Chapter 5: Le Xi Slaughters the Lamb

Le Xi let out a snort. She used to think the same way, and look how that turned out.

Cui Meiying asked her, “What’s so funny?”

Without opening her eyes, Le Xi replied, “I agree with you. Didn’t you say Gu Xiaomo is so great?”

[Le Xi, why are you being so sarcastic?]
[Ugh, she’s everywhere, always so annoying.]
[Le Xi is selfish, keeps her pillow to herself, while Gu Xiaomo kindly shares her blanket and still gets mocked for it.]

“Meiying, Xi Xi, don’t be upset because of me. That would make me feel guilty. Meiying, why don’t you take the bottom bunk? I’m worried the top might be inconvenient for you.”

Gu Xiaomo pulled Cui Meiying aside, patted her gently, and spread the blanket over the lower bunk. Though Le Xi irritated her, for the sake of her image, Gu Xiaomo noticed Cui Meiying had a slim waist and seemed a bit naive. She decided to get close to her, hoping Meiying would help her deal with Le Xi.

Fifteen minutes slipped by quickly.

When the guests saw the host, the noise almost deafened him.

“Everyone, calm down, calm down! Do you all genuinely find the dormitory conditions tough?”

“Yes!” they shouted in unison, loud enough to make the host wince.

“Alright, then set off immediately with your partners—head up the mountain.”

The host handed each group a map showing what was planted where, and which areas were off-limits. Each group also received identical sets of tools: a basket and a bucket. The host then withdrew.

The male guests in the other groups all chivalrously shouldered the tools, carried the baskets and buckets—except for Huo Hongming, who said to Le Xi, “Let’s split these.”

Le Xi, without hesitation, snapped a photo of the map with her backup phone and tossed the paper map to Huo Hongming. “There, we’re splitting the map too. You get the paper version.”

Huo Hongming was stingy, but Le Xi was generous. “You can pick whichever tools you want first.”

He immediately took the more useful shovel and fishing net, leaving Le Xi with the less practical small spade and kitchen knife. Le Xi just grabbed her share and left.

The map showed where potatoes were grown, where the corn was, where the flowers bloomed, areas for feeding chickens and sheep, and even a fish pond...

Le Xi headed straight for the sheep pen—money was an urgent concern, so she went for the most valuable.

Seeing Le Xi make for the sheep, Gu Xiaomo whispered to Gu Linghao, “Let’s sell sheep. They fetch the best price.”

At the pen, Gu Xiaomo said to Le Xi, “Xi Xi, you’re selling sheep too? That’s exactly what Linghao and I thought.”

She told Gu Linghao, “Pick the fattest ones.”

The two of them together, naturally, ended up with the plumpest sheep. Then Gu Xiaomo feigned generosity: “Xi Xi, I’ve picked out the fattest. I’ll give you one.”

“No need,” Le Xi replied. A whole fat sheep sold as is would never make as much as carving up a lean one and selling the meat. She wasn’t about to let Gu Xiaomo play the good guy.

Le Xi led two sheep down to the river. “Camera guy, you might want to point your lens elsewhere. I’m afraid this part will be too bloody for broadcast.”

[What’s Le Xi up to? She’s not really going to slaughter the sheep, is she?]
[She doesn’t have the guts—or the skills. That takes technique.]
[She sure knows how to grab attention, though.]

A chorus of bleating followed, and the cameraman’s equipment nearly hit the ground.

“Good heavens…”

Huo Hongming, who had come to fish, arrived just in time to witness a spray of blood. His legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed.

[What’s happening? What’s happening?]
[I just heard sheep screaming.]
[Why does Huo Hongming look absolutely terrified? Could it be real?]
[Show me Le Xi!]
[Le Xi, Le Xi, I want to see Le Xi...]

Not a single shot could be broadcast—one glimpse and the livestream would be shut down.

Le Xi could’ve handled it all herself, but since Huo Hongming was here, looking half-dead with fright, she figured if she didn’t get him involved, he’d spend the day idling, not earn a cent, eat her food, and then later piggyback on her earnings for the better transport. No way.

“Huo Hongming, snap out of it and get over here.”

He finally came to his senses. “My god, are you really a woman? You’re so ruthless.”

“And you call yourself a man, being so scared.”

Huo Hongming had nothing to say. While Le Xi gathered firewood, she set him to work. “Here, use this bucket to fetch some water.”

Huo Hongming grumbled at being ordered about, “We divided the work. I’m here to fish.”

“Are you sure about that?” Le Xi asked.

Even a three-year-old could see she was planning to sell mutton. Huo Hongming, who spent more time in supermarkets than at home, certainly knew the price per pound of mutton versus fish. With more money, they could eat well. Reluctantly, he obeyed.

Le Xi set a pot over the firewood. When the water boiled, the two of them began to pluck the sheep.

As for butchering, the camera couldn’t show it, and Huo Hongming didn’t dare look.

Covering his eyes, he thought: Thank goodness his ex-girlfriend wasn’t Le Xi, or he might not have made it through the show in one piece.

The camera finally settled on the piles of wool and the neatly cut mutton.

[Seriously, did Le Xi actually do this? Production team, don’t lie to me.]
[Is this woman really so fierce?]
[I bet there’s something fishy here. If they didn’t show it, it’s not real.]

Wang Zhuorui and Wang Sisi were picking corn, but in the midst of it, Wang Zhuorui heard clucking sounds.

He looked outside—Wang Sisi was dancing with a ring of chickens. She spun around, and the chickens leaped and landed in unison, their thudding making Wang Zhuorui wince. Those poor chickens.

“Sisi, what are you doing? Come back and help with the corn.”

[Now that’s hardcore. In the past, Yang Guo practiced with pigeons; today, Sisi dances with hens. But those chickens are paying a heavy price—one wrong move and the eggs will crack.]
[Forget picking corn. It won’t fetch much. Just take those chickens to town and put on a show—you’ll make a fortune.]
[Production team, put up a payment code. I feel bad for the chickens.]

Wang Sisi returned to Wang Zhuorui, still exhilarated. “Brother, how about a dance-off? Your concert tickets don’t sell because you only sing and don’t dance. Young people love singing and dancing now. Dance with me, and I guarantee you’ll become a master. Next time you put on a concert, it’ll be packed.”

Wang Zhuorui covered his face. This woman was not only strange, but she had a knack for poking right where it hurt.

As for Cui Meiying, she seemed hesitant to do anything—delicate, fair-skinned, her waist exposed.

Deng Jiachao was quick to offer, “Men and women working together makes things easier. I’ll do the heavy lifting—digging, fishing, chopping. You can handle the sales.”

Cui Meiying twisted her waist coquettishly. “Great idea, Chao. Or we could pick some flowers and sell those.”

“Whatever you say, Meiying.” Deng Jiachao was only too eager.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, men…”

It’s just carrying a sheep—how hard can it be?

Le Xi remarked, “I’ve never seen anyone as weak as you.”