Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 13

Now was the slack season for farming. Men and women in the village, those in their thirties and fifties who could work steadily, were all called over by Song Sancheng—time waits for no one. It was best to tidy up now, as seeds would need to be sown in the fields come spring.

Song Tan’s plan was crystal clear—

The grass in the chestnut grove needed to be cleared, the old chestnut trees needed fertilizing and pruning. Mushroom racks would be set up under the trees.

The perimeter had to be fenced to keep animals and people from causing trouble.

They had just felled some trees from the back mountain. The logs would be used for growing mushrooms, the branches for building shelters to shield the pigs from wind and rain, and a few pig feeders had to be prepared, separated by wire mesh.

In the fields, for the next couple of months, they would first plant Chinese milk vetch. After it bloomed, the timing would be right to plow and prepare the fields for planting rice and vegetables.

Some seeds could be sown in seedbeds soon.

They also had to find local chickens and ducks and arrange the timing for getting piglets. Feeding so many people daily was another task that required organization…

Song Sancheng and Wu Lan were busy from dawn till dusk. And their daughter?

She wasn’t idle either. The girl was incredibly strong and went to the mountain to carry logs.

Who in the village didn’t praise her for that!

But Wu Lan felt a pang in her heart!

What was this silly girl doing carrying logs! A girl in the prime of her youth, not working in an office but coming back to farm, how could this be explained? When it came to marriage prospects, how could they find a suitable boy?

Their daughter wasn’t lazy, but when she had free time, she was always on the computer researching… Wu Lan had checked once—

Good heavens! She was cramming by watching scientific farming videos?!

This, this, this!

Wu Lan gasped. If the money hadn’t already been spent, there was no way they could continue this venture.

At night, the couple calculated their expenses: labor, machinery, mushroom spores, chickens, ducks, piglets, fertilizer…

They had already sunk sixty thousand yuan, just to hear a sound.

After another calculation, this money would last only until the end of April, and at most they would harvest some Chinese milk vetch.

Wu Lan had another sixty thousand yuan saved, but seeing how unreliable their daughter seemed, she was really reluctant to use it now!

Sixty thousand yuan, if nothing major happened, would take the couple two years to save.

Song Sancheng and Wu Lan were worried sick.

They thought raising children was a burden. Their daughter had been obedient and sensible for twenty years, and now she was going all out on this venture, causing them no end of worry!

Yet strangely enough, the more they worried, the better they slept at night. Song Sancheng, who used to snore loudly, was now quiet. At her age, Wu Lan usually slept fitfully, getting five hours at most. But ever since their daughter returned, she found herself going to bed at seven or eight and waking up at six.

It really was…

Wu Lan vented to Song Sancheng: “We really are destined for hard lives. The more money we spend and the more work we do, the better we feel!”

Song Sancheng agreed: “Exactly. Look at me, bending over to work every day, yet my back pain is gone!”

In her room, Song Tan gathered her spiritual energy, hiding her accomplishments and fame.

Not far away, Grandpa Song Youde and Grandma were also busy with the work these past few days. Now, Song Youde was puffing on his tobacco pipe, feeling quite pleased.

“Our Tan Tan, with her college education, knows what she’s doing, coming back to farm.”

“As long as farmers have food in the fields, they always have a fallback.”

It was known that Song Youde came from a background of tenant farmers for a landlord.

To him, nothing was more important than the land.

Wang Lifen felt the same but from a different perspective: “Farming is good. We can still work and help the kids. It’s better than sitting around doing nothing.”

“Besides, raising children means barely seeing them throughout the year. With Tan Tan back to farm, even if we hire help, there will be fewer migrant workers in autumn, and the village will feel more alive.”

That’s true.

At their age, when their youngest son’s family had only Qiao Qiao, they worried it wasn’t enough.

When their son was still capable, it was fine. But if they got too old to move and still had to look after Qiao Qiao, what then?

Now that Tan Tan was back, their family had support. The siblings could spend more time together, and when Qiao Qiao got older, at least she could look after him.

Otherwise, if she stayed away for a long time, even family ties would wane quickly.

Having gone through many ups and downs, Song Youde saw things more clearly than Song Sancheng:

“I think Tan Tan really knows what she’s doing. Although the fields are busy, she works every day with a smile. She must have a plan. Maybe she’ll really make something of it.”

“Of course!” Wang Lifen agreed: “She’s always been smart and sensible since she was little. She wouldn’t do something without confidence.”

The couple’s health had been poor in recent years, and the kids wouldn’t let them farm much. They could only manage a small vegetable garden by the door—

They had more free time, but the elderly couple just couldn’t muster any energy.

They dozed off during the day and couldn’t sleep at night.

Every day, they looked for little things to do. Now, seeing the large piece of land they’d rented out being worked on, they felt at peace.

During the day, they helped as much as they could. Song Youde helped clear weeds in the field, and Wang Lifen assisted her daughter-in-law with cooking. Eating together, discussing, laughing, they felt closer to their son’s family.

Feeling happy, Song Youde couldn’t help but plan ahead:

“It’s cold, and the hens aren’t laying much. Since Tan Tan wants to raise chickens, why don’t we let our hens brood more chicks to save her some money?”

“Native chickens are expensive and hard to find.”

Wang Lifen nodded:

“It’s winter, and we’re eating more meat. I’ve been saving up the eggs. Let’s pick out the best ones later.”

“There’s also that place selling ducklings. Their ducks don’t get sick, grow strong, and taste good. I’ll check it out tomorrow.”

Song Youde frowned: “Don’t get too many. These years, it’s either avian flu or swine fever. Let’s be cautious.”

Wang Lifen knew well:

“No need to worry. Our place is remote but has good feng shui. When have our chickens or ducks ever gotten sick? Besides, raising chicks doesn’t cost much. If they don’t sell, we can eat them ourselves and save on groceries.”

They had four old hens. Even if all brooded, they’d only get a hundred or so chicks. Once released into the mountains and fields, they’d be no trouble, easy enough!

Song Youde agreed, though he sighed: “If only our eldest son and grandson were willing to come back and live in this old house. We could give it to them.”

Wang Lifen rolled her eyes: “Whoever stays in the village gets it. That old house, nobody would pay five thousand yuan for it. Your grandson has a few apartments in the city. Why would he care about this?”

Song Youde was embarrassed: “Still, he’s the eldest son and grandson of the Song family…”

Don’t worry, there are no major troublemakers in the family. It’s mainly about farming and daily life.

Also, don’t think that using fertilizer disqualifies it as green food! Fertilizer and pesticides are different.

There’s more to come today.