C19 – Go Sourcing
Ultimately, Lin Luqin had to depart.
Her encounter with Zhao Yuegu was re happenstance.
She was bound for work, after all.
Next on her agenda was producing a program to aid the impoverished at another location.
Zhao Yuegu was well aware of this.
“When will you be leaving?”
“I’ll wrap up the shoot tonight and head out tomorrow morning.”
A shadow crossed Lin Luqin’s gaze.
The ti spent with Zhao Yuegu had been precious to her.
Every mont felt enriching.
Yet, deep down, she harbored a sliver of fantasy.
She dread that Zhao Yuegu might take the initiative and accompany her as she left this place.
Even if it ant…
She would be the one providing for him in the future!
“I’ll see you off.”
His words left Lin Luqin feeling a tinge of disappointnt.
He wouldn’t be leaving this place after all.
“I wonder when we’ll say goodbye again.”
Lin Luqin inhaled deeply, striving to lift her spirits.
She then took Zhao Yuegu’s hand and penned a series of digits.
“Here’s my number. Reach out if you need anything.”
“And this is my address.”
She left her contact details willingly, still hoping Zhao Yuegu would seek her out.
“I’ve got it morized.”
He was about to say more when Lin Luqin suddenly lunged forward.
A delicate fruity scent drifted from her, and her soft lips landed on Zhao Yuegu’s in a tender kiss.
Caught off guard, he was slightly entranced.
The fragrance was fresh and airy, reminiscent of lily of the valley or a freshly sliced waterlon on a sumr day.
But it was the softness of her lips that he wished could last forever.
Lin Luqin had intended to leave Zhao Yuegu with an indelible mory.
But as Zhao Yuegu’s strong arms pulled her close, escape was impossible.
Her kiss was soft, yet Zhao Yuegu’s response was more passionate and unrestrained.
Her body involuntarily softened, her gaze becoming faintly hazy.
It took considerable effort to finally push Zhao Yuegu away.
“There are so many people around.”
“They can’t see us.”
Regrettably, with the courtyard so crowded, there was little more they could do.
He suspected…
Lin Luqin wouldn’t have objected.
Even if he were to refuse, there would be no real loss.
Aren’t n supposed to be proactive?
Lin Luqin, standing before him, was visibly flustered and dashed out the door.
But after a few steps, she turned and headed in the opposite direction.
Clearly, she had run the wrong way.
Zhao Yuegu just chuckled.
Lin Luqin’s courage was, after all, sowhat lacking.
As he was lost in thought, the female director showed up at the door, her face etched with skepticism, and knocked.
“Zhao, I’d like to buy so more waterlons from you.”
“Absolutely.”
“Any chance you could give
a discount?”
Zhao Yuegu shook his head.
“I can’t.”
The system’s pricing was strict.
You could say it was rock-bottom.
“Okay, we need sixty. Could you help
get them out?”
“Sure thing.”
Zhao Yuegu couldn’t say no.
Before long, three hundred thousand yuan was laid out before him.
Ding! Congratulations on fulfilling the mission requirents. You’ve earned a tenfold cashback, receiving 3,000,000 yuan.”
Three hundred and thirty thousand yuan smoothly deposited!
And there weren’t many waterlons left to sell.
To date, the inco from selling these waterlons alone had surpassed five million yuan!
Nothing could beat the speed of this cash flow.
“There’s a farewell dinner with the program team tonight. You should co.”
“Sure.”
He had made a fortune, after all; it was only right to show so courtesy.
Most of the waterlons, of course, were private orders,
Intended as gifts.
Though the downpour ceased by evening, the lack of a proper venue ant the dinner was still set up indoors.
A spread of waterlon-based dishes, village delicacies, and an assortnt of foods from the program team ca together to create the evening’s feast.
Simple as it was, it served as a proper goodbye to Walden.
Unquestionably, Zhao Yuegu was once again the village’s ambassador.
And the venue for the dinner? His very own ho.
Zhao Xueman was overjoyed.
She hadn’t seen such an array of treats even during New Year’s.
“Brother, can we really eat as much as we want?”
“Absolutely.”
“Aweso.”
Zhao Xueman nearly pounced on the table, sneakily slipping so treats to Big Yellow as if she were filching them.
Zhao Yuegu’s heart ached as he watched the scene unfold. Despite his wealth, Xueman was enduring an unnecessarily tough life. Tomorrow, while hauling waterlons to the county, he’d seize the opportunity to do so shopping. Money was ant to be spent, after all.
The evening brought feasting and toasting, a final goodbye of sorts. Zhao raised his glass in gratitude on behalf of the villagers. “Thank you. Without your arrival, Walden Village might have remained cut off from the world,” he said. “The villagers would be forever thankful if that road to the outside could be built. You’ll always be friends of Walden Village.” With that, Zhao Yuegu lifted his glass, and everyone drank in unison.
Lin Luqin had more than her share, her cheeks flushed and her gaze unfocused, even disrupting the filming schedule. But it was of little concern; editing could fix that later. If not for her assistant’s intervention, she might have ended up in Zhao’s arms for all to see.
Ma Yabei, unconcerned with appearances, clung to Zhao’s arm, nearly succumbing to sleep. The sight sparked a mix of envy and jealousy among the male mbers of the program team. Zhao, a simple villager, seed to have an enviable way with won. Such is life, they sighed.
As the drinks flowed and the food lost its flavor, people began to retire for the night. The only hiccup was Lin Luqin’s and Ma Yabei’s standoff, each wanting to stay in Zhao’s room. The stalemate ended with them sleeping side by side, leaving Zhao tearful. Why the need for such caution? Wouldn’t it have been better to share the space?
In the end, Zhao could only embrace Xueman as they settled down to sleep, with the big yellow dog, Towser, lying underneath the bed.
Co dawn, Zhao was up early, retrieving his bank card and so cash from a hidden compartnt in the bed before tending to the cows. With a long journey ahead and over thirty waterlons left, he prepared the ox cart for the day’s work.
“I want to be your ox cart,” Lin Luqin declared through yawns, ready to start the day.
“No problem,” ca the reply, though Ma Yabei’s expression held a touch of lancholy.
Her sprained ankle hadn’t fully healed, making lengthy walks inadvisable.
Yet, perhaps due to spending the entire night in each other’s embrace, there seed to be a thaw in their previously frosty relationship. It was quite the curious developnt.
“Make sure you co back early,” Ma Yabei said, her tone resembling that of a devoted housewife waiting at ho.
Zhao Yuegu just chuckled.
Co back early?
That would be a challenge!
Exiting this secluded valley would take a full day’s trek.
Accompanying Zhao Yuegu, aside from the program team, was the robust Ninth Grandpa, primarily there to help bring back the ox cart.
It looked like Zhao Yuegu might need to make overnight purchases in the county.
Indeed, this marked his first departure from the mountain since his transmigration, stirring within him a sense of anticipation.
Reviews
All reviews (0)