Chapter 143

This noon, there were more than twenty people at the Song family's house.

Just the people planting trees on the mountain numbered twenty, plus two middle-aged women helping in the kitchen, three more helping to dig bamboo shoots, plus Zhang Yanping and Zhang Wang's family, including Old Man Li, who was watching the pond water, were all invited over...

There were a full thirty-six people!

It was fortunate that they had hired help in advance; otherwise, they wouldn't have even had time to set up the tables and chairs.

There were too many people, so the plates were borrowed from neighbors; fortunately, the use of disposable bowls and chopsticks solved the problem, preventing the lunch from seeming cramped.

But...

The people eating felt the courtyard was quite spacious, but Uncle Seven, huddled in the kitchen, felt that he couldn't stretch out anywhere!

Not to mention anything else, just the oil pot—usually, when cooking for a large banquet, he would use a large iron ladle to scoop it directly from the enamel jar.

But now, with this small pot and small stove, Uncle Seven couldn't even swing his own spatula... it might also be that he hadn't cooked for a large banquet in years and was rusty; it was incredibly awkward.

However, the fresh fragrance bursting forth as the tender bamboo shoot sheaths were stir-fried in the pot brought a triumphant smile to Uncle Seven's face:

"It's a good thing they invited me in time; otherwise, with so many people, relying on my niece-in-law alone wouldn't have worked at all!"

"Don't let them ruin my vegetables."

There was a basis for saying this; many people cook very well at home, but when there are too many people, they can't control it—it's either too salty or too bland, or they just don't perform to their usual standard...

Even if it was just the heat control that was off, Uncle Seven felt it was a waste of such good ingredients.

Aunt Seven was helping him on the side and glanced at him:

"What do you mean 'your vegetables'? Did you grow them or buy them?"

"Besides, there are only this many people today; it's not like there are this many people every day."

Uncle Seven's shoulders slumped instantly.

People like them need a large crowd to show off their skills!

But then he thought, even if there weren't thirty-some people, this whole family plus the two of them, there were always about ten or twenty people.

With his old arms and legs, cooking for these people was just right.

It was satisfying, good exercise, there was work to do, and it wouldn't be too tiring—

"I really came to the right place!"

And over here, Song Tan was asking her father: "Can the peach trees be finished planting today?"

"Yes." Song Sancheng said confidently:

"You go up the mountain and look; more than half have already been planted. After eating and working, we can finish by about three o'clock."

Otherwise, it would have been a waste to hire so many people!

Thinking of this, Song Sancheng couldn't help but sigh: "I have to say, your Uncle Zhang is truly meticulous."

He was talking about Zhang Wang's family.

"The fertilizer piled up by the mountain is all from his house, and it's all been filled into the soil as base fertilizer. As long as it rains once more and the peach trees take root, we'll definitely see fruit this year."

They had to see fruit; they had spent over a hundred thousand on this whole mountain of trees. Without any results, how could he not be anxious?

"I only hope the weather is good this year!"

Looking at her father's expectant eyes, Song Tan was also full of confidence: "Don't worry!"

The meal was lively; it seemed the whole village hadn't gathered like this in a long time.

While eating, someone praised Uncle Seven's skills while asking: "Sancheng, you've even invited a master chef; will there be a lot of work in the future? Don't forget to call me when the time comes!"

Song Sancheng laughed, looking completely honest:

"When there's work, I'll definitely count on everyone's help. But now, it's not up to me; I have to listen to Tantan."

Someone laughed out loud: "Tantan has only worked in the fields a few times; what could she know? You still have to be the one to make the final decision on farm matters."

As soon as this was said, someone else chimed in: "Yes, I've been wanting to say this—what kind of eagle-beak peaches are you planting? We've never heard of them here. If you're going to plant, you should plant flat peaches. They look ugly but the price is high."

"You're wrong there; actually, you should plant grapes. Grape seedlings are cheaper!"

"If you ask me, you bought too few tree seedlings. I see those peach orchards where they're packed tight; this side looks so sparse. And peach trees grow slowly..."

Everyone was discussing it heatedly while holding their rice bowls, as if it were their own land, and they had already made the arrangements.

However, in their words, they didn't take Song Tan, the one in charge, seriously at all.

Wu Lan's face darkened; she took a deep breath and put on a smile, just about to say something, but Song Tan patted her arm.

"Mom," she said in a low voice, "no need to say so much now. When the fruit is harvested and actually sold for money, naturally someone will be willing to listen to me."

Even without waiting for the fruit harvest, when the vegetables mature next month, whether they've made money or not, let the villagers see it for themselves and guess in their hearts.

It's a long-standing bad habit in the village: the elderly think the young have no experience, men think women can't do the work, and adults don't take children's words seriously.

Of course, it's not just in the village; it's like this all over the country. It's not necessarily good or bad, and there's no need for verbal arguments now.

Wu Lan sighed: "I understand..."

Then she became proud again: "You underestimated your mom, didn't you? Whether these vegetables are good this year, we still have to see if it's luck or if our land is good. If we can maintain this quality in the future, then we can openly talk about it."

"If I brag now and the quality turns out not to be that good later, wouldn't that be like smashing my face into the ground? Your mom won't do that."

"We have to make our fortune in silence."

However, she was silent, but there were still middle-aged women who didn't get involved in the farming talk, instead turning their attention to Song Tan's personal affairs:

"Oh my, Tantan, you work in Ningcheng, why don't you find a local partner? As a girl, it's so hard to come back and farm."

"Exactly! How old is Tantan this year? I have a cousin's son..."

Song Tan:...

She wasn't intimidated, but instead replied gracefully: "Sure, Auntie, if you have a handsome relative, feel free to bring him over. Whoever is willing to dig the tea mountain for my family for a month, I'm willing to meet him..."

As soon as this was said, the room burst into laughter.

Even the aunt who made the suggestion was full of smiles: "Why are you calculating so precisely? That tea mountain digging work, I reckon even your dad wouldn't want to do it..."

Digging the tea mountain is usually done during the summer vacation, facing the high heat and scorching sun; most people really can't handle it! If any boy has that kind of perseverance, he would be highly regarded wherever he goes.

Song Tan also smiled: "Look, Auntie, I'm good-looking and strong, shouldn't I be a bit picky?"

Chatting in the village is like this; many people don't think deeply before they speak, just letting the words flow.

Everyone is used to this straightforward way; the more graceful she is, the more everyone feels they have a measure of her.

At this moment, everyone understood—Tantan from the Song family has high standards; no one would dare to introduce just anyone!

Also, it's very late, don't wait.

Striving to update ten thousand words a day for a few more days this month, let me pick an auspicious day...

(End of chapter)