Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 44

The market by the river had been around for twenty years.

Most of the time, the vendors and their stalls were relatively fixed.

Occasionally, farmers might bring some home-grown fruits to sell, but that followed the seasons and didn’t last long.

But Song Tan, the new vegetable seller, was strange—very strange.

First, there weren’t many young girls selling vegetables here.

Second, this young girl was beautiful and had an equally handsome but simple-minded younger brother, which easily drew sympathy and attention.

Finally, her vegetables were expensive!

Initially, the vegetable vendors sneered:

Having a simple-minded brother doesn’t mean more customers!

This market is full of shrewd middle-aged and elderly women who count every penny. Being pretty and pitiful might attract people elsewhere, but here, the aunties wouldn’t spend an extra cent!

But gradually, they watched as the simple-minded boy, who was once slow and clumsy, became more efficient and even better at counting.

Good heavens!

She’s training her brother here.

Then came the vegetable prices.

Wild vegetables for twenty yuan a pound?

The vendors sneered, thinking she was just selling freshness!

But as the weather warmed and prices dropped, she still sold for twenty yuan a pound?!

The vendors scoffed: Are all these people her stooges?

Later, even the fertilizing milk vetch was sold at twenty yuan a pound, and there were still so many buyers…

The vendors were stunned.

Did he fail to grasp the market trend after selling vegetables for twenty years?

Having held it in for so long, he finally asked today.

The auntie he asked sighed: “Who wouldn’t feel the pain of spending so much on vegetables daily?”

Then why do you buy so much?!

The vendor stared at the fresh and tender milk vetch in the auntie’s basket, puzzled.

The auntie’s attitude instantly became enthusiastic:

“You don’t understand, eating more vegetables is good for health. We eat a few pounds of these vegetables daily, which helps with digestion, makes us feel better, and sleep soundly at night… My daughter’s acne has also improved a lot! This money is well spent.”

“And these vegetables are delicious! Whether in salads, stir-fried, or hotpot, they taste amazing! If I don’t eat them, I feel restless.”

The onlookers: …

So… Are these vegetables some kind of health supplement?

The auntie, seeing their disbelief, became even more determined: “Don’t underestimate it! We’ve been buying vegetables for decades, we know what’s good. Look at how people scramble for her vegetables every time, nobody is foolish here. If you don’t believe it, spend twenty yuan and find out for yourself how good they are!”

The auntie, carrying her basket of vegetables, walked away angrily. She spotted a vendor selling tomatoes nearby and stepped up:

“How much are these?”

The vendor hesitated: “Eight yuan.”

The auntie’s eyebrows shot up: “How dare you cheat me! I bought these for four yuan yesterday!”

She turned and walked away.

A nearby vendor cautiously approached: “Brother, why did you raise the price?”

The vendor was almost in tears: “I saw her spending hundreds on wild vegetables daily, thought she was wealthy and preferred expensive stuff!”

Feeling wronged, he turned and saw the pretty girl and her simple-minded brother already preparing to pack up.

He hurried over:

“Do you have any more vegetables? I’d like to buy a pound!”

Song Tan was surprised but quickly directed her brother: “Qiao Qiao, go get a bundle from the car.”

She smiled and said, “Uncle, sorry for any inconvenience we caused with our stall next to yours. Today’s vegetables are sold out, but I was about to send some to my relatives, so I’ll take out a pound for you.”

The vendor’s expression softened, and he smiled: “The market isn’t mine, and our goods are different. It’s no bother. But I must pay for the vegetables, I won’t take them for free…”

Before he could finish, Qiao Qiao proudly showed the QR code on his sweatshirt.

The vendor: …

He glanced at the smiling girl and reluctantly scanned the code to pay, then walked away with the vegetables.

Song Tan then took out five yuan: “Good boy, go buy your Peppa Pig stickers!”

…

Qiao Qiao, covered in stickers on his cheeks and clothes, happily carried a basket and followed Song Tan, curiously looking around:

“Sister, their buildings are so tall!”

“What are they selling?”

“Flowers!”

“Where is Uncle?”

Song Tan looked at his carefree face and felt a wave of tenderness: “Almost there. See that blue sign ahead? Qiao Qiao, can you read it?”

Qiao Qiao followed her pointing finger and started counting on his fingers: “Da, Da… Hmm, Wu, Jin… Hmm…”

He turned his clear eyes to Song Tan: “I finished reading.”

Song Tan sighed—Qiao Qiao could understand, count, recognize money, and occasionally tell time. He was obedient and easy to coax, never crying randomly.

But in terms of systematic education, he was still like a kindergartener, unable to recognize all the characters, making it difficult for him to go to school in the city alone…

She had to think of another way.

But this thought quickly passed, and she smiled: “Qiao Qiao is so smart! That’s the Generous Hardware Store! Our uncle is called Song Dafang, remember?”

Uncle Song had moved to the city with his wife twenty years ago to work at construction sites. Later, he made some connections and saved some money. He opened a hardware store in the construction market, supporting his family and accumulating considerable wealth.

He had been doing this for twenty years.

Although the market had been tough in recent years, his children had grown up, so life was easier than before.

Song Tan remembered how her aunt loved gold. Early on, whenever she visited the village, she was always adorned with gold jewelry.

Because of this, the villagers thought Uncle had struck it rich until one day, Aunt took them to a shop that made jewelry.

“Just bring a few five-cent coins, pay a bit for labor, and you can get a bracelet! Looks just like gold, shiny and sturdy!”

It wasn’t until Song Tan grew up that she realized—destroying currency is illegal…

But these memories flashed through her mind like a slideshow, reminding her of past feelings.

Qiao Qiao nodded obediently: “Got it, Uncle is called Hardware Store!”

Song Tan: Pfft!

“Just call him Uncle, don’t say anything silly.”