WS - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
In the stream, Wang Daming was holding a large rock that looked quite heavy. Yet, for some reason, though the weight bent his back, his face bore a brilliant, somewhat dopey grin.
"Director Zhang, Director Zhang!" Wang Daming shouted toward the trees where the production team was hiding on the bank.
Director Zhang's face darkened. He set down the boxed meal he had just picked up.
Although Wang Daming kept shouting repeatedly from the stream, Director Zhang cautiously opened the camera central control system to quickly check the cast's positions before stepping out of the trees.
"What are you shouting for, what for?" Director Zhang walked to the stream's edge with a sullen face and lowered his voice to Wang Daming, who stood in the water. "Can't you come back and say it yourself? Do you have to stand there shouting? What if the cameras pick up the audio?"
"If they pick it up, that's fine. Didn't we sign a contract? If the audio gets picked up, the production team has to pay me." Wang Daming grinned.
Director Zhang was choked by Wang Daming's words and almost couldn't resist wading in to kick him.
Fortunately, Wang Daming still remembered his task.
Or rather, he remembered that after the job was done, they could eat.
"Director Zhang, look—is this the stone pot you're looking for?" The rock in his hands was really heavy, and with great effort he turned it over so that the upward-facing side was toward Director Zhang.
"So shallow?" Director Zhang complained, but leaned forward to examine it carefully.
The outside was rough stone, with a concave center that was smooth. But compared to the two pieces Song Shiyue had fished out, it was much shallower.
"Director Zhang, can I go eat now? Did you dish out the meals?" Wang Daming strained to hold up the rock, looking at Director Zhang expectantly.
Director Zhang straightened up and shook his head. "This one's too shallow. Keep looking."
"... Oh." Wang Daming let go in disappointment, and the large rock splashed into the stream, spraying water everywhere.
Wang Daming's pants were instantly half-soaked. Director Zhang didn't get splashed, but when he instinctively dodged backward, he stepped on a small pebble and twisted his ankle slightly.
"Search carefully! Stack what you find on this bank, and don't call me. I'll come—" Director Zhang flexed his right foot that had just twisted, frowning as he continued, "I'll come check in half an hour."
"Oh... huh? Half an hour?" Wang Daming, who had been responding listlessly, froze. "Isn't the lunch break one hour? Almost half an hour has passed already, right? When am I going to eat?"
"Eat after you find one." Director Zhang turned and waved his hand, showing he had no more to say.
Wang Daming "..."
On the hillside, the three who had witnessed all this looked at each other.
"What was that big rock in Wang Daming's hands just now?" Zhuang Jiachuan muttered. "Could it also be a stone pot?"
Yu Nianbing, who had sat back down and continued stripping snake meat, tried hard not to look at Song Shiyue.
"Maybe." Song Shiyue spoke without avoiding the subject at all. "When I was in the stream earlier, I felt several rocks that could be used as stone pots. The one without a handle, I thought looked pretty good, so I fished it out. The one Teacher Guan fished out is also nice. But the remaining ones might not be as suitable."
Yu Nianbing had lifted her head the moment Song Shiyue started speaking.
Before Song Shiyue could finish, their eyes met. Song Shiyue was momentarily startled but quickly smiled back at Yu Nianbing and winked mischievously, with a look that said everything without words—and a hint of cuteness.
Heh... what cuteness...
Song Shiyue's mouth, a lying ghost...
Yu Nianbing didn't believe for a second that the stream had so many rocks suitable for stone pots. For one thing, she had been the one who taught Song Shiyue how to search for stone knives underwater... Those rocks were probably all Song Shiyue's handiwork.
She just wasn't sure whether Song Shiyue had suddenly grown clever enough to plant extra fakes to confuse others, or whether the remaining rocks in the stream were just failed attempts that led to these two stone pots...
Although Song Shiyue had "cleverly" let Guan Yongyi "find" the second stone pot, Yu Nianbing still leaned toward the idea that the rest were just failures.
Yu Nianbing didn't believe Song Shiyue's words, but someone did.
"This stream is pretty amazing, producing stone pots in abundance?" Ning Chuyang laughed carelessly. "But it seems the production team isn't having as good luck as we are."
Yu Nianbing struggled not to look at Ning Chuyang as if she were an idiot.
Zhuang Jiachuan thought for a moment and laughed. "Is the production team trying to cook something hot too, so they're learning from us and feeling for stone pots? Why not extend our lunch break and send us some seasonings? After we're done eating, we can lend them our stone pot."
A win-win proposal, a bridge of communication. Zhuang Jiachuan hoped Director Zhang would see his suggestion through the central control system.
"They're not that kind-hearted. Let them grope around on their own." Ning Chuyang snorted. "After a while, I'll go feel around too. I'm no good with stone pots, but maybe I can find a few stone bowls and show the production team that even without giving us anything, we can fend for ourselves."
No... you can't do stone pots... and you can't do stone bowls either... Yu Nianbing sighed inwardly for Ning Chuyang.
But before she finished that sigh, she heard Song Shiyue beside her speak up: "Let me—"
"Don't bother with bowls, we can't carry them anyway. We'll find some large leaves later and fold them like zongzi to use as bowls." Yu Nianbing knew it was impolite to interrupt, but she had to cut Song Shiyue off.
If Song Shiyue actually volunteered and fished out a few small stone bowls from the stream, before the show ended there would probably be an expedition team coming to investigate this "magical" stream.
Even if they wanted to find something else, they'd have to leave this place first. You can't keep shearing wool from the same sheep forever...
Song Shiyue's words were cut off, and after Yu Nianbing gave her a meaningful look, she behaved herself and stopped talking.
On the other hand, Ning Chuyang, who had first brought up the idea, nodded in agreement. "The jicama is already cut, and I have nothing else to do. I'll go find leaves and also get some branches so we'll have chopsticks."
Ning Chuyang spoke and quickly stood up.
Zhuang Jiachuan glanced at the remaining two: one was the great contributor who had killed the snake and found the stone pot, the other was the great contributor who had found the wild ginger... So he stretched his still-aching limbs, stood, and said, "I'll go with you. I'll handle the branches."
Ning Chuyang naturally didn't refuse help, and the two went into the forest, one after the other.
For a moment, among the cast, some were looking for fuel, some for tableware, leaving only Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue by the stone stove.
"Looks like they found another one." Song Shiyue craned her neck to look toward the stream.
Yu Nianbing looked up and indeed saw Wang Daming huffing and puffing as he carried a large rock to the bank.
"This stream is pretty impressive, isn't it?" Song Shiyue, seeing Yu Nianbing silent, couldn't help but speak again.
What did that mean...
Yu Nianbing didn't quite understand. She just looked at Song Shiyue and met her sparkling eyes.
Oh, those eyes were clearly saying, praise me, praise me...
This person... Even with the stone knife business earlier, when I had subtly hinted that I had noticed some of her differences, she shouldn't have already gotten familiar enough to seek praise.
Did I look so trustworthy?
Yu Nianbing inwardly grumbled, but she couldn't deny feeling a small sense of pleasure.
But... to secretly discuss this little secret under the cameras, and even praise this fellow?
Yu Nianbing's brows arched slightly, and then she firmly chose... not to.
"These stones have quite a bit of dust on them." Yu Nianbing did not pick up Song Shiyue's lead. Instead, she picked up a branch from the firewood pile and gently brushed it over the stones that made up the stone stove.
Song Shiyue was briefly stunned before she realized what Yu Nianbing was referring to. Immediately feeling a bit guilty, she averted her face and changed the subject: "This water has already boiled. Let me move this stone pot aside so it can cool, then we can fill the water bottles."
"Careful, it's hot." Yu Nianbing reached out to stop Song Shiyue and added, "Just put out the fire in that stove and let it cool as it sits. One pot is enough for boiling here. For the snake meat we're grilling, we can build another fire and skewer it. No need for a stove."
"That works." Song Shiyue nodded and started pulling the firewood out of the stone stove.
Obedient and diligent, looking very well-behaved.
Yu Nianbing suddenly felt a little regret.
Earlier, because Yu Nianbing felt it was wrong to encourage Song Shiyue's habit of grinding stones into various shapes under the cover of water, she had changed the subject and ignored Song Shiyue's implicit request for praise. She had also subtly pointed out to Song Shiyue that she was aware of how, while building the stove platform, Song Shiyue had secretly used force, constantly adjusting the stones' positions to grind down the uneven parts.
Yu Nianbing believed she had done the right thing and made the right choice.
But when she saw Song Shiyue now focusing intently on the work, the sparkling expectation gone from her eyes, Yu Nianbing felt a bit uncomfortable.
Really... a strange and annoying feeling...
"We'll grill one and boil two, right?" Yu Nianbing spoke a bit stiffly, trying to divert herself from the unpleasant feeling.
"How about boiling all of them? Grilled might seem smaller." Song Shiyue hesitated.
"Let's grill one. Didn't you want to eat grilled from the start?" Yu Nianbing poked the marinated snake meat with a clean branch. "It's just a pity we have no seasonings, so the flavor might not be very rich."
"No, anything you make will be delicious." Song Shiyue praised with genuine sincerity, but the moment the words left her mouth, she sensed something off and quickly added, "I mean, anything Teacher Yu makes is delicious."
In the entertainment industry, it's so troublesome... gotta add 'Teacher,' Teacher, Teacher! Song Shiyue chanted three times in her heart.
Yu Nianbing, who was flipping the snake meat, paused. She hadn't praised Song Shiyue, but instead got praised by her...
"Grilled snake, snake soup, and jicama—I'm making all these for the first time, and yet you have such faith in me..." Yu Nianbing, being praised by Song Shiyue, felt pleased, but also a little nervous about disappointing her.
"Don't overthink it. Just treat grilled snake like grilled meat, snake soup like chicken soup, and add the jicama like you would potatoes. It'll definitely be as tasty as potato chicken soup, just missing a bit of cabbage..." Song Shiyue was speaking when she suddenly stopped. Had she said something she shouldn't have?
Their eyes met, and it was Yu Nianbing who laughed first. "Alright, we'll do it that way."
At this moment, the six cast members at the resting spot had split into pairs to work, and they were genuinely starting to show signs of teamwork and survival cooperation in the wilderness.
The fire was lit.
The stove was built.
The pot was set up, the water boiled, and everything was taking shape, which comforted fans of each respective cast member.
At least this lunch was secured.
Is the production team so great just because they have boxed meals?
Here we have a whole snake feast! We won't give you a single bite!
The gnashing of teeth toward the production team transformed into all sorts of sympathy and encouragement on the cast's livestream pages.
But some people, wearing special lenses, diligently searched for the hidden treats in the gaps.
"Though sometimes I don't understand their conversations, I inexplicably find it sweet—from a sugar-craving Little Mooncake who eats sugar-free cereal"
"Maybe what you need isn't sugar, but Brain Platinum—from a straightforward Little Ice Bucket"
"I always feel like Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue have a strange understanding that we can't tap into!—from a honey-filled Little Mooncake"
"Maybe it's because a honey-filled mooncake is itself strange—from a foodie Little Ice Bucket"
"Song Shiyue saying 'anything you make is delicious'—isn't that a rainbow fart?—from a fat Mooncake"
"The fat Mooncake ahead, please mind your words—from some Little Mooncakes"
"The fat Mooncake ahead, please mind your words—from some Little Moons"
"The fat Mooncake ahead, please mind your words—from some Little Ice Buckets"
"??? Little Mooncakes and Little Moons I can understand, but does what I say have anything to do with you Little Ice Buckets?—the fat Mooncake is about to get angry"
"Internal conflicts are resolved internally; external conflicts are resolved collectively—from a whole bunch of Little Ice Buckets"
"Can't afford to mess with you, can't afford. One last thing: Song Shiyue's line 'just missing a bit of cabbage'—I feel like there's deep meaning there!—the now-cowardly fat Mooncake who hopes not to be exposed"
"..."
"??? Is that from Little Ice Block's drama?"
"The one where they made potato cabbage chicken soup?"
"So Song Shiyue has also seen Little Ice Block's drama."
"Could Song Shiyue also be a Little Ice Bucket?"
"A story of a fan falling in love with an idol?"
"No no no... it's a story of a fan falling in love with an idol and failing to confess."
"Why is the front row so angsty!"
"Angry! Maybe it'll turn into a story of a fan falling in love with an idol, failing to confess, then confessing again and succeeding!"
"Will there be a confession on this reality show?"
"Calm down... what are you Little Mooncakes thinking? This show is only a dozen or so days, and you're already talking about a confession again?—from a rational Little Mooncake"
"???"
"!!!"
"The Little Mooncake in the front row, you don't look rational at all hahaha"
"Is this a personality switch, and you didn't have time to change your suffix?"
"Danmaku with no fixed tag—getting exposed is so beautiful hahaha"
"Hahaha no problem, Little Ice Buckets hiding among the Little Mooncakes—you're not the first and won't be the last!"
On StarNet, because of Director Zhang and Captain Yang's earlier secret meeting and Captain Yang actually leading the group on a detour, the livestream windows for Director Zhang and Captain Yang temporarily became the two busiest on The Wilderness Journey page. A flood of complaints mixed with all sorts of grievances—it seemed the audience's discontent was unanimously poured there, leaving the other livestream pages much more peaceful and harmonious.
Especially on Song Shiyue's side, which had been criticized by Yu Nianbing's fans on the first day of The Wilderness Journey, it was now the most harmonious. Even though danmaku with the "Little Mooncake" suffix occasionally floated by, the majority of Little Ice Buckets responded amiably, gently refuting when appropriate, and extending a paw of friendship at the right moments. Of course, some had already become friendly enough to join the opposite camp.
Under the friendly and harmonious atmosphere, the Little Mooncake camp was quietly expanding.
In the middle of the day, the production team's livestream page had already turned into a battlefield.
"Heh, chicken leg and spare rib boxed meal—two big meat dishes in one boxed meal, really not bad."
"They'd rather take a detour than let the cast get wild garlic, but their own boxed meals have two big meat dishes, two small meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and even soup and fruit—truly suffocating."
"The bodyguards are really too expensive now—such huge boxed meals, each of them can eat two."
"This thermal storage box is pretty impressive. I wonder when it was buried; the soup is still steaming."
"The two extra boxed meals the bodyguards ate were probably supposed to be the cast's lunch. Zhang Jianshi is so unfair!"
"Just because Captain Yang thinks the team can't be led, they agree to shortchange the cast and let them go hungry—is a director like that okay?"
"I'm so mad—they even left a boxed meal for Captain Yang, it's infuriating!"
"Exactly! I'd rather the bodyguards eat it all than leave any for Captain Yang!"
"If Song Shiyue hadn't killed three snakes, they'd be watching the production team eat boxed meals while going hungry themselves."
"That would've given Captain Yang exactly what he wanted—starving them into submission."
"Our Mu Xingzhou will never submit!"
"Our Zhuang Jiachuan won't either!"
"No matter what, let's eat first... We'll deal with them after we leave Wilderness Planet!"
"No, our Sister Song will never submit! Even if we eat Captain Yang, she won't submit!"
"???"
"...the Little Moon ahead, be rational."
"Hmph, none of your business, and I'm a Little Mooncake! Sister Song will never submit! Little Ice Block won't either! Even if we eat Captain Yang, we won't submit!"
"..."
"Wait, hello everyone, I'm a viewer who just joined a minute ago. May I ask... when you say Captain Yang, you mean a sheep, the baa-baa kind... right..."
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