CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: SO BITTER

Director Qian was crazily tempted, but Director Qian refused.

He stubbornly said, "These are the game rules." Boohoo, he also wants to fly, who hasn’t had a martial arts dream?

Tuanzi was unwilling to give up and spread her little hands to mimic the flying action.

"Really, it’s super fun, everyone who’s tried it says it’s great."

Aside from deliberately scaring Zhou Jun those two times, all other flying experiences received great feedback.

Director Qian shook his head, "After repeated simulations, as long as you use it wisely, 60 is sufficient."

"Not enough, not enough, Miaomiao eats a lot."

Seeing that flying had no allure, Tuanzi switched to being charming, her big eyes shimmering.

"Director Uncle, you’re so nice, you are a good person."

[Agree with her! Hurry up and agree with her!]

[Sweetheart, I’ll give you money]

[60 might be enough, but if you buy prepared lunch, you won’t be able to eat well]

Director Qian still refused, "These are the game rules." But if you’re willing to give me two flying experiences, it’s not impossible to consider.

Tuanzi looked expectant, and Director Qian was actually hoping Tuanzi would continue to persist.

"Alright then."

Tuanzi, dejected, dragged her heavy steps back to the children’s group.

The sight of her back made anyone sad, anyone condemning Director Qian.

Director Qian: "..." Wait, won’t you ask me again? One flying experience is actually okay!

Finding that the production staff wouldn’t add more money, the parents had to call the children over to start discussing how to buy.

Tang Tian often cooked at home and had some knowledge of the prices of groceries at the nearby supermarket.

"Hope things are cheaper around here."

Ye Feng, who had eaten cornbread last season, had already detected the show’s sinister intentions.

"To save money on ingredients, everyone might have to eat steamed buns for lunch."

The most filling and cheap options are steamed buns and stuffed buns, with stuffed buns possibly being pricier.

Su Chaomu pouted and held Su Hanjiang’s hand, "But I want beef noodles."

Su Hanjiang flatly refused, "That’s impossible, even if I don’t know much about these, a bowl of beef noodles must be over 10 yuan, we have ten people with only sixty yuan."

Su Chaomu took a step back, "What about plain noodles?"

Su Hanjiang deduced from the price of beef noodles that plain noodles might cost four or five yuan, too expensive.

Afraid his son would ask for more, he added, "Small buns, steamed dumplings, shao mai, we can’t afford them, let alone order a few dishes at a restaurant."

yuan for one family might still be possible, but five families together with 60 yuan, better drink plain water and eat steamed buns.

Su Chaomu’s eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Life is so bitter, my life is so bitter!"

Su Hanjiang tugged at the corner of his lips, "Which TV show did you learn that from again?"

Su Chaomu complained and reported a TV show name.

Tuanzi also felt her life was bitter.

Touching her belly, she pitifully said, "You’re going to suffer today."

Even the least concerned Ye Chen was affected by their emotions and felt sad.

For a while, the atmosphere was bleak, those who heard were sad and those who saw shed tears.

Quite a few staff members looked gloomily at the director and planners.

Why make things difficult for the parents and even more for the children?

Tang Tian tried to bring everyone’s attention back.

"Let’s first choose the ingredients for dinner. We need to pick those that are cheap, delicious, and easy for everyone to cook. If tomatoes are less than 3 yuan, buy two pounds. Eggplants under 2.5 yuan, buy two pounds, cucumbers preferably under 2 yuan per pound..."

He listed a few vegetable names, estimating to spend about 30 yuan to get six types of vegetables, totaling twelve pounds, enough to stir-fry six large plates to feed five groups of guests.

"Then we can buy ten eggs, tomato scrambled eggs, cucumber scrambled eggs, both are meat dishes, right?"

Ten people, ten eggs might not even be enough.

A bunch of kids looked at him with tearful eyes.

Tang Tian rubbed his nose, "Also, we need to buy rice."

"Maybe we can borrow rice from the villagers."

Gu Che suddenly proposed, "Help with chores to earn rice."

Tuanzi had a brainstorm, "We can also do chores to earn vegetables, saving money to buy meat."

All the children agreed, they were willing to work if it meant they could buy meat.

Such a great idea was mercilessly rejected by Director Qian.

Ten people: Death stare.jpg

Director Qian guiltily said, "This is a test of whether the children can successfully execute the parents’ plan, resist temptation, communicate with strangers, and also whether they can..."

Gu Che couldn’t listen anymore.

"Let’s just do it this way."

He agreed with Tang Tian’s plan.

Aim to buy six types of vegetables, totaling 12 pounds, spend 30 yuan, then buy 10 eggs and a bit of rice. If vegetables are cheap, save a bit of money to buy more steamed buns.

However, none of them had been to the local market, so it was hard to determine the prices there.

Once the children got on the bus and left, Tang Tian still worriedly said, "They probably sell native eggs here, likely not just 1 yuan each, scared we can’t get ten."

"No problem," Ye Feng replied, "I told my son, if eggs are too expensive, we might as well buy 10 yuan worth of pork and add a few slices to each vegetable dish, it’s still a meat dish."

Tang Tian: "That’s quite the restaurant-style approach."

On the program group’s dedicated bus.

The oldest, Ye Chen, comforted everyone, trying to lift their spirits, and then turned the conversation, "Whatever delicious we encounter, we must not give in, all your dads, brothers, and sisters are waiting at home."

Tuanzi and a few others reluctantly made their promise.

Getting off the bus, they followed the staff to the market.

Right at the entrance, there was a stall selling scallion omelet pancakes.

The aroma wafted over, holding them back from moving forward.

The already very hungry children looked earnestly.

Ye Chen spread his hands, "Don’t look, if you don’t look, you won’t be tempted!"

They could only keep walking.

There were many vegetable stalls, but they ignored them, occasionally drawn by pan-fried buns, soup dumplings, mixed tofu skin, stir-fried noodles and rice...

[Even I am tempted, forget the children]

[So hungry, ordered pan-fried buns for delivery, and asked for a cup of green bean soup.]

[Whoever came up with this idea, you must be ruthless!]

Tuanzi’s steps grew heavier, her two ponytails drooping.

"So hungry," she whispered very softly.

[Ancient Martial System: Endure, buy quickly and leave, then you won’t be tempted]

[Miaomiao: If the show doesn’t give money, can Miaomiao earn it herself?]

[Ancient Martial System: What are you going to do?]

Of course, street performance!

Previously, when Tuanzi followed her master down the Mountain, when they were short on money, the master would help passing households with their troubles to earn money. Occasionally entering the city, she’d see people performing, and everyone would give out copper coins as rewards.

The more she thought, the more feasible it seemed, so she called over some of the kids who were too hungry to move.

"Actually, we can do it this way..."

She whispered for a while.

Ye Chen hadn’t seen Tuanzi perform, so he was a bit skeptical.

But since the other three kids vouched for Tuanzi, Ye Chen agreed.

Tuanzi smiled at the still skeptical Ye Chen, "Then you’ll be the first to fly later."