CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: GOT PLAYED

The group originally planned to stroll around town for a while before heading back, but the production team had a car ready for them to return.

No one questioned it too much, probably thinking the production team had something planned, and they didn’t overthink it.

As they got in the car, Wang Sirui kept pestering them to talk about Qin Yun’s fishing incident.

Yang Leqi eagerly took on the role of the narrator.

When she got to the part about the two’s social blunder, Wang Sirui burst into laughter without holding back.

"This is just what I’m telling you, it’s not as vivid as seeing it. You didn’t see Brother Yao’s face at the time, looking utterly despondent and blank. You have to watch the show when it airs! It’s hilariously funny," Yang Leqi kept reminding.

"Hahaha... Watching it is a must! I already have a mental image," Wang Sirui said, unable to contain his laughter. He laughed so much that his stomach almost cramped, and he wiped the physiological tears at the corner of his eyes.

Qin Yun smiled lightly, watching them tease each other, feeling somewhat detached.

Chen Yao gave him a playful slap, "Tone it down a bit."

"I didn’t even get to witness such a classic moment, but luckily I wasn’t there, otherwise I’d have been added to the group of social blunders," Wang Sirui said while holding back laughter.

Chen Yao and Qin Hao glared at him, "..."

Seeing the atmosphere in the car just right, the director cheerfully said, "Since everyone is in such a good mood, and well-fed and watered, I now announce the next segment: vegetable picking."

The group: "..."

Couldn’t you see the perfectly good atmosphere? You just ruined it!

"Director! We completed our tasks early today, shouldn’t we get the afternoon off?" Yang Leqi complained with a hint of a playful whine.

"Did you forget you still owe over five hundred bucks? This afternoon, you pick vegetables, and tomorrow morning you go to the market to sell them," said the director with a triumphant look, as if he had a swishing tail that wasn’t a wolf’s tail but a fox’s tail.

The group was immediately speechless.

As expected, it was all part of the production team’s scheme!

Since they offered to lend them money, they had everything planned out.

On the way back, the cheerful atmosphere in the car dissipated. Now that the temp job was finally over, it wasn’t clear what would be tougher, as they were headed to the fields.

When they returned to the cabin, they took the necessary tools and got ready, and then set off to the place the director told them about.

"If it wasn’t for the work we have to do, the scenery here is really quite nice," Wang Sirui said, running the fastest and leading the way, admiring the green hills and clear waters, the birds singing, and the sweet scent of flowers.

Yang Leqi: "Once the show is over, you could stay behind."

"No way, even though I yearn for the pastoral life, I can’t leave my source of happiness, my shopping desires, all the lovely food and fun things. It’s too far from the city here, it’s hard to buy things, I guess I’ll pass."

Wang Sirui promptly shook his head, "I yearn for it, but having to chop wood for cooking every meal, living here all the time, not so much."

"That’s probably the common issue for urban folks: longing for a carefree, leisurely life where they can sip tea and tease birds, but when really free to that extent, many might not adapt. They’re used to the convenience of the city, buying whatever they want quickly, being close to big hospitals if sick, and having a social circle full of food, drinks, and entertainment. When suddenly rendered unnecessary, it seems meaningless," Chen Yao sighed.

"Why are you all being so sentimental suddenly? Isn’t this a matter of personal choice? Whatever you choose, there’s the corresponding price to pay," Qin Yun questioned, puzzled.

"Seems like it..." Everyone instantly saw things clearly with his light and breezy questioning.

"Ah— Sister Yun, I just adore you," Yang Leqi lunged, trying to hug Qin Yun, who deftly dodged.

"Don’t love me, there’s no point, unless you can support me," Qin Yun lifted her chin.

After all, she’s the last little Taotie on earth, many people like her, but few can afford to keep her.

"I’ll support you! I can afford it!", Yang Leqi said with confidence.

Even if she couldn’t afford it, her dad could!

"That might not be the case..." Qin Yun smiled mysteriously.

"Come on, let’s go, at this rate it’ll be dark soon," Wang Sirui interrupted the two as if they were ’privately settling down,’ urging them onward.

Yang Leqi gave him an annoyed look but didn’t continue the argument.

When they reached the director’s designated fields, there were quite a variety of crops, but they only brought three baskets.

Chen Yao organized, "Two people per team, okay? One male, one female pairing. When a basket is full, bring it back first. With so much, we might need to make two trips."

"I have no objections."

"Nor do I."

"No objections."

Once agreed, everyone rushed into the fields and began picking.

Wang Sirui found the silence unsettling and felt empty, so he started humming a tune.

"So, this is how cucumbers grow," Yang Leqi said in surprise, plucking one off, wiping it twice, and then popping it into her mouth. She widened her eyes, "It really is a cucumber."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yun also plucked one and took a bite. Hmm... juicy, with a strong cucumber flavor.

"City folk, they’re something else," Wang Sirui grumbled playfully.

"Wang Sirui! You can’t go a day without getting on my nerves, can you?" Yang Leqi protested, ready to hit him.

He dodged skillfully, still grinning, "Hey, you can’t catch me, hey."

The previously quiet field now felt more lively with their bickering.

Many hands made light work, and soon several plots were picked clean by them.

When a basket was full, they’d bring it back then continue, making several trips. In the end, there was just half a basket left, so Qin Yun and Yang Leqi didn’t slack off, carrying it together.

As the sky gradually darkened,

they neatly laid out the vegetables on the ground, ready to head to town in the morning for the market.

If they could sell all these vegetables, they should be able to pay off their debt or nearly so?

Looking at the heaping pile of vegetables, they felt a sense of satisfaction. Though they didn’t plant them, they had picked them all.

Dinner was made with the vegetables they picked, tasting much more fulfilling than store-bought ones.

After an exhausting day, they almost instantly fell into dreamland the moment they hit the bed.

However, early the next day, the familiar rhythmic song echoed through the whole cabin once again.

"Shandandan flowers are blooming red and bright~"

Faced with the irritating and catchy tune, everyone had no choice but to get up.

Compared to the first day, they quickly got into the groove, thinking of heading to town to sell vegetables today. Each of them got ready efficiently and headed out.