CH 55

Ch 55: Rejecting To Assist

Yin Chang approached the door and confirmed that it was Grandpa Liu's house. Grandpa Liu welcomed them into his backyard and asked the two boys to help him collect twenty eggs from the chicken coop.

The task sounded simple, but for city-raised kids like Yin Chang, it was a bit challenging. For instance, while Yin Chang knew that chickens laid eggs, he had never seen how they did it or where they usually laid their eggs. Thus, once inside the chicken coop, he was a bit disoriented.

On the other hand, Shao Junling appeared to know what he was doing. He quickly located twenty eggs inside a row of straw nests.

Yin Chang's only job was to hold the basket, and in less than five minutes, the basket was filled to the brim.

Grandpa Liu rewarded the boys with a food card and a new mission card. This new mission required them to deliver the twenty eggs undamaged to Grandpa Liu's sister's house, and the location hint on the card was "grass cart." Shao Junling studied the card for a bit and then led the way.

Because they had to ensure the eggs' integrity, they could not run as fast as before. Nevertheless, Shao Junling led the group and quickly found the house where the grass cart was parked.

If Shao Junling's first successful attempt to find Grandpa Liu's house could be attributed to luck, this time, all the staff members believed that Shao Junling had a map of the entire village in his head. Even more incredible, he remembered the unique features of every house and could quickly recall the shortest route to their destination, leaving everyone in awe.

After completing two tasks in a row, Yin Chang and Shao Junling ran into Huang Han and Huang Mei, who were wandering aimlessly and had yet to find the first task location.

Huang Han approached with a frown, "Ah, Yin Chang, have you guys seen a house with a banner that says 'Happy Family' at the entrance?"

Yin Chang didn't have much of an impression and asked Shao Junling, "Do you know where it is?"

Shao Junling, however, stared at Huang Han and his sister. He looked extremely unwilling to reveal anything.

Yin Chang poked Shao Junling's shoulder, "Come on, tell me."

Shao Junling hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Go straight ahead, turn right at the second intersection."

Huang Han gratefully said "Thank you" and led You Luming away.

But just as they had helped Huang Han and his sister, someone called out to them from behind. Yin Chang turned around and saw it was the Qin sisters.

They had only arrived late last night and hadn't participated in the treasure hunt task, so they were still unfamiliar with the village. But the production team didn't give them any slack and had them participate in the task with the other guests. Like Huang Han and his sister, they still hadn't found the first task location.

Having just seen Yin Chang and Shao Junling help Huang Han, Qin Jingshan took the initiative to walk up to them with her sister.

"Sorry to bother you..."

Qin Jingshan smiled at Yin Chang and then crouched down, showing the task card to Shao Junling and softly asked, "Little brother, do you know where this place is? Can you tell big sis?"

It had to be said that Qin Jingshan was a clever girl.

Perhaps because she was very confident in her own charm, Qin Jingshan rarely hesitated to ask for help from others. Since childhood, whenever she took the initiative to speak, almost no male could refuse her. Just now, she had observed that it wasn't Yin Chang who could answer her question, but Shao Junling, so she went straight to him.

When she asked, she naturally brushed her hair aside, revealing her smooth forehead and flawless face. With a faint smile on her face, her whole body seemed to exude a heavenly radiance...

The cameramen all subconsciously aimed their lenses at her face for a close-up.

Standing beside her was Qin Xifeng, her younger sister. Although not as beautiful as her sister, she had a slender figure and a slight frown on her brow, giving her extra charm.

Faced with these two beauties, everyone thought that Shao Junling would offer his help without hesitation.

But to everyone's surprise, this little guy looked at them coldly, "I don't know."

Qin Jingshan's expression stiffened for a moment. She was disappointed but figured Shao Junling might really not know, so prepared to get up.

Just then, Yin Chang raised his hand and lightly tapped Shao Junling on the back of the head. He frowned, "Do you really not know or are you pretending not to know?"

Shao Junling: "..."

Yin Chang said seriously, "If you know, just say it."

Shao Junling felt like he was being backed into a corner and reluctantly said, "Go straight ahead, pass three intersections, turn left, and then pass one more intersection..."

Everyone was speechless.

Qin Jingshan's face alternated between embarrassment and awkwardness, "Th-thank you..."

Yin Chang waved his hand, urging them to hurry and complete the task. Only then did Qin Jingshan pull her sister away as if they had been granted amnesty.

After the two sisters left, Shao Junling was still pouting.

Yin Chang found it funny and pinched his ear, saying, "Why are you so petty? This is just a game, don't take it so seriously."

But inwardly, Yin Chang was quite proud when he saw that Shao Junling was able to tell them the location of those two houses.

He couldn't help but stoke the back of Shao Junling's head, advising, "Relationships come first, competing comes second...think about it, we have the advantage now, but what about later? There will be different tasks in the future. You helped them now, and when we need help in the future, they can also help us."

Shao Junling: "..."

They easily completed four tasks less than two hours since they started. Yin Chang and Shao Junling already obtained six food cards. At this rate, they could get another seven or eight cards before lunchtime.

If one food card could be exchanged for a dish or a bowl of rice, they estimated they would have a feast.

Thinking of this, Yinchang and Shao Junling unconsciously slowed down their pace and stopped rushing.

At ten in the morning, the scorching midsummer sun was high in the sky, and the ground temperature gradually rose.  Everyone had been running around the village for two hours, and felt hot and thirsty. Yinchang couldn't help but ask the staff around him where they could find water to drink.

The staff smiled mysteriously at him and explained, "Go forward, and you'll find it."

As the two walked forward, they did indeed find a beverage truck not far ahead. The host had changed into traditional small merchant clothing and was standing in front of the cart shouting, "Come, come, don't miss out on chilled bayberry juice, heat-relieving mint water, refreshing watermelon juice... two handsome guys, do you want a cup?"

Yinchang was about to marvel at the show's ingenuity when he heard the host continue, "Just one food card, and you can choose any cold drink! With just one food card, you can enjoy the perfect summer treat!"

Yin Chang: "..." Well, that was a rip-off.

With plenty of cards, Yin Chang didn't think much about it and directly asked Shao Junling, "Do you want a drink?"

Shao Junling swallowed his dry spit nodding. He was clearly very thirsty.

Yin Chang went to the beverage cart, exchanged meal cards for a cup of bayberry juice and a cup of mint water. He sat with Shao Junling on a stone bench, drinking and resting in the shade.

At this moment, Wang Chen and Xue Ziwen also came over. Seeing Yin Chang and Shao Junling sitting under the shade of a tree drinking, with the beverage cart next to them, both of them lit up with excitement and ran over.

"Ah ah ah uncle! There's something to drink!!" Xue Ziwen's face was trembled with excitement.

From a distance, Wang Chen held up two fingers and rushed up to the host, "We want two! Two cups!!"

The host smiled and reached out, "Two food cards please."

...The uncle-nephew pair was instantly petrified.

"What? We need a card to exchange for drinks too?"

The host nonchalantly waved his fan, "Of course, it's considered food too."

Wang Chen looked at the three food cards he had in his hand. If he exchanged them for two drinks, he would only have one left. He looked at Yin Chang suspiciously. Yin Chang smiled, reaching out to show him the four food cards he still had.

Wang Chen was suddenly filled with intense jealousy...no! How could they be so rich! This was not logical!

Xue Ziwen was still stomping his feet and urging, "Uncle, I want the bayberry juice that Shao Junling has! I also want to drink watermelon juice!"

"You..." Wang Chen was in a dilemma, but Shao Junling had already finished the bayberry juice.

Yin Chang asked Shao Junling in front of Wang Chen, "Do you want more?"

Shao Junling patted his full stomach and shook his head. One cup of beverage was five hundred milliliters. It was quite filling.

Xue Ziwen was about to cry out of thirst, "Uncle, I'm so thirsty! Please exchange it!"

Helpless, Wang Chen had to painfully take out a card and exchange it for a cup of beverage. The uncle and nephew shared it and continued to rush off to find the next task location while squabbling over the drink.

Shortly after, two more people came, this time the twin sisters. They only had four food cards in their hands, so they also exchanged for a cup of beverage and ran off with their camera crew.

The previously exhausted cameramen following Shao Junling now felt refreshed and happy seeing their colleagues from other teams panting like cows.

After the morning task, Yin Chang and Shao Junling had a total of seven food cards, making them in first place.

The twin brothers came in second with five cards, while Wang Chen and Xue Ziwen had four, and the Qin sisters and Huang Han siblings each had three.

The staff had prepared food at the designated location. They were ready for them to exchange for their cards.

Upon arriving, Yin Chang saw that each portion of food was generous and muttered, "There's so much...". If they really exchanged all seven cards, they wouldn't be able to finish it all.

The staff winked at him and suggested with a smile, "If you can't finish, you can share with others."

Upon hearing this, Yin Chang quietly pulled Shao Junling to the side and asked him, "How about we share the food we get with Huang Han and his sister? They only have three cards."

Shao Junling stared at Yin Chang for a few seconds, then nodded quietly.

Yin Chang patted him on the head affectionately, "Good boy."

With Shao Junling's consent, Yin Chang invited Huang Han and his sister to join them for the meal.

Huang Han was moved to tears. "Yin Chang, you guys are too kind!"

In fact, the purpose of this activity was to test whether they could get along harmoniously with their partners and whether they were willing to help others.

After the program was broadcasted, their every move was scrutinized by the audience, so their behavior had to set a positive example. If someone like Shao Junling took winning and losing too seriously, even if he won first place every time, he would still be criticized by the audience for being selfish... All of this was explained to him by Lu Lingjuan before he came here.

After taking their seats, Huang Han couldn't help but whisper, "Why don't you invite Qin Jing Shan and her sister to eat with us too?"

Yin Chang glanced at the table next to them and saw Qin Jing Shan looking at him, so he smiled at her.

Although the Qin sisters also only had three cards, but there were so many people buzzing around them, trying to please them. He didn't want to join in on the charade.

After lunch, the program group gave the guests two and a half hours for a nap.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, it wasn't so hot outside anymore, and everyone gathered again in the square.

The afternoon activity was to learn about crops in the fields with the help of the villagers. After recognizing them, everyone could pick some vegetables and fruits according to their preference and cook together. This was to test their ability to work with their hands and cooperate.

Shao Junling: I said I would let my brother win.

Gotta hold myself back. (Q︿Q)

I have to hold back. o(QヘQo)

Qin Jing Shan: That little guy actually deflected my charm!

*Twitching mouth*

No, I have to keep smiling.

I am a goddess, my character cannot collapse.

I must maintain my smile. o(∩_∩)o