Song Tan's Notes

Seeing that Li Lanhua seemed hesitant to speak, Aunt Zhang Hong, impatient with the questioning, said:
"Serving snacks and fruit is actually a great opportunity to show off, and you don't even know how to cherish it. Look at Song Tan's cousin, he's her own cousin! Doesn't he still take care of serving tea and soup?"

Now it was Li Lanhua's turn to remain silent.

That's true.

Logically speaking, the Song family paid for the event and provided the venue, going to great lengths to organize such a matchmaking event. How could they not take care of their own relatives?

Is there really something to this story?

She couldn't understand it, but seeing that Zhang Hong had already nimbly walked into the crowd, she didn't want to look for her anymore, so she could only sit back down in the crowd with some secret hope.

...

Meanwhile, men and women gathered together to get to know each other, captivated by the rural scenery described by Aunt Zhang Hong!

Although it had rained for quite a while, it was still summer, with high temperatures and humidity, which was actually very suitable for plant growth.

Therefore, Aunt Zhang Hong has a lot to recommend.

"It's been raining a lot, so the vegetables in the fields aren't growing very well, but some are doing alright. Be careful not to step in the mud when you walk on the ridges. Do you need plastic bags? You can put them on your shoes. I think you girls over there like to take pictures, so you can take some too."

Everyone looked in the direction she was pointing.

There aren't that many vegetables planted in the fields, because the fields haven't been cultivated for many years, and it's not so easy to start them up again.

In addition, the Song family was also busy before, and everyone earned short-term wages, which was much more efficient than growing vegetables.

Even so, looking along the narrow, grassy ridges to both sides, you can see tender cucumbers with thorns; tiny, twisted loofahs, no bigger than a finger, still with withered flowers on them; and ripe bitter melons.

The bitter melon is nearly orange-red in color. Because some were not harvested in time, a few of them burst open directly on the ground, looking like a piece of banana peel.

There are also short cowpeas that were planted haphazardly and left unattended. They are now crawling around in the field along with the weeds. There are so many cowpeas that you can see them with the naked eye. You can pick them a few times and stir-fry them into a dish.

Several girls gathered around to take a look and gave their serious assessment:

"My mom said the food here is delicious, so I have to buy some before I leave."

“I heard it from my colleagues too.”

But this is just a tiny, insignificant part of the many scenic views.

Although there weren't many flowers on the mountain, the fruit was heavy and looked quite delightful.

Walk a little further in, and you'll get closer to the rocky slope, where it's lush and green, with large patches of wild chrysanthemums creeping and spreading across the slope.

Such a large area, even foxtail grass would be amazing, how can it not be considered a scenic view?
Take two more steps forward, and you'll see another vast expanse of sunflowers, varying in height.

The teddy bear is pale and delicate, like white moonlight, with fluffy petals layered upon layer, and the tall, unmissable Titan sunflower has a stem as thick as hardwood that you can't bend.

Looking up from below, it even has the feel of a magical forest.

The only pity is that the large swathes of rosehips that were growing rapidly along the way, clinging to the wire mesh, have long since missed their flowering season, leaving only some unripe, green fruits.

After all, the few that matured early had already been snapped up by Dr. Guo with quick hands.

But who can say that the countryside scenery, with its varying shades of green, isn't refreshing and delightful?

No one felt disappointed. Everyone just followed Aunt Zhang Hong's introduction and imagined the journey, and even waiting for the bus by the roadside didn't feel tiring.

Some even suggested, "Is the canteen on the mountain far? If it's not far, and there's no sun anyway, why don't we walk there?"

"How can that be possible!"

Aunt Zhang Hong noticed that while some people were wearing sneakers, others had dressed up formally and were wearing high heels.

Besides, the walk from this parking lot to the top of the mountain is a long, gentle slope, and you're bound to break a sweat climbing it.

Some people are very clean and feel uncomfortable. She has seriously studied and done her homework, so how could she be careless in such a place!

Even if we're going to sweat, it's easier to do things once we've gotten to know each other well.

Therefore, she earnestly said, "Let's conserve our energy so we can play the game with all our might and try to win a big prize. It won't be a wasted trip."

One of the girls laughed and said, "Auntie, isn't this a matchmaking event? We're not having a proper matchmaking event; we want to take prize money and food with us. Aren't you worried about us taking it?"

Damn!

Aunt Zhang Hong mentally clapped her hands: Finally, someone asked the right question!
"What's there to be upset about!" she raised her voice. "We're just saying, if other places organized an event like this, would you go?"

Of course they won't go. The company provides a buffet with fruit platters, but they still don't want to go.

"Isn't that it!" Aunt Zhang Hong said sincerely.
“We’ve only met once, and you’ve all come to support me. It’s made me look good in the village.”

"Our sponsors said that because of your trust, as long as you have the ability, you can take any bonus you want!"

Making a promise in a WeChat group carries a completely different level of trust compared to saying it in public.

Upon hearing this, everyone became excited.

There's no other reason than there are so many games this time!

Not only are there many prizes, but each one is divided into first, second, and third prizes. With so many of them, they could easily go through the entire process, and each person can win a maximum of three prizes!

What I'm saying is, take a day off on the weekend to go sightseeing, complete an hour or two of chatting tasks, and then try your best to win this prize money—

Even without a bonus, was this trip worthwhile?

Aunt Zhang Hong was also very happy.

She thought to herself that she would mention the increased bonus again when playing the game later, and everyone would love this rural aunt to death!
In short, amidst the hustle and bustle, at 10:30, the tour bus drove down the mountain.

The tour bus had been scrubbed until it shone, and the security guard driving it was dressed in his training uniform, looking neat and presentable.

Everyone chattered excitedly as they boarded the car, completely unaware that every surprise that followed was meticulously planned by Aunt Zhang Hong!
For example, halfway through the drive, a neat group of slightly dark-skinned security guards, all dressed in uniform, suddenly appeared on the mountainside, running in perfect unison along the roadside, brushing past the tour bus.

"Wow!"

The girls were surprised: The village security guards looked so professional! They were completely different from the old man who guarded the gate at their workplace and their pot-bellied colleagues in the security department.

The men complained: "If you're going to train, why are your clothes so tight? With sweat seeping through, you can clearly see the fat on your stomachs."

Although they were just running normally, not smiling, and their eyes didn't wander, this was work in the village.

He couldn't believe that a security guard could have such neat and tidy hair that fits so perfectly against his face!

The few male colleagues, who were the only ones present, patted their soft bellies, looking extremely resentful:
Why are rural matchmaking events resorting to this kind of subtle comparison and belittling?! (End of Chapter)