Chapter 24: Spending Your Own Hard-Earned Money

Xu Shujian placed a high value on his sense of time. Since they were planning to go cycling anyway, he felt that cycling at a leisurely pace with ample time was an entirely different concept from simply rushing to a destination.

Adding to his irritation was his already poor impression of Pan Yun; hearing the commotion inside the house only made him feel more uncomfortable. Either you don't say anything and stop playing the role of the virtuous wife and mother taking care of everyone, or if you do say it, you’d better follow through.

She had volunteered to be the tour guide, stayed up all night, slept until noon, and while claiming to be budget-conscious, she insisted on buying coffee and dropping hints—what was that? Did the whole world have to revolve around her?

Xu Shujian stood up, grabbed his backpack from the doorway, and went inside to pack some food.

"It's twelve-thirty. We're leaving first."

Without waiting for the others' reactions, he headed out.

Song Yue had stood up the moment Xu Shujian did. A mysterious smile playing on her lips, she walked straight to the corner of the courtyard where their luggage was kept. By the time Xu Shujian stepped out, she was already dragging her suitcase toward the gate.

The two didn't exchange a word, yet they completed the same action with perfect tacit understanding.

They couldn't take suitcases on the bikes, so they needed to drop them off at the RV parked at the courtyard entrance. After stowing the bags, they selected two bicycles. The production crew reacted quickly, and a small team immediately followed them.

The scenery in Yue City was beautiful; the sky was clear and vast, and the temperature was moderate—around sixteen or seventeen degrees Celsius—accompanied by a gentle breeze. Though it felt slightly cool, the sunlight balanced it out, creating perfect conditions for an outing.

After leaving the guesthouse, the cycling path was lined with tall palm trees. To the right, there was a vast expanse of lush greenery; to the left, a lake shimmering under the sun. Xu Shujian’s mood finally began to settle. He felt he had been maintaining a facade of civility toward everyone, but clearly, no one appreciated that decorum.

Xu Shujian turned his head toward Song Yue, who was riding parallel to him, and said with a huff, "You’re still laughing?"

Song Yue laughed out loud. "It’s just more comfortable being yourself, isn't it?"

"So, were you waiting for me to make a move?"

"Of course. If I weren't waiting for you, I would have left long ago."

"Why?"

"Guess!"

Xu Shujian ignored her.

"Not talking to me now? You're petty. Actually, I didn't think you would leave early. I thought even if you were uncomfortable, you’d endure it for the sake of the group. I was planning to go along with you, and when you finally reached your breaking point or couldn't hold it in anymore, I’d talk to you then and encourage you to express your discomfort. You leaving early was actually a bit of a surprise."

Xu Shujian began to speed up. Song Yue followed suit.

"Fine, fine. I’ll play the 'bad cop' from now on, alright?"

Amidst the whistling wind, Xu Shujian shouted, "Whatever, I’ve completely adapted. Forget them—even if you make me uncomfortable, I’ll tell you."

Song Yue’s laughter rang out again. "Great! I’ve been working out every day, I’m serious. You might not be able to keep up with me."

After passing through a small wooded area, the view opened up, revealing a healing vista where the water met the sky. Occasionally, the cycling path crossed the water via bridges. Yue City was nestled in a mountain valley, with Qionghai Lake as its centerpiece, forming a small basin dotted with the occasional house belonging to the locals.

Xu Shujian and Song Yue stopped competing, slowing down after leaving the woods and occasionally admiring the scenery together. It seemed that as long as you weren't with someone you truly detested, you could let go of life's trivialities and focus on the present moment.

After about forty minutes of riding, Xu Shujian suddenly stopped. Song Yue pulled over too, looking puzzled.

They were near a small bamboo grove—likely ornamental—with a spacious platform for visitors to rest. Song Yue noticed someone selling fruit, but then remembered: did they even have any money?

Xu Shujian parked his bike and walked over. The vendor was an elderly man sitting on a small stool, scrolling through TikTok. In front of him were some oranges and apples, with two buckets of water nearby.

Xu Shujian greeted him with a smile, "Sir, how much for the fruit?"

The old man looked up, his face breaking into a smile. "You’re a handsome young man! These oranges are five yuan, these ones here are eight, and the apples are six. You can have a taste, come on... wait! Are you guys... are you filming a TV show?"

Xu Shujian squatted down and took a slice of apple the man had cut with a knife. "It's fine, don't worry about it. We’re just documenting our lives. Mmm! Delicious."

He tasted the slice, which was sweet and juicy, and handed one to Song Yue.

"Sir, how about we make a deal? I’ll help you sell them, and you give me a commission?"

The old man paused, then chuckled. "Young man, you’re quite the big shot. You’ve got several people filming you just to document your life—must be professionals. I know, I’ve seen plenty of influencers filming all sorts of messy videos. You’re just... what do you call it? Looking for material, right?"

Xu Shujian gave the old man a thumbs-up. "You really get it!"

The cycling path wasn't just occupied by their group; people were coming and going, some cycling, some walking. Song Yue wasn't a celebrity, and Xu Shujian hadn't appeared in public for years. Most people here were families out for a trip; they exchanged quick glances, but very few recognized them.

Xu Shujian didn't want to bicker with the others about money. If he had the chance to earn some for themselves, why not?

The old man clearly wasn't a rigid person and agreed after a brief discussion. His prices already had some room for negotiation, and he was happy to have someone help him sell.

They quickly agreed: Xu Shujian would earn a two-yuan commission for every jin sold. However, the old man had a request: he wanted the camera crew following them to film a few TikTok videos for him.

The old man didn't just like watching TikTok; he loved playing with it too. Xu Shujian glanced at his interface and said in surprise, "Sir, you’ve got hundreds of followers! That’s impressive."

The old man laughed heartily. "Heh, just messing around. Don't look at me like I'm just an old man now; back in my day, my looks weren't any worse than yours. Even now, plenty of old ladies follow me and send me private messages!"

Xu Shujian ran over to consult with the cameramen on electric scooters. They agreed and started filming the old man.

Once the old man went off to the side to film, Xu Shujian moved the crates of fruit to the roadside and sat on the old man's stool. Song Yue watched the whole operation with a stunned expression.

The old man didn't seem satisfied with the footage, so he came over, pulled Xu Shujian into the frame, and started talking animatedly. The gist was that he’d met a handsome young man, a professional who traveled with a whole crew and was even helping him sell fruit...

After filming two or three takes, some people approached. Xu Shujian immediately ran to the edge of the path and waved at the group. "Leibo navel oranges, sugar-core apples! Fragrant, sweet, and nice and big!"

The people riding over appeared to be two families traveling together. The two women were riding separately, while the two men were on a tandem bike with children in the back. They had been chatting as they approached, noticing the crowd gathered there.

As they slowed down, one of the women suddenly said in surprise, "This guy looks so familiar!"

Xu Shujian immediately took an apple and walked over, slicing it as he went. "Sir, ma'am, have a taste. It’s very sweet, great for a vitamin C boost. It’ll give you energy for the ride."

Without waiting for an answer, he handed a slice to each of them and gave the rest to a child. He then ran back to grab two more, handing another to the child. "It's fine, you don't have to buy anything. Meeting is fate; consider it my treat. Little one, don't eat it yet—there's water over there, let me wash it for you."