Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 60

With the help of two extra hands, the truckload of goods was unloaded in no time.

Uncle Zhang felt a bit embarrassed. Their son was still upstairs, and yet they had to ask their niece for help—though she was clearly stronger than him.

Always the honest type, he didn’t know what to say, so he brought out two boxes of fruit: “Here, Tan Tan, Qiao Qiao, have some fruit.”

Aunt Wu was busy trying to buy vegetables for lunch and inviting the siblings to stay.

However, both Song Tan and Qiao Qiao shook their heads.

Song Tan found outside food hard to stomach.

Qiao Qiao was thinking: maybe he could buy another toy set at noon?

They refused so firmly that Aunt Wu stood there awkwardly, finally picking up a box of fruit:

“Then I’ll wash these cherries for you!”

Song Tan quickly stopped her: “Aunt, really, no need! These cherries are over a hundred yuan per pound. You should sell them!”

This couple’s way of being good to others was to give away their best produce. When the cherries were declined, they brought out another box of golden kiwis.

“Here, eat these…”

Aunt Wu peeled one for Qiao Qiao: “Here, Qiao Qiao, try this Zespri Gold kiwi. They sell for more than ten yuan each! Tell Auntie how it tastes!”

Implying they hadn’t even eaten such expensive fruit themselves.

Song Tan couldn’t help but laugh: “Aunt, if you don’t taste your own fruit, what if the flavor is off?”

Aunt Wu laughed heartily: “Your cousin Yanping is at home. He has a picky palate and always tries the expensive stuff. He can tell immediately if it’s good.”

Song Tan was curious: “Yanping is at home?”

Her cousin Zhang Yanping was Aunt Wu’s only son, two years older than Song Tan. Why was he at home during this off-season?

Speaking of her son, Aunt Wu sighed.

“Your cousin has no ambition. We told him to find a job, but he insisted on helping with the fruit shop.”

“But he doesn’t do much. He’s ruined dozens of boxes of imported fruit. If we scold him, he says he’s practicing for when we get old and he has to take over.”

“But he eats all day and plays games all night. Your uncle and I are worried sick!”

It wasn’t that they spoiled him; they were out of options!

Zhang Yanping had been jobless for two years since graduation. They had even cut off his allowance to force him to find work.

However, Zhang Yanping was stubborn as a mule.

With no allowance, he would come home when hungry and squat by the kitchen door at mealtimes.

If that didn’t work, he raided the fruit warehouse, always picking the most expensive items.

His constant eating made his parents’ hearts ache.

They tried locking up the house and warehouse, but Zhang called a locksmith, and with no money to pay, the locksmith ended up calling his parents.

They wanted to let him face the consequences and go to the police… but they still dreamed of him becoming a civil servant.

There’s a saying that the ultimate goal is to become a civil servant.

In this honest couple’s eyes, nothing was more stable and respectable than a government job. Even with a modest salary, they had the fruit shop for extra income.

Thus, they feared him getting a criminal record and ruining his future, causing them endless worry.

Qiao Qiao listened with wide eyes, not fully understanding, but he eagerly asked, “Where’s brother?”

Aunt Wu pointed to the stairs: “Upstairs sleeping! Played games all night again. Go play with him!”

Though Zhang Yanping was stubborn, he was protective of his family and had played with Qiao Qiao before.

Children idolized older kids, and Zhang Yanping clearly had a place in Qiao Qiao’s heart.

Qiao Qiao ran upstairs with his kiwi: “The fruit is sweet, I’ll share with brother!”

He seemed to forget his sister.

Song Tan couldn’t help but laugh.

Only then did Aunt Wu have time to ask, “Tan Tan, why are you here?”

Song Tan gave her usual answer: “Work was too tiring. I resigned to rest and help with the farm for a while.”

Aunt Wu quickly advised her: “Don’t stay too long. Farming is tough work, and it’ll ruin your complexion. Not good for a young lady.”

Song Tan then lifted her small basket:

“Aunt, our farm’s vegetables are especially delicious this year. Everyone’s been grabbing this milk vetch, so I saved some for you to try for lunch.”

Before she finished, Uncle Zhang had already peeled another kiwi and handed it to her: “Tan Tan, eat.”

Song Tan felt for her aunt and uncle.

In a few sentences, they had spent over twenty or thirty yuan. She knew they lived frugally.

But the fruit was already peeled. She took it and quickly moved the box aside.

The sweet juice filled her mouth, mixed with a familiar murky taste. It wasn’t particularly pleasant.

But Song Tan was getting used to it. She mumbled, “Uncle, no more peeling. Just tasting is enough. Save the rest to sell.”

Uncle Zhang smiled sheepishly: “You don’t come often. Eat more.”

Aunt Wu also relaxed: “Don’t be shy, Tan Tan. Eat more, and take this box home. Yanping would just waste it anyway.”

Calling her son’s fruit consumption “waste” showed how much trouble Zhang Yanping caused.

Song Tan was thoughtful.

Before she could speak, Aunt Wu asked, “Tan Tan, with all this farming, are your parents not working this year?”

Song Tan nodded, counting on her fingers:

“We have to plant rice in two fields, grow vegetables, sunflowers, mushrooms, and fungi. We also pruned the chestnut trees, and we’ll put fish in the pond…”

“We’re raising five pigs this year. The pork will be great for the New Year. I’ll bring some for you, Aunt!”

Aunt Wu was shocked: “So much work! Can your family handle it?”

Song Tan sighed. They had spent a lot and needed to earn more quickly, which led to overcommitting.

“My grandparents are helping out. We haven’t fully planted yet, so we’re managing for now.”

But this was temporary; soon they’d need extra hands.

At that moment, they heard footsteps on the stairs and Qiao Qiao’s cheerful voice:

“Yanping, let’s throw stones!”

“No. I don’t play with stones anymore, kid.”

Zhang Yanping’s lazy voice included a yawn.

“Yanping, let’s play hide and seek.”

“Qiao Qiao, your brother is too big for hide and seek now.”

“Yanping, let’s watch Peppa Pig.”

“Watch Peppa Pig? Real men watch Ultraman!”