Chapter 57 p1
The village wasn’t very big. They had been doing tasks all morning but hadn’t encountered any other babies or dads. Wei Maomao reasonably suspected that the program team had deliberately scattered everyone when designing the task locations so that they couldn’t exchange tips about the hidden tasks. Thinking further along this line, when they wanted to return to the chicken coop after digging for earthworms at the second task location, the staff had discreetly waved them to wait for a bit off-camera. She wondered if there were other babies or dads passing by on their way back at that time.
If Shi Dingshan had mind-reading abilities, he would probably give Wei Maomao a thumbs up. Although the staff’s signal when they wanted to return to the chicken coop was entirely due to Grandma Wang’s excessively high moral standards, who was currently on strike, forcing the staff to delay the babies’ progress to handle the situation at the chicken coop, the fact that the task locations were designed to scatter everyone was indeed Shi Dingshan’s intentional arrangement.
After all, if they were all gathered together like they were during the relay race yesterday afternoon, discussing and strategizing, how could their individual will and abilities be showcased? Shi Dingshan had even arranged for people to help them travel at different times to ensure that the groups wouldn’t encounter each other during this morning’s “Helping Villagers” task series.
The updated tasks did achieve their desired effect.
As noon approached, everyone gradually finished their tasks. Shi Dingshan gathered the data.
Among the baby groups, Wei Maomao’s three-person team completed three tasks, plus four hidden tasks… It was originally three hidden tasks, but they managed to add one themselves. Shi Dingshan thought that if he hadn’t intervened later on, with Cheng Tingyan, who was diligently trying to empty the program team’s Baby Coin reserves, and Wen Jiangyue, who was enthusiastically trying to expose the NPCs, who knew how many more hidden tasks they would have created.
The baby group of Shen Zilin and Cheng Rongrong, it seemed both of them had good observation and execution skills, completing both the main tasks and the hidden tasks.
As for the group of Wang Zhizhi and Wen Dongyu, it was a bit of a mixed bag. They did complete the tasks. They did show concern for the NPCs… Initially, they were both sympathetic to the NPCs’ “ailments” and were ready to offer further help, but then the pig went out of control and ran around, forcing the supposedly lame NPC to chase after it. They realized they had been tricked and angrily left with the pig… The hidden task they were about to complete was abandoned just like that.
The children nowadays were truly clever. After being deceived by the first NPC, Wang Zhizhi and Wen Dongyu, like Wen Jiangyue, were full of distrust towards the second NPC, naturally showing no further concern. So in the end, they only completed the two main tasks, without doing any hidden tasks…
Compared to the compassionate babies, who at least initially believed that the NPCs were villagers in need of help, the dads were much more rational and realistic.
In their eyes, the NPCs’ predicaments and sighs were just part of the program team’s design. As adults, they could quickly separate the task content from the useless information in the NPCs’ words.
The dads, working individually, each had three task locations.
Shen Jianghe was the only dad who discovered a hidden task at his first location. Unlike the babies’ overflowing empathy, Shen Jianghe had simply been interested in the old peddler’s cart in the courtyard because the family used to be peddlers. He chatted with the NPC for a while while doing the task, and as they chatted, he discovered the hidden task… With Shen Jianghe’s business acumen, after finding a hidden task at the first location, he naturally tried to find them at the other two locations as well. Unsurprisingly, he became one of the only two dads who earned three bags of Daddy Coins.
The other dad who completed all three hidden tasks was Wei Chengli. However, he only discovered the existence of hidden tasks at his second location, then went back to complete the hidden task at the first location.
Wen Qiming and Wang Qingchuan both stumbled upon a hidden task at their third location, but neither of them went back to check if there were any hidden tasks at their first and second locations.
As for Wen Xiang and Cheng Feiying, these two were so focused on completing the tasks, without any unnecessary chatter, that they were the first among all the dads and babies to finish the morning’s “Helping Villagers” tasks.
Of course, without discovering any hidden tasks, they were fast.
Speaking of Cheng Feiying, he hadn’t encountered anyone along the way, and when he returned home, no one was there either. He felt quite proud of his speed.
Feeling a bit smug, and thinking that he had brought back noodles, vegetables, and oyster mushrooms from the three tasks, and that his two daughters might also bring back some vegetables, Cheng Feiying didn’t rush to cook lunch. Instead, he made a pot of tea and sat on the deck chair under the shade of a tree in the courtyard, taking leisurely sips.
Last night, he had been so annoyed by those two that he didn’t even eat a proper dinner. As he drank his tea, Cheng Feiying hoped his two daughters would be more resourceful and bring back more vegetables so that he could have a good meal at noon.
Perhaps his prayers were too loud, because after finishing his pot of tea, the vegetables he wanted appeared before him, in abundance.
The courtyard gate was pushed open. Cheng Feiying sat up and looked, but the first thing he saw wasn’t Cheng Tingyan, who was walking in front and pushing open the gate, nor the large piece of delicious-looking cured meat she was carrying in her other hand, but… the one following behind Cheng Tingyan, mostly hidden behind her, but still revealing half her body and a chubby leg because she was so fleshy.
Why was this one here again! Cheng Feiying, watching as that chubby leg stepped into his courtyard without hesitation, felt his temples throbbing.
Wei Maomao also didn’t expect Cheng Feiying to be back already, was his task that simple? He was even happily lying there drinking tea…
They had planned to pick up the fabric that was supposed to be turned into handkerchiefs from Cheng Tingyan’s house, then go to Wei Maomao’s house to play.
But now…
Wei Maomao greeted Cheng Feiying with a “Uncle Cheng,” then, acting as if she was at home, went to the stove and immediately spotted the fresh oyster mushrooms Cheng Feiying had brought back.
Heh…
Wei Maomao placed her cured meat and bowl of edamame on the stove, then quickly ran to the staff member who was holding her eggs and tomatoes, took them, and placed them on the stove as well.
“Maomao?” Cheng Tingyan, who had been greeting Wen Jiangyue and Cheng Feiying, who were walking behind, turned around to see the little chubby bunny had already filled half the stovetop.
“Yan Yan, come and put the vegetables here, the cured meat is really heavy.” Wei Maomao shook her right hand, which was carrying the cured meat.
“I just offered to help you carry it, but you refused, saying you could carry it yourself.” Cheng Tingyan sighed and walked over. “Next time, if you can’t carry it, let me help you, okay?”
Wei Maomao stuck out her tongue, smiling, and didn’t respond to Cheng Tingyan’s words.
Unlike Cheng Tingyan, who was only focused on the little chubby bunny and oblivious to everything else, Cheng Feiying instinctively felt something was wrong.
“Maomao, you brought back a lot of vegetables, your dad should be almost done with his task, right? Quickly take the vegetables back and let your dad see what delicious food he can make for you for lunch.” Cheng Feiying walked to the stove, looked down at Wei Maomao, and said with a smile. “Let the staff member carry the cured meat for you if it’s heavy.”
“No need.” Wei Maomao waved her hand. “We’re not taking them back, we’re eating and cooking here at noon, otherwise, Daddy will have to bring the pot over again, it’s too heavy.”
Cheng Feiying: … Damn it, he knew this little fatty was going to do this!
“Maomao, look, there’s only one stove here, and two pots on it, it won’t be enough for both of our families.” Cheng Feiying tried to maintain a calm and kind expression. “And the program team gave us different tasks and different ingredients, they probably want us to cook different dishes, hahaha, don’t you think?”
“Uncle Cheng.” Wei Maomao looked up at him seriously. “Is it because my dad ate too much yesterday that you don’t want us to eat here?”
“Hahaha, Maomao, don’t joke, I’m happiest when you enjoy the food I cook.” Cheng Feiying forced a smile, feeling like he was about to die from his throbbing temples.
“I brought a lot of vegetables today.” Wei Maomao patted the cured meat on the stovetop, then held up her chubby paw, making a tiny gesture with her thumb and index finger. “I’ll only eat this much, the rest is for my dad, can we eat together here?”
Cheng Feiying turned sideways, supporting himself on the stove, feeling like he was about to explode from anger.
Just then, he saw it!
“Hahaha, Director Wei, when did you arrive?” Cheng Feiying, seeing Wei Chengli suddenly appearing in the courtyard, felt like he had seen his savior. The sky suddenly seemed bluer, the air fresher, even his smile became more genuine. “Director Wei, come and see, Maomao is amazing today, she got such a big piece of cured meat, you have to stir-fry some cured meat with edamame to reward her!”
Wei Chengli: …
Honestly, initially, Wei Chengli was angry.
When he finished the three main tasks and three hidden tasks, exchanged his Daddy Coins for Baby Coins, and was about to head home with the task rewards of chicken wings, cucumbers, and steamed buns, so that the little chubby dumpling could praise him, a staff member carrying a large blackboard informed him from afar that the stinky dumpling was at Yan Yan’s house again… He was angry.
Wei Chengli still vividly remembered the awkwardness of being constantly fed by the little stinky dumpling last night, only to realize he had finished all their food. And now, this little one, instead of coming home, went to Yan Yan’s house again…
Wei Chengli’s anger transformed into speed, he walked briskly along the way.
As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, he saw Cheng Feiying standing next to the little chubby dumpling by the stove. Because Cheng Feiying had his back to the gate, Wei Chengli couldn’t see his expression. He was too worried and anxious, forgetting to knock politely, and directly stepped into the courtyard.
Then… What did he hear!
His adorable little dumpling said she would only eat a little bit and save the rest for him~~~
Wei Chengli’s slight anger instantly turned into immense joy, blooming into countless little flowers in his heart. Even though he knew the little chubby dumpling’s ultimate goal was to stay for lunch and swap meals with Yan Yan. But! She said she would only eat a little bit and save the rest for him!
Who could resist the love of the adorable little chubby dumpling! Even if it was incidental! It was still love, right?!
“Director Wei? Director Wei?” Cheng Feiying saw that Wei Chengli, instead of nodding and saying he would go back and stir-fry the cured meat to reward the little fatty as he had suggested, was showing… a delighted smile? Cheng Feiying’s dizzy head, which had felt like it was seeing a savior, cleared up a bit.
Then, a bucket of cold water was poured over him, completely dousing his hopes.
“I can’t, my cooking skills are too bad, me cooking wouldn’t be rewarding her, it would be punishing her.” Wei Chengli smiled, picked up the cured meat, and under Cheng Feiying’s expectant gaze, put it down again. “This is good meat, we can’t waste it. Hahaha, Brother Cheng, your cooking is so good, our father and daughter will impose on you again today for lunch. Look, I even brought chicken wings, cucumbers, and steamed buns, let’s combine them and have a feast. I’ll wash the vegetables, Brother Cheng, don’t fight me for it, you do the cooking, I’ll be in charge of washing vegetables and dishes!”
Cheng Feiying: …
What was going on? Other people’s children, when they misbehaved, you could just call their parents to discipline them! What was going on with this family!
Yes, he had been careless, judging from how this guy cleaned their plates last night, how could he be a savior, he was more like a meteorite that crashed into him after falling from the sky!
Actually, Wei Chengli himself didn’t know what was going on either. He had come to take the little stinky dumpling away, but as soon as he entered the door, he was hit with a wave of fragrant, sweet, and intoxicating soup, he couldn’t bring himself to follow Cheng Feiying’s obvious intention and take away the little stinky dumpling who desperately wanted to stay.
His increasingly thick skin was all thanks to his deep fatherly love…
Neither of them had any sense of tact, ignoring his subtle and not-so-subtle hints, what else could Cheng Feiying do… If they were outside, he could chase them away, but they were on live broadcast! He could only watch as Wei Chengli, while washing the vegetables, kept muttering about “honey-glazed chicken wings,” “cold cucumber salad,” “tomato and egg noodles,” “stir-fried oyster mushrooms with… themselves”…
Heh, dreaming!
Over half an hour later, Cheng Feiying, looking at the honey-glazed chicken wings, cold cucumber salad, tomato and egg noodles, stir-fried oyster mushrooms, stir-fried cured meat with edamame, stir-fried bok choy with bean curd sheets, and stir-fried bitter melon with eggs on the table, couldn’t help but rub his temples.
That vegetable washer, he was so good at delegating! Washing one dish, then instructing him to stir-fry it, he even ended up stir-frying the bean curd sheets and bitter melon Cheng Rongrong brought back later, except for the steamed buns, all the dishes ended up on the table.
It had to be said, Cheng Feiying’s cooking skills were quite good. Wei Chengli, who had washed vegetables and done his part, and even brought some of his own ingredients, sat at the table with a straight back, eating and even adding food to the little stinky dumpling’s bowl. He couldn’t really let the adorable little chubby dumpling eat only a tiny bit and save the rest for him.
Wei Maomao witnessed how Wei Chengli subtly assigned each dish to Cheng Feiying, then looked at the stir-fried oyster mushrooms with… themselves on the table. She had to admit, Wei Chengli’s performance was getting better and better.
They ate in relative silence. Only at the beginning did they exchange a few compliments about each other’s ingredients. Somehow, they even talked about the hidden tasks in the “Helping Villagers” task series. Cheng Feiying was surprised to find that among the five of them, he was the only one who didn’t know anything about hidden tasks, he suddenly lost his appetite.
But it was only Cheng Feiying who was being dramatic, the other four-fifths of the people at the table were eating heartily.
After finishing their meal, while Cheng Feiying and Wei Chengli were arguing over who should wash the dishes, Cheng Rongrong, who had been quiet since returning, spoke up.
“Older sister, let’s take out the claw machine we got from the mystery box yesterday and play with Maomao.” After speaking to Cheng Tingyan, Cheng Rongrong looked at Wei Maomao. “Maomao, you haven’t played with a claw machine before, have you?”
“No, thanks.” Wei Maomao, who was full, rubbed her belly. “We have somewhere to go later, we won’t be playing with the claw machine, thank you.”
Cheng Rongrong: “… “
So annoying!
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