Let You Have a Taste of Something Good

The sun hung high overhead. Four men crouched in the sprawling vegetable garden while Chi Shuran stood leisurely in a corner taking selfies with the production team's phone. The other four men each held a branch, their slender fingers all covered in dirt.

"Chi An, why do I feel like you're making us help with your task?"

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Wiping the sweat beading on his forehead, Lin Yuxuan looked doubtful, but his hands kept moving.

"I'm helping you out of kindness. Aren't you the one who needs weeds to feed the cows?"

"Now you've got two more people helping you collect weeds. It's one thing not to thank me, but you're even suspecting me of making you do my task?"

Chi An casually tossed the weeds he had dug up in front of Fu Yanci, a serious expression on his face, as though Lin Yuxuan's doubts had angered him.

"No, no! Thank you, really, thank you!" Noticing Chi An's tone, Lin Yuxuan abruptly caught on and hurried to speak.

The four of them worked on one vegetable plot and soon cleared all its weeds. Perhaps his conscience had stirred, because Chi An stood and straightened his back, then nudged Fu Yanci beside him with his arm. "Go help Song Wenjing."

"...Don't want to."

Chi An said, "That's your task."

Ha! This sucks. Show business is so annoying. I want to go back, but I still haven't coaxed him into coming back.

"Do you two still need weeds?"

The vegetable plots here were all about the same size. If he and Song Wenjing cleared one alone, it would probably take an hour, but with five people, they could finish in a little over twenty minutes if they worked quickly.

"Yeah, a little more."

Gu Zijin checked his basket. It wasn't full. Feeding one cow would take at least a full basket.

"Come on, there's another plot."

"Chi Shuran, go draw another task. There's just over an hour left. We can still do two more."

The morning was nearly over. Even he, a grown man, was exhausted from running around all morning, let alone a pampered young lady like Chi Shuran. From here on, he would do whatever he could on his own.

"Got it." Waving a hand, Chi Shuran turned and left, while the other five went to work on another plot.

At first, there were still sounds of conversation. Later, they gradually began to feel tired, and no one spoke anymore. They all wanted to finish their tasks quickly and get something to eat.

At exactly one in the afternoon, the director announced the end of the tasks. Everyone stopped what they were doing and headed to the place where they had drawn their task cards. The table had been replaced with a new one, and instead of task cards, neatly arranged dishes now covered it.

Lin Yuxuan squatted on the ground without any regard for his image, looking as though he had nothing left to live for. "Who's out there envying celebrities...? Celebrities are workers too. A worker's life, a worker's soul, working really wears you to death."

"Another day as a monk, another day ringing the bell. Another day at this lousy job, another day losing my mind."

"Oh my God, save this poor kid. This kid's really going to die of exhaustioooon..."

[Look how exhausted our Lin baby is. Hurry up and let them eat.]

[Honestly, nobody who works for a living has it easy. Today, they experienced half a day of farm labor. They weren't exactly fast, but finishing at all was pretty good.]

[The things they find tiring are things farmworkers do every day. They've never complained about this or that being tiring, because they know what they plant today will bring a good harvest next year. Without them, we wouldn't have those sweet fruits or grain. Farmworkers are truly indispensable, so I really admire them. Of course, if you want me to do any of this, pretend I never said anything. I can't handle even a little hardship.]

[I was just about to praise you, and then you hit me with that twist at the end. You sure know how to surprise people.]

"First place, Chi Shuran and Chi An, with four tasks completed."

"Second place, Song Wenjing and Fu Yanci, with three and a half tasks completed. They didn't finish their fourth task."

"Third place, Ren Anwen and Ren Wuyang, with three tasks completed."

"Fourth place, Lin Yuxuan and Gu Zijin, with two and a half tasks completed. Their third task just needed finishing up."

"Fifth place, Lu Wanqing and Li Nanyi, with one and a half tasks completed."

After announcing the rankings, the director cleared his throat softly and continued, "Now, first place may choose their lunch."

Her eyes gleaming with excitement, Chi Shuran quickened her pace and walked up to the table, looking over each spread as her hands swayed unconsciously. "So much food!"

"I'm so hungry, so hungry, so hungry, but I don't know what to eat."

Following behind Chi Shuran, Chi An looked toward the middle, where three dishes, a soup, and two bowls of rice had been set out.

"Try a taste of hardship." Pulling out a chair and sitting down, Chi An answered calmly.

"I've had too much hardship. I don't want any more."

"Then I'll let you have a taste of something good."

[Pfft! A taste of something good? Are you trying to make me laugh to death so you can inherit my two yuan of debt?! Hahaha!]

[I'd be fine with that. He said something good-would it be sweet? If Chi Shuran doesn't want it, why don't you feed it to me, handsome? I believe anything you give me would definitely be sweet.]

[Throw this one out.]

[I thought the production team would prepare some lavish delicacies, but it's just a very ordinary three dishes and a soup. (Not complaining, don't come for me.)]

[Judging by how these dishes look, the directors probably had local villagers make them. I live around there, and it looks like the food we eat.]

[Lesson learned. Next time my little brother asks me that, I'm answering the same way.]

After being hungry all morning, he could finally eat. With no time to pay attention to the person beside him, Chi An first ladled himself a bowl of soup, lifted it, and drank in small sips.

"Watch out, or I'll tell Grandpa on you."

Chi Shuran settled naturally into the seat beside Chi An, picked up a piece of meat, and put it in her mouth, narrowing her eyes in satisfaction. She didn't forget to order Chi An around. "Get me a bowl of soup."

Not bothering to argue with Chi Shuran, Chi An finished his bowl, then filled another and placed it in front of her. Propping his chin on his hand, he watched what the others would choose.

The director said, "Second place may choose now."

"Finally, my turn!"

Song Wenjing quickly ran to the spot beside Chi An. He had picked it out long ago. Of all the food on the table, aside from Chi An's spread, this one was the best.

Although there was no soup, two dishes were enough.

"Ahem!"

His hand paused as he pulled out the chair. Keeping his expression unchanged, Song Wenjing calmly stepped aside. "Come on, Yanci. I've already pulled your chair out for you."

Fu Yanci gave Song Wenjing a faint glance and sat down.

Song Wenjing pulled out the chair beside Fu Yanci instead. Just as he bent down to sit, he paused beside Fu Yanci and quickly said something.

"You're done for. I'm telling Uncle on you when we get back."

Sitting back in his chair, Song Wenjing still wore a smile. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me? Jealous that I get to eat?"

Lin Yuxuan said, "...Bro, Yanci's mic isn't in front. It's clipped to the side of his neck."