While they were in the kitchen, Yang Tao took advantage of having both her grandmother and mother present to bring up her idea of sending some local specialties to Grandpa Chen and Chen Yichen’s parents. She admitted she wasn’t sure what to send and asked for their opinions. When it came to matters like this, asking the women who managed the household was always the right choice.
Grandma Yang thought for a moment and said, “There are still plenty of dried bamboo shoots we gathered from the back mountain this spring. We also have sweet potato starch made at the end of last year, dried vegetables, pickled vegetables, and dried sweet potatoes from the fields. We can also trade with villagers for some dried mushrooms they’ve collected. There’s still a slab of cured pork at home too. We can send all of that to your in-laws. None of it’s particularly valuable.”
Yang Tao quickly replied, “Grandma, it’s our sincerity that matters, not whether it’s valuable. Besides, that’s already quite a lot. Next time I go to town, I’ll buy some meat for you and Grandpa.”
Grandma Yang pointed at her and laughed.
“You lazy girl. Ever since you got married, you’ve become even lazier. You just came back from town and you’re already thinking about going again. And buying meat every time? How much money do you think you have? Buying it this once is enough. Don’t do it again next time, understand?”
Her mother echoed the sentiment from the side.
Yang Tao knew they meant well and were worried that she might spend too much on her natal family, causing dissatisfaction from Chen Yichen’s side. Although she knew Chen Yichen wouldn’t mind, she obediently agreed. As for the meat, however, she fully intended to keep buying it.
The Yang family ate until their stomachs were full that meal. The pork and pig liver they had bought were cooked, while the pork bones were simmering over a low fire together with corn and winter melon. Before heading out for afternoon work, they could simply remove some of the firewood, and by evening there would be a pot of bone soup waiting for them.
After lunch, Yang Ping washed dishes with her and said quietly,
“Third Sister, I’ve noticed you’ve become prettier after getting married. Third Brother-in-law must treat you very well. I even saw him helping you wash clothes last night. Fourth Sister told me not to tell Grandma and the others.”
At the mention of that, Yang Tao felt a little embarrassed. The truth was that she had acted spoiled and persuaded Chen Yichen to wash them for her. Although he had certainly received compensation elsewhere later that night, that wasn’t something she could explain to others.
So she merely replied vaguely,
“He does treat me very well.”
Later, Yang Tao privately sought out her mother and handed over the cotton fabric she had bought, asking her to make a set of pajamas for both her and Chen Yichen.
She herself didn’t know how to make clothes. She guessed the original Yang Tao hadn’t either, since none of her sisters could sew, not even her eldest sister who was already married.
After explaining what she wanted, her mother commented that she liked making extra work for herself. Still, seeing that the fabric wasn’t expensive, she didn’t object. Using spare time after work, she finished the pajamas in just four days.
There was still some fabric left over, so her mother also made her a camisole and two pairs of underwear.
Yang Tao left the undergarments with her mother because she had already kept some leftover fabric for herself and had been trying to make her own.
In the village, both men and women wore loose boxer-style underwear, while women’s undergarments were little more than simple undershirts.
Yang Tao, however, wanted to make triangular panties and something closer to a modern bra.
The panties were easy enough, but the bra absolutely had to be changed. Otherwise, she feared gravity would start winning much earlier than she wanted.
She had already finished the panties but was struggling with the bra design. Thinking of this, she went to ask her mother for advice.
Her mother told her to bring the unfinished garment over, so Yang Tao returned home, fetched it, and brought it back.
“This shoulder strap won’t work well with elastic alone,” her mother examined it and said. “The elastic is too narrow. Use fabric instead—about three fingers wide. It’ll last longer. You can use elastic under the chest here. Use two layers of fabric in the front with a thin layer of cotton padding in between, then stitch across it a few times so the cotton won’t bunch up when you wash it. Leave it with me and I’ll make some adjustments.”
Listening to her mother solve all her problems so easily, Yang Tao immediately started acting spoiled and praising her.
“Mom is the best.”
Her mother promptly chased her home to rest.
The very next day, the modified garment was finished.
Yang Tao then persuaded her mother to make three more. There was still some fabric left over, so she gave the remainder to her mother and told her to make one for herself as well.
Later, when her sister-in-law thanked her, Yang Tao learned that her mother had made a new undergarment for her sister-in-law too and had claimed it was a gift from Yang Tao.
She understood immediately.
Her mother was helping her build goodwill within the family. After all, she and Chen Yichen would likely continue living here for years, and they might need help from her brother and sister-in-law in the future.
Understanding her mother’s intentions, Yang Tao accepted the kindness and graciously accepted her sister-in-law’s thanks.
During this period, Grandma Yang also asked when they planned to send the packages.
When she heard it would still be another couple of days, she began preparing the dried goods in advance, dividing everything into two portions. The dried mushrooms had already been obtained through trade. As for the pickled vegetables and dried vegetables, she planned to prepare those on the day of mailing.
“If they’re packed too early, they’ll lose flavor and won’t taste as good,” she explained.
Three days after receiving the letters, Chen Yichen finally sat down at noon to write replies to his grandfather and parents.
After finishing his letters, he handed them to Yang Tao.
“You should write your thanks at the end yourself. It’ll seem more sincere. If I write it for you, it won’t reflect your feelings. Grandpa and Mom and Dad will definitely be happier seeing your own handwriting.”
After thinking it over, Yang Tao agreed.
Before writing, she read what Chen Yichen had written.
The first thing that caught her eye was his beautiful handwriting.
Just like the man himself, his writing was pleasing to look at—powerful and elegant, with strong, confident strokes.
Compared to his, her handwriting was rather ordinary.
Although she had attended university in her previous life, she had never practiced calligraphy. Her writing was neat enough but lacked any real style or flair.
Still, she had already promised to write herself.
Besides, the original Yang Tao had only been an ordinary rural middle-school graduate. Less-than-perfect handwriting would be completely normal.
At worst, she could learn calligraphy from Chen Yichen later.
After finishing his letter, she added her own section at the end without any psychological burden.
She thanked Grandpa Chen and his parents for their kindness and reminded them to take care of their health. She also wrote that she hoped to visit them someday when the opportunity arose.
Since Chen Yichen had already mentioned in the letter that the Yang family had prepared food and local specialties to send, she didn’t repeat those details.
Once she finished writing, she folded the letter immediately and refused to let Chen Yichen read it.
Chen Yichen accused her of being stingy, but he didn’t open it in front of her.
As for whether he secretly read it later while mailing it, Yang Tao had no way of knowing.
He went to town alone during his lunch break to mail the letters.
Along with them, he also sent the two packages that Grandma Yang had carefully prepared.
Yang Tao had been right.
When Grandpa Chen and Chen Yichen’s parents received the packages, they were delighted.
After reading the letters, they felt greatly reassured as well.
Knowing that the Yang family was looking after Yang Tao and Chen Yichen, they believed the young couple wouldn’t be living too difficult a life, and that eased much of their worry.