Song Tan’s Chronicle - Chapter 95

How big is an acre of land?
About six hundred and sixty-seven square meters.

This area, if compared to city housing, would be extremely spacious and vast. However, in the vast fields and forests of the countryside, it seems insignificant.

Consider those popular orchards that often span hundreds or even thousands of acres. Song Tan’s twenty acres of land merely form a contiguous area with her family’s existing land, making it convenient, but it hardly causes a stir among the villagers.

Even during the village vote, the villagers’ reactions were more of surprise than excitement over the money.

After all, the amount of money was too small, and the land area was too small. Everyone had similar plots.

Some villagers joked, “Song Sancheng, if you become successful next year, consider leasing my land too. It’s not far from yours!”

Their own land was often left unused as they worked elsewhere, so leasing it out could bring in some extra income.

Others were more serious, “Old Song, think carefully. With this investment, you and your wife might be putting your entire life savings at risk!”

“This barren hill and wild land, you can’t even sell it!”

If farming were profitable, why would everyone leave? Old Song, you’ve acted rashly!
Song Sancheng wore an expression of humility, smiling clumsily, “Let’s give it a try. Isn’t online selling popular these days? The kids want to give it a shot.”

What else could he say?

That they sell wild vegetables for twenty yuan a pound, honey for a thousand yuan a pound, and tea for ten thousand yuan?
If he said that, how could they continue living in the village?

Meanwhile, the young village chief, Zhu Jun, also felt a sense of futility despite her ambition.

Her planning aimed at village development, but seeing the villagers’ reactions, she realized they were more interested in the spectacle than considering staying in their hometown. The village still couldn’t retain people.

She understood why—farm work was too hard.

Under the sun and rain, sweating under the scorching sun during the summer, and earning very little despite all the effort, working in factories was a quicker way to make money.

The young village chief sighed inwardly, looking at the village’s collective land map, lost in thought.

For Song Sancheng and Wu Lan, investing so much money in farming was unprecedented in their lifetime.

Fortunately, their anxiety didn’t last long. The initial contract was in hand, the village vote passed, and the township confirmed the contract quickly.

Thanks to the rural revitalization policy, the urgency of the farming season, and the advance planning with Zhu Jun, everything went smoothly and efficiently.

Song Sancheng, looking at the stack of stamped contracts, felt a mix of anxiety and excitement, brimming with enthusiasm to start working on the land!

However, with the capable young excavator operator now staying with them, high-tech machinery reducing the need for manual labor, he redirected his energy elsewhere.

Thus, his schedule became regular and busy.

At five in the morning, he would get up, do some chores, and at six, he would bring pig feed to feed the pigs on the mountain and check on the bees.

Then, he would inspect the chestnut orchard, check on the newly built dog houses, and feed the dogs.

Guarding the chestnut orchard were San Bao, the German Shepherd, and Si Bao, the Mastiff. These two dogs, smart and agile, were responsible for guarding the chestnut orchard and the black fungus and silver fungus.

In just a few days, the mountain looked different.

Two hundred goldenberry plants surrounded the chestnut orchard, and in just a few days, new green buds had already sprouted.

In a few more days, fresh leaves would emerge.

By summer, the vines would likely cover the entire fence, creating an impenetrable wall of thorns. With the dogs’ help, it would deter theft and protect the crops.

Village life had its fair share of both good and bad people. Jealousy and petty theft were common everywhere.

With security measures in place, work in the chestnut orchard continued.

This year, the chestnut trees were thriving, showing signs of a promising yield. However, they couldn’t deplete the soil’s nutrients, so fertilizing was necessary.

Additionally, the wild grass was growing vigorously, so once the mountain land was cleared, the orchard needed attention.

The mushrooms couldn’t fully occupy the orchard this year, so they needed to interplant other crops to maximize profits.

The logs for growing mushrooms were still piled up, and in time, they would be neatly arranged.

Song Sancheng, humming as he organized the mushroom logs, smiled at the sight of the budding white mycelium, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

But looking at the time, it was already ten in the morning.

Farm work truly consumed a lot of time!
Yet, he couldn’t afford to rest.

Leaving the chestnut orchard, he checked the family’s large fields. Old Man Li, the elderly farmer, was still tending the rice paddies with his ox.

But now, he was inspecting the neighboring plots.

There, new seedlings of various vegetables were sprouting, their tiny leaves trembling in the sunlight.

Next to them were the young rice shoots.

A lush green field always warmed the heart.

Old Man Li, a skilled farmer, never tired of admiring the thriving seedlings. When he saw Song Sancheng, he remarked, “This year’s seedlings are so strong and healthy! We’ll have a good harvest for sure!”

His enthusiasm was infectious, as if he were tending his own fields.

“Old Man Li,” Song Sancheng greeted him, “Tan Tan asked me to check if you need any more supplies like rice, flour, or oil. She can bring them over.”

Old Man Li, an elderly bachelor, managed his needs efficiently, often stretching a bag of salt for a year.

“No, no, I’m good!” Old Man Li replied cheerfully. “You all are so kind, and Tan Tan is such a good girl!”