Chapter 54 [Two-in-One] This is the taste...
After the four groups of guests met, the first segment began.
The village chief led them inside while introducing the surrounding environment.
Zhao Fuke interrupted him, getting straight to the point, "Where are we staying tonight?"
Perhaps due to his years of running the company, he possessed a natural leadership quality that made those around him unconsciously obey. The village chief immediately changed the subject, "I have provided you with four places to stay, each with different conditions and varying room rates. Please choose a room according to your own needs and circumstances."
The four accommodations had different decorating styles; the better the conditions and the more modern the facilities, the more expensive the room rate. The last-ranked accommodation was basically a relatively clean farmhouse with a large yard.
Ji Sicheng listened thoughtfully for a while, then suddenly asked, "What's in the yard?"
Given Ji Sicheng's age and innocent appearance, almost no one doubted his purpose in speaking. The village chief patted his head and said in a coaxing tone, "There are vegetables and fruits growing in the yard, and sheep and chickens are also raised."
Ji Sicheng then asked, "Are the fruits and vegetables almost ripe at this time of year?"
The village chief was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Little friend, you're really smart. Your father taught you well too. Many children in the city don't know these things."
Ji Sicheng forced himself to stay away from the village chief's hand and quietly looked at the scenery before him, his mind racing.
"We'll use a little game to decide the order of selection. Please send a representative from each family."
Ji Yanyan never missed such a lively event, so she raised her hand in response. Ji Sicheng agreed before Ji Zhiqi could.
Ji Zhi Qiu immediately noticed that something was wrong with Ji Si Cheng, knowing that he was full of bad ideas.
Raising a clever little villain is also a good idea. For example, right now, he can openly and legitimately let his mind wander and slack off.
This type of game is really not suitable for adults to participate in, so the four groups tacitly sent out the children.
The game was a fun obstacle course. Ji Yanyan stood at the starting line, as if she had been mysteriously summoned, and her expression and state changed immediately.
Upon hearing the whistle, he immediately rushed out, but unfortunately, his legs were short and his movements were not agile. In his pursuit of speed, he almost sparked.
Long Aotian was never willing to fall behind others, while Ji Yanyan was agile, leaping and bounding, easily overcoming obstacles and being the first to cross the finish line.
Just as Ji Zhi Qiu was about to rush up to celebrate, she saw Ji Yan Yan maintaining the posture of crossing the finish line, with her fists clenched and pointing to the sky, her head held high.
Got it, it's the MVP results screen.
In this situation, one would usually say something nice, but unfortunately, Ji Yanyan suffered from a lack of culture and could only manage to say, "Yanyan is indeed the best!"
After praising herself, Ji Yanyan became so arrogant that she couldn't even walk properly and hopped back like a rabbit.
Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't help but chuckle, and decided that when she got back, she would definitely teach Ji Yan Yan a few classic quotes from "Dragon Pride," so that she wouldn't mess things up at times like this.
The rankings were released, and Ji Yanyan was the first to choose a place to stay, followed by Zhao Hexiu, Lin Zizhou, and Wen Qianhua.
Children tend to have a unique way of thinking, and Ji Yanyan didn't hesitate to choose the most basic accommodation, number four.
Almost everyone present looked at Ji Zhi Qiu, wondering about his reaction and whether he would be angry at his son's decision... Coincidentally, Ji Zhi Qiu also wanted to know and subconsciously looked at Ji Si Cheng.
Ji Sicheng remained expressionless, as if all of this was within his expectations.
Ji Zhi Qiu finally relaxed and waved to Ji Yan Yan with a smile, "Yan Yan, do you like it?"
"I love it! I love the big yard and all the little animals that keep me company!"
Ji Zhi Qiu patted his head. "Dad and your brothers like it too. We'll be staying here for a week. Yan Yan, you'd better enjoy it."
After settling into their accommodations, the four groups of guests exchanged pleasantries before heading to their respective homes.
Ji Yanyan didn't understand what variety show recording was. He thought it was just a picnic and was extremely excited. He had boundless energy and charged around in the fields. He rushed into their yard, looked left and right, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter. He was very satisfied.
Ji Zhi Qiu chased after her with great difficulty, but was still a few steps behind. Ji Yan Yan ran into the room and disappeared, followed by a scream.
Ji Zhi Qiu was on edge, thinking something had happened. She rushed over in a panic, only to find Ji Yan Yan standing there calmly, pointing slightly at the cat carrier: "That's great! Auntie and my younger siblings have come to keep us company!"
The cat family of four were all adopted stray cats, so they adapted to their environment exceptionally well. In addition, they were very entertaining and had great variety show appeal. When the director was discussing the contract with Ji Zhi Qiu, he specially invited the cat family.
Monthly salary of 12,000.
Special pet insurance is provided.
Work seven days a week and rest three days a week; no need to get up early to clock in.
The job involves being yourself, including sleeping in front of the camera and licking butts.
Ji Zhi Qiu's lips twitched at the thought, and his expression became extremely complicated.
These days, people are really not as good as cats.
Ji Zhi Qiu patted Ji Yan Yan's head meaningfully, "We should treat our aunt's family well, because we might need them to support us in the future."
Ji Yanyan tilted her head, unable to understand.
The cat showed no signs of discomfort in the unfamiliar environment. After being let out, it held its tail high and surveyed its territory before squatting at the door like a guardian deity.
Ji Zhi Qiu gently stroked the mother cat. "I have to go out and earn money. Please take good care of them for me."
The mother cat rubbed against Ji Zhi Qiu's hand with a reserved air and meowed softly.
The viewers in the live stream were completely charmed by the heartwarming scene.
[Talking to the cat is so cute!]
[Hahaha, if cats could take care of human babies, that would be amazing!]
With the only adult out, and these kids at their most mischievous age, they'd be causing chaos at home, climbing on the roof and making a complete mess!
Xiaxia, what a lovely name! But I just heard a little kid say "Gugu" (咕咕). Is it because they have loose teeth and mispronounce it?
The comments section was buzzing with discussion, while the longtime fans remained silent, as if watching a group of clueless newcomers eagerly anticipating their reactions when they learned the truth.
After settling in, Ji Zhi Qiu closed the courtyard gate and went to find a shop on the map given to him by the village chief.
His sense of direction was pretty good; although he took the wrong turn at times, he eventually found the right place.
When they arrived, there were already two other guests in the store.
When Lin Jinchao saw Ji Zhiqi, he greeted him warmly and said in a joking tone, "There's a question that's been on my mind for a long time, but I don't know if I can ask it."
Ji Zhi Qiu smiled. "Of course, what's the problem?"
Lin Jinchao leaned closer, scrutinizing his face intently, and exclaimed in amazement, "Are you really just an ordinary person, or the visual center of some boy band?"
Ji Zhi Qiu was both amused and exasperated. "How could that be? I can't sing or dance."
The direction of the comments changed during their chat.
Among the guests present, Lin Jinzhao was the only celebrity, who should have been the center of attention. However, Ji Zhi Qiu's appearance overshadowed him, and although the two had no prior conflict, a subtle competitive relationship was formed between them.
Lin Jinchao is now open and honest, and even jokes with Ji Zhi Qiu. Fans felt heartbroken seeing this and praised Lin Jinchao for his high EQ, stable core, and being a real actor who doesn't need to rely on his looks.
Lin Jinzhao didn't see these things directly, but he sensed everything. His expression remained unchanged, but the curve of his lips grew wider and wider.
The entertainment industry is never short of beauties, but only those with brains and skills can last. Ji Zhi Qiu has just appeared, which gave him a strong sense of crisis. However, after the test just now, he was quite certain that Ji Zhi Qiu's good looks would only be a flash in the pan, and that she would be devoured without leaving a trace.
He lost interest after expressing appropriate concern and turned to studying the task at hand.
Ji Zhi Qiu also looked at the store manager and took out a piece of paper from her pocket, "Can I buy these here?"
The store manager hadn't expected Ji Zhi Qiu to be so well-prepared. It took him a full minute to roughly browse through the items on the paper. He hesitated and asked, "Most of them are here, but what do you want to use the pipes and superphosphate for?"
Ji Zhi Qiu: "..."
Don't ask him, he doesn't know either. Ji Sicheng slipped the note to him.
He could only manage a dry laugh, glossing over the question, "How much would it cost to buy them all?"
After a rough calculation, the store manager smiled knowingly, his gaze fixed on a fat sheep awaiting slaughter. "That's quite a lot. It's hard to earn that much in a week, unless..."
Ji Zhi Qiu, not wanting to be kept in suspense, pressed on, "Unless what?"
"Take on our ultimate mission," the store manager enthusiastically promoted. "Although the ultimate mission is very difficult, the rewards are extremely generous, and it's definitely worth a try."
Wen Qizheng, who had been silent from the beginning and only studying the task list, suddenly looked up and said succinctly, "But the task has a time limit, and the difficulty is not something that ordinary people can complete."
Ji Zhi Qiu then realized what trap the store manager had set for him, and nodded gratefully.
Just as the store manager thought it was hopeless and was about to take back the task order, Ji Zhi Qiu said, "I'm willing to give it a try."
Wen Qizheng looked at him in surprise, "Didn't I tell you? This is impossible to accomplish, you'll only..."
Ji Zhi Qiu knew what he was going to say, and interrupted with a smile, "But this is the only possibility, we have to try."
The mission is not something an ordinary person can accomplish, but the minor villains are not something an ordinary person can face either.
If he doesn't try, how will he explain himself when he gets back!
Wen Qizheng frowned, looking him up and down as if he were a fool who didn't know his own limitations, and didn't waste any more words.
Lin Jinzhao offered appropriate support, putting his arm around Ji Zhiqi's shoulder, "Your courage is commendable, Zhiqi, I believe you can do it."
He said that, but his heart was full of sarcasm.
Having been in the entertainment industry for so long and participated in numerous variety shows, he understands the tricks of the trade all too well.
To enhance the live broadcast experience, the production team sets up impossible tasks that those who attempt them gain nothing but embarrassment and humiliation.
But there are always fools who take on this role, thinking they can make a name for themselves, but in reality they just end up getting killed and are often the first to be disliked by the audience, ending up in a miserable state.
Ji Zhi Qiu, who posed a threat to him, wanted to become a clown, and of course he wholeheartedly supported him, constantly encouraging him and even using the opportunity to cultivate an image of enthusiasm and sincerity.
Seeing that Ji Zhi Qiu was completely unprepared and readily accepted the task, the store manager felt sorry for her and reminded her, "There will be someone supervising you, and their attitude will be very strict. You need to be prepared."
Ji Zhi Qiu didn't take it to heart and strode out.
As the story unfolded, the comments section erupted in discussion.
Lady Qiu is foolish, but undeniably beautiful.
This is clearly a trap set by the production team. How can a father be so clueless? How will he take care of three children?!
[She's definitely too eager for quick success; her personality isn't particularly appealing. Oh well, I'll just admire her looks.]
[Hahaha, how dare they compare to Linlin? With that kind of emotional intelligence and IQ, they're not even worthy of carrying her shoes!]
This is just the beginning. Just wait, he'll get what's coming to him.
As if in response to this comment, a fierce-looking middle-aged man rushed over, holding a leather whip in his hand, and slammed it down hard, almost hitting Ji Zhi Qiu's foot.
"Why are you walking so slowly? Haven't you eaten enough? Even the donkeys in the production team don't dare to rest like this!"
Ji Zhi Qiu paused for a moment, then earnestly asked, "What is your surname?"
Seeing Ji Zhi Qiu take the initiative to be friendly, the middle-aged man became even more arrogant, "Your surname is Zhou, and you should address me as—"
Ji Zhi Qiu interrupted him, "You're Zhou Bapi, aren't you?"
Middle-aged man: "..."
Viewers in the live stream: "..."
Ji Zhi Qiu asked in a friendly tone, "After we peel off the skin, what are we going to do next?"
Upon hearing this address, the middle-aged man's brow twitched. He wanted to explain but felt a lump in his throat, unsure of where to begin. He could only continue with the procedure, saying, "First, do all the chores in the yard: chop wood, fetch water, and till the land. If your abilities are up to par, I'll take you to meet the other villagers."
Ji Zhi Qiu nodded and got right to work.
He had never been exposed to these things before, but he quickly mastered the technique of exerting force without a teacher. He chopped the soil quickly and well, and even piled it up on his own initiative. After that, he went to fetch water and plow the land, without resting for a moment.
His hair, the color of dawn, was almost translucent in the sunlight. His eyes and brows were filled with seriousness, and beads of sweat appeared on the tip of his nose. Every movement he made was large and precise, without the slightest hint of cheating.
The viewers in the live stream who were initially waiting for Ji Zhi Qiu to embarrass himself gradually fell silent and began to admire him.
My God, is this even a human being capable of such physical abilities?!
I'm so tired from just watching the live stream in bed, lol.
No wonder he accepted this task; he's got real skills.
[You seem to have plenty of Qi and blood. I saw a traditional Chinese medicine doctor before, and he said I was too weak for exercise and should look at people with plenty of Qi and blood. It would be even better if you could lift your shirt to wipe your sweat and let me see your abs. lol emoji]
[Haha, what a clever scheme! How can you try to have your cake and eat it too? *pointing and gesturing*]
Zhou Bapi originally wanted to create a good show, but Ji Zhi Qiu's performance left him dumbfounded. Only after finishing his work did he remember his task. He deliberately found fault with Ji Zhi Qiu with the most demanding attitude, but he couldn't find a single problem.
"You...you..." Zhou Bapi was very professional, even when he had nothing to do, he still insisted on doing something: "Your breathing is too loud, it's disturbing me!"
Most people would be angry, but Ji Zhi Qiu reacted very slowly, her eyelashes trembling slightly as if they were adorned with sparkling diamonds, her expression revealing a bewildered look after being scolded.
It is extremely lethal; most humans cannot withstand it.
Even Zhou the Skinflint couldn't keep up the act and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Ji Zhi Qiu yawned again and casually said, "It's fine. I was just exhausted and went on a trip to hell, but now I'm back to life."
Zhou Bapi: "..."
Forgive my inability to expose this, I really can't respond to this.
The two faced each other in silence for half a minute before Zhou Bapi finally gave in and reluctantly led Ji Zhiqi to the first household of villagers.
His task required him to satisfy the villagers in order to receive the compensation he deserved.
The text itself contains many traps. Even if the villagers are being unreasonable, he has to meet all their demands. Ji Zhi Qiu is unlucky to have encountered this from the very beginning.
The villager was over seventy years old, with long eyebrows and a long beard, and his back was slightly hunched. He would occasionally utter a few words of incomprehensible dialect. Even though Ji Zhi Qiu had already completed his task, he still wouldn't let him leave and was rummaging through other things, trying to dump a year's worth of work on him. He clearly treated him like a free ox or horse.
Ji Zhi Qiu paused for a moment, then asked earnestly, "Grandpa, are you also surnamed Zhou?"
"My surname is Liu!" The villager, clutching his back, rushed into the old house, occasionally tossing out a few pieces of rags for Ji Qiu to clean up.
Ji Zhi Qiu ignored him, her gaze sweeping around before settling on the east side of the courtyard.
An elderly woman was lying on a deck chair, leisurely sunbathing. Instead of goji berry tea, she had iced milk tea with full sugar next to her.
Ji Zhi Qiu: "".
He curiously leaned closer and asked, "Grandma, did you buy this yourself?"
The old woman squinted, feeling her bones loosen from the sun. She opened her eyes and looked at Ji Zhi Qiu, who was standing in front of her blocking the sunlight. Her eyes slowly widened, and a different kind of clarity returned to them.
"Come, come, young man, sit down quickly. Are you hot?" The old lady patted the seat next to her and handed over the milk tea. "Grandma only took one sip. You can have it if you don't mind."
Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't even drink it with ice and full sugar, so she smiled and asked, "Grandma, do you really like milk tea?"
The old lady slowly held up two fingers. "One cup in the morning and one cup in the afternoon. My favorites are jasmine milk green tea and peach cheese tea, plus black glutinous rice and coconut jelly. I can't chew those pearls; I'm afraid they're like the stuff the donkey pulls at the village entrance."
Ji Zhi Qiu remained silent for a full half minute before giving a thumbs up, "Grandma, you have such good taste."
The old lady waved her hand modestly, "I drink coffee often too, but that stuff makes me sleepier the more I drink. My eyesight isn't good, so I can't see what you look like. Can I touch you?"
Ji Zhi Qiu leaned closer, his rough hands slowly caressing him, and finally cupped his face in his hands.
"Those eyebrows, those eyes, that nose, you're so handsome!" The old lady exclaimed, then patted Ji Zhi Qiu's hand. "Youth is wonderful, and your skin is so smooth. Come visit me more often when you have time. Just seeing you makes me live five more years!"
An eerie silence fell over the live stream.
I dare not laugh; I really am getting old.
[Young women are lustful, and older women are even more so, but the only difference is that when they get old, they don't have to adhere to that damned womanly virtue anymore.]
My bestie and I have a date: when we're old, we'll sunbathe and drink milk tea together, and maybe even flirt with some handsome young men who pass by.
[That's true, a good mood can help prolong life, but I just want to ask, where can I find someone this handsome? *doge emoji*]
Ji Zhi Qiu could sense the praise and appreciation, but it was rather direct. She joked, "Then, can Grandma accept my hair color?"
The old lady squinted and stared at it for a long time. "Is this orange or yellow? Although I don't have much hair left on my head, I still want to dye it. What do you think of me dyeing this green?!"
After the old lady finished speaking, she chuckled and said with great satisfaction, "It'll make my old man in the underworld angry too."
Ji Zhi Qiu sincerely praised her: "Grandma has such a youthful mindset, I want to learn from you."
The old lady waved her hand, "When I was young, I worried about this and that, and I didn't dare to do this or that. I was like a little old lady. So I can only wait until I'm old to be young again."
Ji Zhi Qiu pondered for a moment and thought that this made a lot of sense. Just as he was about to agree, a hunched-over villager came out of the house and cursed, "Why are you going to find my mother instead of working?!"
Ji Zhi Qiu's gaze shifted back and forth. Suddenly, she blinked, shrank her shoulders, and leaned slightly towards the old lady. Her voice lowered, as if she were filled with immense grievance, "Grandma, your son bullied me."
Everyone: "..." Why does it sound so teasy?
The old woman stared at him quietly for five or six seconds, then, as if injected with adrenaline, her back pain and blurred vision vanished. She threw away her cane, stood up nimbly, and began chanting with a pointed finger: "You@*％￥*&****".
The chanting mainly involves digging up the ancestors of eighteen generations from their graves, randomly selecting an organ, and combining it in an absolutely unexpected position. She also understands the principle of "close relatives and distant relatives" very well, and focuses on taking care of her dead old man—combining him with all the digestive organs, kneading him into a ball, and throwing him at her own son.
It was mixed with various incomprehensible dialects, sounding very much like the whispers of demons.
His family also has a strong gene for longevity. His son, who is over seventy years old, is in great health. When his mother scolds him, he jumps around in the yard, sometimes leaping three feet high. Finally, when he has nowhere to hide, he has to climb onto the roof of the shed.
The old lady sang her heart out without even breaking a sweat, and her complexion even improved. "I feel like my meridians are all cleared up. It feels so good. I'll practice my voice every day from now on."
She returned to the recliner, took out her phone from her bag, and said, "Don't be sad, child. Grandma scolded him for you. Grandma will buy you milk tea and desserts to comfort you."
The eldest son, seventy years old and huddled on the roof of the cowshed, weakly added, "Mom, you just want to eat it, don't eat it, your blood sugar can't handle it!"
The old lady raised an eyebrow and was about to start chanting again when Ji Zhi Qiu quickly stopped her: "Grandma, I still need to complete my mission. I'll come to see you another day when I have time."
The old lady asked, "So, have you completed your task at my house?"
Ji Zhi Qiu nodded.
Without hesitation, the old woman threw her cane onto the cowshed, shouting, "They've already completed their task, and you're still not paying them?!"
The eldest son shrank back timidly, "I'll go down and get it for him, Mom, please don't hit me while I'm at it."
Although she was of a lower generation, she was over seventy years old. Ji Zhiqi was afraid that something might really happen to her, so she quickly tried to divert the old lady's attention, "Grandma, you just kept saying a word, what does that mean?"
Ji Zhi Qiu's tongue was almost tied in knots before she managed to utter that sound with great difficulty.
"Large intestines." The old lady smiled shyly, "You can tell, I actually really like eating large intestines."
Ji Zhi Qiu dryly echoed, "It seems you particularly like eating offal and the like."
The old lady's eyes lit up, and she immediately regarded him as a confidant. "Yes, yes, how did you know? I like to eat it with milk tea, it's so refreshing!"
As the two were talking, the eldest son came out of the house with three silver coins specially made by the production team in his hand.
Ji Zhi Qiu accepted the gift and thanked the mother and son. When he left, the old lady looked for various things for him to take back, but Ji Zhi Qiu repeatedly said that he still needed to complete his next task and really couldn't take them, so the old lady gave up.
After he came out, he had only taken a few steps when he saw Zhou Bapi.
Zhou Bapi was surprised that he could complete the task so easily. Eager to get back at him, he glared at him and cracked his whip, "You can't even handle this? Even the donkeys in the production team are more diligent than you. If you keep dragging your feet like this, I'll make you pull the millstone!"
Ji Zhi Qiu hadn't rested for a moment; it was only because his physical condition could hold up that he thought, "Everyone needs to catch their breath."
Zhou Bapi ignored him and cracked his whip again.
Ji Zhi Qiu's temper flared up as well. She pointed at him and stomped her feet three times on the ground, yelling, "Get back! Get back!"
The old lady set a good example for him, and he subconsciously imitated her, but he couldn't remember the word in the local dialect no matter what he tried, so he had to settle for plain language.
"I'm going to put my intestines over your head!"
Zhou Bapi: "..."
Viewers in the live stream: "..."
New fan's pupils trembled: Don't say things like that! Please use your face appropriately!
Longtime fans have finally returned to their comfort zone: This is exactly the taste, awesome! (jpg)
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