Song Tan's Notes

Yunqiao Village, when not in full bloom, is actually quite ordinary in terms of scenery.

After all, if this place had even a little bit of charm, it wouldn't have been deserted when all the cultural and tourism sectors across the country were making great strides in the past two years, with even fewer people driving here.

That's still true today.

An ordinary asphalt road, ordinary forests on both sides, ordinary shrubs, wild grass, farmland, vegetable gardens and wasteland...

But the results were undeniable!

In the green landscape that everyone has become numb to, the varying shades of fruit and leaves can bring a different kind of satisfaction.

That's probably how agrarian civilizations are; nothing stirs the soul and brings more joy than a bountiful harvest.

The children opened their mouths wide and exclaimed in amazement, clearly having never seen such a vast agricultural base before.

The elders were equally amazed, as if recalling their long-lost rural days.

The tricycle moved forward slowly, leaving the people behind far behind.

Qiaoqiao was chatting with the children in the back of the truck:
"My name is Qiaoqiao, Song Qiaoqiao. What are your names?"

"My name is Beibei. I also have another name that I can never finish writing: Qin Yizhang..."

"My name is He Luo, but my mom calls me He Tuoluo..."

"My name is Yun Danqing."

Song Tan listened from the side, and without even looking, she could tell the educational background of the students just from their self-introductions.

Sure enough, Qiaoqiao exclaimed in surprise, "Your names all look so hard to write..."

Unlike him, he only wrote two characters when he wrote his full name. So simple!

He Luo laughed heartily, revealing his gap-toothed smile: "Mine is easy to write too!"

Qiaoqiao asked curiously, "Then why does your mother call you He Tuoluo (He Spinning Top)?"

"My mom says I have lots of energy!"

The little boy proudly puffed out his chest, but if the couple had caught up, they wouldn't have been able to bear to look at him now.

The reason it's called He Tuoluo (He Spinning Top) is because—

A spinning top, well, it's annoying to whip around, and it loves to spin everywhere, just like its inexhaustible ox-like strength, it's exhausting...

This is no exaggeration at all. Four adults taking one child to the mall almost lost the child, which shows how hard it is for this kid to let go and squeeze into any gap.

But Qiaoqiao had never seen the power of such a child before. He was simply amazed: "I've never even spun a top before..."

He Tuoluo, however, was quite unambiguous: "Then you can break off a twig, I'll squat down and you can whip me, and I'll spin you around..."

Really?!

Qiaoqiao stared wide-eyed at the tree branch beside her, itching to grab it.

Song Tan: ...The child's parents haven't arrived yet!
"Let's smoke later..." she advised.

Qiaoqiao is very obedient, so she temporarily gave up and instead said considerately:

"We have dogs on the mountain, are you afraid?"

"My puppies are all my good friends. You won't bully them, will you? If you do, I won't play with you next time."

"Do you know how to pick vegetables? You need to wear gloves, otherwise the cucumber leaves have thorns that will prick you."

The farmers, with their thick skin, don't mind, but the children, with their delicate flesh, would probably feel uncomfortable if they were pricked in the cornfield or pricked by the thorns on the cucumber stalks and leaves.

Surrounded by three children chattering about dogs and farmland, his eyebrows gradually lit up with excitement.

……

The tricycle wasn't going fast. When Lu Chuan and the others were going uphill, they slowed down and took the opportunity to look at the scattered vegetable gardens and peach orchards on both sides.

As they slowly strolled up, they saw that Qiaoqiao had already put thick gloves on them.

Those were ordinary work gloves commonly found in the mountains. They were loose on the child's hands, so he tied them up with rubber bands.

The parents were taken aback, clearly not having thought of preparing this.

But Qin Yun's quick-thinking wife had already turned on her phone: "We're going to be here for many days, I'll go online and buy a few sets..."

The delivery is very fast now, it only takes a day or two, so it won't cause any delays.

When children arrive in a new place and are guided by older brothers, they find everything interesting.

Now, swinging the loose fabric from his gloves, he laughs and giggles, full of anticipation.

They even dragged out a huge basket that was taller than themselves.

Children's words and phrases, childlike voices:
I want to pick a whole basketful!

"I can pick a whole basketful too!"

"I can pick 10 baskets!"

"You're bragging. My dad can only pick ten baskets!"

"My dad can pick 100 baskets!"

The youngest one was clearly at a disadvantage due to their lack of education, being somewhat unfamiliar with three-digit numbers like 100. At that moment, they pursed their lips, and stomped their shiny children's shoes hard on the grass:
"My dad can eat all of your baskets!"

Dear fathers: ...

What's going on? You've left all the hard work and eating to Dad?
"What about mom?"

"Mommy, Mommy, cut me a melon!"

"Mommy, one for me, Mommy, one for me, Mommy, one for me, Mommy, one for me..."

It was Qin Beibei who spoke. Upon hearing this, Qin Yun laughed in anger.

"Why are all the benefits going to Mom and you? If you keep this up, I won't pick them."

The little girl snorted, her round, chubby face displaying a worldly wisdom.

"Grandma says a man who isn't hardworking is useless. Mom, don't worry, I'll pick a basketful for Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandpa on both sides..."

Everyone laughed when he said that.

The useless Qin Yun stood there, looking accusingly at his own mother: "Mom, how could you teach a child like this?"

The grandmother looked bewildered: "How could I have said that to her? I was just chatting with the child's mother while watching a TV series... How can a child learn so quickly..."

Before the sun had even risen, laughter filled the fields.

"OK OK!"

Song Tan clapped his hands: "Let's pick watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers and vegetables first! If we finish picking them before sunrise, it won't be so hot."

The children immediately dragged over the large baskets, their shiny, sweaty faces full of anticipation.

Song Tan waved his hand sternly: "Song Qiaoqiao, I'm leaving her to you!"

Qiaoqiao replied earnestly, "Okay!"

They darted into the fields like a litter of runaway huskies.

Lu Chuan then explained to the parents standing nearby, "There are dogs guarding the vegetable gardens and orchards on the mountain. They are quite large, but they are all retired dogs. They are very obedient and do not attack people, so don't be nervous if you see them."

"Know, know."

Everyone had already heard Qin Yun and He Kuang mention that there were quite a few photos of dogs in their phone videos, which they had already seen in the family group chat.

In addition, the children often pet other people's huskies, Samoyeds, golden retrievers, etc. in the neighborhood, without being afraid at all.

The occasional tension in the city stems from the cramped space; sometimes a dog's bark is abrupt and echoes loudly, making one's heart tremble.

But in such a vast field in the countryside, and with a retired dog, even the grandparents who dote on their grandchildren don't feel anything at this moment.

These energetic children are now so focused on picking vegetables that they have no time to bother with cats and dogs.

Song Tan said, "Don't stop the children from picking vegetables. No matter how many they pick, we can use them all up at noon."

There are over thirty people on both sides combined!
"It's not easy for everyone to come, so let's have lunch at my house. Let's invite Master Chai and the others over. With so many people, it'll be more lively with two tables."

As the host, it wouldn't be right not to treat everyone to a meal. The chefs can each prepare a few of their signature dishes; it shouldn't be a problem.

This wasn't Qin Yun's first time with He Kuang, and he was absolutely thorough.

Yunfeng was a little embarrassed since it was his first time here, but thinking about the snacks he had eaten that morning, he immediately nodded in agreement.

He'd be willing to squat on the curb if the food was delicious.

Looking at my parents and in-laws, who were already walking happily into the vegetable garden, I realized that when I asked them if they were coming, they were hesitant, afraid that they would get carried away and buy so much stuff that they would bankrupt their families.

But they couldn't resist the temptation. They originally had a 7-seater car, but when it was time to leave, they hesitated and spent a whole day renting a 9-seater car...

These three large trucks are now parked in front of Lu Chuan's guesthouse, clearly indicating that they have made up their minds to be shameless.

Meanwhile, Qiaoqiao is also taking care of the child very smoothly.

He has a natural big brother aura, and everyone is willing to listen to him. Besides, he spends his days online with kids, so there's no difference between him and doing it in real life!

It's just that I feel more accomplished now that I can teach them step by step.

For example, when you twist a cucumber, you have to twist it again and again to twist it off.

When a melon is almost ripe, it will fall off with a gentle twist.

We didn't know which watermelons were ripe or not, but that didn't stop everyone from taking pictures of them row by row, like playing house.

There were also bright red tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, and black tomatoes...

And lettuce that can be pulled up by the roots; just a few heads can pile up a huge basket.

A few sprigs of amaranth remained, plump green beans, and potatoes that were still not completely dug up...

The little ones didn't care about clothes at all. They were sitting on the ground, digging and shoveling, clearly having unearthed a nest of potatoes. This achievement would not only impress adults but also the little ones.

They chattered and laughed, with occasional high-pitched voices reaching the air, showing how wildly they were playing in the field.

Qiaoqiao's biggest task is to make sure they don't step on the vegetable patch.

Stepping on some greens is no big deal; just pull them off wherever you step on them, and we'll clean them up and eat them at noon.

But the others—

He stopped the spinning top that was running wildly: "No, if you step on it, it won't bear fruit, that's not good."

When he gets serious, he can be quite imposing.

He Tuoluo had, after all, gone through a complete kindergarten education, where there were far more rules than now. Since they were visiting someone's home, he restrained himself accordingly.
"Okay then, I won't step on this one, but can I pick that eggplant?"

"Sure," Qiao Qiao said generously.
“We can pick the biggest ones, there are the biggest ones, and the longest ones, green ones, purple ones, white ones, and ones with patterns on them…”

Aside from the farmers' market, where else have children seen such a wide variety of green vegetables?
Their school did organize visits to nearby vegetable basket project plantations, but those were hydroponics, with vertical planting.

The children were small, and all they could see was a sea of ​​green.

The teacher was very strict, not allowing us to touch or budge, and after all that trouble, I only managed to pick two strawberries myself. That's completely different from the feeling of owning an entire mountain now.

Let alone causing damage, just running around along the paths would exhaust most of their energy.

During this time, vegetable leaves and branches inevitably scratched their faces, but for them, who were having so much fun, it was no big deal at all.

Moreover, her mother even let out a soft sigh of relief on the spot:
"I knew this kid must have grown up in the countryside!"

The children picked the fruit, and the adults enjoyed it too.

Who wouldn't love such a large vegetable garden?

And the orchards in the distance—

Are all the fruits inside ripe?

Qin Yun was eager to try.

“No.” Song Tan laughed: “But when you leave, some of the Yingzui peaches should be ripe and ready to eat. Take two baskets back with you then.”

"Good good!"

Qin Yun wouldn't stand on ceremony: "Where are the pomegranates? Aren't they ripe?"

"It's not the season yet."

"The persimmons haven't arrived yet."

"Pears are fine, our local large green pears are quite delicious."

"Apple was almost there too..."

"There are probably some winter jujubes..."

Compared to whether it's feasible or not, the proportion of "not feasible" is still greater overall.

Besides, she exclaimed, "Oh dear! Summer isn't enough time, and winter break isn't enough either. This child has missed too much of school!"

And look at this dazzling array of fruits and vegetables: a basket of potatoes, a basket of cucumbers, a basket of tomatoes, a basket of greens...

Ugh!
With the fruit added, I feel like there's no room left in the car!
Yunfeng, however, remained silent, gazing at the vast expanse of mountains and fields. He then quietly asked, "Dad, if there's not enough room in the car, why don't you take the high-speed train back with Mom and the others?"

Good guy!
The parents who heard this had their eyes light up and immediately looked over with approving eyes.

……

The adults were also making a big fuss in the vegetable garden, carrying small baskets, looking at this and that, and soon filling them to the brim.

Qin Yun's wife lamented, "I laughed at the kids for being greedy when they were carrying such a big basket. I should have carried a big basket too."

Not really.

Now the field is full after only a couple of pickings, so I had to ask my family to bring two more.

However, they were all mindful of their limits; although the fields looked full, they only picked vegetables that took up too much space.

They pick a large handful at a time, enough to make just one dish when stir-fried.

Two big, plump eggplants are all you need; one eggplant pancake at lunchtime and they're practically gone.

Besides, if we can't finish it at lunch, we can cook another meal for dinner, so it won't make any difference.

Song Tan let them be happy—not for the sake of the host's face, but because Lu Chuan treated their family with such care, and he should do the same for his friends.

Effort and reward must be reciprocal for harmony to exist.

She even pointed to another corner and said, "Pick more cilantro over there. We can tidy it up when we get back and sprinkle it into the mutton soup."

Whoever eats it can do so, and there's no need to worry about dietary restrictions.

But the promise of being able to eat it right away clearly boosted everyone's enthusiasm, so they immediately crowded around.

The elders started chatting: "This is an old variety, right? It lies on the ground, and the stem has a bit of color..."

"I haven't seen this kind of thing in the market for many years."

Song Tan laughed: "That's right, it's not popular now. It tends to get tough in hot weather, which affects the taste, and it's also hard to wash."

"Walk further in, and you'll find heat-resistant coriander that can be grown year-round. It tastes great in the summer, with a rich flavor."

These vegetable varieties, which are better adapted to the market and seasons, were carefully selected and matched by Yanran and his team.

There's also a large patch of catnip not far away. Pick the tender parts, pinch off the tops and leaves, and it's especially delicious whether stir-fried with tofu or mixed with cold noodles.

If you don't like the food...

Oh dear, there are so many other dishes if you don't like them, so the main point is to be casual and go with the flow.

It's clear that this isn't something people eat often. Now, smelling this peculiar aroma, and considering their individual preferences...

"Why does it smell so strong? Is this catnip?"

"No way, the catnip I saw online doesn't look like this. Isn't it called mint?"

"They say the scientific name for catnip is basil, is that right?"

Song Tan was both amused and exasperated: "No, it's not catnip, and it's not mint either. This is our local catnip, and it's not the same thing as the one with the scientific name catnip."

Besides this, there's also patchouli, which makes fish especially fragrant when cooked, and is also called "big fat".

And those patches in front of it—

"Perilla?"

“Hmm,” Song Tan explained, “It’s great for grilling meat and hot pot, and there’s a small sprig of mint on top. It tastes quite different when you cook rice noodles.”

"But we won't pick them today. We'll pick some more when we slaughter the pig in a couple of days, and then we'll wrap them in roast meat to eat."

As soon as he said that, everyone's mouth watered.

Looking at the colorful vegetables covering the ground and then at the soon-to-be-bursting sunlight, everyone thought: Why don't we go back and eat something first!
But my stomach was indeed filled with some snacks from this morning, so wouldn't I be unable to eat much now?
Just as I was pondering this, I heard a familiar, loud voice from the vegetable garden ahead, calling out cheerfully:
"Draw it! Draw it! Draw it on me!"

It was the sound of a spinning top.

There were even children cheering excitedly nearby: "Brother Qiaoqiao! You have to push harder!"

Everyone:...

Song Tan cleared his throat: "Don't worry, Qiao Qiao isn't the kind of person who hits children."

Moreover, the family's expressions were quite strange: "I know, but my son... is a very resilient kid..."

Following the sound, the group walked around the large vegetable field ahead and found He Tuoluo squatting on the ground, moving his little feet around in circles under a patch of lush green cowpea vines.

Qiaoqiao, Qin Beibei, and Yun Danqing each held a long cowpea in their hands.

The silly kid surrounded by everyone was still yelling, "Spinning top! Transform! Superspin!"

Sure enough, Beibei raised the old cowpea in her hand again and slapped it with a "smack".

The seeds of mature cowpeas are already mature, with a whitish and swollen outer skin. They are actually very light and soft, and do not have a solid weight when pulled up.

Even with light summer clothes, it doesn't hurt.

Besides, Beibei didn't have much strength at all.

But the spinning top seemed to have been truly whipped, emitting a "whoosh whoosh" sound as it spun, and quickly increased its spinning speed...

Then a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he collapsed to the ground.

When I came to my senses, I saw that the adults and children surrounding me all had very strange expressions on their faces.

Song Tan pursed her lips, tried to hold back, but finally couldn't help but laugh.

Moreover, his pale face clearly indicated that this wasn't the first time he had seen his son embarrass himself.

The mother, however, remained calm: "It's alright, keep spinning. A cowpea whip is better than a dog leash."

Go ahead and hit me, it won't hurt either adults or children.

This family was clearly numb from being overwhelmed by their energetic child. They glanced at him a couple more times, took out their phones to record a video, and then went to look at the vegetable garden next door.

Song Tan, however, cautioned, "Qiao Qiao, don't break the top."

Qiaoqiao said aggrievedly, "I'm tall, but when I flick him, he only spins three times... When Danqing flicks him, he spins two and a half times."

He Tuoluo had clearly gotten up again, and then squatted down:

"You've never done this before, your technique is wrong. You have to spin a top with force... I can feel it, you need to have the power to spin it..."

"Really?" Qiao Qiao had never smoked before and was now humbly asking for advice.

Everyone:...

Qin's mother was a little embarrassed: "The child doesn't know any better, he doesn't know his own strength..."

Mrs. He remained calm: "It's alright, he's tough. He even got a classmate to steal a dog leash from home to whip him when he was in kindergarten..."

Once, she even stuck a swivel wheel under her sandals, trying to actually make them spin. She fell, hurt herself, and cried loudly…

In short, the family said numbly, "Let him be, as long as we can exhaust his strength."

Yunfeng let out a soft sigh.

To be honest, he and his wife wanted to have a second child; a son and a daughter would be great, but...

Can't stand it!
How come boys and girls are completely different!

Song Tan took two steps and then turned back:
"Qiaoqiao, pick some more cowpeas later, we'll stir-fry some cowpeas for lunch."

"Okay." Qiaoqiao was studying the techniques of spinning tops with He Luo. At this moment, she probably felt that the whip was too short to perform well, so she specially picked out two very long whips and tied them together in a knot.

The remaining two girls seemed to have never eaten stir-fried cowpeas before; they were used to eating tender cowpeas, so they became interested as well.
"My whip is about to break, I need to get a new one."

"I want two!"

They chattered excitedly.

Then there was He Luo's voice: "I've lost a tooth, will the cowpeas get stuck in my teeth...?"

Lu Chuan remained silent for a moment, then politely concluded, "Kids... are really energetic."

Moreover, he sighed, his shoulders slumping: "Chuan'er, it's good that you have a big place here—if the children don't have anything else to play with tomorrow, could you arrange for two dogs to come over? It would be nice to chase them around every now and then."

These energetic new kids are impossible for these useless adults to handle.

Lu Chuan:......

"Let's take them boating tomorrow. I'll go buy some small paddleboards this afternoon, as well as life jackets, swimming rings, and stuff like that... Sister-in-law, if the children's gloves haven't been shipped yet, we can return them and I'll go buy them together."

Driving to the city center is obviously much easier than dealing with this kid.

Moreover, he breathed a huge sigh of relief: his son was a super kid who could spend a whole day at the water park and still come home bouncing around!

Without hesitation, he said, "Buy the swimsuits and trunks too, let's go together!" (End of Chapter)