The current situation was very clear. Picking truffles and matsutake mushrooms seemed very profitable but was actually the biggest trap. On one hand, it required going into high-altitude, deep mountain forests with heavy physical exertion. On the other, the “tuition fee” needed to pay the masters was also the highest.
That’s right, the production team was just this shameless. Besides the three to five hundred the production team paid the masters, the guests also needed to pay an additional “tuition fee” of over a hundred yuan, beautifully termed “high investment, high return.”
If Ji Nuo hadn’t built a rapport with the local older woman beforehand, and if she hadn’t been willing to tell them the real situation, most of the live stream audience would have had a perception similar to the guests’.
After all, everyone knew truffles and matsutake were incredibly valuable. The production team even hired professional masters, seemingly teaching some harvesting techniques. Yet the guests would spend money and effort, only to end up empty-handed, unable even to complain. Otherwise, not only would the audience despise the guests for being too useless to pick up free money, in severe cases, they might even be accused of throwing tantrums at staff and acting like divas.
As for the latter two plans, mushroom hunting and bamboo shoot digging, although they were easy to achieve, they earned very little money, equally making things difficult for the heavily “indebted” guests. No one would believe there wasn’t some intentional scheming behind this.
But that’s reality shows for you: controversy is needed to see the true emotions of public figures, and twists and turns attract more traffic and heat. It’s all just a matter of different perspectives and positions.
Fortunately, Ji Nuo carried no debt. His initial interest in matsutake and truffles was because he’d heard these two precious ingredients were unmatched when stewed with chicken. His two hundred yuan simply couldn’t afford them, so he thought if he could go into the mountains and dig some himself, it would be fantastic.
Now he could only silently swallow his saliva. Luckily, he hadn’t told the little glutton at home in advance, otherwise, little friend Lu Ao’ao would be even more disappointed. After all, ever since the older woman mentioned the locally-special yellow cattle beef, the child had already swallowed his saliva and asked about it, seemingly nonchalantly, three times.
Kang Feier completely gave up struggling. The two happily decided to team up and go mushroom hunting in the mountains together, treating it like taking the kids out for a countryside trip.
After waiting for them to decide, the staff member smiled faintly. “Sorry, you two can’t choose mushroom hunting.”
Ji Nuo and Kang Feier exchanged bewildered glances. Ji Nuo thought to himself: This production team really knows how to stir up trouble. Lucky for them, I have no intention of performing well.
Kang Feier was frantically smacking her lips internally: This show is so worth it. Ji Nuo in person is truly beautiful. God’s techniques are just different, slurp slurp…
Having been thwarted all morning, the staff member finally found a chance to triumph. His smile was like a gentle knife. “Because you two chose last. Every plan only has one master. We announced them all at the same time. The third plan has already been chosen first by Teacher Chu’s family.”
It had barely been any time since the recording started, but the staff members had already suffered excessive setbacks with Ji Nuo. Terrified he might come up with some other outlandish idea, the staff member immediately added:
“Think about it. Jade Mountain Town is surrounded by mountains, but which ones allow outsiders to pick mushrooms? Which peaks are suitable for harvesting? And with so many types of mushrooms, without a reliable master to guide you, how would you know which ones are edible?”
The staff member’s confidence grew as he spoke. After all, every year, many locals themselves ate poisonous mushrooms, saw “little people” (hallucinations), or even ended up in serious accidents. For the guests’ safety, the production team definitely couldn’t let them wander off randomly.
Ji Nuo looked hesitant. After all, he’d noticed before when reading mushroom guides that many poisonous mushrooms looked extremely similar to edible ones.
Lu Aotian furrowed his brows deeply. While every inch of land might have a billion ways to eat from it, how could a single bamboo shoot compare to the vast variety of mushrooms?
Lu Aotian glared at the staff member, murderous intent pouring from his eyes: You dare touch my, Long Aotian’s, mushrooms? You are already a dead man.
In reality, a little runt under a meter tall had to tilt his chin all the way up just to see the staff member’s chin. After wetting the bed, Lu Aotian once again realized he couldn’t allow his body to remain this weak and small.
Kang Feier, who hadn’t tasted Ji Nuo’s Thelephora ganbajun, felt mushroom hunting and bamboo shoot digging weren’t much different. But the older woman, having listened on the side for ages, slapped her thigh. “Isn’t it just going up the mountain to hunt mushrooms? I can take you! What’s so hard about that?”
The staff member’s smile froze. He blurted out, “Ma’am, we do have certain screening criteria for choosing our masters.”
The older woman lifted an eyelid. “Criteria based on three to five hundred?”
Staff member: “…”
The older woman stood up, dusted off her pant legs, and spoke with great spirit. “I know the roads and I know mushrooms. I don’t need your production team to cover any costs. When the time comes, Little Ji can just share a bowl of the stir-fried mushrooms with me.”
Ji Nuo’s face lit up. “Wouldn’t this be too much trouble for you?”
The older woman, faced with a handsome young man like Ji Nuo, had no temper at all. She immediately smiled and said, “What trouble? I’m going mushroom hunting anyway. Bringing you along and getting a free bowl out of it is a bonus.”
Upon hearing the request, the director, although greatly troubled by Ji Nuo’s unconventional tactics, figured that if the choice was strictly between mushroom hunting and bamboo shoot digging, the former going into the mountains was definitely more watchable.
The director not only agreed but also, quite diplomatically, gave the older woman the two hundred yuan wages meant for the now-unneeded bamboo shoot master.
The older woman accepted it without the slightest hesitation. But what the production team never expected was that, in the end, those two hundred yuan would be transferred right back into Ji Nuo’s hands by the older woman as a meal fee. But that’s a story for later. For now, the director still felt generally satisfied.
~
The older woman was a straightforward person. Seeing that both Ji Nuo and Kang Feier were good-looking, and the two children were each more adorable than the other, she was quite satisfied with this self-assigned job today.
Enthusiastically, she rummaged through her storage shed and pulled out two bamboo back-baskets, handing them to the two. “The kids will be tired before they’ve walked far up the mountain. When that happens, just let them sit in the baskets. It’ll be easier for you two to hunt mushrooms.”
Ji Nuo and Kang Feier immediately thanked her and accepted them.
When Ji Nuo wasn’t smiling, he looked like a cold, delicate, sickly beauty. In reality, he had scraped by on his own from a young age and was quite good with words. A few warm, sincere, heartwarming phrases coaxed the older woman into a beaming smile. And so, the three adults and two little ones cheerfully headed into the mountains.
The older woman introduced as they walked: “This mountain may not look as big as the others, but it produces a lot of goods. A while back, hordes of people came to hunt mushrooms. We’ve had a bit of rain these past two days, so surely plenty have newly sprouted. Just follow me, don’t worry.”
First, she found three long, straight tree branches to use as trekking poles, then raised her hand and pointed to a tree nearby. “See this? This furry one is Lion’s Mane mushroom. They like to grow on tree trunks, cross-sections of branches, and rotting wood. Delicious in soup, with meat, or stewed with chicken…”
The group quickly learned that mushroom hunting brought treasures not only from the ground but also from the trees. Besides Lion’s Mane, there were wild chestnuts and figs, all mountain delicacies ripening around this time.
Chestnuts were wrapped in spiky burrs. Following the older woman’s demonstration, the two adults stomped them open one by one, keeping only the chestnuts inside. Otherwise, the burrs were too bulky and heavy; they wouldn’t be able to carry much.
Because the area near the chestnut trees was flat, the two children were also let down to play at picking out chestnuts.
The freshly picked chestnuts still had relatively soft outer skins. Ji Nuo peeled one open halfway, revealing the tender yellow flesh inside, and brought it to the child’s mouth.
Lu Aotian looked disdainfully at Ji Nuo’s now-dirty fingers. “Your hands are so dirty… Can this stuff even be eaten raw?” He wasn’t some wealthy tycoon unfamiliar with commoner food; he knew people always sold them roasted!
Ji Nuo directly slipped the chestnut meat into the gap of his teeth. Lu Aotian tentatively nibbled a tiny bit and chewed. The small lightbulb in his eyes instantly lit up. Sweet and crisp!
Ji Nuo fed the whole chestnut into Lu Aotian’s mouth, then peeled another one and handed it to the little dumpling Zhenzhen, who had been hovering around the two, her gaze flicking between Ji Nuo’s and Lu Aotian’s faces. “Here, Zhenzhen, you try some too.”
Seeing Ji Nuo smile at her, Zhenzhen felt as if this beautiful big brother was glowing all over. Her little heart pounded. She suddenly felt she didn’t want to marry the neighbor’s pretty little mixed-race golden retriever quite so much anymore.
Seeing the second chestnut go into someone else’s mouth, Lu Aotian’s smile instantly froze. He said to Ji Nuo dryly, “I want more.”
Ji Nuo, however, clapped his hands. “Uncle’s hands are too dirty. Just one to taste the freshness. We’ll eat the rest when we get home.”
Lu Aotian’s little face immediately crumpled even more. He shot a fierce glare at the little dumpling Xu Zhenzhen. It wasn’t that he was jealous; he just found this airheaded, sweet smile too dazzling. He felt the surrounding environment was being tainted by her dumb energy.
Zhenzhen chewed the chestnut given by her “crush,” her mood soaring. Seeing the equally beautiful, cool big brother beside her, she suddenly felt her heart’s space was too small. Three people inside was a bit crowded.
~
Kang Feier came from an overseas Chinese middle-class family. She debuted in a beauty pageant, acted in a drama remake, and just as she became popular, she had a whirlwind marriage and child with her wealthy second-generation husband.
There had been some rumors about unprofessional behavior towards the end of filming back then, but after she married into wealth, it was like she retired from the industry. No one bothered to harp on her minor issues, and Kang Feier’s looks were undeniably stunning. The acting skills she showed in the remake were also very natural, so the national anticipation for her was still quite high.
Therefore, many viewers thought a wealthy wife with her background would be extremely pampered and delicate. The production team also thought this way. Signing this couple for a high price was, on one hand, because the combination of a wealthy, handsome young master and a female star was always a classic the public loved to see; on the other hand, they hoped Kang Feier would be a bit more spoiled and stir things up.
Yet unexpectedly, when Kang Feier said she’d work for Ji Nuo, she really put in the effort. Even though her physical fitness was average, she still tried her best to keep up with the older woman’s and Ji Nuo’s pace, gathering quite a few mushrooms in her net bag.
However, her stamina was still significantly lacking. While carrying her daughter, she was soon panting heavily partway through, so the older woman offered to carry the child for her.
Just then, they reached a flat area. Lu Aotian demanded to get down and walk by himself. He wanted to exercise and accelerate the recovery of his weak chicken body. Ji Nuo simply placed Zhenzhen into his own bamboo basket.
The moment Lu Aotian’s feet hit the ground, he saw the airhead beam with delight and joyfully throw herself into his little brother’s embrace… Lu Aotian’s cheeks gradually puffed up.
The live stream watched the four exquisite faces, two adults and two children, and the Danmaku found it hard to be anything but harmonious:
[What kind of stunningly beautiful scene is this? Fairies and celestial beings gathering mushrooms in a group QAQ. I want to soul-travel into that red-capped mushroom!]
[I am basically Zhenzhen right now, staring at Ji Nuo’s face drooling the whole time, slurp…]
[Hey, you in front, don’t overstep. Can you even match our Zhenzhen baby’s beauty level?]
[Am I the only one who noticed Ao’ao is unhappy today? As expected of my cub, his puffed-up, angry look is even cuter! Auntie’s heart is melting!]
Unaware that his cuteness was universally known, Lu Aotian thought he looked super cool and handsome as he stomped his way forward, stomping harder and harder until his feet grew numb.
But unfortunately, Ji Nuo unexpectedly discovered a small patch of wild chives, and couldn’t spare any attention for the child’s little mood.
The Danmaku was also excited:
[AAAAAAHH I’m on screen! Production team, please add a filter for me!]
[Hahahaha, wild chives, that’s me, that’s me. Look how green I am, exactly like the stocks I bought.]
Ji Nuo pulled together a bunch of chives, just enough for a plate of scrambled eggs with chives. He tied the chives with some wild grass and put them in his net bag. It was when he stood up that he realized his little Ao’ao was stomping off into the distance.
Although the terrain here was flat, and besides the five of them, there were three staff members following, Ji Nuo still wasn’t comfortable letting the child wander far.
“Ao’ao, come back. It’s not safe over there.”
Lu Aotian finally heard his little brother calling. His pair of short legs immediately shuffled even faster. He wasn’t some little brat who could be coaxed that easily!
Seeing this, Ji Nuo had no choice but to quicken his pace. “Ao’ao, be good, don’t run. You’ll fall.”
Lu Aotian knew Ji Nuo was not to be underestimated. He swung his arms and sprinted, turning back fiercely while running: “None of your business!”
And in that moment of inattention, his foot tripped over a somewhat thick piece of rotting wood, sending him pitching forward.
However, he was now consciously trying to control his limbs. He was the dignified Lu Aotian! He absolutely refused to let himself fall flat on his face in front of his little brother and that airhead.
Thump!
Lu Aotian’s knees hit the ground. His dark little hands pressed into the soft grass and debris to stabilize his posture.
As his small hands pressed into the patch of weeds, a large mushroom hidden underneath was revealed.
A yellowish-brown, umbrella-shaped cap, a thick, sturdy white stem, carrying a rich, fragrant aroma, like the unique scent of rain-soaked mountain forests mixed with earth, trees, and grass.
Ji Nuo, who had caught up, recognized it at a single glance, but still couldn’t believe his eyes. “Is this… matsutake?!”
Lu Aotian, seizing the moment Ji Nuo’s attention was diverted, immediately shifted from a kneeling position to a crouch. By the time Ji Nuo looked back at him, he was already properly squatting in front of the mushroom. Ji Nuo sighed in relief. “I thought you fell.”
Lu Aotian glanced sideways at the weak little girl Zhenzhen strapped to Ji Nuo’s back and let out a cold snort. “Me? Fall?”
Ji Nuo had also grown accustomed to his arrogant expressions and tone. On an adult, this would somewhat scream “neurological disorder,” but when little friend Ao’ao did it, it was especially cute.
Resisting the urge to rub the kid’s head and strictly following the newbie dad notes to never skimp on praise, he said, “Ao’ao is the best!”
Only after saying this did Ji Nuo turn his gaze back to the mushroom. Prying with the stick in his hand, he asked, “You didn’t see this matsutake from far away, did you? The older woman said even an old hand like her only finds a few a year…”
As Ji Nuo dug deeper, he felt its size was unimaginably large. His eyes couldn’t help but shine, and his movements became even more careful.
The older woman, Kang Feier, and even the staff members all rushed over. The live stream camera immediately switched to close-up mode. The Danmaku flooded with question marks and exclamation marks:
[Scripted hack! This has to be a prop placed by the production team!!]
[Didn’t you say it was incredibly rare??!]
[Isn’t this just a jumbo king oyster mushroom? Is a matsutake this big even scientifically plausible???]
Lu Aotian curled the left corner of his lip in a cool smirk, neither confirming nor denying Ji Nuo’s assumption, his tone carrying a faint disdain. “What’s so impressive about this?”
It was a mere matsutake. He was the mighty Long Aotian, after all.
After speaking, while the crowd that had gathered focused their attention on the giant matsutake, Lu Aotian secretly rubbed his own little knees.
He looked up, only to meet the little dumpling Zhenzhen’s curious gaze.
