Five days after signing the contract, Peng Fei took some old clothes to the program team.
Because last year had an extra month, Guyu arrived earlier this year, making it suitable for recording this type of program.
Although he didn't know exactly what he would be asked to do, Peng Fei had his own plans and felt reasonably confident.
There were a total of nine guests. As his agent had said, the other eight were young men from the city, born into middle-class families, who had come to pursue their dreams of stardom and had no intention of actually farming.
Each one was more effeminate than the last, and all were dressed in trendy fashion.
The program team first held a meeting, explaining the fields they needed to maintain, the program effects they needed to create, and then arranged housing for them in the village. The program officially began recording.
There were two houses in total, one for four people and one for five. Peng Fei was in the five-person house.
That evening, after the meeting and tidying up their belongings, they lay on their beds chatting, all worried about what to do the next day.
"There's no script, no budget, and no specific guidance. Even if I wanted to create program effects, I wouldn't know how. We're not allowed to use our phones, so I can't even search for anything."
"Is anyone here knowledgeable about farming? What's the first step?"
Everyone was clueless.
Someone said, "I did look it up before I came. What can be planted after Guyu? Cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and so on. But how do we plant them? Dig a hole and put the seeds in? I've never even seen it done. Won't we make a fool of ourselves right from the start?"
"This program is too long, half a year. If we can't farm well, won't we starve?"
Peng Fei knew he wasn't the same as them and didn't want to say much, but seeing everyone's confusion, he could only share his thoughts.
"The first step in farming is to loosen the soil. After the soil is loosened, we can add fertilizer."
He suggested that everyone dig the land together the next day. Once it was all dug, they could think about the next steps.
As newcomers, they didn't know Peng Fei's background. Seeing him speak so knowledgeably, they asked curiously.
"Have you farmed before? Are you from the countryside?"
Peng Fei said yes and then didn't say much more.
Everyone engaged in a heated discussion about digging the land.
It was the first time in their lives they had done such a thing, and they were all very excited. They chatted until past midnight before sleeping.
The next day, Peng Fei woke up before dawn to make breakfast. By the time he finished and left with his hoe, everyone else was gradually waking up.
These people were all very concerned about their image. They hid in the simple bathroom to wash and groom themselves before daring to face the cameras.
After they finished breakfast and grabbed their hoes, they ambled to the fields. Peng Fei had already dug a large area.
Suppressing their discomfort, they stepped onto the land wearing their expensive shoes and, imitating Peng Fei, began to dig haphazardly.
With so many people, their strength was considerable. Within two hours, one plot of land was turned over.
However, Peng Fei was not very satisfied with their work.
"It's not dug deep enough, and the clods of soil dug up haven't been broken up with the hoe. This won't do."
He personally demonstrated for them. Fortunately, for the sake of the program's effect, they had to appear cooperative, and none of them argued with him.
After wasting more time and redoing the work, they were busy until noon before dispersing.
The young masters who had never worked before were exhausted, their palms blistered. As soon as they returned, they quietly hid where the cameras couldn't see them to rest and complain.
"It's too tiring, it's not work for humans. The program team hasn't given us any startup funds. Even if we finish digging the land, there are no seeds to plant. I really don't know how the recording will continue."
Someone said, "Is that Peng guy cooking again? Fine. Since he's so eager to perform, let's leave the job of finding seeds to him. I don't know which company recommended him, acting like he's superior to us just because he's farmed before. Let him perform to his heart's content."
After discussing it, they agreed. During dinner, in front of the cameras, they deliberately discussed the financial issue in a harmonious manner.
"Brother Peng, you know more than us. We don't have a single penny right now. How can we go out and buy seeds? We brothers don't know what to do and plan to listen to you. Tell us how to proceed?"
Peng Fei also had plans regarding financial matters.
The program team wasn't providing funds, but they were in the countryside now. They could live off the land. If they looked around the mountains, they could find things to sell at the market.
"After the land is dug, we'll explore the mountains and see if there's anything we can sell."
"Huh? Go to the mountains to find things to sell? Do you think that will work?"
"Whether it works or not, we'll find out then."
Peng Fei finished his meal in a few bites, pushed his chair back, grabbed his hoe, and stood up again.
"I'm going to work now. You guys wash the bowls after you finish eating."
They thought they would rest after lunch, but who knew he would be so serious? To perform more, he started working again right after eating?
The others didn't say anything, but they were all annoyed with him.
After lunch and washing the bowls, when everyone ambled to the fields, just like in the morning, he had already dug much further on his own.
The weather was warming up, and the sunlight was excellent.
After an hour of digging, it was very hot, so Peng Fei took off his jacket.
His bulging biceps and clearly visible chest muscles drew many close-ups from the cameraman.
One of the essential qualities for idols nowadays was having a good physique.
Although these young men hadn't worked the land, they had been to the gym.
Seeing Peng Fei's impressive muscles, they all felt competitive and took off their jackets.
Suddenly, all the cameras focused on them.
A group of tall, long-legged, young, handsome, and muscular men sweating in the fields, their overflowing hormones were truly inspiring.
After two consecutive days of digging, everyone was sore and their hands were covered in blisters. They simply couldn't take it anymore.
On the morning of the third day, seeing Peng Fei heading out with his hoe again, they stopped him and discussed it with him.
"Didn't you say there were things on the mountain that could be sold? Why don't we split into two groups? You dig the land, and we'll be responsible for making money. Tell us what to look for on the mountain, and we'll go find it!"
Peng Fei was a man of few words. Seeing that they didn't want to dig anymore, he agreed.
"Then let's not dig today. We'll all go up the mountain."
Everyone happily grabbed their baskets and snake-skin bags and headed for the mountain in a grand procession.
It turned out they were looking for spring bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
Spring had just passed, and the spring bamboo shoots buried under the fallen leaves were just peeking out. By digging away the soil around them, one could find tender sections, a must-have delicacy in spring.
This was simple. Peng Fei told them to dig bamboo shoots while he looked for mushrooms.
It was much more fun than digging. Everyone busied themselves happily, like treasure hunters.
Nearby villagers were also looking for bamboo shoots. To earn more money, everyone rushed to compete with the villagers.
By the end of the day, they had harvested five large bags.
In the evening, Peng Fei still cooked, while they sat by the door peeling bamboo shoot leaves.
After a day of working in the mud, they were now gathered together in the evening, peeling leaves.
Several young masters, after only a few days in the village, were already starting to look like farmhands.