Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 121.2

Song Hongmei sighed, “Actually, your Seventh Granduncle is just making excuses. The truth is, he doesn’t like me.”

What had Seventh Granduncle said at the time?

“…Hongmei, I know you are a diligent person, but at my age, I just want to enjoy myself.”

“You’re too thrifty in everything you do. I can’t accept that.”

Especially when she rushed into the market just before closing to bargain fiercely for the best deals—this habit particularly irritated Seventh Granduncle!

He believed that whether buying vegetables or meat, they must be fresh or of the highest quality.

His lifestyle philosophy clashed entirely with hers.

“Pfft!” Song Tan couldn’t help but laugh.

Who would have thought that her aunt, known for being too frugal and managing the household well, would be turned down for that reason?

Song Hongmei sighed dramatically, “When I think about it, your Seventh Granduncle really does see through people.”

“For example, if I did agree to take care of him, he would still want to visit the big supermarkets daily to check out all sorts of imported fruits and vegetables, always wanting to try something new.”

“Just accompanying him on one trip would take three years off my life… No way, we’re just not compatible.”

“So,” Song Hongmei said earnestly, “Tan Tan, talk to your parents. If things work out, I’ll take you to meet Seventh Granduncle. You can try to win over this stubborn old man.”

She added with some regret, “If you could bring some of your Chinese Milk Vetch, I bet he wouldn’t say a word and would come back with his wife right away.”

“No rush, no rush.”

Song Tan wasn’t swayed by the thought of the house and stayed rational. “Let’s not mention that I can’t offer high wages. Even if Seventh Granduncle came back, where would he stay?”

“Besides, I really wanted to hire a professional chef. Seventh Granduncle is so old; he can’t work in the kitchen anymore, right?”

“You child!” Song Hongmei gave her a look of disappointment. “Young people these days, why don’t they think more creatively? Seventh Granduncle has an old house nearby, only a fifteen to twenty-minute walk from here.”

“And who told you people in their sixties or seventies can’t work? Some folks even consider forty or fifty to be middle-aged. Look at your father wielding a hoe with all his strength!”

“Your Seventh Granduncle, I tell you, he’s in good health—he could easily live into his nineties!”

“He has such a lively spirit. Last winter, he was roasting chestnuts at home all by himself. You think a young man in his twenties or thirties could handle that?”

“And,” she whispered, glancing at the silhouette of Qiao Qiao running around the rapeseed flower field, “if you get Seventh Granduncle to cook, Qiao Qiao could help out—moving and washing vegetables. All the old man needs to do is stir the wok.”

“After three, five, ten, or twenty years, Qiao Qiao would know how to cook himself. Isn’t that more reliable than counting on others?”

“There’s a saying: ‘Parents may provide, but self-reliance is key.’”

“When you settle down, you can’t always take Qiao Qiao with you everywhere.”

Song Tan hadn’t even thought about getting married, but she admitted that Qiao Qiao learning another skill could be beneficial.

While he was currently learning about beekeeping and honey production, why not pick up some cooking skills too? It couldn’t hurt!

She quickly swung her hoe and dug up a big fresh bamboo shoot for her aunt. “Aunt, you’re still the smartest.”

As for hiring a chef, Song Tan was still considering how to convince the thrifty Wu Lan to spend more. But with Qiao Qiao as an excuse, she might be pressed to talk to Seventh Granduncle about it by tomorrow.

Song Hongmei, looking at the two large baskets of bamboo shoots, couldn’t hide her delight.

“What can I say! Why waste good opportunities on outsiders? I just love my niece for being so thoughtful. Unlike your uncle’s side of the family, who are so tight-fisted they couldn’t catch a wolf with a kid’s bait!”

She added proudly, “Your Seventh Granduncle hasn’t even said anything, and I haven’t told your uncle yet!”