Come and Eat, Shan Shan-Chapter 24
Chapter 24
(translated by peanuts and edited by lidge) š³ššešešš£ššÆšš”.šą«¦ļ½
āThe members of our family, each of them is also very picky with food ah. I am considered the least picky. This farm was set up by my grandfather. He disliked the current overuse of chemicals on plants making them unsafe for consumption so he decided to get a piece of land and find some people to farm it.ā
After breakfast, they rest for a while to wait for Yan Qing to arrive before making their way to the farm. Miss Feng drags Shan Shan to go in a separate car, saying she wants to say something private to her.
While she is driving, she smilingly explains to Shan Shan the history of the Fengās family farm. āWhen grandpa was still alive, he used to always say, with this farm our family will have a grasp on āland, agriculture, industry and commerce,ā all four pillars of the economy.ā
Shan Shan curiously expresses her surprise. She can see that the family is involved in agriculture, commerce and industry but what about land?
Miss Feng see her doubts and takes the initiative to explain: āOur family ancestors have been scholars all along. During the Ming Dynasty, they even managed to successively take up official posts. Then during the Qing Dynasty, they only changed to doing business.ā (Note: The Feng family began as scholars. In the Ming dynasty, family members became imperial officials who owned land. This is when the Feng family began their rise in wealth and power. Thus, the emphasis on ālandā by grandfather Feng.)
While Shan Shan is listening, she has a blank look. At first, she is under the impression that Bossās family is just rich only, but she did not expect they have such a long history. Her train of thoughts drifts for awhile, then Shan Shan suddenly remembers something.
āUh, Ah Yue, thereās something I want to tell you. The person who gave you a blood transfusion the second time was not me. She is another Feng Tengās employee.ā
Shan Shan proceeds to explain the misunderstanding which happened at the companyās annual party. Miss Feng is somewhat surprised, thinks for a moment, then says: āAiya, my brother didnāt exactly lie to me because when I asked if it was you. He did not answer me so I just took it for granted, thinking it was you la.ā
She is a little angry, āHe is probably afraid Iāll send food to other people.ā While speaking, she glances at Shan Shan with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, āOh, it seems that not just anybody can eat my familyās food.ā
Shan Shan feels a sense of relief after explaining everything clearly. She canāt be bother to ponder over Bossās motive since she canāt see through it. Thus, Shan Shan pretends not to hear Miss Fengās quip, and she asks with concern: āDidnāt you just had a blood transfusion recently, are you okay to drive?ā
āIt is nothing, just a false alarm la. Anyway, the farm is very near, less than half an hour drive only.ā
Indeed, they did not drive long, Miss Feng already says: āWe have arrived.ā
Shan Shan looks out the window and sees a forest. After driving for a short period of time, she can see the farmland and pond. At the roadside, there are several blocks of double-story buildings. In front of those buildings, there are several people already waiting on a piece of empty land.
Feng Yue is surprised and says: āHow come Li Shu is also here?ā
After getting out of the car, a slim, tall and pretty girl with short hair approaches and smilingly says, āAh Yue.ā
Feng Yue says: āLi Shu, how come you are also here?ā
Yuan Li Shu smilingly says: āAh Yue, as you know, every year, the vegetables for my familyās Lunar New Year Eveās dinner are from your familyās farm so how come this year you are not willing to provide?ā
Feng Yue replies: āI am only asking, nothing more. In the previous years, didnāt they get sent to your home, how come they didnāt get sent this year?ā
This Feng familyās farm, beside supplying the Feng family with vegetables daily, during the Lunar New Year will also give some products to friends and relatives.
Li Shu smilingly says: āYou would not let me finish eating, then come again ah? If you are not willing, Iāll have to ask from your big brother.ā
She has already spotted Feng Teng, who is getting out of his car behind her, and gracefully says: āBrother Feng, long time no see.ā
Feng Teng nods his head, āLi Shu.ā
Shan Shan, who is standing aside, for once is sharp enough to realise: Wah, she is actually Big Bossās admirer!
Yuan Li Shu is clearly a smooth talker as she is able to flatter Feng Teng without being obvious about it, talking about investments in the West and the like. She even manages to get a faint smile from people like Feng Teng, who is hard to please and rarely smile.
While listening, Xue Shan Shan reviews her behavior. See lah, see lah, this is truly an expert ah with an ability to sweet talk Big Boss and make him happy. In comparison, she is simply too straightforward.
Feng Yue, who is standing besides her, sees that Shan Shan looks like she is in a trance so she thinks that Shan Shan is unhappy. Since she knows brother has no interest in Li Shu, she definitely needs to explain this to Xue Shan Shan. She softly tells Xue Shan Shan: āLi Shu is the granddaughter of Grandma Li who is grandmotherās faithful servant. She spent almost her whole life in my house until my grandmother passed away, then she went to live with her son. Li Shu and us grew up together in the old house. Big brother treats her like a sister.ā
Of course, her focus is on the last sentence, but she is unsure if Shan Shan understands or not. Then she smilingly says to Li Shu and Feng Teng: āHave both of you finished reminiscing? If you continue talking, the sky will get dark.ā
Yuan Li Shu complains: āAh Yue, you are really too much. I rarely have the opportunity to consult big brother Feng.ā
While talking, she sees the fishing rod in Feng Tengās hand, is surprised and says: āBig brother Feng, are you fishing today? Iāve wanted to learn for a long time. Last time, I was not able to go to the sea to fish so do you mind teaching me today?ā
Feng Yue sighs and knows her friend will not turn back if she doesnāt hit the brick wall. She has been interested in Feng Teng for a long time, but she used to feel her family background is just too ordinary so she does not dare to express her love for him. Now, she has probably heard about Xue Shan Shan, who has an ordinary family background, yet she is able to climb higher. Naturally, she is dissatisfied, unprecedentedly taking a more proactive attitude.
Seeing that Feng Teng has already nodded his head, Feng Yue once again has a new train of thought since big brother has never been someone who procrastinates. Previously, Li Shu hid her feelings and did not say anything so there is no way to reject her. Now, she seems more direct so might as well take this opportunity to let big brother make himself clear, lest she wastes her time.
Thus, she no longer tries to obstruct her, instead says to Xue Shan Shan: āShan Shan, letās go and pick vegetables.ā
Although it is said to personally pick vegetables, of course Miss Feng is not willing to really go to the farm. She will just go and choose some from those vegetables already picked by others.
Feng Teng says: āIt is okay that you are slack, but do not lead her astray.ā Then he says to Xue Shan Shan who has been standing like a log for a long time at the side: āXue Shan Shan, come over here.ā
After saying that, he and Yan Qing, holding the fishing rods, walk to the direction of the pond. Shan Shan glances at Feng Yue, and she says: āOkay, we will go together.ā
Yuan Li Shu, who is walking behind the two men, seems to have noticed the presence of Shan Shan so smilingly says: āHi, may I know your name?ā
Shan Shan politely says: āHello! My name is Xue Shan Shanā
Li Shu also smiles and politely says: āI am Li Shu.ā
She didnāt mention her surname to indicate her special and close relationship with the Feng family, then smilingly says: āMiss Xue, are you here like me to pick some vegetables?ā
Xue Shan Shan says: āNo, I followed them here for a visit.ā
Yuan Li Shu asks: āMay I know what is Miss Xueās occupation?ā
āI work in the finance field.ā
āIn Feng Teng?ā
āYes.ā
Yuan Li Shu starts to smile, āThen, we can be considered in the same field, but I am not as fortunate as you to work under big brother Feng.ā
Feng Yue interrupts and says: āLi Shu is engaged in financial investments. In addition, she is also my personal financial consultant.ā
Yuan Li Shu says: āAh Yue, you are making fun of me, what personal financial consultant? It is just that you are too lazy to manage it so I am helping you out.ā
She continues to chat with Feng Yue about some of the latest investments and current market conditions for awhile. Then she turns around and asks Xue Shan Shan: āMiss Xue, what is your opinion on the current market condition?ā
Actually, Shan Shan did not pay much attention to what they were talking about, but it is definitely related to investment. She looks at the shadows of Feng Teng and Yan Qing in front of her, knowing they must be able to hear their conversation quite clearly. Miss Li Shu, if you want to show off, just show off lah, why involves me also.
Shan Shan shakes her head and says: āIn fact, there is quite a big difference between finance and financial investment. It is good enough that I am able to survive as I donāt have any spare cash so I donāt pay much attention to investment. Otherwise, it is rather difficult to bear a head full of ideas but unable to achieve them. Maybe I will end up taking a risk out of desperation and stake all on one throw by embezzling money.ā
Yuan Li Shu is unhappy. What did she mean by āa head full of ideas but unable to achieve themā, is Xue Shan Shan mocking her? āStake all on one throwā is exactly what she is doing right now. She has underestimated her.
Feng Yue looks closely at Shan Shan and she looks all innocent, earnestly trying to explain herself. Thus, she feels that this is a case where the listener is taking a casual remark to heart.
At this time, Feng Teng, who is in the midst of a conversation with Yan Qing, smiles and turns around. Then he changes his expression to a high and mighty one, āXue Shan Shan, you dare to mention embezzlement in front of me?ā
Shan Shan is scared and quickly shakes her head, āDonāt have, donāt have, Iām just using it as an analogy. President, I am innocent ar!ā
Feng Yue shakes her head silently. Big brother, you are really evil, Shan Shan, you are really very easy to āeatā and Li Shu ā¦ā¦ you really have no chance.
While talking, the whole group has arrived at the fishing pond. Feng Teng puts down his fishing rod and asks Xue Shan Shan: āDo you know how to fish?ā
Shan Shan shakes her head, āI donāt know.ā
Hearing the way Feng Teng asked, everyone also thought he is going to teach Xue Shan Shan. Yuan Li Shuās face becomes stiff. Surprisingly, Feng Teng only nods his head, then points at the vegetable garden besides the pond and says: āThen you go pick radishes.ā
Shan Shan is thunderstruck.