Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Leisurely Countryside
For various reasons, Gu Cheng still agreed to let his sister continue on the show.
Out of respect for his younger brother, he informed Gu Che about this matter.
Gu Che didn’t react much, "That’s fine, we’re both busy. With one more person to look after Miaomiao, it’ll help promote Ancient Martial Arts, which is great. Anyway, during the rest of the week, Pei Hai will bring Miaomiao to see either me or you."
His brother’s calm reaction made Gu Cheng feel a bit embarrassed.
Last night, he even lost some sleep over this. He couldn’t bear to part with his sister, and was a tad jealous of his cousin.
But finding a suitable program wasn’t that easy, and he was busy with film festivals and movie schedules.
The director had no idea that after he hung up the phone, his seemingly mature younger brother was pacing back and forth in the lounge, mumbling in frustration.
"Damn, damn, why is the tour happening at this time?"
His handsome face was already scrubbed red by his own hands.
"No, I need to keep an eye on other programs, I can’t let others steal a march again!"
The first season of "Leisurely Country Life" chose a relatively remote village in Jiang City.
This village received an investment aimed at developing it into a tourism village, and it just so happened that Director Wang, the show’s chief director, wanted to select a rural area for the shoot, requiring the village to provide five houses and five plots of land.
The director and the village chief hit it off immediately.
The former needed the villagers’ cooperation, such as providing houses and vegetable plots, and also helping to prevent outsiders from disturbing the shoot. The village chief hoped that this show would make more people aware of their village, thereby boosting its fame, which would benefit the early development of the tourism village.
After the official announcement of the program, no pilot episode was filmed, and even on the day of the live broadcast, no one ambushed the guests.
The director only set a gathering time.
Early that morning, Tuanzi got up to practice martial arts.
After finishing her practice, Gu Cheng had already prepared breakfast.
"Steamed dumplings?"
Tuanzi sniffed deeply and saw the flour on Gu Cheng’s apron, "Thank you, big brother~"
The best way to express gratitude is to eat all the steamed dumplings.
Tuanzi ate to her heart’s content, carrying the steamed dumplings packed by her big brother for her cousin in one hand, and pressing down on her small suitcase with the other, waiting for Gu Peihai to pick her up.
Soon, the doorbell rang.
Tuanzi went to open the door herself.
Without waiting for Gu Peihai to greet her, she eagerly raised the lunchbox.
"Big brother made these steamed dumplings, they’re super delicious, this portion is yours."
Gu Peihai looked pleasantly surprised.
"Cheng, you’re getting more and more housewifely... ah no, more and more considerate."
Gu Cheng kept a straight face, "Don’t forget what you promised."
"Got it, got it."
Gu Peihai said casually, "If I can’t cook, I’ll take Miaomiao to a local’s house for a meal. Don’t worry, I have a thick skin."
Gu Cheng: "..."
Tuanzi curiously raised her head.
Thick skin? She wanted to poke and see.
Gu Peihai didn’t rush to leave; he mysteriously said, "I have some news to share with you."
Outsiders only saw this Film Emperor’s handsome appearance and acting skills, but family members could always see his true nature.
"Speak properly."
Gu Peihai pouted, "Don’t be so serious, maybe it’s good news?"
This news involved Ai Zhen.
After the first season of "Go on an Adventure Together," the station head of Pineapple TV officially retired.
However, the new station head was neither Ai Zhen nor the other deputy director.
"A station head parachuted in."
Gu Peihai’s smile carried a hint of sarcasm.
"He was ambitious, scheming against many people during this period, offending a lot of people, just waiting to become the station head. Unfortunately, all his calculations still left him as just a deputy director."
The new station head is very young, as long as he doesn’t make mistakes, Ai Zhen will definitely retire first. Until retirement, this ambitious man remains a deputy director.
Forgetting old friends’ kindness and scheming against old friends’ children, Gu Peihai happily laughed a few times.
Tuanzi mimicked his laughter, "Hehe, hehe."
Gu Cheng pinched her mouth, "Don’t laugh like that. Don’t follow his bad example."
Gu Peihai looked innocent.
"He even wanted to team up with the other deputy director to give the new station head a hard time. But the other deputy director actively helped the new station head integrate and built a good relationship, making Ai Zhen’s days challenging."
Gu Cheng reacted indifferently.
"He’s already a stranger, no need to pay attention to him."
Gu Peihai shrugged, picked up the small suitcase, and teased, "Miaomiao, say goodbye to your big brother. From today, he’ll be all alone. Maybe he’ll even hide in his room crying at night."
Gu Cheng: (▼へ▼メ)
Gu Peihai: (￣▽￣)
Tuanzi turned into a little sweet cake.
"Big brother, don’t worry, Miaomiao will call you every day."
She raised a small arm.
On her wrist was a pink phone watch.
"Miaomiao will call big brother and second brother every day to let you know I’m safe."
Recalling how Gu Che once complained that big brother is a workaholic, she fiercely threatened in her baby voice, "With Miaomiao not home, big brother can’t forget to rest and eat because of work, Miaomiao will check."
Gu Cheng nodded.
Seeing Gu Peihai’s face expressing he was looking forward to this, he instructed, "You have to tell me everything you eat and do every day."
He hinted, "If someone slacks off, be sure to tell big brother."
"Got it, big brother, bye-bye~"
By ten in the morning, five pairs of guests gathered in Xishui Village.
Besides the Film Emperor + Little Heroine pair of Gu Peihai and Gu Miaomiao, there were the father-son duo of Su Hanjiang and Su Chaomu, A-list male star Wu Ti and his son Wu Yu, opera artist Yun Xiuxiu and her daughter Lin Ci, and dancer Liu Hu and his younger brother Liu Bai.
Friends meeting brought excitement.
"Miaomiao!"
"Chaomu!"
The two kids quickly hugged each other.
Tuanzi curiously checked out her little friend.
"Why are you here too? You weren’t on the official announcement list before."
Su Chaomu waved his hand, "Hey, an emergency call for help from Jianghu."
The audience laughed at his reaction.
[I heard that previously a group of guests backed out last minute to go on another program]
[Su Hanjiang and Director Wang are good friends, indeed an emergency from Jianghu]
[Backed out? That’s not good, what conditions did others offer]
[Who knows]
[As long as that person doesn’t later buy articles to subtly criticize the production team or Su Hanjiang and his son]
[Don’t talk about unrelated people, let’s talk about this new show]
[Leisurely Country Life, the more it’s emphasized as leisurely, the more I feel it won’t be leisurely]
Obviously, the guests had similar thoughts.
Except for Gu Peihai, who already knew the program’s ins and outs, the other guests only had a general idea beforehand.
Now the director told them that each group of guests only had one hundred yuan for the entire season, would have to cook three meals a day themselves, and needed to plant vegetables and raise chickens, leaving each of them with a troubled face.
Wu Ti, an extremely handsome man, smiled helplessly, "Director, can’t you give us a bit more money? Buying some chicks, ducklings, and tools would use up that hundred yuan. We still need to eat."
Director Wang laughed kindly.
"Rural life is like this. Some farmers work hard for a year, and after deducting costs, the net profit might just be a few thousand yuan. Staying here, follow the local customs. If you’re short on food, you can help the locals with farmwork, and they’ll give you ingredients."