Her Cultivation Diary
Chapter 599 - Chapter 599 599. Sweet Potato Cellar_1

Chapter 599: 599. Sweet Potato Cellar_1 Chapter 599: 599. Sweet Potato Cellar_1 Ah, Mom, such a useful thing, why didn’t I think of it before? Song Tan instantly grasped her arm in vexation: If only I had known about this earlier, imagine how much trouble I could have saved this year.

But no matter, it’s never too late to mend. I’ll buy it today. Just a shredder, and there are plenty of choices at the agricultural machinery shop in town!

However, before all this, Seventh Uncle had an instruction:

“Tantan, you’re strong; go tidy up your old cellar, and then head down to catch this jar of liquor.”

This old cellar naturally wasn’t specifically for storing liquor; it was a remnant from when the older generation had suffered through hunger and famines. Due to limited conditions at the time that prevented regular purchasing, every household had a cellar for storing grain.

When Song Tan was young, she still remembers that these cellars were mostly used for storing sweet potatoes. They weren’t located in the yard, but on the slope behind the house.

But contrary to what one might fantasize in the city, these cellars were cool and dry, yet they brought anything but a sense of joy and fullness for a child. Instead, they housed the wriggling millipedes…

Truly a full-blown shadow.

Song Tan cleared her throat: “Alright!”

Wu Lan was a bit surprised, “That sweet potato cellar hasn’t been used for over a decade. Uncle, you still remember it!”

Firstly, the family hadn’t grown that many sweet potatoes in years, and secondly, the entrance to the sweet potato cellar was quite small without a ladder or anything. It relied solely on ropes for access, suitable only for children or slimmer people.

So after she gave birth to Qiaoqiao and gradually gained weight, she hardly ever went down there, and it eventually fell into disuse.

Now that Seventh Uncle mentioned it, she was indeed quite surprised.

“Is there anything I don’t know? I was the one in charge when you and Sancheng got married! Besides, when your dad had people digging this cellar, I was also there cooking meals.”

Seventh Uncle sighed as he spoke.

Typically, when a household would dig a grain cellar, it would be the family’s own brothers lending a hand with the work. However, at the Song Family’s, when they were digging this cellar Sancheng wasn’t married yet, and Song Dafang was too young to go out, so there weren’t enough able-bodied workers in the family…

Back then, Youde had spent two pounds of fine flour and caught a couple of fish, then he came over to help cook two dishes, meanwhile keeping company…

Nobody thought about it when it wasn’t needed. But now, with such fine liquor, Seventh Uncle could recall that old sweet potato cellar from memory. Even if it didn’t exist, he’d have had one dug on the spot!

In any case, no one would dare waste this fine liquor.

…

With all these concerns, Song Sancheng was worrying about the sweet potato cellar which hadn’t been used for years, unsure of its current state.

He was also fretful about his driver’s license.

And at the same time, he couldn’t help but think how embarrassing it would be if Wu Lan passed the test and he didn’t! He wouldn’t be able to show his face…

Lost in his thoughts, he had forgotten about the full jar of sorghum and rice grain.

However, Song Tan regretfully said, “Ah, wrong timing. If Brother Yanping and the fishing crowd were still here, we could have sold this stuff on the spot for a neat sum.”

She spoke in a light-hearted manner, clearly just looking for a laugh, and Seventh Uncle laughed at her: “You’re always thinking about money.”

“Don’t worry about fishing bait for now, this jar contains some good stuff. You could save it to feed pigs, chickens, ducks, or even your fish.”

Song Tan laughed, “Let’s skip the fish.”

With the small fish just released into the pond greeted by strong liquor, they’d likely be dizzy, swimming around in a tipsy haze!

Everyone was enjoying the chat, when suddenly they heard someone shout from outside: “Sancheng, Sancheng!”

Song Sancheng responded and went out, only to see Zhou Maozhu entering the courtyard, looking somewhat embarrassed:

“Um, that… Do you and Song Tan have time tonight? Come over to my house for a meal.”

No way!

Song Sancheng’s first thought was to refuse.

Who would skip a banquet of Flat Peaches to eat plain noodles!

Although the analogy isn’t quite appropriate, that was indeed how he felt in his heart.

Moreover, everything was fine, so why would he need to invite him and Tantan for a meal?

Wow!

Song Sancheng became instantly alert, especially upon hearing that Maozhu’s son had returned–could it be that they wanted to set Tantan up with a date?

That was absolutely unacceptable!

Having heard Zhou Maozhu talk about his son giving gifts previously, Song Sancheng knew right away that the kid wasn’t too bright! No way they could accept him.

His mind was racing with thoughts, and at this moment, Zhou Maozhu was feeling extremely embarrassed.

Seeing this, Song Tan hurried over, “Uncle, is there something you need?”

Zhou Maozhu then gritted his teeth and said, “Tantan, you’re now capable and have seen a lot. I was thinking since my son seems a bit lost out there, if you could go and have a meal and give him some guidance… ”

“You tell me, whether one earns more or less, shouldn’t a person be down-to-earth, right? Tianyu earns a monthly salary of ten to twenty thousand, and he’s been working for two or three years, but when his mother and I ask him, he’s only got a handful of change–how can he live like this?”

“He doesn’t want to come back either. Just our old bones, no matter how much we squeeze we can’t put together the down payment. What to do? How can he not have a nest of his own?”

He rubbed his hands nervously, “I just thought, since you are about the same age, he might listen to you more.”

The hearts of parents in this world are truly pitiable!

Song Sancheng couldn’t help but recall what he and his wife had thought before Tantan had come back–

to have the child stay in the provincial capital, start a family there, and only return home for a day or two during the holidays.

Just the thought made their hearts sour beyond words!

Yet with Qiaoqiao’s situation, asking her to come back would only be a burden. So they endured the pain and instead encouraged Song Tan to stay in the provincial capital for her own good.

Even though life was gradually getting better, the hardships of so many years couldn’t just be erased with a few words.

Now seeing Zhou Maozhu’s troubled expression, he immediately empathized with him.

Looking at Song Tan, they saw her smile brightly, “Uncle, it’s not a big deal; just say the word, and it’s fine.”

“Ah, right, tell Aunt not to cook tonight. Come to our place for dinner. The wine we fermented just came out of the cellar this afternoon; come and have a couple of drinks with my dad.”

Inviting someone over for help, how could you go have a meal at their house? Besides, things at Song Tan’s place are so expensive…

Zhou Maozhu’s face turned beet red with embarrassment, and he refused repeatedly, but in the end, he couldn’t win against Song Sancheng and trudged back to call his family, looking back three times with each step.

As soon as he left, Song Sancheng’s face fell:

“We don’t have that much of our wine left…”

After sharing a bit here and there, now there were only a few dozen kilograms left.

“It’s okay, Dad,”

Song Tan consoled him: “We’ll plant more grains next year; by then, we’ll have plenty of good wine.”

Besides, that wine was strong enough; even if this whole group started drinking liberally, they probably wouldn’t use much.

After all, alcohol like that isn’t meant for daily consumption; drinking it in small amounts or not at all is best.

But Song Tan left that unsaid.

She only advised, “Once the tea leaves sprout later on, Uncle Zhou will still need to roast tea leaves for our family. Inviting someone for a meal isn’t worth much in comparison.”

Especially when his family has a young man who can work!

Being young and struggling in the big city is difficult; it’s better to come back home and help dig sweet potatoes!

It doesn’t matter if his head isn’t that good, you don’t need a brain to dig sweet potatoes anyway.