Chapter 122: The Dignified President

The two of them walked into town amidst an atmosphere that was both awkward and inexplicably sweet.

The town looked much as Su Wanning had imagined. Being the only town among the surrounding villages, it was bustling with activity. Both sides of the road were lined with small shops and vendors, and the streets were crowded with villagers out shopping. The air was filled with the sounds of hawkers calling out, vibrant with the simple, authentic flavor of everyday life.

Su Wanning scanned her surroundings, intentionally ignoring the small street stalls—even though those vendors had the most business and seemed the easiest places to find work. She couldn't very well have a high-powered CEO standing by the roadside hawking goods, so she turned her attention to the storefronts instead.

"Let’s go ask over there."

Most of the storefronts in this area were hardware or appliance shops. In a town like this, such shops didn't get much foot traffic, and after being turned away from three in a row, they still hadn't found work.

The sun began its westward descent as midday approached, yet their team remained empty-handed.

Elsewhere, Yu Xin and Tian Boyu had entered a village and were lucky enough to find a fish pond where harvesting was underway. Thanks to Yu Xin’s silver tongue, the pair secured a job helping with the harvest for a daily wage of eighty yuan each, donning the local fishermen's waders.

The work required someone to step into the pond to cast the nets. As soon as Tian Boyu set foot into the pond, he let out a yelp and plunged headlong into the water. Yu Xin tried her best to pull him out, but ended up being dragged into the pond herself, leaving them both covered in mud and in a sorry state.

After being rescued by the villagers, Yu Xin glanced at the livestream camera, mud splattered even on her face. Beside her, Tian Boyu was in no better condition; his hair was soaked with dirty pond water, ruining the look he had painstakingly styled that morning.

Yu Xin felt a surge of frustration at the sight of him. "Can you slow down? What’s wrong with you? Can’t you even walk properly?"

Tian Boyu had stepped into a soft patch of ground. Due to his height and weight, the silt at the bottom of the pond had trapped his calves, making every step a struggle. He wore a miserable expression. "I can't move."

Yu Xin rolled her eyes directly at the camera, though she still began the arduous task of wading toward him.

Meanwhile, thanks to the advantage of their RV, the team led by Yin Shanshan drove straight to the foot of the mountain and found a wholesale shop. Yin Shanshan leveraged her fame to borrow some clothes. She had a good eye, and the pieces she selected were trendy and aligned with current tastes. Once everything was set, she and the other two members changed into the clothes and drove the RV to a crowded area to set up a stall.

"Shanshan is so smart. The wholesale price of the clothes was so low; they’re going to make a fortune today."
"But there are children with them too. Why didn't they stock some children’s wear? That would surely sell well."
"Why does this scene feel so familiar? It seems like Su Wanning did something similar before."

Soon, the RV was surrounded by villagers. Since the cost price was low, Yin Shanshan doubled the price for everything. Relying on the celebrity effect of the group and the presence of the camera crew, they managed to sell off nearly half their stock in no time.

By noon, Su Wanning’s team still hadn't found a job, and the two children were starting to get hungry. Niannian clutched her stomach, looking pitiful. "Mommy, I’m so hungry."

Su Wanning felt a pang of guilt. If she were alone, she would have found work for them long ago, but she was stuck with a pampered master who had never lifted a finger in his life. Helpless, she sighed. "Bear with it a little longer. We’ll find work soon. Follow me."

Qin Jingchen bent down, picked up his daughter, and walked toward the noodle shop across the street. By the time Su Wanning caught up, the father and daughter were already seated at a table. Qin Jingchen held a pair of disposable chopsticks and swept a gaze over her.

"Sit." His tone was as natural as if he were hosting a guest in his own home.

Su Wanning braced herself and sat down, whispering a reminder, "We don't have any money. Why are you here?"

Qin Jingchen looked puzzled. "I brought money."

Su Wanning was left speechless. She emphasized, "The rules of the show state that we have to earn our own money. Guests aren't allowed to use their own."

"Oh." Qin Jingchen nodded seriously upon hearing this. Just as Su Wanning was about to take the children and leave, he added, "But I’m not a contestant on the show."

Su Wanning looked at him in disbelief. "Huh?"

"The director said I’m a guest, so don't worry. This meal is on me."

"Is President Qin exploiting a loophole here?"
"President Qin is so domineering; I support you!"
"I can confirm the director did say that!"
"Is this the mindset of the super-rich? Even Su Wanning is stunned. It really is a case of one thing subduing another."

"But we still haven't found work. The other two teams must have started by now. What about the game?"

"Why are you so anxious?" Qin Jingchen looked at her strangely, as if the problem were as trivial as deciding which flavor of noodles to order.

"We have to go back and report in before dinner. It would be embarrassing to earn absolutely nothing," Su Wanning insisted. At this moment, the image of the domineering CEO in her mind had vanished, replaced by that of a village simpleton.

"You have a point. I can't let you lose face." Qin Jingchen nodded earnestly, as if he had truly taken her words to heart. He continued, "How about this? I’ll hire you to accompany me shopping this afternoon. The hourly rate is ten thousand. How’s that?"

"I agree!"
"All the straight men reading this, take notes! This is the ultimate way to pamper your wife!"
"President Qin is amazing. Being rich really does mean you can do whatever you want."

Su Wanning’s mouth twitched upon hearing this. If circumstances allowed, she would have liked to crack open Qin Jingchen’s skull just to see what was inside.

"Boss, why aren't our noodles ready yet?" Realizing she and Qin Jingchen were on different wavelengths, Su Wanning began to urge the shopkeeper.

The shop was doing good business. Most people buying goods nearby chose to eat there at noon. The environment was clean and had fans, and every table was occupied. The owner was so busy he couldn't spare a moment, shouting from the kitchen with only his head visible, "Just a moment!"

Su Wanning sighed helplessly, but as she glanced toward the kitchen, a sudden idea struck her, and a flicker of pleasant surprise crossed her face.