Chapter One Hundred: Recording a Blessing Video

Jiang Yun, Huang Kang, and the other two had already dressed themselves properly. Zhao Mai and Cai Kun went back to their rooms to change clothes.

The four wore work gloves, and Chen Long donned a gray Tai Chi outfit.

Thump, thump, thump!

Cai Kun ran down the stairs and paused when he saw Chen Long. “Mr. Chen Long, are you really going to wear that?”

Chen Long rolled his eyes. “What’s with you, kid? I just praised you this morning, and here you go again!”

Cai Kun scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

“What? Is this not okay? It’s so comfortable!” Chen Long looked ready to teach Cai Kun a lesson.

He Ling stepped out to smooth things over, speaking for Cai Kun. “Kun-kun means that you’re dressed a bit too lightly, Chen!”

Cai Kun awkwardly touched his nose. “Yes, yes, that’s exactly what I meant!”

“Alright, I’ll let you off this time!” Chen Long acted magnanimous. “I misunderstood you, so I apologize.”

Cai Kun was momentarily stunned, warmth spreading through his heart, and he grinned foolishly.

When Zhao Mai came down, the six of them headed to the orchard to pick apples.

The six arrived at the orchard, followed by the filming crew.

“You’re here?”

“Hello, uncle!” He Ling greeted the villagers.

“Hello, hello everyone!”

Several villagers quietly approached Jiang Yun, five of them surrounding him. “Mr. Jiang, the famous star, could you help us with something?”

Jiang Yun was surprised. “Uncle, what is it? Please tell me.”

“Well, my surname’s Wang, Wang Tie. I have a daughter, Wang Xiaoxiao, who’s in high school! She loves ‘Yearning for Life’ and has always wanted your autograph! Could you sign your name for me and take a photo with me?”

Jiang Yun chuckled. “I thought it was something serious! Of course, Uncle Wang, it would be an honor.”

Jiang Yun’s modesty won Wang Tie’s favor. “Alright, just wait here for a moment!”

Wang Tie went over to his electric tricycle, took a basin of water from the bucket, and washed his hands thoroughly.

Then he took a notebook, a phone, and a marker from the storage box.

Wang Tie returned to Jiang Yun. “Let’s take a photo first!”

“Okay!”

“Whose hands are clean? Help us take the picture!”

“Just wash them!” Another villager went to the tricycle, washed his hands, and said, “Here, I’ll take it!”

Jiang Yun and Wang Tie posed together.

Click!

The phone made a shutter sound.

“Take a few more!”

“Alright!”

Click! Click!

“Let’s see how they turned out!”

Wang Tie took the phone, scrolled through the album, and nodded in approval. Jiang Yun leaned in as well.

He Ling came over. “Jiang Yun, what are you doing?”

Jiang Yun explained, “Uncle Wang has a daughter in high school. She really likes our show, so we’re taking a photo together.”

He Ling’s eyes lit up. “In that case, why don’t I gather everyone and we record a video message for Uncle Wang’s daughter?”

Wang Tie slapped his thigh. “That would be wonderful!”

“Hey, Huang!” He Ling called out, “Chen, Cai Kun, Mai Mai, come over here!”

Everyone gathered. “What’s up?”

“Uncle Wang’s daughter is a fan of our show. Let’s record a video message for her together!”

“Sure, I have no objections!”

“What’s her name?” Zhao Mai asked.

“Wang Xiaoxiao.”

“How old is she?” Chen Long inquired.

“She’s in her final year.”

“Oh, she’ll be taking the college entrance exam after the New Year!”

“Exactly…”

“Come on, Cai Kun, hurry up, stop dawdling!”

So the six, plus Wang Tie, stood together. A villager held up the phone. “Ready, start!”

“Three, two, one, go!”

“Best wishes to Wang Xiaoxiao for academic success…”

“Stop!” Huang Kang stepped forward. “What are you all saying? It’s a mess!”

“Best wishes to Wang Xiaoxiao…” Cai Kun continued loudly, oblivious.

“Cai Kun!”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Record again!”

Cai Kun realized everyone was staring at him, his face flushed with embarrassment.

All of these moments were captured by the filming crew.

Huang Kang put his hands on his hips. “Let’s unify our message. We’ll say: ‘Best wishes to Wang Xiaoxiao for academic success, may you rise step by step, and get into college!’”

“Okay, no problem!”

Huang Kang pointed at Cai Kun. “If you mess it up, you’re in trouble!”

“We can add a ‘happy’ at the end,” Zhao Mai suggested.

“All right, let’s add ‘happy’ at the end!”

Everyone stood in position again, Wang Tie in the middle.

A villager held up Wang Tie’s smartphone. “Ready, three, two, one, go.”

The seven shouted in unison, “Best wishes to Wang Xiaoxiao for academic success, may you rise step by step, and get into college! Happy!”

“Okay! Great!”

“Let me see how it turned out?” Huang Kang took the phone and checked the video. The quality was fine; with modern phones, there’s no issue recording videos. He nodded in satisfaction. “Good, not bad!”

“Let me see!” Zhao Mai said.

“Me too!” Cai Kun chimed in, taking the phone.

Everyone took turns watching and, finding nothing wrong, began signing the notebook.

“Okay, it’s done!”

“Just a reminder! You’ve already wasted half an hour, and you only have two hours left before eleven o’clock!” the director of the filming crew said. “If you don’t finish your task, there’ll be no ingredients for you!”

“Huh? Director, we’re recording a message for a fan—can’t you give us some leeway?”

The director responded coldly, “That’s your business. You need to figure it out yourselves.”

“Ah~ Director, how could you!” Zhao Mai and Cai Kun wailed in protest.

“Alright, stop complaining and get to work!” someone urged.

So the six shouldered bamboo baskets and began picking apples in the orchard.

“Huff, huff…” Zhao Mai, exhausted, collapsed on the ground. “Director, it’s already eleven. Have we finished the task?”

“Congratulations, you barely made it!”

“Oh yeah!” Zhao Mai was instantly revived, bouncing with energy.

“It’s eleven, everyone can head back now!” Huang Kang called out.

Wang Tie approached. “Let me drive you back in the tricycle!”

“No need, we’ll walk! Besides, it can’t fit all of us.”

“Alright then!”

With the filming crew behind them, everyone headed toward the Mushroom House.

Back at the Mushroom House, the six took off their gloves and rain boots.

They began to wash their hands and faces.

“I can’t stand it anymore! Crawling through the orchard has made me itch all over! I’m going to take a shower and change into clean clothes!” Zhao Mai rushed to his room.

Huang Kang called after him, “Mai Mai, we’re going again this afternoon!”

Zhao Mai stumbled, nearly falling.

Huang Kang and Jiang Yun started preparing lunch.

Cai Kun entered the kitchen. “Can I cook a dish too?”

Jiang Yun looked up at him. “What do you want to make?”

“Tomato scrambled eggs!”

Huang Kang snickered. “Can you even make that?”

“I can!”

“You’d better not,” Jiang Yun said.

“Senior Jiang Yun, let me try!”

Jiang Yun finished plating the shredded potatoes from the wok.

“What do you say, Senior Jiang Yun?”

Jiang Yun shrugged, easy-going. “All right, here’s the wok!”

“Jiang Yun, you really shouldn’t let him. He’ll just make a mess out of the kitchen.”

“You heard him, it’s not me stopping you!”

“Huh?” Cai Kun pulled a miserable face. “Just once!”

After ten minutes of persistent pleading, Cai Kun finally got his wish. Jiang Yun and Huang Kang relented, letting him cook tomato scrambled eggs…

ps: Thanks to “Gaga–” for a monthly ticket and nine recommendation votes!