Chapter 25: Shopping

The first-place winner’s breakfast was truly sumptuous, featuring bread, milk, deep-fried dough sticks, soy milk, eggs, and fruit. As the rankings went down, the meals became simpler, with the last-place finisher receiving nothing more than two simple corn cobs. Even so, the production team ensured that the portions provided were sufficient for two people.

After everyone finished breakfast at the tables and chairs set up in the ancestral hall, the production team skipped the task cards and directly announced the morning’s mission to the group.

"This morning’s task will be completed separately by the fathers and the children. The children must leave their fathers to complete their own tasks, while the fathers will gather together to complete a different mission," Chen Lei announced with a smile.

"Oh, yeah!" Lin Shaohua cheered, "Finally, things are getting a bit easier."

It seemed that raising children independently was truly no easy feat. Most of the fathers were happy to have a temporary reprieve from the hardships of childcare. Although Zhao Tao and Sun Zhihao did not join in Lin Shaohua’s cheering, bright smiles appeared on their faces as well. Xiao Siqi remained indifferent, while Zhou Lixing’s face was filled with worry.

"Alright, let me announce that the children’s task this morning is shopping," Chen Lei continued. "Everyone needs to go to the market to buy clothes and ingredients."

"Now, the production team hasn’t provided any ingredients for lunch today. Whatever the fathers want to eat for lunch, they must have their children buy it. Fathers can now give their children brief instructions on what to buy. The children will set off in five minutes. Once they depart, I will announce the fathers' task," said Chen Lei.

"Village Chief! I’d like to ask, what kind of clothes should we buy? Can it be just any clothes?" Xiao Yao asked, raising his hand.

"That is exactly what I was about to say," Chen Lei laughed. "The fathers' task this afternoon is to help the villagers with farm work, and they will need to wear the clothes you buy for them. So, just buy clothes that they can wear to work in the fields, understand?"

Xiao Yao and Zhao Rui nodded, while the other three children looked a bit confused.

"If you don't understand, ask your fathers. Each child will receive eighty yuan to be handed out at the time of departure. The five-minute countdown starts now. Fathers, hurry up and clarify what needs to be bought with your children. Five minutes later, collect your money and set off," Chen Lei said, checking his watch.

The five fathers each pulled their children aside and began talking all at once.

"Dad, what size shoe do you wear?" Xiao Yao asked Xiao Siqi. He could figure out the clothing sizes based on his father's height, but he honestly didn't know his shoe size.

"Size 43 for shoes," Xiao Siqi replied, then added, "Buy clothes in size 180, but since I have a slim build, a 175 would also fit if they don't have 180. Just make sure the pants aren't too short."

Xiao Yao nodded. Xiao Siqi added, "As for what vegetables to buy, use your own judgment. However, we’re dining with Uncle Sun’s family again for lunch, so check what Duo’er is buying and try not to duplicate it."

Sun Tingting, standing nearby, overheard this and suddenly interrupted, "Brother Bayi, let’s go together. You can help me buy mine."

"No," Sun Zhihao quickly stopped her, saying sternly, "Duo’er, this task is meant to be completed independently. It’s to train your own abilities. You have to learn to buy things yourself; you can't rely on Bayi for everything."

"Oh," Sun Tingting pouted.

Xiao Yao gave the little girl a helpless look.

Five minutes passed quickly. The fathers walked their children to the edge of the village, watching with a mix of worry and anticipation as they boarded the production team's van bound for town.

The five children sat together in the back of the van. In the passenger seat sat Xie Huan, the deputy director and assistant to the head director, Wu Zhankui, who was in charge of the children's shopping trip.

Unlike the worried fathers, the children in the van were full of excitement, chatting and playing with each other.

The drive would take about twenty minutes, and Xie Huan felt he shouldn't waste the time. Hoping to get some usable footage, he turned around and teased the children, "Who’s the best singer? Sing a song for everyone to hear."

Xie Huan had expected Xiao Yao, the son of a famous singer who had already shown off his musical instrument skills, to be the most enthusiastic. To his surprise, Xiao Yao remained calm and didn't react, while Sun Tingting excitedly began singing an English nursery rhyme.

Lin Qisan and Zhou Zhihao responded with supportive enthusiasm, while Zhao Rui and Xiao Yao, sitting in the back row, whispered to each other.

"Bayi, I definitely want to spar with you. My dad said this morning that he thinks I can't beat you, but I don't believe him!" Zhao Rui said, looking unhappy.

Xiao Yao was speechless. This kid was quite stubborn, but it didn't matter to him—a fight was a fight. He nodded with a smile and said, "Sure, let's spar." Then, frowning, he asked, "But didn't your dad disagree? Even though I said yesterday we could do it secretly, with these cameramen following us, don't you think your dad will find out? Aren't you afraid he'll beat you if he does? Besides, where would we spar? We can't do it on the street, right?"

"My dad’s training center has a boxing ring. I’ve practiced boxing, and I want to fight too. If you guys agree to let me join, I can take you to my dad’s gym," Zhou Zhihao, who had sharp ears, interrupted their whispering.

Zhao Rui and Xiao Yao were in the back row, so Xie Huan couldn't hear their murmurs, but Zhou Zhihao had a loud voice and hadn't tried to whisper at all. His outburst immediately alerted Xie Huan.

"Fight what? Haohao, what are you talking about? What boxing ring, what gym?" Xie Huan asked curiously.

"Shi Tou and Bayi said they wanted to fight, but they didn't have a place, so I said they could use the boxing ring at my dad’s gym. But the condition is that I get to participate too," Zhou Zhihao said, pointing at the two in the back.

"Dummy, we’re sparring, not fighting!" Zhao Rui gave Zhou Zhihao an annoyed pat and looked cautiously at Xie Huan. "Bayi and I have both practiced martial arts, so we wanted to test our skills, but we haven't had the chance or a place. It's not a real fight."

"Oh," Xie Huan smiled noncommittally. Internally, he thought this was something to report to Wu Zhankui. Two kids who had learned martial arts and one who practiced boxing—perhaps the show could arrange a competition for them; it would certainly be a highlight. With that thought, Xie Huan stopped pressing the children and changed the subject. "Duo’er sang beautifully just now. Who else wants to perform?"

"I'll sing," said Lin Qisan. As a sensitive, artistic youth, he wasn't interested in a rough activity like fighting, but singing was fine.

Seeing that Xie Huan had moved on, Zhao Rui breathed a secret sigh of relief and glared at the meddlesome Zhou Zhihao. Zhou Zhihao looked back, completely bewildered.

The van stopped in front of a farmers' market in the town. Although called a farmers' market, with social and economic development, it had long since evolved from a place selling only farm produce into a comprehensive, all-encompassing market featuring produce, vegetables, fruits, daily necessities, clothes, and accessories.

When the vehicles carrying the film crew arrived one by one, they started filming. Xie Huan opened the van door and called for the five little ones to get out.

As the children stepped down, Xie Huan took five small bamboo baskets from the back of the van and handed one to each of them. "Use these to hold what you buy. Carry them well. Now, check if you still have your money."

Seeing the five children put on their baskets and nod, Xie Huan said, "Because the market is very large, we can't be too scattered. We need to split into groups. The two children in each group should try to stay together, understand?"

The five children nodded again. Xie Huan said, "Good. Shi Tou, you and Haohao are a group; Duo’er and Qisan are a group. Bayi, you’re on your own—you’ll be acting solo. Any problems?"

Xiao Yao shook his head to indicate no issues, but Sun Tingting protested, "I want to be in a group with Brother Bayi."

Xie Huan shook his head with a smile. "No, Duo’er. Have you forgotten what your father told you this morning? You can't rely on Bayi." Although he said this, he felt a bit strange. After Sun Zhihao had that talk with Sun Tingting, he had secretly pulled Xie Huan aside before they left to tell him that while the children would be in groups, they should try to help each other. However, Sun Zhihao specifically asked that under no circumstances should Sun Tingting and Xiao Yao be paired together. Xie Huan didn't see much difference between being with Xiao Yao or Lin Qisan, but since he had promised Sun Zhihao, he had to follow through.

Xiao Yao also said to Sun Tingting, "Be a good girl, Duo’er. Go with Qisan. You two can look after each other and make sure you don't get lost. If you really run into any trouble, you can come find Brother Bayi, but you have to try to complete the task yourself, okay?"

"Oh," Sun Tingting agreed reluctantly.

"Alright, everyone, head out," Xie Huan commanded, and the children began to dash enthusiastically into the market.

For this shoot, Chen Min’s team had been assigned to stay in the village to film the fathers' tasks and were not present. Xiao Yao was being filmed by the crew that had previously followed Zhou Zhihao. Xie Huan, as the person in charge, could have chosen to stay in the van at the entrance to coordinate or follow any of the camera crews, as long as his walkie-talkie was working.

He chose to follow Xiao Yao. Everyone else was paired up, so why was he the only one acting alone? He thought Xiao Yao should be a bit unhappy about it, but Xiao Yao showed no reaction at all, appearing quite satisfied with acting solo. Although Sun Tingting had asked to be with him and he hadn't agreed, Xiao Yao himself seemed to have no intention of teaming up, having been the first to discourage Sun Tingting. Xie Huan wasn't Chen Min; he had less contact and less understanding of Xiao Yao, so he naturally found it odd.

The other four children ran towards the center of the market, but Xiao Yao wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he began to walk along the edge of the market, observing his surroundings.