Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 87

In Ningcheng, a deliveryman from Fengfeng Express once again brought a package to Secretary Wang. However, this time it wasn’t a refrigerated parcel but an ordinary cardboard box. Inside, there was an air column package protecting a simple sealed bag.

Secretary Wang opened the bag with great anticipation, having spent five thousand yuan on this tea. The moment he unsealed it, a fresh aroma filled the air. But along with the tea, he pulled out a tiny yellow bamboo stick and a small yellow leaf, making him instantly feel regretful.

As he looked at the unexpected contents, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of disappointment and curiosity. Despite these doubts, the fragrance was truly captivating, enough to make him reconsider his initial reaction.

Deciding to test the tea before offering it to his superior, Secretary Wang began the brewing process. He rinsed the leaves briefly, then let them steep in hot water. As the aroma intensified, filling the room with a fresh, almost forest-like scent, his doubts faded away.

He eagerly approached his boss’s office, holding a cup of the brewed tea.

“Sir, this is the wild tea I mentioned. The fragrance is extraordinary. May I pour you a cup to try?”

His boss, who had been working, looked up with interest.

“Pour me a cup,” he said, setting aside his work.

As they both sipped the tea, a sense of tranquility washed over them. The aroma was calming, almost meditative, clearing their minds and making them appreciate the tea’s unique quality.

—

Back in Yuncheng, Song Tan returned home feeling that while the day’s experience had been exciting and unusual, it hadn’t been entirely without benefit. For instance, the local police station had collectively bought a pound of her tea. Of course, it took eight officers pooling their money to afford the ten thousand yuan price tag.

Arriving home, she received another message from Secretary Wang.

“Hello, do you have more tea? I need five pounds, and could you also prepare some gift boxes? We plan to gift them next week in the capital.”

Pleased, Song Tan instructed Qiao Qiao to bring out the stack of gift boxes from the car.

Upon entering the courtyard, she saw her mother, Wu Lan, along with Grandma Wang Lifen and several aunts, weighing the freshly picked tea leaves.

Song Tan asked eagerly, “How much did you pick today?”

Wu Lan, beaming with pride, replied, “I was late, so I only managed to pick less than three pounds. Each of your aunts picked over five pounds, and your grandmother picked exactly four pounds!”

The aunts joined in, praising the abundance and quality of the tea leaves.

“These tea leaves are so lush and fragrant!” one said.

Another chimed in, “I’ve never picked so many tea leaves before. It’s amazing!”

The conversation turned to the thriving tea bushes, marveling at their exceptional growth this year.

“Who would have thought the land would yield so much?” someone mused, while another added, “It must be a blessing from the land gods.”

As they chatted, the room filled with laughter and the fresh aroma of the day’s harvest.

Meanwhile, Song Tan’s phone buzzed with another message, making her day even better.

—

Regarding taxation, farmers selling their own produce are tax-exempt.

As for agricultural superstitions, it’s true that some people seem to have a natural knack for farming, while others struggle no matter how hard they try.

And about crop yields: perennial crops often follow a cycle of high and low yields each year, a pattern well-known among local farmers.