Chapter 79
Chapter 79
“If city life lacks poetry and far-off lands, then come to Ling Village to experience country life and relax your body and mind!
“So this morning, our seven guests are free to explore Ling Village to your hearts’ content and experience Ling Village’s unique rural culture: going to market!”
Going to market?
These words left Jiang Sheshe, an ABC born and raised abroad, completely bewildered.
“What does that mean? Going to… catch chickens? Are we feeding chickens again today?”
Director Qin fell silent for a moment before beginning to educate the guests and netizens on the meaning of “going to market.”
“Going to market is a folk custom where people gather at a specific time and place to trade goods. The guests can buy all sorts of necessary food, clothing, or daily necessities at the Ling Village Market.”
As soon as Ning Xi heard “all sorts of food,” she immediately became excited.
And what made her even happier was yet to come.
“Yesterday, Ning Xi took second place in the agricultural assistance competition. The random reward prepared for her by the Program Team is a mode of transportation for going to market: a bicycle.”
Ning Xi covered her mouth, putting on a look of shocked surprise before delivering an acceptance speech:
“To be able to win this bicycle, I want to thank the Program Team, thank CCTV, thank MTV, thank MV, as well as the FANS and friends who have always supported me…”
Everyone: “…”
The group began heading toward the Ling Village Market.
It wasn’t far, just a little over a kilometer, but it still took over ten minutes on foot.
Add to that the scorching sun, and the guests were all looking a bit listless.
Ning Xi intentionally rode her bicycle past everyone. “Hi, hi, hi! Is this city or what?”
Then, as if escaping something, she quickly pedaled away.
[…Occasionally, I can understand Fu Zhi for a second.]
[She’s really asking for it.]
[But I think Xixi is so cute, I just want to sit on her and squish her, hehe.]
Ning Xi was the first to arrive at the Ling Village Market, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the boneless chicken feet at the first stall.
“Boss, how much are the chicken feet?”
The owner replied, “The price went up today, twenty-six per catty.”
Ning Xi gave a couple of non-committal sounds. “Then I’ll buy yesterday’s ones.”
The owner: “…Ask me again.”
Ning Xi was puzzled but did as told. “Boss, how much are the chicken feet?”
Owner: “Thirty per catty!”
Ning Xi: …I’ll behave. Please lower the price.
After joking with Ning Xi, the owner finally sold her a catty of boneless chicken feet for 25.8 yuan.
Both were very satisfied with the outcome.
Only the netizens were stunned.
[Wait, do they know each other? How did they just start joking around like that?]
[Our girl is starting her ‘impromptu comedy’ everywhere again.]
[Ning Xi: It’s in the bag.]
Ning Xi continued her happy shopping spree. Before long, she had bought a lot of fruit and snacks.
But soon, a bolt from the blue arrived.
“Youai Village Chief:
Has your trip to the Ling Village Market filled your heart with joy? While relaxing, don’t forget to do your missions!
Now announcing the Hidden Mission: Buy ice cream for two opposite-sex guests and lead them to say the words ‘so sweet.’
Those who complete the mission will receive a random reward prepared by the Program Team!
Note: Do not let others discover what your Hidden Mission is, otherwise the reward will be void!”
Ning Xi took a deep breath. “Regarding this mission, I have nothing to say, but I’ve said it anyway. Not only did I say it, I said it five times.”
Why should she have to treat others to ice cream! She didn’t even have enough for herself!
But for the sake of the random reward, she endured.
Ning Xi pondered who to target first for the mission.
Then she spotted Fu Zhi appearing not far off in the market.
At that moment, he was staring intently at a small stall selling sugarcane.
A crowd of people stood before the small stall, holding stalks of sugarcane and waiting for the vendor to peel them. It looked like a grand gathering of the Beggars’ Sect.
“Want some sugarcane?”
Ning Xi looked at Fu Zhi with a beaming smile, her eyes sparkling as if she were looking at a total sucker.
She hadn’t expected the heavens to choose Fu Zhi for her first, but this was perfect. she would make Fu Zhi pay, and then she would ‘treat’ him to ice cream.
To her surprise, the moment the brat saw Ning Xi’s smile, he immediately went on high alert.
“What are you trying to do?”
Ning Xi felt her heart go cold. “Just saying hello. What could I possibly be doing?”
Fu Zhi didn’t believe her for a second.
Ning Xi stopped pretending and laid her cards on the table. “Fine, I want to mooch some of your sugarcane. Happy now?”
Fu Zhi wore an expression that said ‘I knew it.’ “I figured as much.”
And so, each of them took a stalk of sugarcane and stood at the back of the line like they were part of a peasant uprising.
After standing there for two minutes, Ning Xi turned to Fu Zhi and said, “It’s so hot. I’ll treat you to ice cream. Go buy it for me, and while you’re at it, pay for mine too.”
Fu Zhi hissed, “Mooching sugarcane wasn’t enough, now you’re mooching ice cream…”
Halfway through his complaint, he slammed on the brakes. “Fine.”
He went across the street and bought two cones.
Ning Xi was overjoyed, thinking she could complete her mission without spending a single cent of her own money.
Consequently, her gaze toward Fu Zhi grew much softer. “Is the ice cream sweet?”
Fu Zhi keenly sensed something was off about the question. “Wait, your Hidden Mission…”
Shit!
“Shut up!” Worried he would blurt out the Hidden Mission, Ning Xi lunged to cover Fu Zhi’s mouth.
But she forgot that she had sugarcane in her left hand and ice cream in her right.
As a result, the sugarcane tipped over and bonked Fu Zhi on the head.
The ice cream smeared, plastering itself right across Fu Zhi’s face.
Ning Xi: “…”
Fu Zhi: “…”
“Hello? Sister Xiaohua? Something’s up? Okay, okay, I’m coming right now.” Ning Xi ‘answered’ a call and prepared to bolt.
“Ning Xi!!!”
Fu Zhi’s mouth twitched as he stared at Ning Xi’s phone screen, where an alarm was ringing incessantly.
[Good lord, she ‘answered’ an alarm and just left. Ning Xi, you really take Fu Zhi for a fool, don’t you?]
At that moment, Ning Xi received another message from the Program Team.
[Youai Village Chief: Since the guest Fu Zhi failed to provide the correct answer, the Hidden Mission has failed. Please find another opposite-sex guest to continue the mission.]
It failed just like that?
Ning Xi suddenly felt a sense of urgency.
She thought for a moment, opened WeChat, and scrolled to a certain person’s contact info.
Don’t Let the Dishonest Off: “Xiao Xie, are you busy? (Lazily scratches head and pokes you with an index finger)”
Don’t Let the Dishonest Off: “Where are you!”
Xie: “Buying clothes.”
Then he sent a location pin.
Ning Xi saw that he was only about a hundred meters away and immediately decided that Xie Lanchen would be her next target.
But to be safe, she planned to check if Xiao Xie’s brain was functioning normally first.
Don’t Let the Dishonest Off: “Xiao Xie, let me ask you: if someone treated you to ice cream for free, how would you describe that ice cream? Please try to answer in terms of flavor.”
Xie: “Thank you, and… very sweet?”
Don’t Let the Dishonest Off: “Wait for me! I’m coming to find you right now! (Covers mouth with sandpaper-like palms and smiles cutely like Black Whirlwind Li Kui)”
“I’ll eat the sugarcane later, I have to go somewhere else first!”
Ning Xi tucked her phone away and looked at Fu Zhi.
Fu Zhi had just caught a glimpse of Ning Xi’s chat with Xie Lanchen’s avatar, and he was practically overflowing with bitterness.
He felt both indignant and aggrieved. “I’m standing here treating you to sugarcane and ice cream, and you’re insisting on going somewhere else? Just who exactly is at this ‘somewhere else’?!”