Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 34

Eldest Aunt didn’t take the conversation seriously.

After all, who hasn’t eaten dumplings before? But as she looked at the heap of wrapped dumplings, she felt a bit troubled:

“There are too many. I don’t think the fridge can hold them all.”

Song Sancheng glanced over and said, “It’s about right. With so many people tonight, we should eat about three hundred dumplings!”

Eldest Aunt almost rolled her eyes—three hundred?

Normally, even at most, they would eat around thirty dumplings each.

With only eight people, how could they eat that much?

It seemed that Tan Tan selling vegetables might not be very reliable either.

However, Eldest Uncle, a seasoned dumpling lover, agreed, “Let’s cook a pot first to fill our stomachs.”

So, the men went to the cart to fetch straw, while Wu Lan sat by the stove, slowly feeding the fire, and giving instructions as if she were unsure herself:

“Cook a few more… and a few more—don’t rush to put them in the fridge yet, let’s eat first!”

With such emphasis, Eldest Aunt felt compelled to cook a full pot of dumplings.

In a large rural stove, one pot could hold over a hundred dumplings!

The straw was light, so it was easy to load onto the cart. Soon, the cart was full to the brim.

By that time, the dumplings were ready.

Eldest Uncle took a deep breath, washing his hands and marveling, “These shepherd’s purse dumplings smell amazing. Mom, you should eat more.”

He took the first bite.

For a moment, the entire dining room was silent.

How to describe it?

Eldest Uncle chewed for a long time, reluctant to swallow the dumpling filling. He was transported back to his childhood, to a time when they only had meat once a year…

These dumplings were beyond his expectations. Simply put, they were too delicious!

Eldest Aunt regretted giving them to her parents. If she had known they were this good, she wouldn’t have shared.

The local shepherd’s purse certainly didn’t taste like this!

No wonder it cost twenty yuan per pound—it was worth it!

The elderly grandparents couldn’t stop praising the dumplings. Even Grandfather, who was in a wheelchair, finished his bowl and handed it over, saying, “Give me some more.”

This time, Wu Lan cooked the second pot but gave the elderly only a few extra dumplings each, considering their age:

“Dad, Mom, take it easy. There will be more tomorrow. Don’t overeat today.”

Grandfather, eating heartily and feeling good, even complimented Song Tan, “Our Tan Tan is truly talented at farming!”

Everyone agreed with this statement.

Wu Lan, feeling proud, boasted, “How are Tan Tan’s vegetables? Delicious, right? I told you, with her good grades, she wouldn’t be bad at farming either!”

Song Tan: A competent helper knows when to keep quiet.

…

After a satisfying meal.

The family of four drove home in the dark. The car moved alone on the winding mountain road, the window slightly open, letting in the cool night breeze. It didn’t dampen Wu Lan’s excitement at all.

She recalled Eldest Aunt’s regretful expression and the joy on her parents’ faces, understanding why her daughter insisted on them enjoying the fresh vegetables first.

Some happiness, after all, cannot be measured by money.

…

From that night on, Wu Lan became especially motivated.

Early the next morning, she urged Song Sancheng to lay the straw in the yard to dry. She also prepared two more buckets of disinfectant to spray the pigsty and even checked the manure pit.

Once everything was ready, she called to have the piglets delivered.

When Qiao Qiao realized what happened, the pig she had been eagerly expecting, Peppa, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, five little pigs, three white and two black, were lying in the warm, sunny pigsty.

The five little pigs were undeniably cute, with wet, round noses and clean, plump bodies making soft “oink oink” sounds.

But…

Except for the slightly pink skin on the two white pigs, they bore no resemblance to Qiao Qiao’s Peppa.

Qiao Qiao stared in disbelief, then suddenly burst into tears, “My Peppa, my George, my Mommy Pig… they’re all gone… all gone…”

The pigs in the sty looked up curiously with their round, wet noses, their bright eyes full of curiosity.

Qiao Qiao’s dreams shattered, and he cried louder than ever. Song Tan had to use her trump card:

“Sweetie, don’t cry—Peppa and George aren’t here, but how about we watch something else? I’ll buy you a toy next time I go to the city.”

“Let’s not watch this now. Have you seen Ultraman? Tiga! From now on, we’ll watch that.”

Ultraman toys were easy to get.

She sighed in relief.

Qiao Qiao, still sniffling, reluctantly agreed, while Wu Lan laughed heartily, teasing,

“Come, Qiao Qiao, didn’t you want to sleep with your Mommy Pig? Pick one to be your Mommy Pig!”

Qiao Qiao: …

He cried even harder.

…

The piglets, though small and in a new environment, didn’t seem uncomfortable. They even seemed to enjoy the place (thanks to the spiritual energy).

But to be cautious, Wu Lan quickly cooked a pot of warm pig feed: pumpkin, sweet potato, corn kernels, wheat bran, rice bran, leftovers, and wild vegetable roots—a fragrant big pot.

The aroma was quite appetizing.

Song Tan thought for a moment, “Mom, I’ll check the taste of the vetch in the field and collect some more for the pigs.”

Shepherd’s purse could be eaten once or twice a year, but it had been over a decade since anyone tasted vetch.

Wu Lan nodded, “Go ahead, get more. You’re planning to sell it tomorrow, right?”

Song Tan shook her head, “I told my customers I’ll sell it tomorrow morning, not early.”

Vetch was easier to handle but too tender. To ensure freshness, it had to be picked and taken to the city immediately.

With the warm weather, wild vegetables were abundant. The vetch, once used to fertilize fields and feed livestock, could now sell for twenty yuan per pound, making Wu Lan a bit uneasy.

But she didn’t object—she had praised her daughter’s farming skills so much that she was somewhat convinced herself. She felt there might indeed be something special about them.

Song Tan took Qiao Qiao, who was still tear-streaked, to the field with a basket. The tender green leaves and stems were too delicate to step on. She carefully pinched the stems, and with a gentle pull, a tuft of fresh green was in hand.

Qiao Qiao found this grass-picking game fun, quickly forgetting about Peppa and happily started working.