After introducing the guest lineup, the program director continued, “The village where you are currently located is called Liangshan Village. It is the first stop of the journey arranged for you in this season. Parents and children will spend a week here.”
”Alright, let’s get straight to the point. The first thing we’ll do upon arrival at Liangshan Village is for the production team to check everyone’s luggage. You can’t bring any food with you. The production team won’t interfere with reasonable items, okay?”
Upon hearing this, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu were stunned. Their suitcases still contained a large amount of snacks given to them by their grandmother!
The result, naturally, was that he had no choice but to take it out and reluctantly hand it over to the staff from the production crew who came to inspect his suitcase.
Seeing their distressed yet cooperative demeanor, the staff smiled and said, “Don’t worry, the uncles and aunties won’t steal the food. We’ll give it back to you after the show.”
Apart from Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu, none of the other adults and children had any food in their luggage. The rule that luggage would be checked and food was not allowed was actually something the guests had already been informed of before filming began today. They were just going through the motions in front of the live camera.
However, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu were not specifically informed by the adults. When Shang’s mother put snacks in their suitcases before departure, Xuan Zhixia and Shang Shuji did not remind them either.
Xuan Zhixia was actually unaware of this requirement, because the program’s instructions were rather lengthy, as if they were afraid people wouldn’t understand them. They were written in great detail, word by word, and sometimes even gave a few “vivid” examples, which hurt people’s eyes. So Xuan Zhixia stopped reading after a few.
He figured that once he was on the show, he would just follow the arrangements and try to make himself comfortable. He would not make himself uncomfortable unless he had to do something himself.
As for Shang Shuji… out of his usual meticulousness, he did take the time to look at the program’s precautions, but still did not specifically remind the two children—if Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu remembered to ask if they could bring snacks, then Shang Shuji would tell them.
However, they hadn’t considered that this problem might exist, so Shang Shuji didn’t mention it. After all, it wasn’t a big deal, and it wouldn’t hurt for Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu to have more experience.
In the live stream—
[I thought businesses would be very strict with children, but I didn’t expect them to let us eat snacks, and even bring so many!]
[You can tell from the kids’ outfits that they’re definitely not the strict type; otherwise, their detective attire would be considered mismatched.]
[Xuan Zhixia looks particularly tired, a bit weak.]
[There seem to be rumors that Xuan Zhixia is in poor health.]
[Huh? So he brought a first-aid kit in his luggage, not just as a precaution, but as a necessity?]
After the guests’ luggage was checked, the production director had someone bring out a whiteboard with five photos of different houses on it.
Director: “Parents and children, look here. These five houses are the accommodations our production team rented for each family after communicating with the village. As for how to arrange them, that task will fall to our children!”
The five houses provided by the program team are clearly of varying quality just by looking at the photos. The houses include: thatched house, wooden house, stone house, relatively old brick house, and newer and larger brick house.
The last two houses are alright; at least they look like they’re ready to move in. The first three houses, however, are a different story. They’re not just purely decorative signs.
The thatched house truly has a roof covered with thatch. The house is neither tall nor large. The thatched ends of the eaves hang down, almost blocking a third of the house. The “walls” of the house are a mix of bamboo and wood that look like they have been exposed to wind and rain for many years. The “kitchen” of this house is just a shed that is casually built outside the house with drafts on all four sides.
The wooden house and the stone house looked larger, but they weren’t exactly neat and orderly. They were built from pieces of wood of varying lengths and even materials, large stones mixed with yellow mud. The most sturdy part of both houses seemed to be the roof, at least not like the thatched houses that were worried about being blown away by strong winds.
These houses look so bad they seem to collapse if you look at them too much, let alone live in them with constant anxiety. The guests on this show aren’t all super rich, but they’ve never worried about their houses collapsing, so it’s hard for them to accept.
”Director, have you checked the safety of the house?” Gao Feng asked bluntly.
This question did indeed voice the guests’ true feelings.
The director laughed and said, “Of course, we’re just making a show, not trying to kill our guests. We can’t take that responsibility.”
”Don’t worry, everyone. These houses are very sturdy. Although some houses may be drafty, it’s summer now, so there’s no need to worry about that. We’ve also thoroughly cleaned each house, and basic daily necessities are provided.”
The director then explained that a starting line would be drawn so that the children from the five families could race. The finish line would be a whiteboard with pictures of houses on it. They could choose which house to live in, and it would be first come, first served.
The starting line is represented by a rope, which is parallel to the whiteboard, meaning that all children run the same distance.
Seeing this, Shang Bishu smiled and said, “Our Gao Shang is six years old, the oldest among these children, so I’m not worried. But isn’t it a bit unfair to the younger children? They’re younger, so they’ll definitely run slower. Qiqi and Shushu are only four years old, aren’t they the youngest among the children?”
Upon hearing this, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu subconsciously glanced at Shang Shuji, but Shang Shuji showed no intention of instructing them.
So the two children had to answer themselves.
Shang Jingqi thought for a moment and said, “No, Auntie, I’m a little over a month older than Shang Jingshu, but Shang Jingshu will be turning five soon…”
After being brought back to Shangjia from the orphanage, the two children spent most of their time together and developed a good understanding of each other. Shang Jingqi paused mid-sentence, and Shang Jingshu quickly followed, tilting her head to look at Yao Shuyue, who had come to the show with her award-winning mother.
”Yueyue, when the director was introducing everyone just now, I remember you were also four years old, right?” Shang Jingshu asked.
Yao Shuyue, unafraid of strangers, nodded and answered cheerfully, “Yes!”
Shang Jingshu then asked her, “When is your birthday?”
Yao Shuyue replied, “I just had my birthday last week! My mom bought me a birthday cake, and the cake said I was four years old!”
Shang Jingshu nodded, then said innocently to Shang Bishu, “Auntie, look, Yueyue is the youngest. You’re mistaken.”
Shang Bishu: “…”
Although she was speechless at how serious the child was, Shang Bishu didn’t show it on her face. After two awkward seconds, she laughed and said, “Auntie was mistaken, but Auntie was right. Qiqi and Shushu are really clever children.”
In the live stream room—
[I feel embarrassed for Shang Bishu…]
[Hmm, this is a live stream, is it really okay to be so obsequious?]
[They’re not actors, they don’t care about this, right? After all, if they succeed in flattering President Shang, even a little bit of what he gives him could feed people for years.]
[Gao Feng and Shang Bi Shu, a notorious couple known for their sycophancy and bullying, didn’t you know?]
[Qiqi and Shushu are so smart! They’re clever and straightforward. Although it wasn’t intentional, they just didn’t give Shang Bishu any face. I really enjoyed watching them!]
[Tsk… Don’t you guys find it strange? I just realized that, actually, since the start of the live stream, President Shang hasn’t really spoken to the two kids much…]
[Yes, just now Shang Bishu called out to Qiqi and Shushu, and they subconsciously looked at President Shang, but President Shang ignored them and let the two children deal with it themselves.]
[Perhaps it’s about raising the child? After all, they were adopted, so surely they wouldn’t dislike him/her?]
[I really feel that Xuan Zhixia is in such an awkward position in this family. His husband ignores him, and the children don’t even think of him when something happens…]
[However, I don’t think Xuan Zhixia himself is embarrassed; he seems to be almost asleep.]
[Hurry up and allocate the house! Let my wife rest after this is over!]
Regarding the fact that everyone started at the same level, the director smiled and said, “It’s not directed at anyone, but it’s part of the competition. As long as the kids do their best, friendship comes first and competition second!”
However, since the outcome of the competition concerns housing, it will inevitably be a fight to the death.
Before the competition, the director gave each family one minute to talk to their children about which house they wanted and to say some encouraging words to their children.
Let’s start with the Gao family, according to the children’s ages.
Gao Feng and Shang Bishu said to their six-year-old son, “Gao Shang, you are the eldest brother. Although the rules of the competition are fixed, people are flexible. As the older brother, you should let your younger brothers and sisters have their way. Even if you reach the finish line first, don’t choose the best house. We’ll stay in the middle stone house, understand?”
The couple wanted to show off, but Gao Shang was very unhappy after hearing this. Accustomed to being bossy at home, he didn’t give his parents any face at all and said, “Why should I? I don’t want to! That stone house will collapse and kill people! I want to live in the biggest and best house!”
Gao Feng and Shang Bishu acted simultaneously, one patting Gao Shang’s head and the other his back. Then, like helpless parents dealing with a child, they sighed to the others and said, “We’re so sorry, my husband and I are too busy with work. His grandparents usually take care of him at home, spoiling him too much, which is why he’s so disobedient…”
However, the parents of the other four families present were: Yao Qingqian, a single mother with social anxiety; Mu Xi and Fang Yueyun, a Yue Opera artist couple; Gu Xie, a movie star with a cold personality; Lin Zhaoshui, a third-tier actor who either didn’t speak or spoke very directly; and Shang Shuji and Xuan Zhixia, who were even less likely to help.
So, after Gao Feng and Shang Bishu finished speaking, no one answered for a long time.
Finally, the youngest, Yao Shuyue, slowly spoke up: “Uncle, Aunt, you must teach him well.”
Gao Feng Shang Bi Shu: “…”
“But you have to take the competition seriously, that’s for sure,” Yao Shuyue continued.
Gao Feng and Shang Bi Shu could only smile.
Holding her daughter’s little hand, Yao Qingqian was filled with doubt. How could her daughter be so amazing? How did she do it?
The minute passed for the Gao family, and it was now the turn of Yue Opera artists Mu Xi and Fang Yueyun.
They said gently to their daughter, Mu Zhijun, “Zhijun, just do your best. When you reach the finish line, choose the house you want to live in most from the available options.”
Mu Zhijun nodded and asked, “May I choose the thatched hut? But I’m not doing this out of modesty; I genuinely want to live in a thatched hut. I think it looks very interesting.”
Mu Xi and Fang Yuejun expressed their respect for her opinion.
After this group, it was time for the newly announced relationship between award-winning actor Gu Xie and Lin Zhaoshui, who were paired with five-year-old Meng Xiang.
Gu Xie squatted down and said to Meng Xiang, “Just do your best, don’t worry.”
Lin Zhaoshui nodded: “Have you thought about which house you like?”
Meng Xiang was very shy and lowered his head, saying, “Anything is fine…”
Lin Zhaoshui patted his head and said softly, “Okay, then think about what you can catch later.”
Then, it was Xuan Zhixia and his “family of four” that came up.
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu’s eyes sparkled, but Shang Shuji had nothing to say, only succinctly stating, “I’ll do my best.”
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu still had their heads tilted back.
Xuan Zhixia coughed lightly and said to the brother and sister who were not paying attention to him, “I have to stay in the best, otherwise you two who are my partners will suffer later.”
Shang Shuji raised an eyebrow and looked at Xuan Zhixia along with the brother and sister.
Shang Jingshu: “Ah…why?”
Xuan Zhixia pointed to himself and said with a clear conscience, “I’m not in good health. Even a little dust can make me sick. Do you want to take care of a sick person forever? Even though we don’t get along, you can’t just watch me get sick and ignore me, can you?”
The two children looked up at him, and upon hearing this, Shang Jingqi hesitated: “You… are you telling the truth?”
Xuan Zhixia retorted, “Who would joke about something as trivial as being sick?”
Since Shang Shuji didn’t speak, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu assumed it was true.
Shang Jingshu thought for a moment: “So, you have to live in that big house, number five?”
The program team numbered the photos; number five is the newest and largest brick house.
In response, Xuan Zhixia readily agreed, saying, “The No. 4 set is fine too, as long as it’s not too bad. I’m not picky.”
Number four is a slightly less desirable brick and tile house, ranking second best among the five houses.
The confident statement, “I’m not picky,” made Shang Shuji look away.
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu had already thought about Xuan Zhixia’s request. They nodded, then put on their little faces and said in a reluctant tone, “Okay, you’re such a hassle.”
Xuan Zhixia smiled serenely, as if unconcerned with worldly affairs.
Viewers in the live stream commented—
[Kids are definitely meant to be played with!]
[Xuan Zhixia: I’m not picky. The best one is fine, the second best one is also okay. You guys decide.]
[Laughing so hard! Hahahaha]
[How strange, Xuan Zhixia kept saying they didn’t get along, but I actually think they get along pretty well…]
[These two kids are so easy to fool, is this Xuan Zhixia’s style of encouragement?]
[Mr. Shang doesn’t want to say anything, hahaha]
[I don’t think it’s entirely a lie. Xuan Zhixia does look unwell, but the idea that dust could make him sick is definitely an exaggeration.]
After Xuan Zhixia and the others, there was only one group left: the socially awkward actress Yao Qingqian and her extroverted daughter Yao Shuyue.
Before Yao Qingqian could speak, Yao Shuyue patted her chest and assured her, “Mom, don’t worry, I’ll run really hard! Even if I come in last, it’s okay. The girls ahead of us will choose the straw houses, but we’ll definitely have a wooden house to live in! The wooden house isn’t the smallest; it’ll be big enough for just the two of us. Mom is happy just being with me.”
“Is that right?”
Yao Shuyue spoke slowly but clearly and logically, saying everything she needed to say in one breath. Yao Qingqian nodded a little shyly: “Yes, being with my baby makes me very happy. I don’t care where we live.”
At this point, all five families and six children stood at the starting line, excitedly preparing to begin the race.
The program director stood next to the whiteboard at the finish line, holding a megaphone and raising a small red flag in his other hand. As the megaphone announced, “Ready—Go!” the small red flag slid down.
The six children were all still young and had no concept of “ready state” when it came to running. They just stood there blankly and rushed forward after hearing “run”.
The second oldest, Mu Zhijun, quickly ran to the front, followed closely by Gao Shang, who was half a year older than Mu Zhijun. Then came the siblings Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu, Meng Xiang lagged behind a little, and the youngest, Yao Shuyue, lagged behind even further.
Among the parents, Gao Feng and Shang Bishu were the most involved at this moment, cheering for all the children: “Go! You’re great, kids! You’re getting closer and closer to the finish line! Keep it up!”
They were speaking so loudly that Xuan Zhixia found it a bit uncomfortable, but in some ways he actually admired the couple’s attitude.
Having stood for a while, Xuan Zhixia missed sitting down again, but there were no seats for him to sit on. He could only pull out the handle of his suitcase, secure it, and then use it for leverage.
Standing next to Xuan Zhixia, watching his lazy demeanor, Shang Shuji couldn’t help but have a sudden question pop into his head—how exactly did Xuan Zhixia grow up so safely?
Over there, Gao Shang stared intently at Mu Zhijun ahead, determined to catch up with her. Finally, as they neared the finish line, he made a sprint and caught up with her.
Gao Shang, feeling smug, continued running forward while turning back to look at his parents and shouting, “Am I awesome!”
At this moment, Mu Zhijun also started sprinting. When Gao Shang turned around after shouting, he found that Mu Zhijun had already run ahead of him again. Before he could sprint again, Mu Zhijun had already obtained the photo on the whiteboard, which was the thatched cottage she wanted.
Meanwhile, the siblings Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu were almost catching up with Gao Shang. Seeing this, Gao Shang became anxious and tried to go faster, but he accidentally tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.
The adults were all startled, and Gao Shang even sat on the ground and burst into tears.
The children were a little confused, but they also felt that the competition was still going on.
As Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu passed by Gao Shang, they slowed down because they were unsure of what to do.
Fortunately, Mu Zhijun, who had already received the photos of the house, ran over from the finish line and said to them, “Keep running, you haven’t reached the finish line yet… Gao Shang, you should get up and run too!”
Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu sped up again and ran towards the finish line.
Gao Shang wiped away his tears and tried to get up from the ground, but then he saw that the lukewarm Meng Xiang had also run past him. The only one still lagging behind was the youngest, Yao Shuyue, but she was not far behind.
Gao Shang immediately deflated, and, in a fit of anger and embarrassment, glared at Mu Zhijun, who was trying to persuade him. With tears in his eyes, he shouted, “You! You’re a bad kid! You don’t even live in a big house, yet you want to compete with me. I clearly came in first place!”
Not far from the finish line, Shang Jingqi and Shang Jingshu, who had already obtained the photo of house number five, were stunned when they heard this.