Chapter 120: Team Change Card p2
Yu Naihao regretted buying the steak, if they hadn’t, they could have a tiled house!
But even after getting the house, they still had to spend five coins on bedsheets, blankets, and pillows, and another two coins for a toiletries set, which consisted of a roll of toilet paper, two toothbrushes, a tiny tube of toothpaste, and equally small bottles of face wash and toner, barely enough for a couple of uses.
These seven coins were unavoidable.
The website updated in real time. Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao’s team: tiled house, eight coins remaining. Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling’s team: same. Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo’s team: thatched hut, thirteen coins remaining. Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao’s team: thatched hut, twenty-three coins remaining.
The fifty starting coins had created a clear divide. The live stream comments were buzzing, they loved seeing the consequences of poor choices!
And the comments praising Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou’s teams were endless. The difference in intelligence was apparent even before the team challenges and the mission system started!
Regardless of the online praise, even the two teams with tiled houses faced new problems.
It was almost past lunchtime, and they were still cleaning their houses with the two-coin toiletries sets. Even though they were aware of the importance of saving coins, it was unavoidable. After all, the houses were empty, and to live, they needed to spend.
Mi Hongdou was efficient, but to the viewers’ surprise, Jiang Lingling, whose skill was “Rich,” was even faster. Such competence for a rich girl!
By the time Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling’s house was spotless, with their new blankets airing out in the courtyard, Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao’s team, across the courtyard, had only cleaned half their house.
Mi Hongdou stood in her courtyard, looking at Ji Junxin sweeping the courtyard across from her, her heart aching.
Unlike other shows that emphasized teamwork, the rules of “Reality Online” were clear: intra-team cooperation, inter-team competition, no helping other teams. Mi Hongdou could only watch, frustrated.
Being watched by Mi Hongdou made Ji Junxin uncomfortable. Not being on the same team is so frustrating! But… she couldn’t just keep being stared at, they were being filmed! Pay attention to the cameras, you fool! Ji Junxin closed the courtyard gate, blocking Mi Hongdou’s view, using the excuse of wiping the gate.
The “no helping other teams” rule had been criticized by some viewers as heartless, but most approved. This was a survival competition, who wanted to see constant cooperation? The strong should thrive, the weak should struggle!
Unable to see Ji Junxin, Mi Hongdou returned to her own courtyard, waiting for the chicken to be cooked.
Jiang Lingling’s chicken slaughtering was too bloody for live broadcast, so it was censored, like the luggage packing scene earlier. But after the killing and bleeding, the live stream resumed.
So, the viewers, who had just been impressed by Jiang Lingling’s cleaning skills, now watched, dumbfounded, as she skillfully killed, bled, plucked, and gutted the chicken, then carried the cleaned chicken and a bowl of chicken blood away… She was like a professional butcher! Compared to her three-minute efficiency, the two men from the other team, struggling for half an hour to kill a goose, looked incredibly incompetent!
She’s so brutal… we can’t be friends… does she need a leg pendant? College-educated!
There was enough firewood in the courtyard for two meals, and the discounted starter pack of seasonings, bought with one coin, was enough for one pot of chicken soup. Mi Hongdou was grateful they had drawn a hen. Chicken soup only required the basic seasonings from the starter pack, while other chicken dishes would require additional soy sauce and spices. With their limited coins, every coin was precious.
Mi Hongdou put the chicken on to simmer, the gate across the courtyard still closed. Unable to see what was happening there, she was incredibly anxious. She waited, the aroma of chicken soup filling the air, but the other courtyard remained quiet. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and went to knock on their gate.
The rules forbade helping other teams, but not checking on them.
The gate wasn’t even latched, and with a gentle push, it creaked open.
Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao were squatting by a wooden basin, and hearing the sound, they looked up. Mi Hongdou, still in her knocking posture, they looked at each other, the atmosphere… awkward.
Why do I feel like I’m interrupting their… domestic bliss? Mi Hongdou’s heart sank.
Ji Junxin was the first to react, breaking the silence. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet, just started cooking, what about you?” Mi Hongdou quickly replied, seizing the offered branch.
“We’re finished, plain rice and pickled cucumbers… I don’t think I can eat that again!” Bao Yueqiao said, grimacing. “The show is so cruel! Why pickled cucumbers? Even preserved tofu would be better!”
“Too much preserved tofu isn’t good for you…” Mi Hongdou thought of the chicken simmering in her pot and the two fish in their basin, feeling incredibly frustrated.
“That’s true.” The easily swayed Bao Yueqiao agreed, then said happily, “But it’s okay, Sister Junxin said we’ll see if it’s easy to earn coins. If it is, we’ll buy two eggs tonight and make egg drop soup!”
Mi Hongdou’s gaze shifted from the cheerful Bao Yueqiao to Ji Junxin, who remained silent. In just a few months, she had gone from the little foodie who needed to be fed to the capable “Sister Junxin” who made all the decisions?
Although she knew that her earlier view of Ji Junxin as a naive and clueless foodie was partly due to her own affection, Mi Hongdou still felt a strange pang of disappointment…
Sensing her own shift in mood, Mi Hongdou exchanged a few more words with Bao Yueqiao and then left.
Ji Junxin gritted her teeth! She came all the way here and only talked to Bao Yueqiao! Didn’t even ask me anything! Plain rice and pickled cucumbers are terrible! And I could smell your chicken soup…
Although the set rules were against helping other teams, it didn’t mean one couldn’t show concern. Seeing Ji Junxin at the door with two fish in a wooden basin, and remembering the exorbitant price of fish on the Supplies Board, Mi Hongdou knew that with only eight coins left after buying the necessities, Ji Junxin’s team couldn’t afford any seasonings. This fish, if cooked without any seasoning, would be… Mi Hongdou felt sorry for Ji Junxin and the clueless Bao Yueqiao and decided to offer some friendly advice. However, in front of the cameras, she couldn’t be too obvious. She casually told them about the river by the village and the many aquatic plants suitable for feeding fish. If they didn’t kill and cook them now, perhaps they could raise them and have fresh fish later.
“There are four groups of chickens there, so I think each team can feed them once. You and… Jiang Lingling, you should go check it out later.” Ji Junxin’s voice was slightly hesitant when mentioning Jiang Lingling.
Mi Hongdou noticed the hesitation, but just nodded. It seemed she would have to postpone her pursuit of Ji Junxin until after the reality show.
Hmph! She nodded so quickly! Ji Junxin was a little annoyed.
And then… the director’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker.
“Okay, everyone, before we begin today’s activities, we’ll have a team reshuffle! This morning, the teams were formed by mutual consent. This time, it’s a forced pairing. One person nominates another, and the nominated person has no right to refuse. This is the last chance to change teams, so choose carefully. You have thirty seconds to discuss.”
Ji Junxin’s heart leaped at the mention of “team change.” But those darn screens between the teams, she couldn’t even see Mi Hongdou’s reaction. But… this was her last chance!
Mi Hongdou’s heart was also racing. As soon as the director finished, she looked at Jiang Lingling.
Jiang Lingling smiled knowingly. “It’s also fun to team up with different people.”
Mi Hongdou knew that Jiang Lingling had seen through her and was giving her a way out… she nodded in agreement, but her gaze towards Jiang Lingling was apologetic. She was being disloyal.
“But if we’re not on the same team, I won’t get to eat your cooking. Just chicken alone, there are so many dishes I want to try: five-spice chicken, braised chicken, salt-baked chicken, big plate chicken, spicy chicken, roasted chicken, fried chicken, soy sauce chicken, braised chicken, and barbequed chicken…” Jiang Lingling listed them on her fingers.
“…” Mi Hongdou understood, her apology vanishing. “If we’re not on the same team, I’ll make them all for you after the show.”
Jiang Lingling beamed. You understand me!
“Then… I have no regrets~”
Good thing you didn’t say ‘then I can die without regrets’! This girl was truly a master schemer.
Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling quickly reached an agreement.
Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao’s discussion was more complicated, Bao Yueqiao wasn’t as perceptive as Jiang Lingling.
Thirty seconds was too short. Ji Junxin quickly thought, then sighed and said, “We can’t even kill a fish or fix a window, we’re not exactly… survival experts.”
Bao Yueqiao, nodding in agreement, said, “Exactly, feeding chickens only earns you one coin, and you can only do it twice a day, not even enough for an egg.”
Hook, line, and sinker!
Ji Junxin sighed again. “Although we’re a good team, perhaps we should switch with a stronger team, to… survive…”
“Time’s up! End of discussion!” the director announced.
“…” I wasn’t even finished! Ji Junxin thought, exasperated.
Bao Yueqiao, however, seemed to understand and patted Ji Junxin’s shoulder reassuringly.
“Okay, anyone who wants to switch teams, speak now.”
I wonder if Mi Hongdou will choose me… Ji Junxin thought anxiously. She’s been spending so much time with Jiang Lingling… I’ll give her ten seconds, if she doesn’t choose me, then I’ll choose her.
But before she could even count to two, someone spoke.
“Me! I want to be on Mi Hongdou’s team!” Bao Yueqiao’s voice was clear and firm.
Ji Junxin’s mind went blank.
What?! You said you understood, what did you understand?!
“Okay, Bao Yueqiao wants to be on Mi Hongdou’s team. According to the rules, Mi Hongdou has no right to refuse,” the director announced.
“Jiang Lingling is the strongest, you should choose her,” Bao Yueqiao said to Ji Junxin, her expression saying, I’m doing this for you.
Ji Junxin was speechless.
Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling were also shocked. That was the result of their thirty-second discussion? Are they crazy? The thought that this was a joint decision between Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao shattered Mi Hongdou’s heart.
“Quickly, nominate Ji Junxin!” Although heartbroken, Mi Hongdou’s mind was still working.
Jiang Lingling quickly reacted. “I choose Ji Junxin!”
“I choose Ji Junxin!”
Almost simultaneously, Jiang Duo’s voice also rang out.
What the…! Mi Hongdou almost cursed.
“Ooh, interesting. Two people want to be on Ji Junxin’s team!” the director said. “Then it’s up to Ji Junxin.”
The teams were still separated by screens. After a moment of silence, Ji Junxin finally said, “Jiang Lingling.”
“Phew…” Jiang Lingling patted her chest. When she and Jiang Duo had spoken at the same time, Mi Hongdou’s expression had turned so dark that she felt like if she didn’t choose Jiang Duo, Mi Hongdou would kill her.
Ji Junxin was feeling miserable. Jiang Lingling and Jiang Duo were the same to her, anyone but Mi Hongdou… But remembering Mi Hongdou’s dislike for Jiang Duo, she chose Jiang Lingling.
Almost as soon as she made her choice, there seemed to be a brief argument between Jiang Duo and Zhang Zijing, then they both spoke at the same time.
Jiang Duo: “I choose Yu Naihao.”
Zhang Zijing: “I choose Lu Changhuai.”
From behind the screen separating Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao, a loud “Fuck!” Clearly Yu Naihao.
Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao had also just realized that nominating each other would prevent them from being separated. But they had both been nominated by others.
If only one of them had been nominated, the other could have also nominated them, creating a competition, and the nominated person could then choose their original teammate, preventing separation. But Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo had pulled a fast one, nominating both of them, dooming them both.
Yu Naihao exploded, and Lu Changhuai could barely contain his own frustration. What were those two thinking!
What else? Jiang Duo and Zhang Zijing, like Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao, couldn’t cook or fix anything. And they were stuck in the thatched hut. After buying bedding, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and the useless tool kit, they only had six coins left, barely enough to survive, let alone upgrade their housing. They had even argued about spending thirty coins on changing their uniform colors earlier, their team on the verge of collapse.
Hearing about the team change, and Bao Yueqiao setting a precedent, Jiang Duo had an idea. With the cameras rolling, they had to maintain a good image. So… she could try getting closer to Ji Junxin again! She could still follow Lu Gaoshi’s plan and achieve success.
Unfortunately, she lost to Jiang Lingling.
Both Jiang Duo and Zhang Zijing knew that if they stayed together, they were doomed. Thinking that they had to maintain a friendly facade for the cameras, they decided to break up the seemingly more competent team of Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao.
Jiang Duo hadn’t expected Yu Naihao’s outburst and felt a sense of unease. But looking at the reckless Zhang Zijing, well… Yu Naihao couldn’t be any worse.
So… the eight participants, four teams, a complete reshuffle.
The live stream comments exploded. They had seen CPs being broken up, but not like this! Bao Yueqiao was one thing, she was just clueless and well-intentioned! But Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo, their coordinated attack, hadn’t they seen how upset the CPs were! Could they still be friends after this!
According to the rules, the team’s assets could be split evenly or however they wished, and their uniforms would be changed to one of the new team members’ colors.
Their material assets were similar, all basic necessities. The valuable assets were their houses and their coins.
Before the reshuffle: Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao’s team: one coin. Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling’s team: ten coins. Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo’s team: six coins. Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao’s team: sixteen coins (having completed the chicken feeding task).
The houses were easy to divide, tiled houses for tiled houses, huts for huts.
Ji Junxin gave Bao Yueqiao the one coin and sent her to Mi Hongdou’s old house.
Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo split their six coins.
Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao looked dejected. Lu Changhuai left the leftover braised goose and the repaired house to Yu Naihao and moved into Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo’s hut.
The reshuffle ended around 5 PM, just before dinner.
Qiao Rubai, witnessing the reshuffle, was fuming. As a principled businesswoman who valued fairness, she had already made an exception by introducing this second team change for Ji Junxin’s sake. If either Ji Junxin or Mi Hongdou had been a little more proactive, this wouldn’t have happened. Qiao Rubai, exasperated, turned off her computer and left to pick up Yang Miemie and have dinner.
Looking at the empty kitchen in Ji Junxin’s house, Jiang Lingling felt a little stressed. Fortunately, the chicken she had eaten at lunch and the promise of more chicken dishes from Mi Hongdou gave her courage!
She greeted Ji Junxin, went for a walk in the village, and then returned to share a meal of plain rice and pickled cucumbers with Ji Junxin.
This dinner was a stark contrast to her lunch, and Jiang Lingling was full after just a few bites. But seeing Ji Junxin, the usually picky eater, quietly eating the rice and pickled cucumbers without complaint, Jiang Lingling felt a pang of… something. It felt like forcibly separating a couple… although she was an unwilling participant.
There was no aroma coming from Mi Hongdou’s house across the courtyard. Jiang Lingling knew that Mi Hongdou wouldn’t be cooking tonight. Firstly, because she was probably upset, and secondly… Jiang Lingling touched her pocket, hehe.
After dinner, Jiang Lingling went to the restroom. When she came out, she nudged Ji Junxin. “Weren’t you going to the restroom? I’m finished, you can go now.”
Ji Junxin, who had been wiping the table, paused. Jiang Lingling winked at her. “Go ahead.”
Leave a Reply