With that conversation, the distance between the two of them had noticeably shortened, and they had come to understand each other a bit better.
For example, Yang Tao learned that although Chen Yichen looked distant and cold at first glance, he was actually quite easy to get along with once you knew him.
Even though his family background was good and his education level was high, he carried himself well and never looked down on her or her family in speech or attitude.
This point made Yang Tao very satisfied.
After all, they would be living together for a lifetime in the future. If he couldn’t treat her as an equal, then no matter how handsome or excellent he was, she would still consider backing out.
Once they had filled a full bundle of pig grass, Chen Yichen wanted to help carry it back.
But Yang Tao tried it herself and found it wasn’t difficult at all, so she refused his help.
They walked together for a while before parting ways.
Chen Yichen went to the village committee to return the bicycle—he had borrowed it from the production team.
Yang Tao went to the pig farm to deliver the grass.
They also agreed that Chen Yichen would come to the Yang house for dinner that evening.
At dinner, Chen Yichen brought a bag of egg yolk pastries.
Grandma Yang pretended to scold him a little, but it was obvious she was quite pleased.
After dinner, Chen Yichen brought up the matter of collecting the blue bricks five days later.
It turned out he had bought a pack of cigarettes for the brick kiln factory director, which was why they had given him priority approval.
He then discussed construction matters and arranging villagers to help build the house with the Yang family.
Some of the tasks were taken up by Yang Tao’s father, including organizing villagers to help.
They also discussed payment.
Grandpa Yang’s opinion was that meals alone would be enough.
This was how villagers usually built houses—helping each other out.
Chen Yichen agreed.
He also asked Grandma Yang and Yang Tao’s mother to help prepare meals when the time came, and everyone agreed.
Since the wedding was scheduled for next month, the house construction was quite urgent.
So in the next few days after work, the Yang family and Chen Yichen would go to the construction site to clear weeds and stones.
Chen Yichen also brought his grain ration over to the Yang household.
For the next period, he would eat at their home, which meant Yang Tao would have even more time to interact with him.
One day after work, Yang Tao was picking vegetables in the courtyard when Chen Yichen walked in from outside.
He quietly slipped a few White Rabbit milk candies into her hand.
Yang Tao was pleasantly surprised, but still asked where he got them from.
As she spoke, she unwrapped one and ate it, then peeled another and handed it to him.
The rest she tucked into her pocket.
She hadn’t had any snacks since arriving in this world.
Although Chen Yichen had previously brought things over, her grandmother had locked them away in the cupboard.
In this era of scarce supplies, such items were likely being saved for social favors.
“I don’t eat them. You have them.”
“I bought them today in Linquan Town when I went to pick up the blue bricks. I left them with me first and will bring you a few every day.”
Clearly, Chen Yichen also knew that Yang Tao hadn’t been able to eat the things he previously brought.
So he had deliberately bought the candy for her and didn’t bring it directly home.
Yang Tao was delighted.
“You eat one too. I already peeled it.”
“If my younger cousins see it, it won’t look good.”
So she held the candy to his lips.
In the end, he still ate it.
“Have all the blue bricks been delivered? What did you use to transport them?”
That morning, Yang Tao had been helping transplant rice seedlings with Yang Jun and the others, so she hadn’t seen it.
“They’ve all been delivered. I rented a truck from the town agricultural station.”
“The lime and cement were delivered together as well.”
They chatted a bit more.
At that moment, her sister-in-law came out, probably to call her in to bring the vegetables.
Seeing Chen Yichen there, she smiled meaningfully and went back inside instead.
So Yang Tao didn’t continue talking with him.
She told him to go inside first, then carried the vegetables to the kitchen.
“Taoya and Educated Youth Chen seem to have a good relationship. What were you two talking about? You didn’t even want to eat anymore?”
Second Aunt teased her as soon as she came in.
Yang Tao just smiled and said they hadn’t talked about anything important, then quickly went to fetch water to wash the vegetables outside.
Her Second Aunt loved teasing people.