’t? I’m not the one dreaming impossible dreams. Unlike you, who can’t get the grapes and then claims they’re sour!”
Their back-and-forth argument also reached the educated youths’ side.
However, they had not heard exactly what the two women were arguing about. They had only seen Zhou Kailian’s aggressive manner and Wang Chunhua’s shrinking posture.
Liu Qingping instructed the others: “The carpenter’s wife is famous throughout the production team for being formidable. Don’t provoke her if you can help it.”
Wen Xue withdrew her gaze and clicked her tongue. “She looks even fiercer than my mother. Definitely not someone to mess with.”
After hearing that, Song Ziyao could not help speaking up for Zhou Kailian.
“Really? I think Aunt Zhou is quite nice. Her mouth may be a little sharp, but she’s actually kind-hearted.”
Liu Qingping looked at Song Ziyao a couple more times and smiled. “I didn’t expect you to be so good at getting along with people. You’ve only been in the countryside a few days, yet you’ve already become familiar with the accountant’s daughter and even built a friendship with Aunt Zhou.”
Song Ziyao said: “I wouldn’t call it a friendship. I’ve only met her a few times while making furniture, and we were breaking corn together these past couple of days. We just exchanged a few more words than usual.”
Liao Hongmei opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but when she saw the smiling expression on Song Ziyao’s face, she could not help shuddering.
This woman looked like a rabbit, but in reality she was a female yaksha!
Forget it, better not provoke her.
Liu Qingping did not say anything further and instead changed the subject.
Only after the corn harvest was finished did Song Ziyao finally have time to go to town and collect her package.
She excitedly found Tan Jinhe and asked: “Tan Jinhe, when is the tractor going to town? I have a package to pick up.”
During the past few days, she had seen Tan Jinhe almost every day, but always when many people were around, making it inconvenient to talk.
At last, she had a legitimate reason to speak with him.
In another two days, once the corn had finished drying, the tractor would transport it to the commune grain station as public grain. At that time, it could conveniently make a trip into town as well.
However, what Tan Jinhe said was: “This afternoon.”
Song Ziyao happily replied: “Then are we still gathering at the Brigade Office?”
Tan Jinhe responded with an “Mm.”
Originally, Song Ziyao had assumed the tractor would once again be carrying a full load of people. However, when it was finally time to depart, she was the only passenger.
Song Ziyao patted Tan Jinhe on the shoulder and leaned closer as she loudly asked: “Aren’t we waiting for anyone else?”
That soft, boneless little hand on his shoulder felt to Tan Jinhe as though an electric current had passed through him.
The warm breath brushing past his ear, carrying an indescribable fragrance, made half his body go numb.
He took a deep breath and covered his chest, which felt as though a rabbit were bouncing around inside it, before saying: “No one else. Just you.”
Fortunately, he was facing away from Song Ziyao. Only he knew how awkward and unnatural his expression was.
Just her?
Song Ziyao’s heart leaped with delight. Was it finally just the two of them?
“Then let’s go.” Since there was no one else around, Song Ziyao simply sat in the seat closest to Tan Jinhe. Every now and then, she glanced at him and chatted with him.
The tractor was loud, making it inconvenient for Tan Jinhe to speak. He only occasionally nodded in response.
When Song Ziyao left home that day, she had forgotten to bring her straw hat. Although she was not afraid of getting tanned, it was hot!
Before long, she began to feel uncomfortable and raised a hand to shield herself from the sun.
Though it did little good.
Suddenly, the tractor came to a stop.
Tan Jinhe climbed down from the tractor and walked toward the roadside.
Song Ziyao asked: “Where are you going?”
Tan Jinhe did not answer and continued walking forward until he reached a lotus pond.
With one long reach of his arm, he picked two lotus leaves, then turned and walked back.
Without saying a word, Tan Jinhe tossed the lotus leaves into Song Ziyao’s lap.
Only after the tractor started rumbling forward again did Song Ziyao recover from her daze.
Tan Jinhe had picked the lotus leaves for her so she could use them as shade from the sun.
Was he taking the initiative to show concern for her?