Chapter Sixteen: Women Who Know How to Charm Have the Best Fate

The comment section was filled with curses. The director intended to end the livestream, but Su Wan’ning refused.

“This isn’t mine. It appeared at my door out of nowhere. The viewers deserve the truth, we can’t cut the stream!”

Her commanding presence intimidated both the director on site and Feng Rui on the other end.

Soon, the village courier was brought in to identify the sender—it turned out that Qin Jingchen had someone deliver it.

“So it was a father’s love, after all.”

“Good intentions gone wrong. He’s definitely going to be in trouble when he gets home.”

“Su Wan’ning is just pretending. Maybe she told her husband to send it, now she’s acting all innocent!”

With the misunderstanding cleared up, Su Wan’ning faced the camera without holding back.

“Seriously, do you think I’d be foolish enough to invite criticism on myself?”

Her look of complete innocence triggered laughter in the comment section, and just like that, this minor storm passed. Still, internally, Su Wan’ning was grinding her teeth at Qin Jingchen. That man must have done this on purpose to attract trouble for her!

Soon, the four families were gathered together. The production team had prepared a muddy 200-meter sprint. The winning team would earn the right to choose their location first.

“Each location contains ingredients you can collect, which will serve as materials for tonight’s dinner. All the food you prepare will be served together at a welcome banquet for the whole village!”

At the director’s signal, the other three contestants dashed forward with all their might, especially the athlete Sheng Ying, whose graceful lead drew a wave of praise from the comment section.

Su Wan’ning lagged behind.

She’d barely slept at noon, her eyelids were heavy with exhaustion, and the ground was muddy and studded with stones. Realizing she had no chance of winning, Su Wan’ning simply gave in, shuffling to the finish line at a snail’s pace and securing the distinction of coming in last.

“What’s wrong with Su Wan’ning? She’s yawning during the game?”

“Does she even want to film this show properly? Such unprofessional behavior!”

“I don’t like running either. If it were me, I’d rather walk and come in last—what business is it of yours?”

“Even when she yawns, the beauty is captivating—I’m a fan now!”

“Hah! Is Su Wan’ning just giving up outright?”

The first three families quickly picked their spots—ponds and vegetable gardens were all claimed, leaving only a mountain for Su Wan’ning.

Soon, she slung a bamboo basket over her back, grabbed a shovel and a hoe, and, holding a child in each hand, set off up the mountain to forage.

This scene was captured in wide shots, close-ups, and detailed angles by the camera, and the comment section erupted in ridicule.

“She was just telling us not to imitate Wang Baochuan digging wild vegetables, and now she’s doing it herself! What a slap in the face!”

“Exactly—karmic retribution is never late.”

With no free hand to hold the camera, Su Wan’ning could only turn her head and address the viewers.

“You’re laughing at me, aren’t you? I did say not to imitate Wang Baochuan, but sometimes, like now, foraging wild vegetables is a survival skill. But to all the ladies in my stream: take this as a warning—never let love cloud your mind!”

“Quick-witted beauty.”

“I believe her.”

Suddenly, Su Wan’ning’s gaze shifted—she spotted a small bamboo shoot poking through the earth in the nearby bamboo grove.

“Wait!” she cried out in delight.

“What now? That scared me!”

“She’s just trying to attract attention. I’m going to watch Sheng Ying pull up radishes next. Goodbye.”

Su Wan’ning pointed excitedly, “Look, we don’t have to dig for wild vegetables—there are bamboo shoots over there!”

The camera followed her gesture, and sure enough, after the recent rain, many tender shoots had broken through the ground—a bounty of natural ingredients.

Su Wan’ning sat down beside a sturdy bamboo stalk and handed the tools to Sui Sui.

“Sui Sui, you’re a little man now. This kind of hard work isn’t for us women. I’m counting on you to dig up the bamboo shoots!”

Sui Sui’s expression remained calm and indifferent as he took the shovel and walked over to the tender shoots.

The camera zoomed in on Sui Sui’s small, fair hands carefully digging the earth—an image that tugged at the viewers’ hearts.

Meanwhile, Su Wan’ning leaned against a tree trunk, eyes closed, holding Nian Nian in her arms. The mother and daughter hummed softly, utterly at ease.

“Is she really his mother? Making her son do all the hard work alone!”

“How lazy can she be? Sui Sui’s little hands are getting red.”

“Someone should step in. Did the father see this? Your wife is mistreating your son! Divorce that wicked woman immediately!”

In truth, Su Wan’ning was genuinely exhausted. Her body had only just endured a traumatic blood loss, and now she was caring for children in harsh conditions, having barely rested at midday. Climbing the mountain had left her dizzy—she was continuing on willpower alone.

“All done.”

A child’s voice brought her back. Su Wan’ning opened her eyes to see the basket nearly full with fresh, tender bamboo shoots.

Such a bounty of natural delicacies instantly revived her spirits. She hugged her son’s little face and kissed him with delight.

“Amazing! Mommy loves you!”

Sui Sui said nothing, only frowned and turned away, rubbing his cheek with a muddy hand, leaving a comical smear across his face.

“See? Being sweet gets you far. Sister Su has taught us another trick.”

“She must be deranged, acting cute with her own son!”

Meanwhile, the other families were hard at work. Sheng Ying and her daughter had pulled a bounty of vegetables from the garden; Feng Rui, hindered by her child Mingming’s refusal to cooperate, was forced to wade into the water alone, gritting her teeth as she caught fish despite her disgust.