Everyone was happy after completing a task and earning money. Seeing that there was still time in the morning, Ye Jingxing wanted to do more fruit-picking tasks.
"I'll go too! This shouldn't be difficult. Although the pay is low, if we're quick, it shouldn't make much difference," Zhuo Fan generously offered to join.
"Coincidentally, I also want to pick fruit," Chen Yi stepped forward with a smile, wanting to join.
"Then let's go together! Brother Fang, what about you?" Zhuo Fan turned to look at Fang Zhongwen again.
"I want to clean the pigsty. I estimate I can clean two rooms before noon!" Fang Zhongwen was excited at the prospect of earning 60 yuan.
Seeing his persistence in cleaning the pigsty, Zhuo Fan said no more.
So, the four adults and the children split into two groups.
The person in charge of the fruit base led them to the vineyard.
As far as the eye could see, rows of lush green grapevines stretched endlessly, with bunches of heavy grapes hanging in the middle.
"This is our vineyard, and it's currently the peak season for ripening. You need to pick the grapes carefully, wrap them in paper, and pack them into baskets. Once a basket is full, take it to the truck at the entrance."
"With your packed baskets, you can go directly to the accountant at the entrance to get paid."
The person in charge explained politely. There were still several employees in the vineyard, engaged in picking.
"If you have any questions, you can ask our employees." After saying that, he handed out tools to them and left.
Nuannuan was in high spirits today, wearing a small straw hat and humming a tune, dragging a fruit basket, swaying as she followed behind Ye Jingxing.
"Nuannuan, this basket will be heavy later, don't tire yourself out," Ye Jingxing said with concern, seeing Nuannuan struggling a little.
"Mmm~ Fourth Uncle, Nuannuan can help too," Nuannuan looked up, her little face flushed red from the sun.
"Okay, it's not sunny over there. How about you sit there and help Fourth Uncle wrap the grapes?"
Ye Jingxing pointed to a relatively shady spot.
"Okay~" she replied, then trotted over with her small steps.
At noon, everyone returned to the small courtyard, exhausted.
"Everyone worked hard this morning."
The director was very satisfied with the guests' performance this episode, especially certain guests. (Ye Jingxing rolled his eyes: Just report my ID number.)
"I think it was fine, not too hard. We just got a bit sunburnt in the vineyard. I imagine Brother Fang must be quite tired," Zhuo Fan said, fanning himself with a small fan.
"Don't even mention it. I thought cleaning was just simple housework!" Fang Zhongwen waved his hand, unwilling to talk about it anymore.
"Did anyone go to see Teacher Fang?"
"Me, me, me! I watched for a while, they were quite miserable."
"I watched too, truly worthy of the 'doomed father and son'. Teacher Fang was almost gored by a pig, hahahaha!"
"Yes, and Fang Lei kept causing trouble, earning him a good beating from Teacher Fang, 'stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork'."
"At first, Teacher Fang thought he could clean two rooms. In the end, he only managed one."
Chen Yi sat next to him, frowning. She always felt a smell in her nose and shifted to the side.
"Is it my imagination? Why do I feel like Chen Yi is a bit disgusted with my Teacher Fang?"
"It's not your imagination, I saw it too. She deliberately moved aside."
"Yes, she even tried to cover her nose. Maybe she realized they were still live-streaming, so she changed to touching the tip of her nose instead."
"Everyone is a reincarnated Sherlock Holmes!"
"Everyone's harvest was good this morning. We can treat ourselves well at lunch," the director hinted.
"Oh dear! The money I just earned hasn't even warmed up yet," Zhuo Fan wailed.
"Director, the prices on your menu are really too expensive. Can you lower them?"
Chen Yi didn't have much money on hand, and after a morning of hard work, she also wanted a good meal.
Earlier, in the vineyard, both Zhuo Fan and Ye Jingxing had returned after picking four baskets of grapes each. Chen Yi had only picked one basket; she had been feeling dizzy and too hot the whole time, resting for ten minutes after picking a single bunch.
"Laughable, only Chen Yi thinks it's expensive now?"
"When picking grapes, she saw a very small insect and screamed hysterically. Even after others removed it for her, she still refused to go near it. This alone delayed them by at least half an hour."
"I feel sorry for her daughter again. Ye Jingxing felt sorry for Nuannuan dragging an empty basket, but she made her daughter drag the basket full of grapes for her. She complains online about her mother-in-law favoring sons over daughters, but isn't she the same?"
"To be fair, Zheng Jiajia is really a well-behaved child."
"On the surface, it seems like she gives her daughter all the good things, but as soon as it concerns herself, she puts her daughter last."
"After a morning of hard work, how about we get some fried rice?" Fang Zhongwen, holding his substantial 80 yuan, spoke with confidence.
"I want to try these few set meals," Ye Jingxing said, tempted by the unchosen set meals.
"Actually, I want to try too, but I'm afraid of being ripped off, especially for 60 yuan!" Zhuo Fan also chimed in.
"The set meals include rice, and it's unlimited," the director began to promote from off-camera.
"Really?" Fang Zhongwen's eyes lit up.
"As I've said before, 'Baby is Here' restaurant values quality."
"Director, the more you say that, the more suspicious I become."
"You don't have to order it. Anyway, you can afford the ones that have been unlocked now," the director said fearlessly.
"Director, I'll have set meal A," Ye Jingxing made the decision.
After a while, a man in a chef's uniform walked in carrying a tray larger than before.
"The difference is too huge! Even the person delivering the food has a work uniform! And this tray is bigger than before!" Zhuo Fan exclaimed in amazement.
"Guests, please enjoy!" the chef respectfully opened the lid and retreated.
The tray held a plate of glistening braised pork, a plate of vibrant green stir-fried seasonal vegetables, all beautifully plated. There was also a bowl of red tomato and egg soup, and next to it, a small basin of rice.
"This is real meat!" Fang Zhongwen stared at the braised pork.
"Director, I want this too," Zhuo Fan stood up and eagerly expressed his desire.
"Yes, yes, I don't want fried rice anymore. I want this set meal," Fang Zhongwen quickly followed.
"Brother Fang, Brother Fan, why don't you two order the other two set meals? I think the dishes should be different, so we can eat them together."
"That's right, we'll each have a set meal B and C," Fang Zhongwen agreed.
"What about you, Teacher Chen, want to join too?"
Fang Zhongwen didn't know how much money Chen Yi had and turned to call her.
"Sorry, Teacher Fang, I don't have enough money. Jiajia and I will just have beef noodles."
Chen Yi's face showed some awkwardness. She was still thinking that perhaps the male guests might treat her to another meal, just like breakfast.
"Alright then," Fang Zhongwen didn't think too much of it and let it go when she couldn't afford it.
The other two set meals indeed consisted of one meat, one vegetable, and one soup, just with different dishes.
Soon, the three men were eating and chatting happily.
Chen Yi and her daughter, although sitting at the same table, felt isolated. A sense of grievance appeared on her face.
"Should the program team consider adding another female guest? It feels like they're ignoring Chen Yi, and she's a bit pitiable."
"Your halo from upstairs has blinded me."
"They're not ignoring Chen Yi! It's just that she doesn't have enough money, what can be done? Besides, the three of them do respond when Chen Yi speaks!"
"The rice is unlimited, they could have shared some food with Chen Yi and her daughter."
"Are you a saint, upstairs? Expecting everything to be shared with you? Then Chen Yi might as well do nothing. Whose money is not earned through hard work?"
"Exactly. Once or twice is a gesture of goodwill, but expecting charity every time? No wonder she only picked grapes for a short while this morning and acted like that."
"Is she really planning to rely on others for support all the time? That's why she's slacking off. Although she's the only female guest, the three male guests don't owe her anything."
"Exactly! This morning, Fang Zhongwen even reminded her to keep track of the counts, but she didn't take it seriously and lost ten yuan."