Chapter 53: The Money Might Be Running Low

The rural courtyard was spacious, and Song Xiaoyu’s family had a large vegetable garden for drying grains. The crew decided to pitch two tents in the yard for Jun Yan, Yan Wang, and two male assistants, while the rest set up camp in the back garden.

As guests busied themselves settling in and the crew secured cameras, the livestream audience engaged in lively discussion:

[Youran is so kind to Song Xiaoyu, even altering her pretty dress to give her.]

[Tang Tang truly lives up to her ‘sweet girl’ image, offering toys to Xiaoyu.]

[Haha, Yan Yueqing’s suitcase is like a treasure chest, producing all sorts of things!]

[Xu Li’s cooking smells amazing! Everyone praises rural firewood meals!]

[Is no one noticing Yan Bao? He and Wang Wang are standing quietly near the camera, looking adorable as they want to help but don’t know how.]

[Sisters, I think the staff might not dare let Yan Bao help!]

[This little guy’s aura seems extraordinary!]

[Gossip time! I heard ‘Zhongxin’ originally aimed to promote Li Manman, but by the fifth episode, they changed the script and added mysterious guests like Yan Bao! The power of capital, who understands?]

[Indeed, last episode the village chief clearly targeted Yan Yueqing, but now everyone’s playing freely… Something’s off…]

[Got it, Yan Yueqing is the predetermined winner this season!]

[I don’t care about predetermined outcomes; I just want to see more of Wang Wang and Yan Bao. These brothers are so lovable.]

Xu Li, a food blogger skilled in developing various cuisines, was thrilled to see the vegetable garden. She could pick fresh vegetables, rinse them with well water, and they looked crisp and appealing.

Yan Yueqing could also cook. The two bustled about in the kitchen, one preparing ingredients while the other tended the fire and stir-fried. Xu Li usually preferred cooking alone, but Yan Yueqing seemed to understand her rhythm perfectly, anticipating which ingredients and seasonings she needed before being asked.

During free moments, Yan Yueqing would adjust the firewood, controlling the heat as precisely as a city gas stove.

They prepared tomato carp soup, braised carp, steamed red snapper, sauce-flavored bass, oil-braised prawns, seaweed egg drop soup, and two refreshing stir-fried leafy greens. The show had provided plenty of fish, including some non-sea varieties for diversity.

It was hard to describe the guests’ reactions to seeing carp in saltwater. However, these were minor details that wouldn’t detract from the overall experience. As long as the children were well-fed, fans wouldn’t nitpick.

The feast was truly lavish, all “meticulously prepared” by the production team. Only the prawns came from Song Xiaoyu’s tank. Her parents, returning with her sister tomorrow, had instructed her to buy fresh prawns for her sister’s nutrition. Always obedient, Song Xiaoyu took initiative today and used all the prawns herself.

Her little face was flushed, looking much more spirited than before!

After dinner, everyone chatted in the courtyard. As the wind picked up and the moon rose, they gradually retired to their rooms.

Yan Yueqing brought Yan Wang’s medicine to the tent. Noticing his slightly pale face, she asked with concern, “Baobao, if you feel uncomfortable, call Mommy immediately, okay?”

“Don’t worry,” came his firm, childlike response.

Yan Yueqing touched her son’s face, smiling gently. Yan Wang looked at his mother, seemingly preoccupied.

“What’s wrong?”

Yan Wang hesitated. Since arriving at Song Xiaoyu’s home, he’d had a strange feeling. This family wasn’t as impoverished as it seemed. If they could support three children, why were Xiaoyu’s parents so…

Yan Yueqing sensed his unease. “Baobao, are you worried about Xiaoyu?”

Yan Wang lowered his eyes, silently confirming.

Though frail, his senses were sharper than most. He had known for a long time that his mother wasn’t his real mother! The woman before him now seemed to be his mother returning… And the same was true for Song Xiaoyu.

But mentioning such things would make others think he was strange. Not wanting to worry his mother, Yan Wang decided to wait and observe.

Seeing her son’s reluctance to speak, Yan Yueqing didn’t press him. After settling Yan Wang, she briefly chatted with Jun Yan in the adjacent tent before returning inside.

Jun Yan, uncomfortable with sharing sleeping space, chose to sleep alone despite initially agreeing to stay in a tent. Yan Wang, preferring to interact only with his mother, chose another tent. This arrangement troubled the staff, who arranged for someone to keep watch over the five-year-old through the night.

As night deepened, cicadas filled the air with their song.

The children fell asleep, and the livestream was turned off.

Yan Yueqing tucked in Tang Tang and Tian Tian, then sent a WeChat message: 「Director Tang, are you still up?」

Director Tang’s room was brightly lit. He sat at his desk, looking stern and focused on something important.

When his phone rang, he glanced down. Seeing the sender’s name, his expression softened.

「Yueqing, is something the matter?」

「Director Tang, do you know any private investigators?」

「Quite a few. What do you need investigated?」

Since forming their alliance, Yan Yueqing spoke directly: 「There’s a little girl. I’d like to help her find her biological parents.」

「Sure, I’ll send you Wang Sheng’s WeChat. He’s the most capable investigator in the capital for such matters.」 Then, Director Tang brought up the shares. Yueqing, I’ve acquired ten percent of Zhongxing’s shares, almost half of the scattered shares. For the rest, we’ll likely need to buy from major shareholders.」

「Is the problem that we’re short on money?」 Yan Yueqing asked.

Director Tang sighed, 「When we started buying scattered shares, they became wary. Now that Zhongxing’s stock is doing well, we might have to double our offer to get them to sell.」

「That’s a minor issue.」 Just thinking about the mysteriously lost four hundred billion made Yan Yueqing’s heartache! Excited at the chance to spend money, she felt energized: 「Director Tang, keep acquiring shares. I’ll handle the money. As long as we can give Zhongxing to my son, everything else is just a detail.」

With that, she tapped her phone, transferring two billion.

Director Tang: ??????????????????????????

Wait!!!

Just how rich is this woman?!