Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 84

Village secretary?

Song Tan perked up immediately, shaking the other’s hand with the expertise of a seasoned negotiator.

Then she asked, “So, are you here to discuss road repairs for our village? Honestly, driving my little pickup every day is a bumpy nightmare!”

Zhu Jun: …

Her carefully prepared speech was utterly derailed, leaving her thinking only about road repairs.

Could she even get that done?

For some reason, she felt a sigh coming on.

She awkwardly withdrew her hand. “Just call me by my name. We’re about the same age—I’m only two or three years older than you.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhu Jun remembered her almost forgotten point and couldn’t help but ask again, “So, can you tell me what new formula or technique you’re using on your fields this year?”

Song Tan knew her methods weren’t easily explained in a few words, so she just responded enthusiastically, “You also think our fields are particularly fertile this year? Oh, my mom says it’s the land gods blessing us!”

Zhu Jun had been in the village for over a year and had seen plenty of superstition, but hearing such firm beliefs from a young woman was surprising.

Song Tan mixed in some science with her mystical explanation. “It’s not just our fields. They’ve been left fallow for years, with plenty of decomposed organic matter beneath the surface.”

“We also burned the fields to add nutrients and kill pests before planting.”

“That’s why this year, with proper care, everything is growing so well.”

Zhu Jun, though not a farmer, knew enough to be impressed. Regular fertilizers and pesticides hadn’t yet achieved such organic perfection. That the regular Chinese milk vetch could taste so good was rare indeed.

Song Tan sighed. “Think about it—nowadays, regulations are so strict. Near cities, you can’t burn straw or even touch the fields without special permits. You can’t plant a couple of grapes without filing an application, or it’s illegal.”

“Farmers who’ve worked the land their whole lives suddenly find everything they do is illegal. I’m not saying the policies are bad, but some are just impractical and out of touch.”

“Our village is a twenty-minute drive from town and over an hour from the city. Such remote places naturally have more freedom. Our area was once known for its good land and people.”

Her rambling, from road repairs to land gods to policy critiques, may or may not have convinced the young village secretary.

After a pause, Zhu Jun decisively changed the subject.

“I see you’re working on quite a few projects on your land and in the mountains. Are you planning to scale up your rural enterprises?”

“I heard you used to work in Ning City, the provincial capital. Are you really planning to settle here for the long haul?”

Song Tan smiled, her expression reflecting distant memories. “I went to boarding school in town at eleven, then high school and college in the city, and then straight to Ning City after graduation…”

“I’ve barely spent any time with my parents.”

“My mom always said that as long as I found a good match in Ning City, she’d be content and stop worrying about me.”

“But…” Song Tan nodded toward the approaching Qiao Qiao, “how could I stay away when they’re so wonderful?”

After drifting through the world of cultivation, she learned that without strength, one couldn’t control their destiny. Thus, she had chosen a life of solitude and farming for respect and freedom.

Now, she was back.

She had left that strange city behind, never to return.

Who doesn’t lead such a life?

The night wasn’t suitable for heavy topics.

Zhu Jun took a deep breath, looking at the well-known village fool, Qiao Qiao—his fair skin, black hair, and bright, star-like eyes full of innocence.

Qiao Qiao stared at Zhu Jun for a moment, then smiled and offered his bubblegum. “Sister, do you want some gum?”

Zhu Jun’s heart melted.

As an official, she shouldn’t accept even the smallest gift—but who could resist Qiao Qiao?

She took the gum, the cheap flavor spreading instantly, helping her regain focus.

“Song Tan, I just wanted to say that if your agricultural products do well this year, you should consider scaling up, maybe leasing more land and forest from the village.”

She looked at the green hills, “This place is rich in resources, but the resources alone can’t feed the people unless we utilize them properly.”

“The village will support you if you find areas worth developing. Just remember to prioritize hiring local labor.”

Otherwise, come autumn and winter, everyone capable would leave for work elsewhere, leaving only the elderly to watch over an increasingly desolate village.

Song Tan was surprised.

Her parents hadn’t dared hope for such confidence in her, yet this village secretary was so bold?

“Are you not afraid I might fail?” Song Tan asked, puzzled.

Zhu Jun laughed. “I’ve had good things before, and I know the quality of your produce.”

In today’s world, with numerous online channels, high-quality products with reliable transport can always find a market, even if initial steps are tough.

“However,” Zhu Jun reminded, “our village roads are patched together every few years. Major repairs are unlikely. You should focus on crops that store well and aren’t easily damaged.”

Song Tan understood. “I’ve heard the government offers subsidies for agricultural shipping. Can I apply?”

“Absolutely!” Zhu Jun replied. “There are tax exemptions for agricultural products, no tolls on vegetable transport, and new subsidy policies for online sales. Register an online store and get a subsidy form from me. Fill it out, and you’re set.”

Her efficiency was clear, handling every query smoothly: “The highest postal subsidy is six cents per package. Other couriers offer five cents per package, with a maximum subsidy of 100,000 yuan.”

Song Tan hesitated. “What about Fengfeng Express?”

Zhu Jun: …

She sighed, “That’s why I suggested durable goods—Fengfeng is expensive and not subsidized.”

Song Tan: …

Good thing I’m not offering free shipping.