Her Cultivation Diary
Chapter 988 - 968. Pulling up Radishes

Chapter 988: 968. Pulling up Radishes

When it comes to matters involving the villagers, Wu Lan is always eager to inquire. However, she chose the wrong timing—right during dinner—

In the past, most discussions at the dining table could lead to some fruitful outcomes.

But nowadays...

Just look at Lady Tang delicately picking up a piece of fish with her chopsticks before swiftly grabbing a chunk of fermented tofu... And only after all the dishes on the table were emptied did she slightly relax her posture.

—Disdain.

No wonder, really—those interviewers sitting at the table had such poor manners while eating... they gobbled down their food like ravenous wolves! The only reason there were any leftovers on the table was because everyone’s stomachs were still relatively small—it wasn’t that their eating pace had slowed.

As a result, the question Wu Lan had mulling around her mind quickly vanished as she chewed two bites of rice, her thoughts swallowing along with the grains down into her gut.

Song Tan couldn’t help but laugh: "Don’t rush it. When they’re walking around the yard to digest later, Mom, you can ask them then."

But in the end, they didn’t manage to ask anything anyway.

The reporter sighed and said instead, "I can’t share anything—it wouldn’t be appropriate to talk too much."

Wu Lan: ...

You couldn’t have said that while eating? Now I’ve been waiting with bated breath for nothing.

But since the other party didn’t outright refuse to talk, Wu Lan could only let it go for now. Instead, she placed two burlap sacks and two baskets onto the three-wheeled cart:

"Do you want to pick the cabbage and radishes yourselves?"

Pulling radishes!

Yu Yan and her assistant were full of enthusiasm: "We absolutely do!"

Wu Lan shouted, "Tantan, can you take them up the mountain?"

Song Tan responded with an "alright," then called out again: "Qiaoqiao, you take them up the mountain."

Qiaoqiao cheerfully agreed!

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Wu Lan shook her head helplessly: "The big lazy one orders the small lazy one..."

Song Tan didn’t mind: "Qiaoqiao enjoys doing these sorts of things."

He was enthusiastic about all outdoor activities, especially now that Da Wang had developed a strong fondness for radishes. Every day, he would go up the mountain to pull one out, and Song Tan pretended not to know anything about it!

On the other side, Qiaoqiao happily rallied everyone together and swiftly moved the baskets and sacks Wu Lan had originally placed onto the maroon three-wheeled cart over onto his smaller "Daduo."

Poor Daduo—though slightly smaller than the maroon cart—was now crowded with four people holding cameras, tripods, and equipment, the baskets occupying nearly half its space, leaving no room to stretch their legs.

When the cart started moving and the cold wind hit them, everyone reflexively covered their cheeks and foreheads—it was bone-chilling!

But upon reaching the mountain, their spirits were instantly lifted at the sight of an endless green vegetable field. Yu Yan, stepping into the slightly dry radish field in her boots, scrutinized the patch of green radishes before glancing at the red radishes in the distance—the dilemma was real:

"Which color radish is tastier?"

Qiaoqiao uttered an "ah," looking puzzled: "They’re all delicious!"

"The radish stew for lunch today used green radishes, and the pickled radishes you ate two of were made from red radishes. Whichever tasted better to you is the tastier one."

Yu Yan: ... The problem is, knowing they’re both delicious makes the decision even harder!

In the end, she opted for fairness: "Let’s split it—half green and half red radishes!"

But soon, her attention was caught by the large cabbages, small cabbages, black cabbages, yellow-heart greens, and lettuce plants in front of her... plunging her into another dilemma.

Finally, Qiaoqiao, the go-to problem solver, offered her advice: "Lettuce must be eaten fresh, and ours are large. Taking 8 heads could last your family for two meals."

"Small cabbages can go into the fridge’s single veggie-crisper compartment, keeping fresh for a week. If you eat four heads daily, then you need 20 heads—oh wait, does your fridge have space for them?"

"Do you want me to tape them together for you?"

Yu Yan initially wanted to say there was no need to tape them—she could just carry them in bags. But seeing Qiaoqiao effortlessly pulling out several heads and given how lush they looked...

She sighed at last: "Just tape them up."

"Alright." Qiaoqiao agreed cheerfully: "We’ll tape them later, when we’re back."

"After frost hits, black cabbage becomes especially sweet and flavorful. Add a bit of lard and tofu to stew—it’s all delicious. But each one’s quite large. Sister, let me pack 5 heads for you."

What does "after frost" mean for black cabbage? Isn’t it ready to eat once it grows big?

Yu Yan couldn’t understand, but seeing Qiaoqiao’s expectant gaze, she instinctively nodded her head.

"And then there’s the yellow-heart greens. Tender, yellow-heart greens are amazing for stewing! I love this one the most—should I give you 10 heads?"

Sure, sure! Yu Yan nodded repeatedly. If Qiaoqiao weren’t so efficient, she’d have wanted to manage it herself...

And next came the cabbages.

Qiaoqiao had an air of expertise: "Sister, are you planning to share all these veggies with others? Our family’s cabbages are great! Sister, when winter comes, tell your aunt, uncle, and cousins to take some home!"

"These ones keep really well. If you don’t finish them, you can make spicy pickled cabbage or fermented cabbage—whatever’s left over, pack it all in cabbages. Ours are firm, densely packed, and very heavy."

As he spoke, he skillfully hacked down a cabbage.

This cabbage, with its sprawling leaves—layer after layer—occupied considerable space.

After chopping it down, Qiaoqiao sliced along its base again, peeling off the outer, unsightly old leaves to reveal the tightly compressed hearts—a gleaming stalk with tender green leaves.

He handed over the clean cabbage, and Yu Yan received it with both hands, feeling its sudden weight sink into her arms.

She couldn’t help but ponder—this one cabbage was so heavy. Wouldn’t several dozen pounds only translate to just a handful of cabbages? Should she buy a few more?

While hesitating, the cameraman let out a loud exclamation: "Goodness! Twenty-one pounds... I’m really living large now, buying cabbages like this and actually eating them!"

Hiss!

Yu Yan drew in a sharp breath. Two thousand yuan spent on rice and vegetables—enough to feed her family for a month or two. She truly was being extravagant, daring to spend like this!

Meanwhile, after hacking down two cabbages, Qiaoqiao suddenly tilted his head in confusion, staring at the group:

"Weren’t you all coming to the mountain to pull radishes yourselves? Why am I the only one working now?"

If this remark had come from any adult farmer, it might have been met with some objections. But spoken by the earnest, innocent Qiaoqiao...

The group’s faces flushed red with embarrassment. They carefully stepped back into the radish field, pointing at the various sizes and shapes of radishes, judging their evenness in color distribution. Finally, they tentatively pulled at a radish, twisting a little before tugging it out—

Hey!

Yu Yan held the radish up happily: "This is actually pretty easy!"

"Of course!" Qiaoqiao glanced at her: "The soil in this radish patch is rougher, and the radishes are mostly exposed above the ground—it’s naturally easier to pull."

He watched Yu Yan jovially place the relatively mud-free radish into the basket, then curiously asked:

"Reporter, Sister, are you going to weigh them with the radish leaves or just the radishes?"

Huh?

Yu Yan froze.