132: Chapter 132 Camping at Qianlu Lake (Part 1)

They say the meaning of travel is in the journey itself.

Watching the green hills and clear waters along the way, while chatting about trivial gossip, the little frustrations of life and work vanished without a trace.

All that remained was a sense of anticipation for reaching the destination.

Of course, with a girl by one's side, there's no shortage of photo opportunities.

Then, selecting nine photos from countless options to post on Moments, accompanied by a rather forced caption.

For example: "My husband insisted on dragging me on a trip!"

Or another: "They say travel isn't about the destination but the scenery along the way, but I don't really think it's that special!!"

Once such a post is made on Moments, it quickly receives a flurry of envious, jealous, and resentful comments.

Just like An Xiaonuan; no sooner had she posted to Moments than calls from her girlfriends came one after another. Only after exhausting herself did An Xiaonuan satisfiedly turn off her phone and say to Chen Sheng, "Husband, you've worked hard!"

She then immediately fell asleep.

What could Chen Sheng do?

He could only say he was used to it.

He changed the music to something soothing, turned the volume down a little, and then followed the navigation eastward.

The car drove on the expressway for nearly two hours, then another hour and a half after exiting, and just as the sky was filled with fiery sunset clouds, the vehicle smoothly turned into the Qianlu Lake Camping Base parking lot.

Must say, as a popular internet hotspot and approaching the weekend, there were quite a lot of people.

"Wake up, we're here!" After parking the car, Chen Sheng woke An Xiaonuan up.

An Xiaonuan stretched lazily, but when her eyes caught the various cars filling the parking lot outside, she instantly perked up, unbuckled her seatbelt in one motion, opened the car door, and said, "Husband, I'm going to go pick a spot in the camping area first, you hurry up and come over."

Watching An Xiaonuan dash off like a wild horse, Chen Sheng quickly shouted, "Slow down!"

His only response was a hand waving in the air and her rapidly receding back.

Chen Sheng: "..."

Fine! It was his own doing, he had to bear it even with tears.

Chen Sheng quickly organized the items from the trunk onto a small trolley and pulled it quickly in pursuit of An Xiaonuan.

But he ultimately underestimated An Xiaonuan's speed. He didn't spot her even after reaching the camping area and only found her at spot 42 after calling her.

Seeing Chen Sheng arrive, An Xiaonuan immediately lifted her chin proudly and boasted, "Husband, good thing I ran fast; any later and we would have had to go rent a tent in the public area over there."

However, before Chen Sheng could reply, seeing him slightly out of breath, An Xiaonuan said with a hint of disdain, "They say once a man passes thirty, he has no choice but to soak goji berries in a thermos. You haven't even passed thirty yet, why are you already struggling?"

Chen Sheng: "..."

Having just caught his breath, he didn't hesitate to roll his eyes at An Xiaonuan.

"Why don't you give it a try?" Chen Sheng pushed the trolley handle toward An Xiaonuan.

Of course, it was just for show.

After all, An Xiaonuan was still pregnant; how could he really let her do heavy work?

Not to mention anything else, if his mother found out, there would definitely be a severe scolding.

She really doesn't hold back.

On the other side, An Xiaonuan looked at the two suitcases and two large bags of snacks on the trolley, stuck out her tongue playfully, then rolled her eyes and counted on her fingers in defense: "Look, I picked the spot and rented the RV, while you only moved some things. All things considered, you're still coming out ahead!"

Still not giving Chen Sheng a chance to argue, An Xiaonuan skipped the topic entirely, waved her hand, and said with feigned magnanimity, "Alright, who else but me could be such a good Chinese wife? I'll just take the loss."

She then held the key up in the air and swung it, "Let's go, let's go check out the RV together."

Chen Sheng: "..."

She really gets to be the saint in everything.

"Wait, let me put the things away first."

Chen Sheng pulled the trolley to the empty space accompanying RV 42 and looked around. Must say, the overall environment and supporting facilities were truly worthy of the rave reviews.

Qianlu Lake Camping Base, as the name implies, was built around Qianlu Lake, so directly opposite the RV was the vast lake surface, surrounded by lush trees that effectively blocked the summer heat.

The RV area was equipped with waist-high fences, giving travelers privacy while still allowing them to blend into the lively atmosphere.

The RV was a standard towable trailer, equipped with a bar, refrigerator, bathroom, double bed, and a miniature kitchen area with an induction cooker and microwave, where simple meals could be prepared.

After all, it was a campsite, and the focus was on the outdoors. The independent space accompanying the RV was fully equipped with a grill, outdoor cookware, portable tables and chairs, and more.

On the foldable table was a QR code, which could be used to access the campsite's internal store to purchase all necessary items for a barbecue.

Even if one felt that doing it themselves was troublesome, they could order cooked food directly, which would be prepared by the campsite kitchen and delivered. Travelers only needed to lie quietly in a chair, holding a drink, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds or the twinkling stars, and quietly enjoy this rare moment of relaxation.

Of course, this "rare" moment came with a "rare" price. Depending on the specifications, the RV at campsite 42 that they rented was eight hundred a day, with ingredients extra. Tonight, after An Xiaonuan's spree, the final total soared into the four-figure range.

Adding in the snacks, mosquito repellent, and other miscellaneous items purchased, Chen Sheng roughly estimated that this three-day, two-night camping trip would cost him the bonus he had just received that morning.

Of course, there are ways to play if you have money, and ways to play if you don't.

Qianlu Lake Camping Base was divided into two main areas: the RV camping area and the public camping area. In the public camping area, one could bring their own tent or rent one, then set up camp.

Just along the way, Chen Sheng had encountered many families with tents, chatting and laughing as they headed toward the public camping area.

Setting up a tent, pitching a canopy, and having the whole family gather around a portable grill to talk about trivial life matters or work worries—actually, that was pretty nice too.

After touring campsite 42 and ordering the necessary items, An Xiaonuan urged Chen Sheng to tie up a hammock in the spot she designated.

Regarding tying up the hammock, Chen Sheng actually felt it was unnecessary. After all, there were chairs for sitting and beds for sleeping; setting up a hammock was purely a redundant effort, just making extra work for himself.

But he didn't dare say it.

The "Empress Dowager" only needed to stick out her flat belly, while the "lackey" could only obediently dig the hammock out of the suitcase, fix it at the appropriate height according to the "Empress Dowager's" requirements, and then wait upon the "Empress Dowager" as she lay down comfortably.

Then he had to move the portable table next to the hammock and wash the fruits bought from the supermarket according to the "Empress Dowager's" preferences, placing them where she could easily reach them.

After finishing all this, Chen Sheng finally sat down a little further from An Xiaonuan, opened a bottle of iced soda, lit up a "divine" cigarette, and gazed at the sunset glow on the horizon and the young boys and girls running freely in the twilight.

Until the Staff Member from the campsite delivered the ingredients, Chen Sheng ended that moment of peace and began the busy work of dinner.

An Xiaonuan walked over from the hammock at this time.

The two continued to use their division-of-labor mode.

Chen Sheng was responsible for lighting the steel charcoal with alcohol wax, while An Xiaonuan was responsible for giving verbal instructions from the side; Chen Sheng was responsible for grilling the ingredients, while An Xiaonuan was responsible for taking photos and tasting/commenting, with Chen Sheng adjusting his technique and grilling time based on her feedback.

But Chen Sheng actually enjoyed it.

That's life!

Isn't that just how it is.

When the sunset was covered by the night, the light strips in the camping area were lit up, and these light strips, hidden vaguely in the trees, draped a mysterious veil over the campsite.

Under the veil, there was laughter and carefree singing. Very luckily, not far from spot 42, someone took out a guitar and started playing Wu Bai's "Sudden Self".

The familiar music started, and the dormant factors in their bodies were awakened. When the prelude ended, many people around started singing without warning.

Hearing you say, the morning sun rises and sets.

Sunny or rainy, unpredictable; the road is full of footsteps.

I have gotten used to your sudden self.

Carefree and easy, seeing nature clearly.

Then don't hold back; once time passes, it won't return.

The sky you gaze at has more rainbows.

I will hold your passion tightly in my heart.

In the cold winter, I will recall your tenderness.

Filling my heart with joy.

Sorrow is also tears with a smile.

Countless meetings, endless waiting.

If this life is all there is, why wait to start over.

Then don't hold back; once time passes, it won't return.

The sky you gaze at has more rainbows.

I will hold your passion tightly in my heart.

In the cold winter, I will recall your tenderness.