Chapter 25: Old Classmates Return

Chapter 25: Old Classmates Return

Song Tan, however, smiled calmly

"Auntie, here is twenty yuan, please take it—I know exactly what the quality of my vegetables is. Since you aren't used to the taste, why bother wasting your money, right? There are so many people waiting to buy behind you; leave the shepherd's purse for them."

The woman was momentarily speechless, and then she refused to take the money: "You've got quite a temper, girl. You can't even handle a little criticism when doing business? It's just twenty yuan; fine, I won't take it, but you sell that shepherd's purse to me."

"That won't do." No matter how kindly Song Tan smiled, her refusal was just as firm

"As you can see, we don't have enough vegetables to go around as it is. If you're just going to go home and not like them, what's the point?"

"Exactly!" An auntie behind her immediately chimed in: "I'll take the shepherd's purse!"

Trying to gain a small advantage only to suffer a great loss—that shepherd's purse was sitting in the basket, with less than five pounds left in total. If you start picking fights over the produce and then come back later to demand a refund or act dishonest...

No one would do business like that, even if they were a fool!

With the flavor of these wild vegetables, was it something that struggled to sell?

Taking advantage of the woman's stunned expression, Song Tan deftly pressed the twenty yuan into her hand: "Auntie, there are other vegetables in the market, please have another look. I'm quite busy here."

Her tone was as if she were brushing someone off.

Before the woman could retort, she was pushed aside by the customers hurriedly crowding forward from behind.

Not far away, a couple was also quietly watching.

The girl had a stiff expression: "What do you mean! You think my classmate is good-looking, don't you? Making excuses about buying vegetables—you're just looking for an excuse!"

The speaker was Song Tan's classmate, Wu Qianqian.

After her boyfriend had quietly joined the group chat that day, he discovered that this group of only a dozen or so people was incredibly lively!

Everyone was praising the various delicious flavors of the wild vegetables, describing them as if they were a feast from the heavens. Thinking back to the watercress he had brushed past that day, the young man grew hungrier and hungrier the more he thought about it; he had been dreaming of the taste of those wild vegetables for the past two days!

So, upon seeing the messages in the group early this morning, he had rushed over with his girlfriend.

But he hadn't expected such a long line. Seeing Wu Qianqian in this state, he felt hesitant and didn't dare to join the queue.

He could only try to coax her with kind words: "Qianqian, look at how many people are lining up, the vegetables must be selling well! I've been coming here for a few days now; I wanted to cook something today to show our parents—after all, she is your classmate, and what we said the day before wasn't quite appropriate. How about I wait here for you, and you go buy them?"

At these words, Wu Qianqian's anger turned to joy; nothing made her happier than her boyfriend valuing her.

She thought for a moment before nodding with practiced reserve: "Fine! Then I'll go join the line and take a look."

Maintaining her airs, she looked at this stall and peeked at those greens, before unhurriedly heading toward the queue.

However, by the time she reached the front, the basket was empty, leaving only a small handful of Malantou (Spotted Amaranth) which Song Tan was currently packing into a plastic bag.

She grew anxious: "Hey, hey, hey! Why is it gone! Song Tan, where are your vegetables?"

Before Song Tan could speak, Qiaoqiao spoke up: "Sister, you're too late, the vegetables are all gone!"

As she spoke, she skillfully held out a QR code: "Want to join the group, sister? I'll let you know next time they're for sale."

Wu Qianqian was furious!

Ignoring Qiaoqiao, she stared at the bag of vegetables in Song Tan's hand: "Song Tan, don't you still have a handful there? An old classmate comes to support your business, why won't you sell them?"

Song Tan didn't even look up: "This is a gift for someone."

Her boyfriend was still watching from a distance, making Wu Qianqian feel even more embarrassed

"Aren't wild vegetables everywhere? You can give them away anytime. To tell you the truth, if my boyfriend didn't want to taste the wild vegetables, I wouldn't have come today."

"Don't worry, I won't haggle with you. Just sell that handful to me."

Song Tan didn't care much about the woman's petty schemes, but she had no intention of letting herself be wronged: "That won't do. If wild vegetables are everywhere, go dig them up yourself; you'll even save twenty yuan."

With that, she reached out to lift the basket: "Qiaoqiao, let's go."

She left Wu Qianqian standing there dazed, watching helplessly as Song Tan's "silly little brother" loaded the basket onto the vehicle, and then the vehicle started up and drove away.

It wasn't until then that her boyfriend hurried up anxiously

"Oh no! Missed them again! I saw in the group that the next sale won't be for another three days..."

Wu Qianqian, already feeling humiliated, suddenly exploded: "Buy, buy, buy! Buy my foot! What kind of vegetables do you have to insist on eating wild ones! You country bumpkin!"

The boyfriend's expression changed instantly.

...

Meanwhile, Song Tan drove the small pickup truck to the Fengfeng Express Station.

"Please pack this up and send it via chilled express to Ning Province First People's Hospital, for Zhang Yuan—here is the phone number."

The courier pulled the handful of Malantou out of the plastic bag: "If you want it chilled, it'll be expensive! It's not very cost-effective just for this handful of greens."

Song Tan also felt the sting of the shipping fee, but at least the wild vegetables were free.

She nodded: "It's fine, just send it—it should arrive tomorrow if it's within the province, right?"

The courier nodded: "Don't worry, it'll definitely arrive tomorrow morning. I guarantee the vegetables will still be fresh."

Only then did Song Tan pay.

This Dr. Zhang Yuan had been asked about his savior for several days now without a reply—Song Tan was afraid something might have actually happened to him, so she decided to send some wild vegetables as a way to nudge him.

It was just wild vegetables; it wasn't as if it would involve anything like bribery or red envelopes.

After finishing up and returning home, the family sat down to do the math—

Good heavens, this batch brought in three thousand yuan!

Wulan couldn't help but lament: "If only these wild vegetables could be sold all year round..."

Song Sancheng was immediately speechless at this money-obsessed woman.

"It's only because Heaven is smiling on us that our wild vegetables grew exceptionally well this year. In half a month, what vegetables won't be available? Do you plan to sell them for twenty then? You won't even be able to sell them for ten for a long time."

Song Tan thought for a moment and said matter-of-factly

"I plan to keep selling them for twenty."

"All the way until the end of the month."

With that kind of taste, there were plenty of people willing to spend money; she had never underestimated people's spending power. This also served as a buildup for the vegetables she was about to plant—she, Song Tan, sold vegetables that were high-quality, expensive, and worth it; if you miss a meal, you'll be dying for them!

As for why she wouldn't sell them after the end of the month?

By the end of the month, the Chinese milk vetch would be fully grown; she would sell the tender shoots of the milk vetch instead.

As for the wild vegetables, she'd stop. If you pluck them every single day, even spiritual energy can't withstand it; she had to leave them a way to survive.

...

Wulan was only thinking about it, but Song Tan actually dared to do it!

Listen to her talking so loftily, as if people couldn't survive without her vegetables.

Song Sancheng, as the father, sighed, wondering if money in the city had become that easy to earn nowadays.

He decided to change the subject: "Since it's not too busy during this period, your mother will watch the housework in the morning, and you take me to get my driver's license. In the afternoon, I'll take your mother over."

"We have a car; we can't just let it sit there wasting away. Once I get my license, I'll do the driving."

"A girl driving a pickup truck doesn't look good."

He spoke with great ambition, as if the license were already in his hand.

Song Tan glanced at him: "Dad, have you even learned the questions for Subject 1 yet?"

(End of Chapter)