Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 63

After the meal, Zhang Yanping was too full to move. He decided he would never do hard labor and remained firmly planted on his stool, regardless of his aunt’s disdain.

Song Sancheng, being the lowest in the food chain at the moment, didn’t dare say anything after eating. He eagerly and diligently started cleaning the dishes.

Upon learning that tea leaves could sell for ten thousand yuan a pound, Wu Lan immediately threw down her bowl and headed up the mountain with a basket! She was more enthusiastic than anyone else.

What good does it do to be angry with a man? Making money was the most important thing!

Song Tan then announced, “Brother Yanping, this afternoon, you and Qiao Qiao will dig the vegetable garden!”

Preparing the vegetable garden involved turning the soil and breaking it up. Though the area wasn’t large, it was meticulous work. It was Qiao Qiao’s first time being given such an important task, and he took it very seriously.

Although their vegetable garden had been prepared the previous evening, their grandparents said: Since they wouldn’t lack vegetables after farming, they might as well turn over the adjacent plot for Song Tan as well.

That plot hadn’t been dug yet.

It was a good opportunity for Zhang Yanping to adapt.

Song Tan checked the soaked bok choy seeds, secretly adding a bit of spiritual energy. In just half a day, tiny sprouts had already started to emerge.

She planned to plant them all this evening.

The vegetable garden wasn’t very large, totaling about three-tenths of an acre, roughly 200 square meters.

However, if they planted bok choy, which could yield 4,000 pounds per acre, this plot could produce about 1,200 pounds.

With the addition of spiritual energy…

Song Tan did some quick calculations in her head and was already eager to start.

Her plans were good, but Zhang Yanping remained stubbornly seated. “I’m not going.” He was adamant.

“If you don’t go, you won’t have dinner tonight.”

“Then I still won’t go.” Zhang Yanping grinned. “Tan Tan, you’re still young and don’t understand the determination of adults. My aunt definitely won’t let me starve.”

Song Tan smiled knowingly. “Brother Yanping, not starving doesn’t mean you’ll get the same delicious food as at noon. If you want to eat something different, go ahead and be lazy.”

Zhang Yanping felt a pang of doubt.

But as a grown man, how could he just give in like that? He stubbornly declared, “No way. With you all so busy, how could you have time to cook two meals?”

Song Tan said nothing and just smiled.

Before anything else, the fields needed to be plowed. The rice seeds had to be sown and later transplanted.

Some seedlings needed to be cultivated as well.

Song Tan handed the tools to Qiao Qiao. “Be good and dig up Grandpa and Grandma’s vegetable garden. If you do well, we’ll plant the vegetables tonight.”

“Aren’t we planting corn?”

Qiao Qiao clearly didn’t favor Song Tan’s way of planting vegetables.

“We are, but it’s not time yet. When the time comes, we’ll set aside a special plot for you to grow corn. How about that?”

Only then was Qiao Qiao satisfied.

Zhang Yanping shook his head at his innocent naivety.

Song Tan then walked to the field, seeing the old ox leisurely lying there with a few birds perched on it. She couldn’t help but smile. “Grandpa Li!”

“Hey!” A man sitting on the field ridge responded. He was the owner of the old ox.

“Grandpa Li, does the Chinese milk vetch in my field taste good?”

Old Li’s face wrinkled into a smile. “Good! It’s very tasty, better than stewed meat. I cut a basketful every day.”

Song Tan had suggested this.

Old Li had experienced hardship in his youth and was never picky about food. Although the fields had been grazed by the ox, he still found some crisp and tender bits on the edges.

After tasting it once, he brought a basket every day while herding the ox, enjoying it thoroughly and feeling like life had something to look forward to.

Now, looking at Song Tan, he felt she was wonderful in every way. No wonder she was a college student; even her farming skills were superior.

“Tan Tan, is there something you need?”

Song Tan pointed out two plots of land between the paddy and dry fields. “Grandpa Li, it’s time to prepare the rice seedlings. Could you plow these fields meticulously in the next few days?”

“And the dry field above, I plan to grow some seedlings there too. It needs to be done meticulously.”

Old Li had been plowing fields for half his life and agreed without hesitation. “Don’t worry, I know how it should be done. I’ll make sure it’s perfect.”

Then he pointed to a corner of the field. “That spot is sheltered from the wind, gets good sunlight, and is near the ditch. I’ll plow it thoroughly.”

Looking at the scorching sun, the old man, full of experience, had more advice to share.

“Tell your dad to make more straw mats when he has time. This weather is harsh, and they’ll need to be covered in the early mornings and evenings.”

“I noticed the chestnut trees on the mountain will bloom soon, right? Don’t just focus on them. The black fungus at the bottom needs airing out too.”

The workload was increasing—Song Tan felt a bit overwhelmed.

If the place were deserted, she could use some tricks. But with so many people in the village, she had to take it slow.

Seeing Old Li’s enthusiasm, Song Tan had an idea and suddenly asked, “Grandpa Li, why don’t you help me manage the seedlings? You can take care of the two paddy fields as well.”

“I won’t talk about payment. I’ll cover all your rice, flour, grain, oil, vegetables, and meat for the year. What do you think?”

The old man, wise as he was, chuckled. “If you don’t mind me being old and slow, just give me twenty pounds of your pork at the end of the year!”

Song Tan couldn’t help but laugh. “An elder in the family is like a treasure. Grandpa Li, you’re much more capable than us youngsters.”

Don’t be fooled by the elderly in the village who seem frail and slow. When they get to work, they outpace anyone.

With their iron-hard hands, even pulling weeds is a breeze for them.

Old Li, with his lifelong experience in growing rice, confidently said, “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of them.”

Now with the responsibility on his shoulders, he was even more talkative. “By the way, Tan Tan, the pond up there needs cleaning. There are too many aquatic plants. You should raise more grass carp.”

Grass carp are voracious and thrive in such environments.

“The water quality in the pond is good. You should also get some crucian carp fingerlings. They’ll be a good source of income.”

Song Tan had planned for that too. “Grandpa Li, I was thinking of stocking fish after the fields are flooded. Otherwise, they’d all end up in the fields.”

She wasn’t opposed to raising fish in the paddy fields, but she was also planning to let the ducks into the fields to eat the grass. Timing would be crucial.

However, Old Li said, “No worries! Fish in the paddy fields are beneficial. They eat insects and grass, and fertilize the fields. There’s a premium market for rice field fish.”

“Just stock more fingerlings if needed. I’ll watch over the fields.”