Chapter 60
Jiang Baihe and her group bowed to the gravestones, and then, not far from the area, they found the props buried by the production team.
Using their hoes and shovels, they dug open the pits to find bundle after bundle of vegetables and meat, wrapped tightly in multiple layers of plastic storage bags.
The group carried the items down the mountain in silence. After struggling for so many days, everyone had originally harbored some frustration, but now that the true theme had been revealed, they all felt a heavy tug at their heartstrings.
Jiang Baihe had a premonition when she first saw those “travelers,” but when the truth was finally laid bare, she couldn’t help but feel moved.
The path down was easier than the way up, but since everyone was carrying large bags and bundles, they didn’t actually move very fast. When they finally hauled the supplies back to the house, they discovered that someone had entered while they were away and left behind a massive amount of items.
Opening the door, Jiang Baihe was stunned by the sight of the gifts filling the room: “Uh…”
Lin Yiqiu peered over her shoulder: “What is it? Did the little yellow chicks fly in through the window again?”
“No.” Jiang Baihe shook her head and stepped aside so the others could see clearly.
Xiang Xi was the first to exclaim: “My God! Are these for us?”
Jiang Baihe: “Not exactly.”
Ning Yu’an, however, understood the situation: “They probably want us to personally deliver these to the villagers.”
Indeed, as Ning Yu’an said, these gifts were to be distributed to the people in the village. Stickers were attached to the items indicating which household they belonged to so that everyone could identify them.
Looking at the mountain of gifts in the living room and then at the bags of raw ingredients in their hands, Lin Yiqiu couldn’t help but exclaim: “I thank the production team for their mercy in not killing us!”
Fortunately, they weren’t made to carry these gifts down from the mountain; the crew had stuffed them directly into the house. Otherwise, their arms would surely have snapped from exhaustion!
Jiang Baihe looked up at the time—it was nearly 11:00 AM. To finish the final meal for the traveler orders and deliver the gifts household by household today, time was getting tight.
She cleared her throat: “Let’s see how to arrange this.”
There were many gifts, and many dishes to be cooked.
After a brief discussion, they decided that since Jiang Baihe was the only one skilled at cooking, she was essential for the final culinary stage, but the preliminary tasks like peeling and washing vegetables could be assigned to others.
The group decided that Jiang Baihe, Lin Yiqiu, and Xiang Xi would head out first to deliver a batch of items, while the others remained in the kitchen for prep work. Once the prep was finished, the two teams would swap roles. By working simultaneously on both fronts, the speed would be much faster.
With the plan settled, everyone took action. In the past, someone might have complained for the sake of the camera, but today, everyone was energized for the work. Jiang Baihe and Lin Yiqiu found a small trolley in the house and stacked the gifts neatly onto it. Using a trolley was far more convenient than carrying things by hand.
Once prepared, the three of them set off toward the nearby residents’ homes with box after box of gifts.
The dawn light broke from the east and then quietly hid behind the evening mist in the west. Night arrived, and stars leaped onto the curtain of the sky one by one, like the lights of the human world below.
After a long day of labor, the group finally submitted their final “answer sheet,” successfully claiming the last few copper coins from the travelers. Watching the group of travelers wave at them with bright smiles, everyone felt the hardships of the past few days were worth it.
After seeing off the travelers, the group returned to their residence. To discuss things easily, they gathered in the house where Jiang Baihe and Lin Yiqiu were staying. Jiang Baihe pulled out the copper coins earned from previous orders and piled them together with the ones obtained tonight.
Ye Qing rubbed her chin: “So, what are these copper coins for?”
Xiang Meng offered her opinion: “Maybe they’re just souvenirs for us to collect?”
Lin Yiqiu glanced at them and tapped Jiang Baihe’s shoulder: “Master Diviner Jiang, what do you think?”
“I think…” Jiang Baihe was about to speak when she reacted: “Wait, what the hell is ‘Master Diviner’?”
Beside her, Ning Yu’an covered her mouth and snickered. Because she was close to Jiang Baihe and Lin Yiqiu and had collaborated with them many times over the past few days, she had a very good impression of Jiang Baihe: “Baihe really is remarkably calculating and far-sighted.”
Jiang Baihe was caught between laughter and tears. She joked with them for a bit before saying: “I think these are for exchanging for something, but as for what that is, it’s hard to say.”
After all, she wasn’t the director, nor was she the true “Diviner” Lin Yiqiu claimed. She couldn’t guess the crew’s intentions with such limited information.
Wait… the crew?
Jiang Baihe suddenly thought: “Logically speaking, shouldn’t the variety show recording be finished by now?”
Lin Yiqiu also suddenly realized: “Oh, right! Why hasn’t the production team shown up yet?”
Hearing the two of them say this, the others also became nervous.
“Look at the cameras—they’re still rolling!”
“Is it some special ending?”
“There’s not going to be more work, is there?”
Having run around all day, the group slumped in their seats. The mere thought of more work made them howl in pain.
Just then, a rhythmic knocking came from the door. Lin Yiqiu, sitting closest to the door, went to see who it was and found a young girl carrying a basket on her back.
Lin Yiqiu raised an eyebrow and muttered: “There are actually other people out in the village at night…” She leaned down halfway and asked gently: “Little sister, why are you out so late? Is something the matter?”
The girl smiled at Lin Yiqiu and said: “Good evening, elder sisters! I have many beautiful fresh flowers here. Do you need any?”
Selling flowers to them in the middle of the night?
The group looked at each other with strange expressions and stood up to go to the door to see what was happening.
Xiang Meng: “Oh, are these chrysanthemums in the basket? They’ve bloomed quite well.”
“Little sister, how much are these flowers?”
Xiang Xi felt her pockets and said bluntly: “The big sisters here don’t have a single cent on them.”
This was true; from the very beginning, the production team had confiscated their belongings. Everyone had come empty-handed, and not a penny could be found on them.
The little girl smiled and pointed to the spot where they had just been sitting: “Don’t you still have copper coins, sisters? You can exchange copper coins for flowers~”
Jiang Baihe’s group: !!!
So that was the use of the copper coins!
Ye Qing, at the back, quickly stacked the coins on the table and brought them to the door. Handing the coins to the little girl, the girl set down her basket, waved to everyone, and ran away happily.
The group took the flowers, still confused about their purpose, until they found a note at the bottom of the basket.
“See you at 3:00. — From the Production Team”
“3:00?! Is the director crazy?!” After seeing the note, everyone complained wildly, wishing they could tear the crew apart right there.
Ultimately, Jiang Baihe managed to persuade them all to go back. Since it wasn’t too late yet, they could head back and catch some sleep, otherwise it would be too late soon.
The night was as thick as ink, deep and quiet. For Jiang Baihe and her group, tonight was a sleepless night.
The clock hands gradually moved to the ‘3’ position. Jiang Baihe woke up early. Before she could even knock, Lin Yiqiu had already opened her door, yawning.
Lin Yiqiu looked at the equally listless Jiang Baihe and said indignantly: “I didn’t sleep well all night for fear of oversleeping. There better be something major happening!”
Before Jiang Baihe could speak, a series of roars echoed from outside, followed by several distant explosions. The sound of the blasts jarred the two of them wide awake. Lin Yiqiu silently retracted her previous words: “…Wait, the production team is going this big?!”
They were even using explosives?!
Jiang Baihe: “Go! Let’s get down and check it out!”
Jiang Baihe and Lin Yiqiu half-ran downstairs. Stepping out the door, they saw the village—which was usually devoid of a single soul—suddenly filled with many people. They were running around anxiously, dressed in clothes very similar to the travelers who appeared at night, but without the mottled stains on their garments.
Before Jiang Baihe and Lin Yiqiu could react to what was happening, another sky-shattering blast of artillery rang out from the distance.
Lin Yiqiu cursed under her breath and stared dumbstruck at the source of the explosions.
“Baihe! Yiqiu! Over here!!”
Amidst the chaos, the voices of Ning Yu’an and Xiang Meng called out. The two looked over to find them being protected by several people. When those people saw them, they immediately ran over.
“There are two more here! Come quickly, follow us!”
Jiang Baihe and Lin Yiqiu were protected by these people in a daze, successfully meeting up with Ning Yu’an and Xiang Meng.
“What is the situation?!”
“Where are the others?”
Ning Yu’an and Xiang Meng both shook their heads: “I don’t know either!!”
“We’re over here!”
Speak of the devil, the remaining Xiang Xi and Ye Qing were also escorted over by strangers. The six were reunited.
The usually peaceful village seemed to reach a boiling point tonight. Everything was in chaos. People were running about with weapons, and some were hauling supplies, seemingly trying to build a defensive line outside.
The people escorting them spoke with a firm expression: “The enemy has already attacked up the mountain. Retreat quickly! Run toward the back mountain; there’s a small path leading out there!”
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