Sang Ning spent another 15 minutes reviewing the last few key points with Sang Chuan and Song Shiye. By now, the other contestants had already gone through several rounds of peach picking.
Song Shiye and Qin Kai’s group progress: 150 pounds. Shen Yi and Chu Wei’s group progress: 100 pounds. Sang Ning and Chu Xi’s group progress: only 80 pounds.
All three groups were still far from the 400-pound target, but Director Sun had already started blasting instructions through the megaphone.
"Contestants, hurry up! You only have one hour left to pick peaches. However much you manage to pick will be sold, but the cost will still be calculated based on the 400 pounds target."
Li Sulan started counting with her fingers. Their group had already picked 80 pounds of yellow peaches, with a cost price of 1,200 yuan. Selling them at just 15 yuan per pound would be enough to repay the show.
Considering the peaches she usually ate were priced at hundreds per piece, 15 yuan per pound was practically a giveaway; she could sell them with her eyes closed.
At this point, she didn’t even care about maintaining an image anymore. Having already worn such unflattering clothes, she plopped right down into the mud and waved dismissively at Director Sun, "I’m done picking! Whoever wants to pick, feel free. Selling 80 pounds is already enough."
Director Sun glanced at the writing board and then looked up, "Mrs. Chu, I feel obligated to remind you that, excluding the peach picking cost, your group’s current debt totals 2,080 yuan. Are you sure selling just 80 pounds of peaches will be enough to cover what you owe the show?"
"Director Sun, let’s get one thing straight — the debt belongs to Sang Ning’s house. What does that have to do with my family?"
Li Sulan curled her lower lip over her upper lip and puffed upward to blow away the strands of hair from her forehead, an expression of blatant indifference and arrogance.
Director Sun adjusted his glasses, the lens reflecting a peculiar glint. His lips curved into a triumphant smirk as he said, "Mrs. Chu, I forgot to mention — once you successfully formed a group, your group members’ debts automatically merged into common group debt. So, the money owed by Sang Ning’s house is now your group’s debt."
[I can’t believe this. Sang Ning and Chu Xi’s family merely formed a partnership, not a marriage, and yet they’re being saddled with joint debt?!]
[Even if they were married, wouldn’t this kind of debt be considered pre-marital and excluded from joint spousal liability?]
[Hold up, you guys are spiraling into nonsense. What marriage? This is a reality show! Whatever rules the producers make, those are the rules. Honestly, this setup is downright ruthless.]
"Say that to me again? I dare you to say that to me again!"
Li Sulan had completely abandoned her high-society demeanor. Rising from the ground, she took large strides toward Director Sun, grabbed him by the collar, demanding an explanation.
"Mrs. Chu, take it easy, take it easy. Aren’t you hypoglycemic? Don’t get worked up — let’s talk this out calmly," Director Sun said, retreating step by step in the face of Li Sulan’s aggression.
[This is hilarious — is Li Sulan really a socialite or just a brawler at this point?]
[Don’t doubt it. Maybe elite families do have their dramatic moments—who knows? She might actually pull hair during arguments behind closed doors.]
[Oh, Director Sun, you’re really something — setting up even Mrs. Chu? Congratulations, you’ve officially joined Sang Ning on Li Sulan’s hit list.]
"Mrs. Chu, it’s not that deep. It’s just a show; don’t take it so seriously."
Qin Jiaxiang, seeing Li Sulan lose her temper while gripping Director Sun’s collar, hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
After all, it’s all for the sake of dramatic effect. If the show doesn’t manufacture some buzz, how else are they supposed to boost the viewership? That said, Li Sulan’s over-the-top reaction was pushing the envelope just a little too far.
Qin Jiaxiang understood that persuasion worked best when you sympathized with the other party’s predicament, so he earnestly said, "Mrs. Chu, you see, Song Shiye’s house also owes the show over 1,000 yuan, and now our family has to help shoulder that debt too. I haven’t made a big deal out of it, right?"
He thought this might offer some reassurance, but to his surprise, Li Sulan snapped, shouting a single word — "Get lost!" — completely throwing Qin Jiaxiang off guard.
"How is that the same? Your group only owes a little over 1,000; we’re stuck with more than 2,000! Stop acting all superior just because you’re not the one shouldering the burden."
[The world is truly baffling. Who’d have thought Li Sulan, the ultimate socialite, would stoop to nitpicking over a few thousand yuan?]
[Has this countryside filming setup turned into Transformation Plan? Look at what they’ve done to Li Sulan—this is peak "de-socialiting."]
Faced with Li Sulan’s fury, Qin Jiaxiang was left momentarily speechless. Can someone please tell him how exactly to navigate this mess?
Out of options, he threw Director Sun a helpless look, the kind that said, "I did the best I could; this is your mess to clean up." After all, Director Sun had brought this upon himself by drafting such cruel rules.
Li Sulan wasn’t letting up, her grip on Director Sun’s collar tightening. "I’ll give you one more chance: take back what you just said."
Director Sun pressed his lips together, swallowed nervously, clearly rattled.
But the words had already been said — taking them back now would make him lose face entirely.
His gaze flitted around nervously, scanning the surroundings. Abruptly, his eyes fixed on a particular direction, and he waved frantically while shouting, "Sister Sang~ Sister Sang~ I have something to tell you!"
Sang Ning, who had just finished tutoring Sang Chuan and Song Shiye, was leading them back to the group, ready to continue picking peaches. As soon as she approached, she heard Director Sun screaming his lungs out for her.
[I’m dying of laughter right now. If you have the guts to provoke Li Sulan, you better have the guts to face the consequences. What’s with the sudden change to scaredy-cat mode?]
[Makes sense, though. When in trouble, call Sister Sang. If anyone in the show can handle Li Sulan, it’s gotta be Sister Sang.]
Sang Ning raised an eyebrow at Director Sun, glancing at him faintly. "What’s going on?" she asked in a calm tone.
When Li Sulan noticed Sang Ning sauntering over, for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, her hand loosened from Director Sun’s collar. In that brief moment, Director Sun managed to slip free.
Without wasting any time, Director Sun bolted toward Sang Ning as fast as his legs could carry him, practically gliding on the ground.
Seeing him rush over, Sang Ning stopped in her tracks.
Out of breath, Director Sun explained to Sang Ning, "Here’s the situation: I just wanted to remind you that your group currently ranks last, with only 80 pounds picked. There’s only one hour left to complete this peach-picking task, so if you don’t pick up the pace, you won’t meet the target for today."
Director Sun thought Sang Ning might get anxious, but instead, she casually replied, "Then we’ll just stick with the 80 pounds. We’ll use the remaining hour to rest."
"But the show’s rules state that regardless of how many pounds you pick, you must repay the debt based on the cost of 400 pounds," Director Sun reminded her again, seeing she wasn’t budging.
"Well, that’s absolutely splendid!" Sang Ning responded slowly.
Although her tone sounded like she was commenting on something delightful, her expression remained composed, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, making it impossible for anyone to genuinely feel her excitement.
Director Sun began to question Sang Ning’s mental state — they were on the brink of failing to repay the show’s debt, so what could be "splendid" about any of this?