Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 21

“Twenty yuan.” Although Song Tan didn’t mind, she wasn’t particularly fond of it either.

She had no intention of offering a discount.

“What?!”

Wu Qianqian was displeased—she rarely bought vegetables herself, and now hearing how expensive it was, she felt that Song Tan was overcharging her.

“It’s just wild vegetables, and they don’t cost anything. Why are they so expensive? Song Tan, we’re old classmates; you shouldn’t rip me off like this.”

As soon as she finished speaking, an aunt suddenly squeezed in behind her:

“Hey, do you still have any vegetables left? Only three bundles? I’ll take them all!”

The aunt skillfully bagged the three bundles while squinting to scan the QR code and join the group. She continued chatting:

“I was the first to buy these, thinking they were fresh. I didn’t expect that when I mixed them with noodles, my granddaughter ate a big bowl! You have no idea how picky she is… Now that I’ve joined the group, girl, let me know in advance if you come tomorrow!”

After speaking, she pulled out sixty yuan from her pocket and quickly handed it to Qiao Qiao, her eyes filled with affectionate kindness:

“Sweetie, I’ll buy from you again next time!”

The aunt left with her bounty, full of joy.

Wu Qianqian and her boyfriend stood there awkwardly—they hadn’t expected that while they were being picky and accusing Song Tan of overcharging, someone else would come along and buy everything without even bargaining.

Could wild vegetables really be that special and delicious?

The thought lingered in their minds, making them more curious about the taste.

After hesitating for a while, Wu Qianqian’s boyfriend took out his phone and discreetly scanned the group’s QR code.

…

Song Tan checked her phone and felt satisfied: “Seventeen members in the group already, and it’s only the morning. Not bad!”

She grabbed Qiao Qiao’s pinwheel and blew on it, making the colorful pinwheel spin. Qiao Qiao watched happily:

“Sister, did we sell everything?”

“Yes, we sold out!” Song Tan pointed to the basket, “Qiao Qiao, pack up. I’ll call for a ride to pick us up.”

She then asked, “Do we have any money left?”

Qiao Qiao patted his pocket and handed over the remaining change—after adding the sixty yuan from the aunt, they had seventy-five yuan left.

The pinwheel cost five yuan, so it seemed she didn’t overcharge.

Song Tan handed back fifteen yuan: “Go ahead, buy something you like. You’ve worked hard these past few days!”

The siblings went about their business, and when they looked back, Wu Qianqian and her boyfriend were already gone.

…

The wild vegetables sold out unexpectedly fast. Uncle Wang, who came to pick them up, was surprised:

“Business is this good? Tan Tan, you must be selling at a low price, right?”

After all, the market was full of fresh, clean greenhouse vegetables. Even if they were wild, they wouldn’t sell so well unless they were priced competitively.

The three baskets they brought in the morning were quite full!

Song Tan smiled: “It’s okay. Wild vegetables are still rare now, and everyone wants to try something fresh.”

That made sense.

When wild vegetables were really in season, it would be around Qingming Festival.

The siblings returned home, and it was only ten in the morning.

After paying the car fare, Song Tan suggested to her father:

“Dad, why don’t you take some time to get a driver’s license?”

She showed Wu Lan the money: “We can sell wild vegetables for a while, but the daily car fare is two hundred yuan. When we start growing vegetables in our field, can we afford to hire a car every day?”

It would cost six thousand yuan a month, but buying a Wuling minivan would only cost a few thousand. Buying on credit would be even cheaper.

After doing the math, it was quite economical!

However, Song Sancheng felt he was too old: “I won’t learn. Your Uncle Zhou tried learning two years ago but couldn’t remember the questions for the first test. I’m over fifty; why should I learn that?”

“Besides, you have a license. You can drive.”

He was already discouraged.

Song Tan didn’t push: “Then, Mom, why don’t you learn? I think you’re more reliable than Dad when it comes to driving.”

Wu Lan hesitated for a moment but quickly agreed: “Your dad is like that. I’ll learn. When I learned to ride a motorcycle, I was quick! Tan Tan, you’re smart just like me!”

Song Sancheng: …

He wasn’t completely against learning… Why wasn’t she trying to persuade him more?

Song Tan encouraged: “Mom, you can do it. We sell vegetables every day, and with wild vegetables being so tasty and expensive, it would be better to have our own car.”

“That’s true,” Wu Lan agreed, calculating in her mind: If everyone finds out wild vegetables can be sold for money, they’ll all rush over, making it harder to set a good price later.

Strangely, this year the wild vegetables in their area were particularly delicious. The villagers wouldn’t hesitate to pick them and sell them. Eating twenty yuan worth of wild vegetables themselves seemed extravagant!

Seeing her daughter return with 1,500 yuan, and considering the car fare was only two hundred…

She made up her mind: “Check the wild vegetables tomorrow. If they’re still this good, sell them again the day after tomorrow. After selling, don’t rush back; go buy a car.”

“I heard minivans aren’t too expensive nowadays, right?”

The spiritual energy won’t disappear after one harvest, as most of it is stored in the roots. The taste of wild vegetables won’t decline in the short term.

As for buying a car…

Song Tan extended her hand: “Give me the card and take your ID. I’ll go to the city with Dad this afternoon. I just received a message saying my ID card is ready; I’ll pick it up from the town office.”

Then she looked at Song Sancheng: “Dad, don’t you know a lot of people? I remember one of your friends deals in used cars. Let’s buy a Wuling.”

In the countryside, nothing is as practical as small pickups or minivans.

For delivering vegetables, a small off-road vehicle would be unnecessary.

Let’s budget for 30,000 yuan!

This time, even the usually decisive Wu Lan hesitated: “You just earned 1,500 yuan and now want to spend 30,000?”

“Each day we delay costs us two hundred yuan, Mom!” Song Tan pleaded earnestly.

Eventually, the two hundred yuan per day argument won over Wu Lan.

She went to her room and handed Song Tan the card:

“Take it, take it all!”

“We have sixty thousand yuan saved. Spend it however you see fit. If you make money, I won’t take it. If you run out, don’t come asking me.”

Previously, she thought it wasn’t reliable.

Now, although it still seemed unreliable, it was clear that Song Tan was seriously considering making money.

Seeing Qiao Qiao happily playing with the pinwheel and bubble machine in the yard, forgetting about Peppa Pig, Wu Lan felt more at ease.

Song Tan: …

Wasn’t this great?!

She quickly took the card and eagerly said, “Dad, call your friend right away!”

Originally, she hadn’t planned for this, but in the end, it worked out… How diligent I am during the free trial period!