Song Tan's Notes

After that delicious and unforgettable roast duck, the fine, misty rain continued for two more days.

Ulan, who was always restless, was practically covered in hair, so a group of friends and acquaintances decided to go play mahjong.

Teacher Tang was puzzled: "Your room with the fire in winter is so spacious, and I see you even have a mahjong machine. Why don't you play at home?"

She also wants to learn how to play the local mahjong game.

It's more comfortable at Lao Song's house. Going to other houses inevitably means being a spectator and having to chat. Many people speak with heavy dialects, which the old lady finds difficult to understand, so she's too lazy to think.

Ulan, unaware of Teacher Tang's subtext, said with considerable experience, "That can't be done at home, otherwise the tea and snacks will never be enough."

Where there are people playing cards, there are people watching. A cup of tea is standard for everyone, along with some fruits and snacks. You can easily spend tens of thousands of yuan on food in one afternoon.

Unlike now, when you can freely go to other places.
"Moreover, it seems that some people in the village want to do this business of taking a cut from card games. The cut is not much, just enough for snacks and tea."

She invited people to her home; isn't that cutting off their livelihood?
Professor Song was aware of his wife's restless desire, and said to her, "If you're bored, go play over at the factory. The young people there play cards and games, like Werewolf. Yanran and the others say they're really good at it."

Moreover, most of the employees we hired speak Mandarin, so there are no communication barriers. Since everyone is from out of town, we feel more at ease.

That makes sense!

That's right...

She looked at Song Tan: "Your employees are playing cards, and you're not going to do anything about it?"

Song Tan sighed helplessly, "If we can't play cards, then what?"

There weren't many places for entertainment in the village to begin with, and since they'd been staying there for a while and had nothing to spend money on, they started betting small stakes on cards.

You might spend an entire afternoon working hard and only earn thirty or fifty yuan, which isn't as exciting as earning Happy Beans.

On a wet, rainy day, let's just turn a blind eye to these kinds of fragmented entertainment activities.

Upon hearing this, Grandma Tang turned around and went to exchange 100 yuan in cash with Wulan, then went up the mountain with great ambition.

And what about the mountain?

Some were playing cards, some were playing games, and some were even watching TV dramas. When they saw Teacher Tang talking to Yun Duo, some people immediately came over:
"Cloud Assistant! Cloud Assistant!"

"What is it?" Yun Duo turned her head.

She's going to drive to town to pick up a batch of packages and also help Aunt Zhang Hong set up the factory; there are quite a few things to do.

An employee who came over grinned and said, "Our cafeteria is quite spacious, and the air conditioning is always on. It's practically become an activity center now, isn't it?"

That is indeed true.

The cloud nodded.

With so many people crammed into the dorm, there's no place for them to have fun, which is really inappropriate.

Since the cafeteria is so large, it's inconvenient to frequently turn the air conditioning on and off, so we just leave it on all the time. It's such a spacious and comfortable activity center!

In winter, there was a stove in each of the two corners.

Putting everything else aside, when cleaning every day, the tables, chairs, and benches are neatly arranged, and there's plenty of open space.

There was a table in the corner where people were playing cards, and another table where they were playing mahjong; they seemed quite relaxed there.

According to Song Tan, having all entertainment activities under everyone's watchful eyes actually makes them more controllable. Otherwise, if someone gets addicted to cards and the amount of money involved keeps increasing, that would be a real problem.

These thoughts flashed through Yun Duo's mind, and she patiently followed up by asking, "Just tell me what's on your mind. I'm going to town later, is there anything I need to take with me?"

The employees chuckled and said, "Um... we just wanted to ask if the boss could buy a bigger TV to put here?"

Watching TV series and movies is more fun with more people.

Huh?
This was something Yun Duo hadn't thought of. He knew that when he went to restaurants, there were often TVs in the lobby.

"Okay!" she said decisively. "I'll go ask in a bit."

Everyone was overjoyed: "Great, great, thank you so much! We've been watching Korean dramas lately and wanted to cast the screen together so we could watch and comment on them together."

The clouds were extremely envious.

Since starting her job, she has been studying, taking notes, and keeping work records until after 9 p.m. every night. Thinking about the delicious breakfast, she can't stay up any longer.

Looking back now, watching TV seems like something from a past life.

However, people like Sister Self-Study and Brother Gastric Surgery have all gained considerable experience in society and acquired skills that allow them to be as relaxed as they are now.

On the contrary, she knew nothing and wanted to take this opportunity to learn more in multiple fields.

For example, she didn't even think about this television set because she didn't need it.

She hadn't even noticed that there were card tables set up in the cafeteria; that was really inappropriate.

Sure enough, when he went down the mountain and told Song Tan, she immediately agreed.

"Let's not just have one. Our cafeteria is big, so we can put one on each side. Just order two 100-inch ones. Ask about the accessories and everything else, and our security team will have someone who can install them."

She really has neglected the development of entertainment culture!

Although a sports area has been built at the village office, where you can play basketball, table tennis, badminton, and the like, it's raining now, so activities that don't require leaving the house are still more popular.

Moreover, once employees are at work, they may prefer recreational activities that don't require physical exertion.

"How about this, you do your research and see what kind of large equipment is suitable for showing movies. I'll donate it to the square in the village office, and we can organize everyone to watch movies together later."

Yun Duo nodded decisively: "Okay!"

She verbally agreed, first writing it down in her memo, and then planned to do her research online to buy a TV, while also responding to Aunt Zhang Hong's delivery instructions via WeChat...

Looking at her spinning like a top, Song Tan suddenly felt fortunate again:

It's so nice to have employees help with the work!

No wonder those big bosses always seem so energetic; it turns out that small decisions like buying things don't drain them at all.

But Yun Duo's busy work is clearly not over yet.

After some conversation, she got out of the car after already getting in: "Boss, Aunt Zhang Hong asked if eligible men and women who came that day could take two melons with them when they left?"

Song Tan was taken aback: "Yes, we'll provide transportation for those without a car, and we'll give you an extra melon if you do have one."

Yun Duo laughed: "Aunt Zhang Hong said that she attended a matchmaking event the other day and added a lot of girls on WeChat. This time she created a group chat and wanted to invite them to come and have some fun too."

"I didn't mean to force you to be in a relationship. It's just that having more opportunities and options is good, right? What if something happens?"

Song Tan: "...Aunt Zhang Hong is really something."

To infiltrate their ranks and gain their trust so much that they are even willing to sacrifice their precious time and energy to make this trip to the countryside.

She admitted that her melons were delicious, but many people here probably couldn't even imagine how delicious they were.

It's all because of Aunt Zhang Hong's charm.

What else is there to say? The other party is so dedicated, Song Tan immediately decided: "I'll ask Seventh Cousin if we can make some snacks for everyone to eat."

……

But this request really gave Seventh Uncle pause for a moment. "None of the foods we usually eat and like are suitable."

Eating fried soybeans makes you fart more. It's like someone's extending a little emotional reach here, and you just pfft it here—how unpleasant!

The rice stalks dried out, and their lips were prone to cracking.

Especially their rice stalks, they just can't stop eating them, and Old Song's skin has been broken countless times.

Finally, there's fried rice—

After eating this, how can you objectively evaluate the food in their cafeteria?
Song Tan: "..." Oh right.

They're organizing a matchmaking event for their employees, so they can't be running a food and drink scam. Let Chef Jiang handle the food and drinks arrangements.

After all, he's a seasoned hotel chef; he should have a wealth of experience in this area.

Fortunately, she dismissed the idea, because when she went to tell Master Jiang, he was already prepared.

Aunt Zhang Hong repeatedly instructed, "That day, please tell your family to help cover for the security guard."

"I'll arrange their training and stuff then, it'll be really impressive if everyone's there."

"The tea and white fungus soup that the cafeteria usually provides can continue to be provided, but don't provide any other good food. Otherwise, everyone will be too busy eating to remember to chat."

"As for the melons and such that they gave me when I left..."

Aunt Zhang hesitated: "Could we ask them to go to the field to pick fruit in pairs while they're chatting?"

There were only two melons, and they would have fallen off with a snap, but Aunt Zhang Hong didn't even let go of that small opportunity. No wonder she succeeds so easily!
Skill!

It's all about skill!

I also overheard her ask, "Where did you buy this wire fence? It looks really good quality, was it expensive?"

Then, before Song Tan could ask, he started rambling on: "I've been thinking that since our village has such good soil and water, we can't waste the water from this mountain pool. We need to harvest more soybeans in the village next year."

But people can make a lot of money growing vegetables. The problem is that people are not willing to grow more, and then there will be a shortage of soybeans. The quality will be inconsistent. What will happen then?

So she made a quick decision: "My daughter is planning to have a second child. She's busy with the beans day and night, it's too exhausting. Luckily, her son-in-law is here to help, so the two of them can take care of that hillside at the edge of the village."

"We'll also fence it off then."

“I made an appointment with Master Sun before, and he will come to help me prepare that piece of land after the rain stops and the soil dries.”

Speaking of this, she couldn't help but feel proud: "Last year, Master Sun cleared that piece of land on Shitoupo. It was so neat and meticulous. I saw how good his work was. Everyone in the village saw it. Next year, a lot of people will be planting vegetables and beans, clearing land and opening up mountains! If we don't get started early, I don't know how many numbers I'll be in line."

This familiar high efficiency.

Song Tan blinked, unable to contain her curiosity: "It seems like my Uncle Mao Zhu's family also..."

Haha!

Aunt Zhang Hong became smug: "They're so slow, Zhou Shunshui was telling me yesterday that Zhou Maozhu's family is number 10 or 15 in Master Sun's book."

How many people in their village are actually farming?

Song Tan was speechless.

She even reminded her, but Li Lanhua said she would go home and discuss it, and that discussion went on until the very end.

It's clear that some people are just not destined for good fortune.

……

Absolutely!
Li Lanhua was also sulking at home.

Song Tan had long ago reminded her to make plans, but when she talked to her family, Zhou Maozhu hesitated and said: Wouldn't it be more profitable to grow vegetables on the mountain?

Zhou Tianyu said that growing soybeans does not maximize economic benefits, so it is still necessary to grow more vegetables.

Plant vegetables, plant vegetables, plant vegetables!

Li Lanhua finally snapped: "You're all all talk and no action, but you're good at making arrangements!"

“Tianyu, you haven’t even packed your luggage yet. Aren’t you planning to keep working in Beicheng? It’s just me and your dad at home. He spends most of the year busy making tea. Who’s going to lend me a hand?”

With so many kinds of vegetables, we plant this one today and that one tomorrow; we fertilize one today and remove pests from the other tomorrow.

"That hillside is so big, I can't even keep up with the weeding, and there are so many kinds of vegetables growing there..."

Don't they realize that while their family has this plan, other families also have plans to expand production?

When summer comes, cowpeas, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and other vegetables will be harvested in abundance. Why would anyone insist on following her to the hillside to buy them?
Vegetables are all about being fresh in season.

If it doesn't sell within a day, it won't be fresh anymore. This stuff doesn't keep well either. Who can help me get rid of it?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and Li Lanhua's eyes instantly reddened: "You've ruined my fortune in this lifetime."

After hearing this, Old Zhou and his son fell silent.

After a while, Zhou Tianyu offered his advice:
"Mom, don't worry, we've all discussed this at home, haven't we? We haven't even planted them yet, why are you crying already? If we can't manage planting vegetables, then let's plant beans."

Speaking of beans, that brings up another sad story.

Li Lanhua was about to cry: "I asked around, and all 17 households in our village have booked Master Sun. When it's our turn, we don't know how far behind the others will be."

Zhou Tianyu felt slightly uneasy when he remembered that Sun Ziqiang was the one who married Tian Tian.

"There are so many excavators, why does it have to be him? We can find someone else, Mom. If you can't find him, I'll ask my friends."

"What do you know?"

Li Lanhua flatly refused:
“I don’t know about other excavator operators, but Master Sun has worked for Old Song’s family for so long, he knows exactly how the land on the mountain is done.”

In addition, the people are diligent and meticulous. On the Shitoupo area, they have piled up stones of all sizes neatly along the roadside.

If you find another master, they'll be very specific and skilled; would they be willing to do this job?
Don't they realize that there are plenty of excavator operators who can't find work these days? Why would their village rather wait in line and insist on waiting for Sun Ziqiang?

Everyone can see how well they do their work.

Zhou Tianyu felt even more awkward.

"But it's only August, and we can't plant beans now. Isn't that something for next year? Why rush it these next few days?"

Li Lanhua glanced at her son and didn't even want to talk to him anymore.

It's a good thing he grew up in the countryside; even if he's never eaten pork, he's certainly seen pigs run.
Before planting crops, who just digs a hole and buries some soil?

The hillsides on the mountain need to be cleared of vegetation, dug deep and shallow, and ridges and mounds need to be built. Otherwise, after a heavy rain, the mud and water will flow out, and all that work will be for nothing.

The Song family even held a special meeting with Yanran and his group to discuss how to clear the wasteland, conserve the soil, and strive to grow high-quality crops.

The document states that if the soil on the slope is not good, they also need to add well-rotted manure and bury base fertilizer.

If there's enough time, we should hurry up and plant another crop of fertile plants like milkvetch in the winter.

Although soybeans grow in fertile soil, who would complain that the soil is too fertile?

These are just the two of them; if they didn't plan ahead, how long would it take them to finish all these tasks? (End of Chapter)