Chapter 337: 337. What does farming rely on?_1 Chapter 337: 337. What does farming rely on?_1 The pickup truck was moving slowly along the mountain road, Song Tan was driving steadily, and Qiaoqiao wore a cloth bag across his chest, containing 4 clean cucumbers and two big bottles of water.
Apart from the seatbelt across his chest, there was also an old-style leather strap, slanting from shoulder to waist, tied in a dead knot, and his what’s-it-called Seiro Ultraman, with a one-meter length too awkward to carry on his back, had to be hugged in front instead.
He looked like a hero embracing his prized sword, exuding an air of imposing swagger.
Suddenly, the car hit a bump.
Qiaoqiao immediately looked back anxiously, “Sister, will our watermelons get damaged from the bumping?”
“It’s okay,” Song Tan reassured him, “didn’t you lay thick straw underneath? They’re secure.”
The straw had been brought back from her eldest uncle’s home at the beginning of the year; it had been used for the pigpen, the chicken coop, the doghouse, and was almost all used up by now.
Today, they had to take away a good half of it for the watermelon load; after changing the pigpen’s bedding a couple more times, there would be no straw left.
But Song Tan wasn’t worried, as the rice in the fields was about to be ripe, and they would have a new supply soon enough–perfect timing.
“But what about the ones on top without straw? What if they break?”
Qiaoqiao was still concerned.
“No worries,” Song Tan, seeing the prospect of a sizeable sum of money coming in, was particularly patient now:
“Even if they break, we can take them to the Riverside Market and let everyone try them to see if they’re worth it.”
Qiaoqiao hugged his Ultraman tighter, suddenly tensing, “But wouldn’t that mean a loss? Doesn’t building a house require a lot of money?”
Oh boy, the little guy was beginning to fret!
Song Tan spoke softly: “Not at all.”
“Think about it, when we usually sell vegetables at the market, don’t those aunties and grannies really like you? If the watermelon breaks, just consider it a treat from Qiaoqiao for everyone to have a taste–would you mind that?”
When put that way, it did seem to make sense.
And so, Qiaoqiao calmed down again.
Little did he know, as Song Tan carefully avoided a pothole, she let out a sigh–
Secretary Xiaozu thought about developing the countryside every day, but before that, couldn’t they find a way to gather some funds to fix the roads first?
With the roads in such disrepair, even delivering watermelons was a nerve-wracking affair; how could they even think about development!
However, she just sighed. She knew all too well: without a reliable project, getting funding was no easy task, which is why she kept urging herself to grow bigger and stronger!
Fortunately, the rough part of the road wasn’t too long; within half an hour they were on the main road, where Song Tan finally found that smooth, fluid feeling.
Little Pika was roaring along, making its way toward the city center.
At Riverside Market, despite the hot weather, the vendors were just setting up their stalls; the place should have been quite empty, but people were gradually starting to gather by the roadside.
Vegetable vendor Old Zhao was also mingling in the crowd, strolling left and right, and then was stopped by a boss who stood by the refrigerated display, waiting to sell his marinated goods:
“Old Zhao, didn’t you sell out all your stuff this afternoon? Why are you still wandering around the market? Are you thinking about changing your stall?”
“Not changing a thing,”
Old Zhao said, particularly proud: his small storefront might not look like much, but with space for parking at the back and room for electric scooters in the front, it was perfect for someone who only worked half a day like him!
Customers come, pick up their goods, and leave–how simple! No haggling, no bickering, and he spent most of the day wandering around…
Life had become too decadent.
“So why are you wandering around here, not bothered by the heat?”
The marinated goods boss was curious.
Hot it certainly was. Old Zhao chuckled: “That girl who sells vegetables, she’s coming to sell watermelons this afternoon, and I’ve placed an order for 10. See, I’ve even brought along a little cart, so I can send a couple to the elders at home and to my wife’s family tonight.”
The marinated goods boss sucked in a breath, “You’re really splashing out! The girl’s goods have never been cheap, how much is the watermelon per pound? You know the price for the Kirin melons in the specialty store downstairs? 8.8 yuan a pound!”
He grumbled, “I won’t eat such rip-offs! Just wait a few days, and there’ll be plenty of stalls selling them for two yuan a pound on the roadside!”
“If you keep talking , the conversation can’t go on.”
All he could do was pretend nothing was amiss and say, “20.”
The marinated goods seller blinked, “20 each? That’s not too expensive…”
He began to get tempted as well, since their business was doing so well, he too wanted to taste just how good it was…
Looking at Old Zhao’s evasive eyes, a frightening thought suddenly sparked in his mind–
“It isn’t 20 yuan per jin, is it?”
Old Zhao gave a dry laugh, “New product feedback price, it’s actually quite a discount…”
It pained him too, but as long as he thought about the taste of the vegetables at home these days–
Which is to say, what’s the point of making money? It’s to enjoy it!
He had come to terms with it, but the marinated goods seller had not.
He had been selling marinated goods here for ten or twenty years, when had he ever eaten watermelon that cost 20 yuan per jin?
In the dead of winter, it was only 9.9!
Wait, why was he using “only …”? 9.9 was super expensive as well!
The marinated goods seller took a deep breath and decided to retreat from this battlefield.
But as he left, he looked back and noticed that it wasn’t just the aunties gathered there anymore; even the youngsters had slowly started to join the crowd–
His own marinated goods were so fragrant, the rich aroma wafting around, yet this bunch acted nose-blind, not even giving it an extra glance!
–Why were other people’s vegetables so popular?!
Thinking , his previously cooled heart began itching again, and he couldn’t help but tiptoe to take a look toward the front.
And just then, a shout suddenly came from the crowd, “The truck’s here!”
Good gracious, like catching a train, everyone quickly surrounded that spot.
By the time Song Tan parked the truck and got out, the crowd had already expertly formed a long line.
Song Tan had no choice but to raise her voice, “Those who placed orders in advance, line up over here!”
Pointing in Qiaoqiao’s direction.
“The money paid earlier is calculated for 5 jin, we’ll issue refunds or take additional payments, sorry about this.”
She smiled very innocently, honestly, and simply, “After all, it’s our first time selling, we were afraid of picking too much and not being able to sell it, so it was a bit troublesome.”
In truth, she was purely being lazy at home, not wanting to weigh things in advance.
The young girl at the front of the line looked at her with frustration, “That’s not right!”
Song Tan: ??? What’s not right?
“You have to be confident! What do you rely on when farming?”
But the girl stated emphatically as soon as she opened her mouth, “What it relies on is confidence!”
“Your family’s products are so good, how could they possibly not sell out!”
With that, the girl quickly took her place in front of Qiaoqiao and then extended her finger, “Can I choose the two biggest ones? I’ll pay extra.”