The village raised a total of eight pigs.
Five of them would be sold to the state food station at the end of the year for income, while the remaining three would become the village’s New Year’s pigs, providing meat for everyone during the Spring Festival.
Unlike in later generations, when pig feed and corn were readily available, pigs at this time were mainly fed pig grass and other forage.
As a result, they gained weight slowly.
To ensure the pigs were well-fed and would fetch a good price at year’s end, the production team assigned at least four people every day to cut pig grass.
That afternoon, four people were assigned to the task: Yang Tao, Aunt Hu, the team leader’s wife, and a female educated youth named Zhou Yan.
The team leader’s wife was surnamed Liu.
The younger villagers all called her Grandma Liu. Since she and the Yang family belonged to the same clan, Yang Tao addressed her as Third Grandma according to family seniority.
Since she was still unfamiliar with the area, Yang Tao grabbed her tools and followed the others.
After walking north of the village for seven or eight minutes, a large river came into view.
It was about six or seven meters wide.
Aunt Hu spoke first.
“Tao Ya, wasn’t it near the foot of that mountain ahead where you rescued Educated Youth Chen?”
“You really were reckless. The current there is so strong, yet you still jumped in to save a grown man.”
“You were lucky to survive.”
“This must be fate between Educated Youth Chen and Tao Ya,” Third Grandma added.
“Heh.”
Before Yang Tao could respond, a faint sneer came from behind them.
She turned around and immediately saw the source.
Sure enough, Zhou Yan’s eyes were full of mockery and disdain.
Yang Tao ignored her and instead answered Aunt Hu and Third Grandma.
“I didn’t think that much at the time.”
“I just saw someone drowning and relied on the fact that I could swim.”
“Without thinking much, I jumped in to save him.”
“Looking back now, it’s actually a little frightening.”
“You’re a kind-hearted girl,” Third Grandma praised.
As they chatted, they arrived at their destination.
Beside the river stretched a vast expanse of lush green grass.
Because it was close to the water, moisture was plentiful.
However, the land was low-lying and often flooded during the rainy summer months, making it unsuitable for farming.
As a result, an enormous grassland had naturally formed there.
The four women spread out and began cutting grass.
Yang Tao deliberately chose a spot farther away from Zhou Yan.
She had a feeling this educated youth held some hostility toward her.
Yet, whether intentionally or not, Zhou Yan gradually worked her way closer.
Then she suddenly spoke.
“A village girl like you actually wants to marry Brother Yichen?”
“Why don’t you take a look in a mirror? Do you really think you’re worthy?”
Every word dripped with sarcasm.
Combined with her arrogant expression, she looked exactly like the stereotypical villain.
Yang Tao originally hadn’t planned to pay attention to her.
But since Zhou Yan had practically shoved herself into her face, she couldn’t resist responding.
“Well, what can I do?”
“Brother Yichen just happens to like girls like me.”
“He says I have a kind heart and enjoy helping others.”
“He thinks I’m better than all the countless women in the world.”
“As for those ordinary women, he doesn’t even spare them a glance.”
“I’m the only one he wants to marry.”
After saying that, she deliberately put on an exaggeratedly proud expression.
If it came to annoying people, who couldn’t do that?
It was obvious that Zhou Yan liked Educated Youth Chen as well.
Only now did Yang Tao finally learn his name.
Chen Yichen.
Though she wasn’t entirely sure which Chinese characters were used, the name triggered a fleeting feeling in her mind.
Before she could catch the thought, Zhou Yan had already become furious.
“If your family hadn’t clung to Brother Yichen, he wouldn’t even look at you!”
“You have neither looks nor education!”
“Brother Yichen is a university student!”
“Someone like you isn’t even worthy of carrying his shoes!”
Yang Tao raised an eyebrow.
“Unlike some people, I possess both elegance and intelligence.”
“No matter how you look at it, Brother Yichen and I are a match made in heaven.”
“No matter how jealous you are, Brother Yichen is still mine.”
She hadn’t expected Chen Yichen to be a university student.
It seemed her future fiancé had more than just a handsome face—he had brains too.
Perhaps Zhou Yan had truly been pushed too far.
Unable to win the argument, she resorted to action.
Without warning, she shoved Yang Tao.
Caught completely off guard, Yang Tao fell backward.
Fortunately, she landed on a pile of freshly cut grass she had stacked earlier and wasn’t injured.
Even so, she was annoyed.
Very annoyed.
And she immediately decided that Zhou Yan deserved a small lesson.