Chapter 57: Eldest Aunt Buying Groceries

Chapter 57: Auntie Buying Vegetables

Despite rushing, they were still a bit late by the time they reached the vegetable market.

It was now late March, and as the weather grew warmer, the market was increasingly filled with a dazzling array of produce.

Just as Song Tan finished setting out her baskets, she noticed the vendor next door staring at her expectantly.

Ever since that time when he had hesitantly bought a bunch of Chinese milk vetch, the vendor had been watching her with that same conflicted gaze every day while tending to his own massive piles of vegetables. She had grown used to it by now.

To be fair, the vendor had his own struggles.

He had tasted the girl's vegetables once and couldn't stop thinking about them. But since he was also a vegetable vendor, buying from the stall next door felt like aiding a competitor. What would customers think if they saw him?

Thus, he fought an internal battle every day, caught in a cycle of hesitation. And by the time he finally worked up the courage to buy...

Too late, she had already packed up.

Today, he was once again trapped in this cycle of indecision, turning a blind eye to the fresh, tender bok choy sitting right in front of him.

Song Tan noticed this inadvertently, and she felt a bit of a craving.

After all, to her, Chinese milk vetch infused with spiritual energy was still just milk vetch. Having eaten it for so many days, she was truly getting a bit tired of it.

But bok choy was different.

It had a crisp texture, no hint of bitterness, a short growth cycle—the fastest could be harvested in ten to twenty days—and then there was baby cabbage, which grew in large bunches...

If she used spiritual energy to accelerate the growth, she might be able to harvest it in about two weeks.

Looking at it this way, the milk vetch would likely wrap up in about a week, followed by a few days of downtime to let customers calm down and save up more money, and then—

The real green vegetables would strike!

Song Tan made an immediate decision

This afternoon, she would urge Qiaoqiao to dig up the vegetable garden properly, and they would sow the seeds tonight!

...

The two hundred jin of Chinese milk vetch brought today was as popular as ever.

Since there was no need for weighing and payments were mostly in whole numbers, everyone scanned the QR code to pay with practiced ease. Qiaoqiao had been receiving less and less cash lately.

His movements were becoming increasingly proficient; as long as he didn't speak, no one could tell anything was amiss. Mao Li, Song Tan's eldest aunt, had been wandering the market for a while and, seeing a crowd gathered ahead, couldn't help but edge closer.

"Hey, what are they doing over there?"

She asked a nearby vendor while habitually plucking a leaf off a head of bok choy in her hand.

The vendor was also watching the crowd and replied instinctively

"Selling milk vetch. It's twenty yuan a jin..."

His voice sounded both envious and hungry.

However, seeing the older woman's actions, he couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Hey, hey, hey! Why are you plucking my bok choy? If you want it, just buy it."

Mao Li continued plucking with an air of righteousness. "I'm here to buy vegetables. I certainly don't want these old leaves. I'll just pick through them first. Don't worry, if I pick them, I'll definitely buy them."

The vendor blocked her. "Look, lady, the bok choy this season hasn't even fully grown yet. There are no 'old leaves.' If you want to buy, buy; if not, don't waste the produce."

Mao Li grew angry. "Who said I'm not buying? I'm just getting ready! How much per jin?"

"Six-fifty."

"Tsk," Mao Li sighed. "You vegetable sellers are getting more and more dishonest. In the countryside, people wouldn't even take this for free."

The market was full of such people—those wearing heavy gold jewelry who would haggle for ages over a simple purchase.

The vendor raised his voice. "Well, we aren't in the countryside, are we? Besides, this is the price for vegetables this season. If you don't believe me, look at the rest of the market."

Having failed to haggle, Mao Li huffed and stuffed the six or seven plucked bok choy leaves into a bag. "Weigh it for me."

Then she grabbed another bag and stuffed the plucked leaves into that as well. "No one wants these old leaves anyway, I'll just take them all at once."

Since she had already plucked them and the vendor had been too slow to stop her, if he turned around and said he didn't want them now, what could he do? It was a society governed by law, after all.

The vendor could only weigh them with a dark expression. "Seven-fifty."

Mao Li habitually rummaged through the small pouch at her waist for change.

"What era is this that you're still asking for fifty cents? Here, seven yuan."

The vendor tapped the QR code in front of her. "Scan it."

His face was grim, so Mao Li didn't dare push too far. She muttered under her breath as she scanned the code, grumbling that she would never come back again.

The vendor was fuming, but when he turned his head again, he saw her squeezing through the crowd toward the milk vetch stall, which was just about to close!

...

It wasn't until the crowd dispersed that Mao Li saw her niece. Then again, this milk vetch wasn't exactly a luxury; she was likely the only one in the whole market selling it.

But seeing everyone else walking away with full bags, she felt a twinge of jealousy.

"Tan Tan, you're a college student. I thought you were just playing around, but I didn't expect you to actually be here selling vegetables! My, look at the commotion, you've even made a name for yourself!"

Qiaoqiao's face instantly crumpled. "Auntie, Qiaoqiao sells vegetables too!"

Mao Li glanced at him and ignored him, turning back to shower Song Tan with praise.

"You're such a good girl—pretty and so hardworking. Just wait, your Auntie will help you find a good match. You can stay in the city in the future and save yourself the hardship."

She lowered her voice. "Don't worry. You're beautiful and educated. When the time comes, I'll make sure your family asks for a high bride price. That way, Qiaoqiao won't have to worry about money when he starts his own family."

Song Tan raised an eyebrow. *What is she getting at?*

She was looking for trouble.

Song Tan forced a fake smile. "Auntie, are you here to buy vegetables? It just so happens I have three jin left. That will be sixty yuan in total."

As soon as the price was announced, Mao Li's movements—squatting on the ground and picking through the three bundles of vegetables—froze instantly.

"Twenty yuan a jin?"

She said in disbelief, "Child, even if you want to make money, you can't do it like this! This milk vetch is barely fit for cattle, and you're charging your own relatives twenty yuan a jin?"

She stood up, her expression stern. "Tan Tan, as your elder, I have to say something."

"Selling vegetables is fine; our family doesn't care about you losing face, we are all working people."

"I wasn't even planning to come buy anything. This market is too far and the goods are expensive. It was only because your sister-in-law is kind-hearted and said that since we're relatives, we should come support the business—so I came. But you, a young girl, not only are you being dishonest with your prices, but you're also ignoring family ties?"

Song Tan's expression remained calm. "Auntie, the vegetables are twenty yuan a jin. Last time, I gave you five jin for free. Is that not enough 'family ties'?"

"Everyone in this market knows my price. If you want to eat them, buy them. Don't talk to me about 'supporting the business'; I don't lack customers."

"As for being dishonest... my goods are good, and they are worth this price. If you can't afford it, the lady behind you is waiting."

There was indeed an auntie behind her, wearing a silk outer garment and a jade bracelet, her hair perfectly styled. She looked much more dignified than Mao Li.

She was watching the drama unfold—not just her, but the surrounding vendors had also gathered to watch the spectacle.

Being called out unexpectedly, she decided to play along. "That's right, the young lady's vegetables are excellent. My family buys from her every day. In fact, the young lady arrived a bit late this morning, and my daughter missed her while she was at work, so she specifically asked me to come by again."

She skillfully scanned the QR code to pay Qiaoqiao. "Sweetie, pack up the remaining three bundles for me."