Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 61

Song Tan burst out laughing.

She remembered promising Qiao Qiao that she would let him watch Ultraman. But because everyone had been so busy, and no one had time, the poor kid had gotten a few toys but had never actually watched the show. Peppa Pig still held its place.

Just then, Aunt Wu nervously asked,

“Tan Tan, your cousin Yanping is strong and tall. Why don’t you take him back to help with the farm work? As long as he stays in the mountains and works hard, nothing else matters. If he doesn’t perform well, don’t feed him. Let him learn how hard it is to earn money!”

The saying goes, “Spoiling a child is like killing a child.” Everyone in the wholesale market knew her son was useless. For the past two years, no one had introduced him to a potential match. Aunt Wu was anxious and frustrated.

She thought working on the farm would be perfect—hard work under the sun to toughen him up!

Zhang Yanping, who had been familiarly rummaging through the boxes for fruit, panicked: “Mom!”

Song Tan also thought it was a good idea. After all, Zhang Yanping was over six feet tall and built strong. It would be a waste not to put that strength to use!

Even if he wasn’t used to it at first, he’d be a great asset in the long run!

The two women quickly reached an agreement.

Song Tan readily agreed: “Aunt, when have I ever let you down? Don’t worry, if Yanping comes home with me, he won’t go hungry.”

“But the farm work is tough, so don’t feel bad if he gets sunburned.”

Even Uncle Zhang agreed: “Not feeling bad at all. If he leaves, I’ll be relieved. Besides, who hasn’t done farm work before? It builds strength, and he’s a big guy. It’s better than him lazing around at home.”

Zhang Yanping was about to run upstairs: “I’m not going—hey, hey, hey!”

But Song Tan grabbed his collar and smiled: “Aunt, it’s almost noon. I’ll take Yanping back now. We’ll have lunch and he can start adjusting. By tomorrow, he’ll be ready to work!”

“I’ll send you videos of his progress!”

“Great, great!”

Their troublesome son was sent away. Though Song Tan was petite, Zhang Yanping couldn’t move with her holding his collar.

The couple couldn’t stop smiling, imagining their son becoming a hardworking, resilient man.

Uncle Zhang dove back into the warehouse. By the time Song Tan had loaded the unwilling Zhang Yanping into the truck, there were several boxes of fruit stacked in the back, all expensive varieties.

Locking the truck’s back gate, Song Tan looked at Zhang Yanping’s sorrowful face and teased: “Yanping, you’re working for us for free, and Aunt is even giving us fruit.”

Zhang Yanping quieted down, the sorrowful expression gone, replaced with a smile that made his dark circles seem cute.

He pulled out his phone, charger, and headphones:

“My mom always does this. I was prepared.”

“Little girl, I’m your brother. I won’t work. What can Aunt do, starve me?”

Just then, Qiao Qiao turned from the passenger seat, happily looking at him: “Brother, I’ll take you to dig the garden!”

Zhang Yanping: …

Song Tan said nothing—once they were back in the village, he wouldn’t have a choice.

Zhang Yanping truly lived up to his reputation.

As soon as they got in the truck, he started playing games, his fingers moving so fast they seemed to blur. Qiao Qiao, in the front seat, was fascinated.

Song Tan glanced at him: such agile hands should be picking tea leaves!

But this task allowed for slacking off, so… tough work was better for him!

Qiao Qiao now had a companion for his garden work.

The game session lasted only an hour before the mountain road’s twists and bumps took their toll. The pickup truck’s lack of suspension made it hard to maintain concentration.

The winding mountain path, with its constant jostling, made even a deity struggle to keep up with the game.

Zhang Yanping, his eyes dizzy from staring at the screen, finally lay down in defeat:

“Tan Tan, why did you decide to return home and farm?”

Song Tan asked him: “Yanping, why are you staying home, annoying Aunt?”

After all, he graduated from a prestigious university!

Zhang Yanping didn’t care: “What do you know? Life is meant to be enjoyed. I’m comfortable at home with no worries. Why work hard?”

“My mom just doesn’t get it. Money or no money, as long as we live comfortably, that’s what matters.”

“She and Dad want me to become a civil servant. But nowadays, it’s a tough competition. Even if I got in, I’d end up in some remote area, doing rural development…”

He had a resigned attitude: “I’m not doing it.”

Honestly, who doesn’t have such thoughts about enjoying life?

Song Tan nodded, understanding her cousin’s mindset.

When they arrived home, they found Wu Lan looking furious, while her father, Song Sancheng, quietly soaked seeds, his head down.

Grandma was weighing tea leaves with some workers. The fresh green sprouts piled up, layer after layer, bringing joy to everyone!

A few women from the village chatted, smiling: “Your tea leaves are excellent this year. That small plot, we couldn’t keep up with the growth!”

“Of course!”

Wu Lan loudly said: “We took great care of that tea field!”

Not really, they only fertilized it once two weeks ago. This year’s yield was unpredictable.

The cheerful banter continued, but the home’s atmosphere remained tense.

Song Sancheng didn’t dare speak, meticulously soaking seeds as if they were precious ginseng.

Song Tan didn’t rush to ask, instead calling out: “Mom, I brought Yanping! Aunt asked him to help us with the farm work.”

Wu Lan quickly came out, smiling at the sturdy young man: “Yanping is here—oh, don’t listen to your mom. You won’t have to work hard here. We’re about to eat lunch.”

She felt a bit embarrassed:

“But Yanping, Tan Tan didn’t tell me, so I didn’t prepare anything special—will dumplings be okay for lunch?”

Zhang Yanping, though picky, wasn’t impolite and agreed readily.

“Sure, I’m not picky.”

Song Tan seized the moment to ask: “Mom, what did Dad do?”