Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 36

Wu Lan nodded in agreement. “The weather is warming up quickly, and there’s a lot of work to be done!”

“Tan Tan, if you want to plant rice, it’s time to prepare the seedlings now.”

“And the vegetables you want to grow, some of them need to be planted by the end of the month.”

“By the end of next month, these fields need to be plowed.”

With all this planning, no one had any free time, except for Qiao Qiao.

However, Qiao Qiao also had his tasks. Taking care of Big White was his top priority, and he also had side jobs as a porter, picker, and vegetable seller.

Song Tan also felt the time crunch. The clover would only stay tender for half a month before it would start to bloom and grow.

So, after hastily finishing her meal, she called out to Qiao Qiao, “Let’s go, help your sister pick vegetables!”

But Qiao Qiao sat on his stool and looked at her, “You said you’d show me Ultraman. Where’s Ultraman?”

Song Tan: …

Kids could be hard to coax sometimes! She had to promise two more episodes and a Peppa Pig toy.

…

Compared to wild vegetables, picking clover was much easier. This was Song Tan’s first time selling it, and within half an hour, she had gathered three large baskets. When she got home, she found her grandparents sitting in the yard.

“Tan Tan, I heard you sold wild vegetables recently? Not bad. The girls in our family are really capable—come, your grandma and I are free and can help you pick vegetables.”

Song Tan laughed, “Great! I was just worried about not having help. Luckily, you two care about me!”

Picking vegetables wasn’t hard work for them!

The old couple, feeling appreciated, quickly got to work. With their swift hands, the three large baskets would be done in no time.

These clovers were supposed to be sold in the morning, but several group members mentioned they had a dance performance that morning. If she could come in the afternoon, they would bring the dance team members along.

This was the famous senior dance team in the city! All of them were seasoned vegetable buyers.

Knowing she couldn’t miss this opportunity to expand her customer base, Song Tan changed the selling time to the afternoon.

After returning from picking vegetables and tidying up, she was ready to set off. The reason she didn’t pick more was that it was her first time selling this type of vegetable, and she needed to see how well it would be received.

She thought for a moment and instructed, “Mom, please prepare a cold clover salad with some disposable chopsticks for tasting.”

…

Meanwhile, the senior dance team ladies were walking down the street in matching magenta qipao, their lips painted bright red, looking joyful.

One of them suggested, “We won a prize today. I think we should celebrate! How about going to the KTV to sing?”

“Yes, we have a monthly card at the KTV. It’s fifty yuan per person. If we miss a day, it’s a loss!”

Business was tough, and the old KTV in the city couldn’t attract new customers. So, they offered cheap group deals for the afternoon session to these middle-aged and elderly people.

From one to five in the afternoon, a large private room cost 1500 yuan a month. The ladies pooled their money, and it was affordable.

This activity was usually popular, but as soon as it was suggested today, a red-haired lady shook her head, “No, no, I need to buy vegetables this afternoon.”

Buy what?

What vegetables?

The group exchanged puzzled looks.

Another lady agreed, “Yes, I finished the vegetables I bought last time. I need to buy more today.”

One lady hesitated, “Today’s new vegetable is clover. We used to feed that to cows. Are you really going to buy it?”

The red-haired lady laughed, “Oh, we got sick of wild vegetables when we were kids, but now we scramble for them!”

“I think that girl does a good job. Every batch of wild vegetables is fresh and clean.”

“Exactly! The taste is really good! I’m used to it now, and I can tell if the vegetables are fresh just by smelling them!”

“I need to buy more. My granddaughter loves these vegetables.”

“Hey, Xiu Fen, I learned a new recipe for wild onion stuffed buns. They turned out so delicious, my grandson ate eight in one go!”

“Really? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Now it’s too late!”

“Hahaha, I was afraid you’d buy them all, and I wouldn’t get any!”

The ladies chatted and laughed, contrasting sharply with their fiery red lips and dance team image.

The rest of the group, still confused, finally asked, “What vegetables are you buying?”

Realizing their forgetfulness, the ladies explained, “We meant to tell you this morning, but it’s not too late now. We found a place that sells really delicious wild vegetables. The taste is so good, you’ll want to swallow your tongue! The seller will be at the market at 2 PM. Do you want to come with us?”

“But wild vegetables ran out three days ago. Today she’s selling clover. Good thing I stocked up on shepherd’s purse. My dumplings will last another two days…”

Are wild vegetables and clover really worth such a fuss?

This didn’t seem like their usual selves!

Still puzzled, they followed the group to the rarely crowded afternoon market.

As soon as Song Tan’s small truck appeared, the ladies hurried over, peering into the truck bed and sighing in disappointment.

“Didn’t you say there would be a lot? Why is there so little?”

Song Tan was surprised to see them organized and wearing uniforms.

Qiao Qiao efficiently unloaded the baskets and noticed the neatly bundled clovers and the faint fragrance in the air. The red-haired lady clapped her hands.

“This smells right!”

She turned to Qiao Qiao, her voice sweet, “Sweetheart, remember me? Give me five bundles.”

Song Tan didn’t expect such dedicated fans.

She quickly unpacked the cold clover salad she had brought from home.

“Aunties, this might be your first time buying clover. Don’t rush. Try it first.”

She handed out disposable chopsticks, and the red-haired lady didn’t hesitate, taking a bite.

She chewed a couple of times and fell silent.

Her friends watched her expectantly, and she asked, “Girl, when will you sell next?”

Song Tan thought for a moment, “Clover is abundant. I’ll pick it at 7 AM every day, clean it up by 8, and be here by 10.”

The lady nodded, relieved, “Every day is good—sweetheart, give me five bundles!”

Paying for the vegetables, she complained, “My pension only covers buying vegetables—I’ll be back tomorrow! Prepare more next time, don’t be stingy like this.”