The next morning, as the morning mist filled the air and the sky was just beginning to lighten, Jiang Hexi set off alone from the wooden building towards the shallow waters port.

Halfway there, she heard the loud squealing of pigs in the distance.

As the morning mist dissipated, she saw three local pigs bound tightly to a rectangular table, while the butcher stood to the side, sharpening his knife, ready to slaughter them.

Jiang Hexi stood in front of the three fat pigs and observed a minute of silence.

The butcher walked up to her with a sharp knife and said in a rough voice, "Young lady, can we slaughter the pig now?"

Jiang Hexi took out a pen and sketchbook from her bag and began writing down her accounts without looking up:

"kill."

Upon hearing this, the butcher had his men hold down the pig's four hooves, then picked up his knife and went over.

Jiang Hexi turned her back, adhering to the principle of "out of sight, out of mind," she made the sign of the cross in front of her and prayed "Amen." The guilt in her heart was immediately lessened by more than half.

The women who had been waiting along the bluestone bank for work, upon seeing Chu Yang bring in the chicken coop and Uncle Ge bring in the pond fish, immediately sent a representative to ask them questions:

"Young lady, should we kill the chicken and fish?"

Jiang Hexi glanced at the ingredient list the chef had given her and said, "Kill fifty chickens and eighty fish."

The aunt immediately organized people to work separately.

They had just finished giving instructions here when the butchers and slaughterers started counting off the pigs and cattle:

"45.3 jin of pork foreleg, 52.6 jin of pork hind leg, 11 jin of pork foreleg, 12.5 jin of pork hind leg, 7.2 jin of pork ribs, and 9.3 jin of pork spare ribs are all served on the long table for you."

Jiang Hexi quickly wrote down the accounts and replied to the butcher with a "Okay".

"8.3 jin of beef tenderloin, 12 jin of chuck, 7.4 jin of tenderloin, two pieces of ribeye, and 107 jin of foreleg. Come and take it away, young lady."

After Jiang Hexi noted down the number, she carried the whole pot of beef to the long table and placed it in the label area, categorizing it by type. Meanwhile, people were already coming over with their orders to pick up their food.

Netizens watched the "Thousand Family Banquet" online, and upon entering the live stream, they were greeted by a bustling and lively scene.

Boiling water bubbled in a large iron pot. Two butchers stood in front of the table, skillfully slaughtering pigs and cattle. A dozen or so middle-aged women squatted along the bluestone bank, either killing chickens and fish or washing vegetables and rice.

Jiang Hexi, wearing an apron, stood in front of the long table, chopping bones with a cleaver, and deftly filling a basket with vegetables from the menu:

"One chicken, two pounds of pork hock, ten pounds of beef bones, a handful of scallions, ginger, and garlic. The soup maker, come and get the basket. Next one!"

[Where did the chaebol heiress go? How did she turn into a "pork beauty"? This style is hilarious, I almost didn't recognize her!]

Watching Xi Mei chop bones with such ferocity, snapping them with a single, sharp "crack, crack, crack," I couldn't help but stop laughing.

[My God, I thought the "Thousand Families Banquet" was just a hotel's endless stream of guests, but they actually put on a village banquet!]

Free-range chickens on the hilltop, fish raised in the pond, vegetables grown by the grandmothers, pigs and cattle fed with grains and cereals, and a feast cooked in this huge iron pot—wait for me, I'm on my way!

[I'm so envious of the lady upstairs! When you pass by the highway exit, remember to take a picture for me in front of the fertilizer billboard featuring the five chaebols.]

Jiang Wenjing set off early in the morning and finally arrived at Canglang Village, only to be stuck on a small road, waiting in line to enter the campsite.

"It seems that this banquet for a thousand families is truly exceptionally popular."

"Fortunately, I booked the campsite and the banquet in advance."

Shi Jianan said with genuine relief, "Otherwise, given the popularity of their live stream with over 100,000 viewers watching them cook in a big wok, we probably wouldn't even be able to squeeze into the village entrance."

Jiang Wenjing followed the flow of traffic ahead and slowly drove the RV forward.

Where is my little sister?

"Judging from the live broadcast, she should have set up a butcher stall at the shallow water port and was cutting meat by weight for the chefs."

Shi Jianan said meticulously, "I've been watching since the show started, and I haven't noticed her eating breakfast yet."

"It's almost noon, and she hasn't eaten anything. How can her body take it?"

Jiang Wenjing immediately felt sorry for her. "After parking the car at the campsite, we'll go and bring her some food."

Shi Jianan nodded silently in agreement.

As the car approached the fork in the road, Yan Jie reached out and stopped their RV.

"Could you please tell me the location of the camp?"

Shi Jianan slowly lowered the car window and nodded to him, "President Yan, it's been a long time. Camp number D135."

Yan Jie's gaze turned icy, but he managed a faint smile on his face:

"If I had known Mr. Shi would be coming, I would have reserved a campsite with an excellent view for you. It's too late now, and the location in Zone D is relatively remote. Just drive to the right along the small road, and it'll be about right at the end."

"Thank you for pointing the way, Mr. Yan."

After politely saying goodbye, Shi Jianan got into his car and left the intersection.

Yan Jie recognized the person driving the RV as Jiang Wenjing.

He stood at the crossroads for more than ten minutes when an SUV honked its horn and pulled up in front of him.

Chu Ci looked out the car window and asked him, "Where is my campsite located?"

"Wait, I'll take you there."

Yan Jie glanced around and called Lu Jiu over, saying, "You stand here and direct the traffic flow. I have something to take care of."

Lu Jiu readily agreed, "Okay, you go ahead and get busy."

Yan Jie opened the car door, bent down and sat in the passenger seat, instructing him, "Keep driving forward."

Chu Ci clearly felt a low pressure hovering above his head, pressing down on him:

"I came all this way to pick you up, and you not only don't appreciate it, but you also give me that attitude?"

"Shi Jianan has arrived."

"When did you get involved with the Shi family?"

"Shi Jianan is pursuing Xi Mei."

Chu Ci suddenly understood and asked excitedly, "You're sensing a crisis?"

Yan Jie stated expressionlessly, "Shi Jianan did not come alone this time; he came camping with Xi Mei's second brother."

"This is a deadly threat!"

Chu Ci's emotions flared up, and he said excitedly, "Let me tell you, if this matter is not handled properly, you will have no chance with Xi Mei at all, and you will be completely eliminated."

Yan Jie, unusually patient, listened to his strategist's opinion: "What do you mean by that?"

"Don't forget what Xi Mei's brother's name is."

Chu Ci's words were a wake-up call for him: "You've heard how destructive her two brothers, who are like paraquat, are; wherever they go, not a blade of grass grows."

Yan Jie: "So?"

"To win over Xi Mei, you have to win over her two brothers first."

Chu Ci said with displeasure, "Shi Jianan took this shortcut. He's very shrewd. The worst part is that he beat you to it."