Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 43

As dawn approached earlier and earlier, the temperature gradually rose. The peach and cherry trees at the entrance started to bud, and the village was adorned with a light green tint of sprouting vegetation. The morning mist swirled around, making the scenery exceptionally beautiful.

Last night, Song Tan finished editing and uploading her video. Despite refreshing it hundreds of times, it barely garnered any views.

Her journey in cultivation wasn’t very professional, at least not in maintaining a calm mind. Seeing such low view counts made her angry. She channeled her frustration into energy and went to the field to harvest milk vetch.

Selling vegetables wasn’t a concern. Every day, they made a trip to the market, earning a steady income of one to two thousand yuan each time.

However, today it was just her and Qiao Qiao harvesting.

Grandma Wang Lifeng wrapped a piece of plastic raincloth around her waist, tied a basket to it, and grabbed her straw hat. She asked, “Tan Tan, I’m going to pick tea leaves. Can you manage the vegetables?”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “Or maybe I should stay and help. There are already four people hired to pick tea, one less won’t matter.”

Wu Lan quickly responded, “It’s fine, Mom. I’m here to help with the vegetables. You should go pick the tea. It’s better to have someone there to keep an eye on things and prevent slackers.”

Even though they were all from the village and Wu Lan had hired diligent workers, nobody wanted to slack off for the sake of face.

But Wang Lifeng, hearing this, hurried up the mountain to pick tea.

Song Tan had just returned with the harvested milk vetch. The family of three, including Qiao Qiao, busied themselves with the vegetables. Hearing this, she hesitated: “Picking tea leaves in the field all day is exhausting. It would be better if Grandma stayed to help.”

Wu Lan shook her head: “Working at home isn’t any easier, and if I pay her, your grandparents won’t accept it. A day or two is fine, but over time, your uncle would be unhappy.”

Since both families contributed to the elderly’s expenses, it wouldn’t be fair for the grandparents to only help the younger son. This was more about fairness than being petty.

Their family harmony depended heavily on this balance.

“Going up the mountain to pick tea is different. We pay 150 yuan a day. Your grandmother is willing to accept that money.”

Though she claimed her age limited her harvest, after much persuasion, she agreed to take only 100 yuan. But at least she took it.

Song Tan nodded, once again realizing that managing a family was completely different from cultivating fields.

There were so many emotions to consider.

Wu Lan carefully sorted the milk vetch and thought about the labor costs: “We only have a small tea plantation. Usually, hiring one or two people is enough. But who knew the tea leaves would grow so well this year? You insisted on hiring two more people… Now, including your grandma, labor costs are 700 yuan a day.”

The tea leaves this year were exceptional, like the densely packed, tender milk vetch in the field, promising high quality.

But doing the math: “The tea is lush, and one person can definitely pick four pounds of fresh leaves a day. Including your grandma, we can estimate five pounds of dried tea daily.”

“With labor costing 700 yuan, plus fertilizer and hiring people to process the tea… If we don’t sell for at least 300 yuan a pound, we’re definitely losing money.”

Wu Lan’s calculations made her uneasy: “Our mountain tea isn’t famous. Can we sell it at a high price?”

Song Tan had to reassure her once again: “Mom, don’t worry! Worst case, look at these baskets of wild vegetables. Selling them for half a month could bring in twenty to thirty thousand yuan.”

“Who else has this skill but me?”

Her daughter was bragging again!

Wu Lan glared at her: “Is that your skill? That’s because our fields are producing good vegetables!”

She muttered: “We’ve been farming for decades, and now you, who know nothing, are reaping the benefits…”

Her words were both comforting and a bit jealous.

They packed the milk vetch into plastic storage baskets, and she reminded her daughter: “Remember to save two or three pounds of milk vetch for your uncle and aunt. We promised to give them some last time but forgot. The wild vegetables are old now.”

“It’s been almost a month since you started selling vegetables. It wouldn’t be right if we don’t give them any this time.”

Song Tan nodded: “Alright, I won’t forget this time.”

When they arrived at the market, even more aunties were waiting by the roadside.

Some even helped carry the baskets just to buy the vegetables faster. Qiao Qiao, familiar with the routine, pulled out the QR code and stuck it on his chest, ready with plastic bags.

His counting skills had improved recently, and the aunties preferred him to handle the vegetables. Qiao Qiao, full of enthusiasm, enjoyed the attention.

“Miss, you accept orders from out-of-towners and even ship to them. Why can’t we place orders here? I could just tell you on WeChat, pick up the vegetables and leave. It’s so simple.”

Song Tan smiled sweetly, showing her dimples: “Auntie, they pay for shipping, and it costs dozens of extra yuan each time.”

“Besides, out-of-towners can’t get such good vegetables. But you, Auntie, have the discerning eye to recognize their value.”

“Oh, you sweet girl…”

The aunties happily paid and left with their bundles of vegetables.

It wasn’t really about the shipping cost, but the pre-order process was cumbersome and prone to mistakes.

Currently, with small volumes and just one type of crop, developing a new app for orders wasn’t worth it.

Song Tan was busy enough at home and didn’t need the hassle.

At the lively market, this scene was already familiar.

A young girl and her simple-minded brother drove a pickup to sell vegetables every day. They sold them expensively and quickly!

The market vendors were used to it, but buyers couldn’t help but be curious:

“Sister, do you do group buying or something?”

“No!” The auntie said confidently.

She had never dealt with group buying apps, having always bought from the market:

“This girl’s vegetables are good. We check the group to see when she arrives and wait here early.”

Looking at the remaining two baskets: “In another half hour, they’ll probably be sold out.”

Even those who saw it daily were amazed by the efficiency:

This wasn’t the busiest morning market; it was mid-morning, around nine or ten! At this time, fresh leafy vegetables were still selling fast?

“What’s so great about these vegetables? They cost twenty yuan each, and a family could spend a hundred a day.”

Nearby vendors couldn’t resist asking. This was quite extravagant!

And this auntie, who spent a hundred or so yuan each time—how wealthy was her family?