However, since the aunt said that...

"Auntie, do you know him?" Chi Nao's dark grape-like eyes sparkled.

“Yes, I know him,” the aunt said. “Everyone around here knows him. He’s always wearing that strange mask, everyone knows him.”

"Where did he get that mask?" Chi Cheese asked again.

"I don't know," the aunt said. "Little baby, do you like that mask? That mask looks strange and scary, it must be very unlucky. Why do you like that kind of thing?"

“I’m just curious. That mask looks so special. I’ve never seen it before. Auntie, have you seen anyone else wear that mask?” Chi Cheese asked.

"No. Who but that weirdo would wear such a terrifying mask? I advise you not to get interested in that mask either; it looks unlucky. You're like a porcelain doll, you should play something else." The aunt kindly advised.

[What mask? Did anyone notice it?]

I didn't see it; I was too busy doing mental arithmetic with the cheese.

I saw it; the camera panned across it a little.

Is that mask really that strange and scary?

When I first saw it, I thought it was a bit strange, and even a little eerie. But after looking at it a few more times, it wasn't so bad.

The cheese seemed particularly interested in that mask.

Kids are naturally interested in anything new.

Qin Yuanyao and Chi Baiyi thought the same way and didn't take it too seriously.

After selling their vegetables, they packed the baskets into their van and prepared to drive back to collect their reward.

Xu Miaotong waited until Qin Yuanyao was alone in front of the van tidying up the vegetable baskets before coming over.

"Yuan Yao, are you all done selling your vegetables and getting ready to go home?" Xu Miaotong asked, surprised and envious, trying to strike up a conversation with her.

Qin Yuanyao glanced discreetly at the camera following them and gave a fake smile: "Yes."

"Yuan Yao, there's something I want to discuss with you." Xu Miaotong rubbed her hands together nervously.

Qin Yuanyao watched her act with a smile: "Go on."

“Our vegetables will be sold out soon. Look, there aren’t many left,” Xu Miaotong said, pointing to their vegetable stall.

"You know we just walked here. It doesn't matter if we adults are tired or not, but Hao Hao is really exhausted. Although he won't admit it, I know he's actually very, very tired. After we sell the vegetables, I can't bear to let him walk back. Could you lend us your van?"

Qin Yuanyao: "?"

What kind of stupid statement is she making?

What is she up to now?

“Of course, it’s not free. I’ll give you all the rewards we get from selling vegetables. At our current pace, we should be second or third. I don’t mean anything by it, I just don’t want Haohao to be too tired. He was already very tired from carrying the vegetables all the way here, and I don’t want to see him suffer anymore.” Xu Miaotong looked like she was about to cry.

What is Xu Miaotong up to? What does she mean by that? I don't understand her thought process at all.

[The show's rules state that only the first person to sell all their vegetables and return to the village counts as first place. She asked Qin Yuanyao to lend her her van, which essentially meant Qin Yuanyao had to forgo her 50 yuan first-place prize. Then, she gave Qin Yuanyao her 30 yuan third-place prize—provided she actually got third place. Is that the gist of it?]

The preceding text is exactly what you meant by your summary.

[Qin Yuanyao didn't lose out at all. Even if Qin Yuanyao gave the van to Xu Miaotong, they would still be second or third if they walked back. If Qin Yuanyao and her group were second and Xu Miaotong was third, then Qin Yuanyao would essentially make a net profit of seventy yuan, so she wouldn't lose out at all.]

[As you said before, it was "if." What if Qin Yuanyao and her group come in fourth, and Xu Miaotong fifth? Wouldn't Qin Yuanyao lose the fifty yuan she was guaranteed to earn?]

[Qin Yuanyao and the others have so much money, what's fifty yuan less? It won't affect her at all. But if she doesn't lend the van to Tongtong, Haohao will have to walk back again, and Haohao will be exhausted!]

[Now that Qin Yuanyao has lent the van to Xu Miaotong, Cheese has to walk back. Won't Cheese get exhausted? Isn't Cheese working hard?]

[Cheese only walked this far once, what's the big deal? If Haohao had to walk back, he would have walked twice. Besides, Haohao is smaller than Cheese, and his stamina and energy are not as good as Cheese's.]

[Qin Yuanyao and the others had it so easy yesterday, and Tongtong and the others were so tired. If Haohao has to walk back again, his little body definitely won't be able to handle it.]

[Qin Yuanyao should lend the van to Tongtong. For Qin Yuanyao and her friends, having a van or not makes little difference, but for Tongtong and her friends, especially Haohao, the difference is significant.]

[...I've really learned something new. I never knew people could be so terrifying when they're being brain-dead...]

Qin Yuanyao scrutinized Xu Miaotong's feigned manner and understood what she was up to.

Xu Miaotong wants to get rid of her debts as soon as possible, so she wants to be among the top three vegetable sellers.

Xu Miaotong dragged Gao Hao into this mess just to play the emotional card and morally blackmail her.

If she were to lend her the van, it would be exactly what Xu Miaotong wanted.

But if she doesn't lend it, Xu Miaotong has already spoken so humbly, saying it was all for Gao Hao's sake, which will surely provoke a lot of viewers to condemn her.

Even if many viewers are clear-headed and know that Xu Miaotong's request is ridiculous and unreasonable, Qin Yuanyao's reputation is already bad, and Xu Miaotong has many fans. In the end, outnumbered, Qin Yuanyao will inevitably be criticized.

Xu Miaotong is truly malicious.

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