Song Tan's Notes

Master Chai was in the kitchen with Xiao Zhou, busily preparing the meal.

Two middle-aged women, who had been temporarily brought in to clean up the pots and pans at night, chatted as they helped carry the plates:
"You know, it's good to be rich, staying in such expensive hotels and hiring a top chef..."

"Yes... Master Chai, how much were you paid before?"

Master Chai's presence was meant to showcase Boss Lu's generosity, so he mumbled vaguely but not quite: "Salary, bonuses, and profit sharing... it's only around a million..."

hiss!
This income was truly astonishing to the two of you in the countryside.

The two men were much more attentive as they carried the plates, and another man looked out from the stove and asked, "Want some firewood?"

Then he asked, "Where do you learn your skills? I have a relative who was sent to your hotel as an apprentice. How many years does it take to become a master?"

Master Chai must have been asked this question many times before. His expression remained unchanged. He simply picked up a pot and the flames that rose from it startled the two men once again.

Xiao Zhou then laughed and said, "Getting into our hotel isn't easy! First, you need a professional certificate. Then you have to apply for a job at the hotel, go through a proper assessment by the entire chef team, and finally the boss makes the final decision..."

"Think about it, with this kind of salary, what kind of chef can't be hired? There must be some requirements."

That's true.

After gossiping for a while, the older women clearly understood the principle of "you get what you pay for," and then turned their attention to Xiao Zhou:

"Master Zhou, you're so young, are you married yet?"

Lu Chuan had just reached the kitchen door when he heard this and couldn't help but laugh again. He turned around and went to the backyard to help set up the table.

He had already confirmed Master Chai's skills.

As expected, Boss Chang didn't hold back. The other party had a perfect grasp of the flavor, bringing out the freshness of the ingredients. It was a different style from Seventh Master's.

But since they've already come to cook, he can't very well do the cleaning and chores in the evening, right? Anyway, it's not much money, so he simply hired a cleaner to work overtime.

The cleaning staff at the guesthouse were originally trained in cooperation with star-rated hotels in the city. They trained two villagers here for a while, and now they are quite proficient.

The two women who stayed behind were a bit gossipy, but they listened to the arrangements and weren't stubborn—they were the kind of people who suffered from chronic fatigue and couldn't do heavy farm work.

It's not easy for someone with this kind of physical condition to go out and work, and staying at home to do farm work is simply too much for them. Therefore, they cherish this relatively easy cleaning job.

In addition, although Lu Jing is easy to talk to, she has experience in managing people and is never lenient when it comes to deducting wages, so they naturally keep their mouths shut.

Lu Chuan is already quite satisfied with the fact that they only discuss local gossip now, without talking about the guests' trivial matters or gossiping about them behind their backs.

Judging from the current situation, young Master Zhou probably still has a lot to talk about, from his wife to his children!

Just then, Lu Jing brought out a large basin of watermelon.

Having spent a long time in the countryside, her style has become rough and unrefined. Now, large stainless steel basins are filled with slices of watermelon, with absolutely no aesthetic appeal whatsoever.

But for Lu Jing, if these twenty or so people were to press the plates so meticulously, how could that be satisfying?
On the contrary, when Chef Zhou served the dishes, he couldn't help but frown.

"Gentlemen, next time please let us cut the watermelon. Look at all this watermelon rind being wasted..."

They ate large, coarse pieces of melon, and when everyone started eating them, their faces were covered in smears. How were they supposed to save the rinds for stir-fries or salads?

I had no choice but to feed it to the pigs and chickens.

They really don't know how to cherish what they have!
Lu Jing laughed heartily: "We'll eat melons tomorrow! The melons on the mountain smell so good right now. Masters, shall we go pick some together tomorrow morning?"

After hearing that, who cares about the watermelon rind anymore!
Xiao Zhou immediately poked his head out of the kitchen: "Okay! But I haven't driven that tricycle in ages..."

Lu Jing patted her chest and said, "I'll do it! I can!"

Just then, He Kuang's son, fully recovered, rushed down from upstairs:

"Grandma Lu, I can ride a tricycle too!"

They could do that at 3 years old!

Being called "Grandma" by such a young child made Lu Jing feel rather uncomfortable. Back in the countryside, she still considered herself a young and beautiful woman.

So he said, "You haven't been certified, so you can't ride a tricycle in the countryside—would you like to go up the mountain to pick melons tomorrow? If so, you can call me Ms. Lu from now on."

The young man, who only had a primary school diploma, looked at his gray-haired grandmother, then at Lu Jing, who had a fashionable perm and was gentle and elegant, switching between the two without any difficulty:

"Ms. Lu!"

Lu Jing laughed heartily, then turned to He Kuang's parents and in-laws and said:
“We can still borrow these tricycles, but inexperienced riders are prone to tipping over when turning, which is unsafe.”

"The air in the village is nice, and it's not hot if you get up early in the morning. If you don't mind, I'll have my son take you up the mountain slowly tomorrow, pick some things, and then put them in the tricycle to take you down."

Moreover, both sets of parents were naturally delighted: "Walking is good, walking is good! We've been riding bikes to pick up and drop off the kids all this time, it's nothing new. Just consider it an early morning walk."

I just don't know how early is considered early in the countryside?
What time should we get up?

Lu Jing laughed: "Everyone has been traveling a long way, so get some rest tonight. You'll probably wake up naturally tomorrow."

She thought for a moment and then asked, "Do we have breakfast at the same pace as the other villagers who work?"

If you're working in the village, breakfast is usually around 9 a.m., lunch is after your afternoon nap, and dinner is usually around 8 or 9 p.m.

Qin Yun's family also came downstairs at this moment. Hearing this, they discussed it with Yunfeng's parents and family members: "Let's follow the village's work schedule."

This way, when they stroll around, they can keep up with the pace of the villagers, and they can have breakfast a little later, which is perfect for decadent young people like them!

"Okay." Lu Chuan nodded in agreement, then looked at the elders who seemed hesitant to speak and the several kindergarten and primary school children, and reassured them:
"Children don't go hungry easily, but they won't go hungry in the village, don't worry."

After chatting for a while, once everyone had arrived, Lu Jing immediately pushed the watermelon on the table away:

"Come on, you must be tired from the journey and have no appetite. Have some appetizer tea and a couple of slices of watermelon to whet your appetite. We'll have dinner in a bit."

It's better not to mention it, because once you do, the refreshing scent of watermelon wafting in the night breeze becomes even more pronounced.

The children couldn't wait to gather around. Seeing Uncle Lu looking at them encouragingly, they grabbed a big piece without hesitation and their eyes lit up after taking a bite.

"The watermelon is so delicious!"

Then, with a whoosh, it got all over my face, mouth, and body.

"This child..."

The elders also laughed and reached out to grab a slice of watermelon.

Yunfeng's wife wasn't very familiar with everyone, and she was initially a little hesitant, worried about smudging her makeup. But after taking a bite, she could only awkwardly pull out a tissue to wipe her lipstick before lowering her head and eating heartily, clearly no longer caring about anything else.

The aunties who were helping to serve the dishes paused at the kitchen door, as if they could hear the squealing of piglets in the sty.

……

Meanwhile, at Lao Song's house, Wulan was watching TV while munching on a cucumber.

At the same time, he asked Song Tan, "Xiao Lu, all your friends and elders are here today, why don't you go and help entertain them?"

Song Tan was playing checkers with Qiao Qiao, and at that moment she was holding a round glass bead: "They have traveled a long way and have had a hard time. Going there now would just be a matter of exchanging a few more pleasantries. There's no need for that."

"I'll take them for a walk on the mountain and riverbank when I get up tomorrow."

Qiaoqiao asked curiously, "Brother Lu Chuan said that three other children will be coming. Should I host them?"

Without hesitation, Song Tan, clutching the glass bead, jumped into his territory, then laughed and said, "Would you like to entertain me?"

Qiaoqiao shook her head: "I don't know, but Brother Lu Chuan said that this is my home, and I just need to be happy. If I want to play with other children, I can go over there; if I don't want to play, I can go find my own friends."

But he hasn't played with other children before, and he doesn't know if he wants to play.

The chances of children coming to Yunqiao Village are too small, so he rarely makes new friends.

Ulan didn't care about the children's friendship: "Then you should go with your sister and take a look. If their kids are naughty, then we'll come back."

Qiaoqiao thought about it and felt a little hopeful:
"Ok."

All three family members had things to do, but Song Sancheng remained silent. Wulan glanced at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Song Sancheng hesitated and spoke mysteriously: "I think someone is stealing our lobsters."

？ ！！

As soon as he said that, the whole family's attention was drawn to him.

The key is--

"Those lobsters are so small, who would steal them?"

How long have you been raising them? The shells are still brittle, they're small and have hardly any meat, barbecue restaurants won't accept them.

Who would steal this for no reason? And how could she possibly get caught by her dad?
"real!"

Song Sancheng emphasized, "They not only steal, but they're also careless. When I went to the other side of the river this morning, there were broken shells and small crabs on the bank."

It couldn't possibly have been stolen by a person.

Firstly, the only way to cross the river is by boat from this side; going up the mountain on the other side would be very risky and could easily lead to slipping into the river.

Who would be so bored as to eat a few shrimp and crabs that haven't even grown up yet?

Besides, Big White and the others are there every day, leading the ducks around. If there's any noise, they'll start quacking already.

Its loud voice, quacking like a goose, can travel from one side of the river to the other, so it's not afraid of not being able to call its owner.

As for the waters outside the canyon that don't belong to the Song family... that's even less likely, there are nets erected along the edges.

Qiaoqiao raised her hand: "It must have been eaten by the water birds."

Both mother and daughter agreed with this statement.

It's probably a water bird.

The areas where shrimp and crabs are farmed are shallow and have a lot of silt. If a long-snouted creature were to poke its head into the water, it would hit the target every time.

However, most of these birds are either herbivores or omnivores. It would be better for them to catch small fish in the river than to eat these, which is why Song Sancheng did not discover them for a long time.

Even if they discover it, the loss is negligible, barely worth mentioning.

Song Sancheng thought about it and agreed.

Then he sighed, "Big White is too fat from eating too much, so he and Goose Sister can't fly. Otherwise, those water birds would peck them every time."

"Goodbye."

Song Tan and Qiao Qiao started another round: "Many birds are protected animals. If we poke down a couple more, we'll have to call the forestry bureau..."

The family of Reeves's Pheasants that were currently stuck on the riverbank have already started laying their second batch of eggs.

There's another national first-class merganser, always hanging out with the flock. Chen Xi has to be careful when catching ducks, afraid of catching the wrong one. This little rascal is impossible to shoo away, and while it doesn't eat much, it's a real nuisance...

When Song Sancheng thought about this, all he could do was tell the shrimp and crabs that were now just remains to be forgotten.

……

On a clear morning in early July, as the dawn breaks through the light mist of the deep mountains, the lush green forests in the distance and the rolling fields and landscapes nearby come into view.

Looking down again, the various flowers planted in the backyard were swaying gently in the wind, their reds, oranges, yellows, greens, pale purples, and blues creating a unique and picturesque scene.

The first couple to wake up, Mr. and Mrs. Yun, opened the window, took a deep breath, and instead of feeling hot, they felt refreshed and relaxed. The fatigue from yesterday had long since disappeared.

Everyone simply summarized it as—

"The countryside is still the best place to live."

No!
Moreover, they were quite particular about where they stayed at this guesthouse. Although their son and his friends were all well-off, they would feel uncomfortable if they didn't pay for the stay.

The room rate is paid as usual, but the meals depend on the friends' friendship. Now that people of all ages are staying here, it's incredibly comfortable!

This shows that they have a pretty good relationship.

Looking again at Lu Jing, the boss in the courtyard who wasn't much younger than them but seemed like a generation younger, Yun's mother felt envious:

"Not having to worry about kids means you're young."

Lu Jing strolled along, looked up and saw them, and couldn't help but wave:
Do you want to eat lotus pods?

Upon hearing this, Yun's parents, who hadn't felt hungry before, blurted out without even thinking:

"eat!"

They weren't afraid of bothering others.

It's hot these days, so I have to close the windows and turn on the air conditioner at night to sleep. The room is very well soundproofed.

Moreover, although it's only 5 o'clock, it's already bright outside. Considering everyone's sleep quality since they went to bed around 9 o'clock yesterday, it's probably time to wake up.

Even someone like Qin Yun, who never wakes up during the day and never sleeps at night, heard the slight noises outside and, thinking about the surprise breakfast that might be coming up today, quickly got up.

Adjust your sleep schedule! You absolutely have to adjust your sleep schedule! You can't keep going back to this reversed day and night.

When they came downstairs again, they found that there were already a dozen or twenty people sitting in the courtyard.

Each child carefully plucks a small, bright green lotus seedpod, meticulously extracting the lotus seeds and placing them on a plate, embodying the idea that one person's labor sustains the whole family.

But they seem to enjoy it, clearly because there are unique ways to do things in the countryside.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the youngest girl stuck out her tongue and said, "Bitter."

The lotus seeds were sweet, but the lotus heart was a bit bitter. Qin Yun quickly put his hand to her mouth and said, "Then spit it out."

The daughter shook her head: "Bitter, but delicious."

The child's maternal grandmother smiled and said, "That's right, these lotus seeds are good. They're bitter but delicious. Eat more, it'll be fine."

"Then don't eat too much," Lu Chuan advised. "There are other options."

The lotus pods were a small basket that Chen Chi brought over this morning, but since it's not lunchtime yet, besides these, there's also a basket of rice stalks that were recently pressed on the table.

"Try the rice husks made from this year's new rice. They're a bit sticky, but they're especially sweet and fragrant."

Without him saying anything, and besides, his wife was now eating two sticks in a row, chewing and sucking so hard that her palate was slightly sore, but she still couldn't bear to put them down.

He Kuang quickly stopped her again:

"Aunt Lu said there will be mutton soup this morning, so you should eat less of this."

Upon hearing this, everyone withdrew their hands that were itching to move.

Well, let's just have this for now. We can eat rice husks anytime. The fresh mutton soup is coming right this morning!

Lu Chuan laughed:

"Yes, it was just killed in the early morning, it's very fresh."

"Let's go for a walk up the mountain first. At 9 o'clock, we'll have Master Chai stew mutton slices with cabbage and vermicelli, and then add this year's freshly milled wheat flour to make mutton soup with bread..."

Is it appropriate to talk about such "heaty" foods in the middle of summer?

Everyone slurped their saliva, muttering about treating winter diseases in summer and eating mutton in the summer, while patting their already full bellies, wishing they could start eating right away.

but……

Hey!
Since we were in someone else's house, we had to have some self-respect, so we quietly followed their instructions.

After applying the mosquito repellent cream, the children carried their water bottles, and the adults took a couple of sips of tea and were just about to set off, they saw a fairy-like girl standing outside the flower and tree corridor in the courtyard.

Lu Chuan, who also has an ethereal appearance, smiled as well:

"Tan Tan".

He thoughtfully introduced the couple to both sides, and everyone who saw them couldn't help but praise them, even though they had already heard about them.

"They look so good together, they're such a perfect match!"

Xiao Lu was already exceptionally good-looking, and the scars on his face didn't affect him at all.

Who knew that the girl I met by chance in the car accident would be so beautiful!
Especially when she stands there with such poise and grace, like a stalk of green bamboo, she looks extraordinary.

After greeting everyone, the equally ethereal young woman quickly hopped onto a dark red old tricycle parked nearby.
"I'll ride my tricycle up the mountain first. Anyone want a ride?"

Her fairy-like aura has vanished.

Everyone:...

But—what a novel tricycle!

It's a ride that city kids never get to ride on!
The three children immediately jumped up and down:
"I me me!"

Song Tan laughed and said, "It's not safe for only little kids to sit here. Wait a minute, I'll go get an older boy to watch over you..."

Everyone knows about Lu Chuan's girlfriend and her family here. The older brother she mentioned is the streamer, Teacher Qiao Qiao, whom they follow in their live streams, right?
Ouch!

Parents and elders also became enthusiastic.

"Great! Teacher Qiaoqiao must have a knack for taking care of kids."

This surprised Song Tan: "Everyone is watching the live stream."

“Of course,” said Yun’s father first. “I knew it ever since the child brought tea. I’ve looked every time, but I can never buy any.”

Given the old man's internet speed and typing speed, it's quite a feat that he was able to buy it.

Song Tan laughed.

Yunfeng's wife's mother also smiled: "Qiaoqiao is such a well-behaved and sensible child, I like her too, and I watch her too..."

At their age, they love kids who are handsome, well-behaved, and sensible.

Especially since Qiaoqiao is mentally immature, but she is very meticulous and serious when she does things. Who wouldn't love her?

His million followers weren't generated by inflated data.

With this basic understanding, people shouldn't be difficult to get along with.

Song Tan rode his bike home to pick up Qiao Qiao, and on the way he gave her some instructions:
"Try to get to know the other kids first. If you can make friends, great; if not, that's okay too. If you're unhappy, you can just say so, and we won't play with them next time."

She spoke of thoughtfulness, but Qiaoqiao remained completely serious.

“That won’t do. I asked Teacher Xin last night, and he said that Brother Lu Chuan is my family, his friend, so I have to treat him as a friend too. I’m the host…”

After thinking for a moment, he added, "...one of them."

But no matter what, as the host, you should do your best to treat your friends well.

"If they're being unreasonable, I'll be tolerant if I can. If they're not, I'll point it out. If they still don't listen, I won't play with them anymore."

He spoke very seriously:

"Teacher Xin said that people make friends as they grow up, just like a bear breaking off corn cobs. At each stage, you may lose some friends and gain some."

"So when I make friends, success or failure isn't that important, but I need to be the best version of myself first."

"Wow!"

Song Tan was truly amazed.

"Teacher Xin is so kind, I need to think about when to give him a big gift..."

Otherwise, I would be going against my conscience!

On the one hand, she couldn't help but feel moved and said: "No wonder we have such deep friendship among classmates!"
I'm so grateful to my old classmate Qian Qianqian, otherwise how could I have found such a hidden gem of a life mentor!

Look at Qiaoqiao, she's such a great teacher!
Qiaoqiao also said earnestly, "I told Chen Chi that we're going to give Teacher Xin a gift for Teacher's Day, and also Teacher Tang and Teacher Song..."

The two haven't decided what to give yet, and have only told Song Tan for now.

Song Tan nodded: "Of course!"

She also needs to talk to Lu Chuan about it.

After all, this kind of friendship clearly shows that they truly consider each other family. Giving money or bonuses would be a bad thing and they would have to think about what would be appropriate.

However, although Song Tan was worried that Qiao Qiao would be wronged, Qiao Qiao was also prepared to be a magnanimous host...

But what child doesn't like playing with older children?
They only look down on those younger than themselves, and when faced with those older than themselves, they'd rather be their little tail.

Although Qiaoqiao is tall and obviously older than them, he plays like a peer!

The children obediently got into the tricycle. Watching Qiaoqiao pile them into the back of the tricycle while she sat on the outside to keep them from falling, the parents felt even more at ease.

Then look at the children who usually whine and yell, but under Qiaoqiao's direction, they all obediently clung to the railing, which amazed the parents.
"Honestly, why can't you be this obedient at home..."

Song Tan gripped the handlebars and called out:
"Hold on tight! We're driving up the mountain now, and this time we'll get there before your parents!"

"Okay!!!"

The children shouted loudly in the truck bed, the truck hummed forward, and their joyful laughter carried on the morning breeze of the countryside.

As everyone watched their departing figures and listened to their shouts carried on the wind, they couldn't help but laugh. (End of Chapter)