◎ Eating ◎

After seeing the comments, Ren Lu couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows.

She originally had no intention of going against Xu Shiqing, but Xu Shiqing’s earlier attitude—afraid she might overhear and copy her idea—had made her feel displeased, so she thought she might as well make a public guess.

If she guessed correctly, she would ruin Xu Shiqing’s surprise; if she guessed wrong, there would be no loss.

She just didn’t expect that after all this time, Xu Shiqing was still in the secrecy stage. Even during a live broadcast, she had avoided revealing anything. No one had copied her idea, yet she was still acting mysterious—she had better be careful of backlash.

Xu Shiqing’s hype was in full swing. She was busy to no end, first whispering to the director to inform him of her strategy, then taking out a loan to get herself a pair of shoes, and even rescuing Peng Hongyu. The two of them were acting in perfect “husband and wife in unity” fashion.

The comments were full of people praising her for having a clear mind, being wise, and being self-reliant.

Of course, aside from praise, there were countless questions. Everyone wanted to know exactly how she planned to earn cotton. After all, she was the first to take out a loan, and since Peng Hongyu couldn’t do physical labor and wouldn’t lower himself to perform, there was no way for him to collect cotton.

For Xu Shiqing to charge ahead so boldly, she must have had something to rely on. And since the director had agreed, her reliance must not have been small.

“Do you want to know what I’m going to do? Good things are worth waiting for; no rush. Once I’ve made all the arrangements, you’ll naturally know.”

From the director, she learned that the comments were now full of questions. Xu Shiqing felt a surge of pride, not only refusing to give the answer but even selling the mystery further.

This was exactly the scene she had imagined countless times before. Everyone’s eyes were on her; she was finally the center of attention, finally back on track.

“Let’s go. We’re going to find the village chief. If we’re doing this, we’re going big!” She clapped her hands, looking extremely confident and full of ambition.

She led her and Peng Hongyu’s filming crew, marching valiantly and spiritedly toward the village cadre center.

Along the way, her mouth could not stay idle. She kept pointing at the surrounding fields for the camera to film, praising the growth of the cotton, completely a sign before selling goods.

Unfortunately, things went contrary to her wishes. By the time they arrived at the village cadre center, no cadre came out; only a clerk was sent out to respond.

“Young man, we have an urgent matter to see the village chief.”

“I already told you, the village chief is in a meeting.” The young fellow seemed a little impatient.

“It really is an urgent matter, and also a good thing, a great thing!” Xu Shiqing stepped forward to speak on their behalf.

“The village chief is in a meeting, and that is also a very urgent matter, and also a good thing, a great thing.” The young clerk glanced at the camera, gave a light cough, his attitude improving slightly, but still not giving in.

“If the village chief has no time, then what about the other village cadres? The Organization Department or the Publicity Department?”

“They are all in a meeting!”

The young clerk again waved his hand, turned around, and was about to leave.

“Hey, wait, we want to cooperate with the village. This year, the cotton is so good—its sales channels must be hard to manage, right? The two of us are big internet bloggers with many fans; we can discuss the details.” Xu Shiqing immediately blocked him. In order to keep him, she had no choice but to reveal a little of the plan.

Peng Hongyu also chimed in on the side, “Not only bloggers, but also connections—absolutely can make sure the village’s cotton has no worries about sales!”

The young clerk seemed a little interested and asked, “You two are big internet celebrities, here to help sell cotton?”

Xu Shiqing and her husband exchanged a glance. It seemed there was hope, so they nodded.

“Big internet celebrities, we wouldn’t dare to claim that, but we can make sure all the village’s cotton sells out—sell as much as there is.” She pretended to be modest and waved her hand.

Although they had never sold farm products before, they had sold other goods, all with good sales. Cotton certainly would be no exception.

“Only selling cotton?”

“If the village has other crops, we can sell them together—the more variety of goods, the better.” When Peng Hongyu heard him ask that, he thought there were more product types, so he immediately suggested.

“No need.” After saying this, the young clerk walked back inside again. This time, no matter how Xu Shiqing tried to keep him, he did not stop. He even kept waving his hand, quickening his pace, as if afraid they would cling to him.

At home, Peng Hongyu was the young master; online, he was a second-generation rich kid admired by others. How had he ever endured such treatment? Seeing an ordinary villager repeatedly throw a cold face at him without giving him any face, he could no longer hold back and got directly angry.

“What is this attitude? We are kindly offering to help the villagers sell cotton, yet you won’t even listen, just trying to leave again and again. Who gave you such authority? Shouldn’t you ask the village chief?” He immediately raised his voice and directly began to question.

If it were not for the cameras, he would have already started cursing.

“Hongyu, speak slowly. This young man just hasn’t understood the situation yet. Young man, you should at least ask the villagers—if they knew you were driving business away like this, how sad they would be!”

The Xu Shiqing couple played one good cop, one bad cop, making the scene even more lively.

——What’s with this staff member? Do they need a bribe to speak properly?

——No, even in front of the camera, they are this arrogant? Their backing must be strong.

——Heh, once this trend, they’ll behave. Probably will claim it was a temp worker taking the blame.

——It’s midsummer now, people are not wearing cotton-padded jackets or quilts. If there are no sales channels, cotton is indeed hard to sell. This village doesn’t look rich—it doesn’t seem like they have many connections. Why push people away?

The young clerk let out a long sigh. The camera was almost in his face. Clearly, the production team had spotted the controversy and wanted to stir up heat.

He had to give a proper explanation; otherwise, he really would be scolded.

“You two, I have now understood the situation. The village chief is in a meeting, and the other village cadres are also in a meeting. Before receiving you two, I was also in a meeting. I have already asked clearly what you want to do, and the reason I still have to go back in is because the matter currently being discussed is much more important than selling goods. It is an important plan for our village’s construction for the next five years. Everyone is competing to get work to do. If I stay out here, I will miss my turn.”

“You two sit and rest for a while. Hey, uncles and aunties, you have come at the right time—entertain our guests with some tea.”

The young clerk barely kept his tone steady, but just from his words, one could sense his urgency. The leaders were assigning tasks, and if he was not present, he would definitely miss out on the important work. How could he be promoted and get a raise in the future then?

Unfortunately, with the cameras there, he could not throw too much of a cold face. These two guests were making trouble and not letting him leave, exhausting him even more.

Fortunately, the village had no shortage of onlookers. At this moment, a bunch of uncles and aunties crowded outside the door, and he just so happened to invite them in.

“Coming, coming.”

This was the village cadre’s office. Normally, they would not come in unless necessary, so as not to disturb work.

Now being invited in, the uncles and aunties were all very eager.

“Girl, you two are a couple?”

“Young man, how many years have you been married? Do you have children?”

“So handsome, the two of you are a good match. What program are you filming, and on what channel can we watch it?”

The couple was instantly surrounded, with all kinds of questions coming one after another. The young clerk took the opportunity to slip back into the meeting room, afraid that if he ran too slowly, he would really miss the credit.

Listening to the chatter of family gossip all around her, Xu Shiqing was almost suffocating, but still had to keep a smiling face and also had to calm down Peng Hongyu beside her, in case he exploded.

She wanted to sell cotton online, but without the organization of the village cadres, it would be difficult to proceed. Pulling in villagers one by one would likely not gather many kilograms.

But now she could not meet anyone at all, and her work could not start at all. She could only wait, falling into a deadlock.

***

Ren Lu sat under the shade of a tree, chatting happily with the live comment section. Everyone else was busy dealing with cotton and had no time to watch the comments—only she sat here like a rich, idle person, controlling the whole situation.

The comments were almost giving her real-time updates on the situation in the other live rooms.

The Xu Shiqing couple’s predicament, the hard labor of Chen Wan’s couple and Zhou Shanshan’s couple, and Lu Sinian being in a meeting but having his livestream room shut down.

Unknowingly, she became hungry. Looking down at the time, it was already mealtime.

“Lulu, where is your President Lu?”

Just at that time, the two couples who had gone to work in the fields came back. The dresses on the two wives were gone, replaced with T-shirts and long pants for easier work.

“Doing business.” She sniffed.

The four guests each held a boxed meal. Clearly, they had exchanged for lunch with the production team.

“You haven’t eaten yet, right? Here’s a box for you.”

“No, no.” Ren Lu immediately refused. They had worked hard to earn it; she was embarrassed to take it.

“It’s fine. The four of us put our points together and exchanged two extra boxes. One for you and one for Shiqing. As for the two men, let them figure it out themselves.” Chen Wan would not take no for an answer and directly shoved a box to her.

Since the boxed meal had already been exchanged, refusing now would seem ungrateful.

“Alright, then I won’t be polite. Thank you, brothers and sisters.” Ren Lu clasped her fists toward them in thanks, imitating the ancients.

She did not rush to eat but instead communicated with the director for a while, then called the man.

In the office, a group of village cadres sat around the table, actively discussing plans.

Lu Sinian sat among them, occasionally giving suggestions, looking every bit the commanding presence.

Just then, the phone on the table vibrated, and he frowned.

“Whose is that?” During meetings, he hated it most when phones were not on silent, disturbing the progress.

Everyone looked at each other. Before they could answer, Lu Sinian realized it was his own phone.

“Sorry, I need to take this call.” He gestured.

“What is it?” His tone was calm, but from those brief words one could already hear a layer of meaning—if it’s important, say it quickly; if not, hang up.

“Nothing important, just reminding President Lu—it’s time for lunch.”

“I’m not eating.”

“Fine, then go hungry. I’m already eating. Sister Zhou and Sister Chen are treating me. Farm dishes are so fragrant.” As she spoke, she deliberately picked up a piece of food and put it in her mouth, chewing loudly, looking as if she wanted to make him drool.

Lu Sinian was silent for a moment, then hung up directly.

“Director, I’ve completed the extra task!” She immediately raised her voice to announce.

“President Lu is angry?” the director asked.

“Of course, he even slammed the phone.”

Anyway, since Lu Sinian’s livestream room was closed, she could freely make things up.

“Let’s wait for the director over there to confirm.” Unfortunately, the director did not fall for it.

But instead of a director, two elderly ladies came in carrying several insulated buckets.

“Which one is Ren Lu?”

“I am.” She immediately raised her hand.

“The village cadres had us make food. Mr. Lu has already eaten over there, so you don’t have to worry.”

“I’ll get someone to bring tables and chairs, just a moment.”

One of the elderly ladies put down the food and immediately called for someone to bring things.

Very soon, the dining table was set up. On top were several dishes and a pot of chicken soup stewed with shiitake mushrooms, its fragrance wafting through the air.

“The vegetables were all freshly picked from our gardens, the chicken was just slaughtered—all fresh.” The lady explained.

“Thank you, this is too kind!” Ren Lu immediately expressed her thanks.

“What’s there to thank? What Mr. Lu wants to do for the village is a great thing. We should be thanking you. Eat slowly; we’ll come back to collect the dishes later.”

The lady clearly feared she would not feel comfortable eating, so she left after a few words.

“Big brothers and big sisters, it’s my turn to repay a meal—extra food is here!” She called the other four guests to the table. The others did not stand on ceremony and came over to eat together.

——Whoa, President Lu really did go do business.

——So it turns out the reason why Xu Shiqing and her husband couldn’t be found was because they were being monopolized by President Lu.

——Hahahaha, whatever Mrs. Lu says will come true.

——The person who said “a flood dragon trapped in the shallows” before, I wonder if their face hurts now.

——If such a big enterprise can be managed, let alone a small pile of cotton. I just wonder what great business President Lu is going to do that makes him dismiss even the help of a big internet celebrity to sell goods!