A Love Triangle

It would be best if someone could help grow vegetables, but Xu Han had the secret of her golden finger. She needed someone she could truly trust, and she had found that many villagers could not keep secrets. They always felt compelled to tell someone they trusted, thinking that person would not spread it around. Then that person would tell another trusted person, and within half a month, the whole village would know.

She should think it over some more.

Take it slow. There would always be a way when the cart reached the mountain.

With that thought, Xu Han's mood immediately brightened. Looking down, she found that her paper was covered with the words "Heh, men." She did not know whether to laugh or cry, and crumpled the paper before tossing it into the trash.

Just then, her WeChat chimed again. Xu Han slumped in her chair, reached for her phone, and opened it. It was Gu Yanqing again.

Gu Yanqing: I went to answer a call just now.

Gu Yanqing: Your idea is pretty good. I approve. Come over.

Xu Han: "..."

What was this? Could that cliché from CEO novels—"Woman, you have successfully caught my attention"—actually be happening?

Gu Yanqing: Besides, I'm curious what you taste like.

What I taste like? Haven't you already tasted me? Xu Han thought naughtily, a blush already creeping across her face. She closed WeChat and decided to ignore him.

A Love Triangle

In the blink of an eye, the Lunar New Year was approaching. Since many people had begun their holidays, Plum Blossom Mountain on West Mountain near their town—just below the Matchmaker Temple Tan Yue had mentioned last time—began drawing quite a few visitors from the city and even farther away. Though it was not large, it had gained a certain reputation.

The farmhouse restaurants' business suddenly boomed.

The most immediate result was that the farmhouse restaurant ordering vegetables from Xu Han abruptly increased its orders. Deliveries every three days had once been enough, but now she had to deliver every day, with each delivery filling a large bag.

"How do you grow your vegetables? Why are they so delicious?" Once the farmhouse restaurant owner got to know her, he realized she was quite nice. He had completely shed his original arrogant attitude, and now greeted Xu Han with a smile whenever he saw her.

Xu Han breathed into her hands and rubbed warmth back into her frozen fingers. "I just use farm manure, no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. If you grow them carefully, they turn out well."

The owner lowered his voice. "That might fool other people, but don't try to fool me. Did you buy those genetically modified seeds they've been talking about in the news? Is that why your vegetables grow so well?"

"How could that be?" Xu Han laughed at his wild imagination. "If you don't believe me, go buy a packet of vegetable seeds at the market someday and scatter them in my garden. I guarantee they'll grow vegetables just as delicious as the ones I deliver."

The owner waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. I was just saying. Anyway, you grow them well and I sell them well. I only wish you could grow vegetables that tasted like chicken."

"Boss Cai, now that your farmhouse restaurant business is doing so well, have you considered selling raw vegetables as well as cooked ones?"

"Heh, I'm not stupid. If I sell raw vegetables, then with cooked dishes priced so high, who would still come here to eat?"

Oh, so he knew his prices were high.

At that moment, one of the helpers brought out a cup of hot water and handed it to Xu Han. Smiling shyly, she said, "Sister Wanqing, have some water."

"Thank you." Xu Han had been riding for so long that she was freezing. Even a sip of hot water made her feel warm and comfortable inside and out.

Continuing from what the owner had said, she replied, "Not necessarily. Anyone who buys your vegetables must have eaten them and found them delicious first. You're actually making money twice over. And once your reputation improves, many people who do not come here to eat will come specifically to buy vegetables. While buying vegetables, they might even sit down for a meal. Businesses drive each other forward, right? Besides, my vegetables are delicious, so you can sell them at a higher price. Rare things are valuable, after all."

"Tsk, now that you put it that way, it does make sense. People like you who have gone to school really do have a better head for business. Bring me more tomorrow, and I'll try selling them."

Seeing that there was hope, Xu Han smiled softly. "Sure, but Boss, as I said, rare things are valuable. I'll be raising the price this time."

Boss Cai laughed. "I knew you weren't that kindhearted. Fine. I'll try it first, and if it works, we can discuss the price again."

Xu Han said she could wait, but that meant her electric scooter probably would not be enough for vegetable deliveries anymore. She would likely need a small three-wheeled cargo truck, and would probably have to hire one of the village's tricycle drivers to deliver for her.

After saying goodbye to Boss Cai, Xu Han rode home. When she passed through the market street, she spotted fresh duck blood and duck offal for sale. She stopped, intending to buy some to make duck blood vermicelli soup for dinner.

As she paid and waited for the vendor to prepare and bag everything, she suddenly heard a hesitant voice. "Wan... Wanqing?"

Huh? Xu Han looked up curiously and saw a woman around fifty carrying a somewhat worn canvas bag. The woman's eyes lit up when she saw her face. "It really is you! When did you come back?"

Xu Han searched through Qiao Wanqing's memories for a long while but found nothing about the woman in front of her. Slightly puzzled, she asked, "May I ask who you are...?"

The woman smoothed her hair, looking a little reserved. "I'm your second aunt, Zhong Xiumei. Do you remember me?"

Second Aunt?

Qiao Wanqing had gone away from home in high school and rarely returned, so she had not kept close contact with her relatives. Moreover, Qiao Wanqing's mother and Grandma Qiao had had considerable conflict as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. After Qiao Wanqing's mother passed away, the family had stopped associating with her maternal relatives.

Thus, Qiao Wanqing's memories of this second aunt were very faint. But after the reminder, Xu Han did remember her.

"So it's Second Aunt." Xu Han took the prepared duck offal and a box of duck blood from the vendor. She and her aunt stepped aside onto the curb, and Xu Han said politely, "I'm sorry, I really didn't recognize you right away. Please don't take it to heart, Second Aunt."

"Your parents passed away these past few years, and our families haven't kept in touch. It's perfectly normal that you don't remember me." Zhong Xiumei smiled. "Did you come back to see your family?"

Rankings

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Transmigrated into a Book

Sweet Romance

Sweetness Is Justice