Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 40

Returning home, Song Sancheng began a new round of busy activities.

He couldn’t remember things as well as he used to when he was younger, so to be absolutely sure, he repeatedly listened to the beekeeper’s instructions on his phone before starting to prepare the materials.

Song Youde heard that his granddaughter wanted to keep bees and hurried over after lunch to take a look. Seeing Song Sancheng still cutting asbestos tiles, he couldn’t help but complain:

“Look at you, why are you so slow with everything? Shouldn’t you set up the beehive first?”

Hearing this, Song Tan knew that her grandfather was just an outsider making clueless comments.

Sure enough, as Song Sancheng worked and hummed, he replied, “Dad, don’t add to the confusion. The beekeeper said that the beehive needs a rain cover on top. I’m cutting this whole piece of asbestos tile to cover it properly.”

Song Youde, having misdirected things, felt a bit embarrassed:

“You think you’re the only one who knows how to keep bees? I used to keep them too. The base of the hive needs to be raised about twenty centimeters!”

This time, he was right. The base of the beehive indeed needed to be raised to prevent insects and moisture and to allow ventilation.

Song Tan smiled, “Grandpa, you have a lot of experience!”

“They also treated the hive against ants. We plan to place the hive outside the yard, near the back mountain.”

“But I heard the beehives need to be arranged in a stepped manner and shaded. Can you help us find the best spot?”

Honeybees are like that; they have a poor sense of hive recognition.

So, the hives needed to be arranged in a stepped manner from top to bottom, with about five meters of spacing between each hive. The entrances of the hives should face south, but each one should be slightly different in direction…

Song Tan used to think that beekeeping was just randomly placing rows of boxes. Now it seemed that there was indeed a lot to learn.

Feeling his worth, Song Youde, smoking his pipe, wandered around the yard.

Song Sancheng glanced at his daughter and thought to himself how her talking style was really like her mother’s.

Meanwhile, her mother, Wu Lan, found a few shallow dishes, mixed some sugar water, and brought them out:

“Let them eat for a couple of days first. I saw that the milk vetch in the field is starting to bud, and it will bloom in a few days. By then, we can start collecting honey.”

Although she said this, she didn’t move. After all, the buzzing bees made her a bit nervous.

Song Tan didn’t mind. She took the dishes without hesitation, letting strands of spiritual energy seep into them.

As soon as she placed them down, the bees eagerly surrounded them, making Song Sancheng mutter:

“Why are they so hungry?”

Song Tan felt a jolt—spiritual energy had such a strong attraction. She needed to practice her pest control spells soon. If a few hornets came, her investment would be wasted.

These were simple spells; with enough spiritual energy, she could start tonight!

Meanwhile, Qiao-Qiao, holding a box in her hands, watched Song Sancheng work with rare obedience.

When the asbestos tiles were finally cut, he looked up and asked, “Daddy, what about mine? Where’s my little bear?”

“What do you mean your little bear?”

Song Sancheng was puzzled, then realized—how much time had passed? The bear bee already had a name!

“Are you asking about the rain cover for your little bear?”

Qiao Qiao nodded, her eyes scanning the ground, seemingly choosing the best one.

Song Sancheng laughed and pointed to the junk shed in the yard:

“Whether your bear bee can stay with our honeybees is another matter! Since you’re raising it for fun, put it in the shed’s corner.”

“It’s sheltered from wind and rain, fewer insects, and it’s safer.”

Being kept in the yard meant closer contact!

Qiao Qiao hurriedly took the box over and soon chose a spot.

Only then did he look over pitifully, “Sister, I want to open the box and take a look.”

Song Tan thought for a moment, prepared some more sugar water infused with spiritual energy, and then opened the box.

The queen bee, with its plump body, flew up uncontrollably and then plunged into the dish, eagerly sucking!

Poor thing, probably starving and needing to store energy for laying eggs!

Its round, plump abdomen, with its clear and bright black and yellow stripes, looked so fluffy and adorable. Its large, round, furry body was so wobbly that it made one want to touch it.

Qiao Qiao’s fingers itched to reach out but was stopped by Song Tan’s glance:

“Doesn’t your hand hurt?”

He immediately pulled his hand back, feeling aggrieved.

Song Tan looked around and finally placed the box higher up:

“Don’t touch it.”

Bear bees could dig holes. Once the worker bees hatched and the colony grew, they would see how to arrange it.

Anyway, they didn’t expect to make money from it; it was just a hobby for Qiao Qiao.

Hmm…

She recalled the fluffy, chubby feeling and, seeing Qiao Qiao turn his head, quickly opened the box and gave it a firm touch!

In the dish, the bear bee almost got pushed into the sugar water. It stretched and retracted its unfeeling sting, then moved its abdomen and continued sucking.

…

Meanwhile, Dr. Zhang Yuan from Ning Province had gained even more fame in the hospital!

Not only the hospital leaders but even the patients were inquiring:

“Dr. Zhang, that vegetable porridge you had for lunch, everyone says you bought the vegetables—what kind of vegetables are they? Where did you buy them? How much per pound? Can we patients eat them too?”

Young Dr. Zhang nearly shed tears of grievance, excitement, and disbelief—

Here’s what happened.

These vegetables cost two hundred yuan for ten pounds, not including the shipping fee!

As soon as he opened the box, the cafeteria chef came over:

“Dr. Zhang, more vegetables from the patients?”

Dr. Zhang quickly waved his hand, “No, no, I bought them myself for twenty yuan a pound.”

After the last stern lesson from the head nurse, he decided to be smart this time—he would offer these vegetables to his respected leaders!

However, before he could figure out how to say it, the chef was already examining the vegetables:

“Dr. Zhang, I heard you’re still single and living in the dormitory? Ah, single young men can’t manage. Look at this, buying so many vegetables at once? You can’t finish them, and they’ll go to waste!”

Dr. Zhang blushed, unable to say he planned to share them with the leaders.

Without waiting for a response, the chef made arrangements:

“I heard the Provincial Party Committee is visiting today. These shepherd’s purse leaves are good. How about I make dumplings?”

“This watercress is nice too, perfect for soup.”

“This wild onion is fragrant! I’ll stir-fry it with beef!”

“As for this small amount of Indian aster… it’s too little for a dish. I’ll make vegetable porridge for lunch.”