Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 111.1

Song Hongmei gave Sun Yanyan a puzzled look. “Didn’t I send over five pounds? Isn’t that enough? You young folks spoil the kids too much. How old is Ziyi? If she eats all that in one sitting, wouldn’t she overeat and get sick?”

“Next time, don’t eat it like that. Good things need to be savored slowly, not like…”

She continued earnestly, “Chewing on a peony.”

Sun Yanyan’s face went numb with embarrassment.

At that moment, Mao Li also got into the car and, with a sarcastic smile, said, “You don’t know, but Tan Tan’s vegetable business is doing exceptionally well now!”

“Take the time she sold the purple vetch. Back when we were kids, it grew everywhere in the fields, and no one cared about it. She managed to sell it for twenty yuan a pound.”

“Yanyan and I thought we’d help out a relative by buying some at the market. But she didn’t lower the price by even a cent and ended up embarrassing us.”

“I say, we’re the poor relatives now, not worthy of eating such precious food!”

“What?!” Song Hongmei’s voice suddenly grew louder. “That stuff you brought over last time was twenty yuan a pound?!”

Beside her, Zhu Jun was also shocked, thinking to himself that the stir-fried pork with purple vetch had been delicious. He and his son had finished it in two meals; they had been too careless!

Mao Li felt a bit of satisfaction as she saw their shock. She thought, “Finally, someone understands Song Tan’s smug attitude now! This kid made a bit of money and immediately got cocky, showing no respect for her elders. It’s only right for Aunt to teach her a lesson.”

However, Song Hongmei’s expression was now filled with regret. “Oh, Tan Tan, why are you so sincere? You could buy any vegetable at the market; why give away such valuable stuff?”

“This vegetable is so expensive. Couldn’t you sell it for money? Twenty yuan could buy a lot of things. This kid, too generous with her hand!”

She clutched her chest, thinking about how they had eaten a hundred yuan’s worth of vegetables in just a few meals. Her heart was bleeding, and she didn’t even bother to think deeper into Mao Li’s words.

Mao Li was left speechless and filled with frustration again.

The car moved forward in an awkward atmosphere. Midway, Eldest Uncle Song stopped the car to buy some yellow paper and other items with Song Hongmei.

Mao Li sat in the car for a while, contemplating. She decided it wouldn’t be wise to let things become too strained. After all, there was still a large plastic crate in the trunk—if it was filled with vegetables, it could easily hold thirty to fifty pounds. If Song Hongmei didn’t take it and she was the only one taking, it would look bad, like they were just freeloaders now that they lived in the city.

While she was pondering this, Song Hongmei opened the car door again, carrying two packs of yellow paper and a black plastic bag, looking quite pleased.

Sun Yanyan, in sync with Mao Li, started the conversation, “During the holidays, even yellow paper isn’t cheap. Prices are rising quickly nowadays.”