23: Golden Rice Dumplings

Chen Su didn't wake up until four in the afternoon.

After waking up, he checked his phone and saw two missed calls.

One was from his mom, and the other was from Li Chuxia.

Hmm?

Why would Li Chuxia call him? Chen Su didn't wake up until four in the afternoon.

Chen Su called his mom back. "Mom, I was taking a nap just now and didn't hear the phone. Is something wrong?"

"Son, don't you have to work today? How can you sleep until this late?"

Chen Su's mother didn't know he had been fired yet.

Chen Su hadn't mentioned it when they last spoke.

"Oh, it's like this: I just got back from a business trip and took some time off," Chen Su quickly covered for himself.

"I see. Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. A Wei from our village, who's two years older than you, is going to Maple City tomorrow. I've sent a few Zongzi with him for you," Mother Chen said on the other end.

"Oh, Mom, there's no need. They have everything here; I can buy them anywhere."

"Homemade ones aren't the same as store-bought ones. I heard that there's someone named Xiao Ma who has a big store and got arrested for selling fake Zongzi."

Chen Su was stunned for a moment before realizing that the 'Xiao Ma' his mother mentioned was Brother Ma, whose reputation had collapsed a few days ago.

In Chen Su's view, anyone else could curse Brother Ma, but he couldn't.

After all, Brother Ma was his lucky charm who brought him wealth.

"Alright, I get it. I won't buy any Zongzi from outside."

Mother Chen was relieved to hear Chen Su say that.

"Remember, A Wei will call you when he arrives tomorrow."

"Got it."

After hanging up on his mother, Chen Su didn't call Li Chuxia back.

Instead, he sent her a message on WeChat.

"I was busy just now. Is something up?"

Li Chuxia called him immediately.

"Hello, Chen Su, are you free tomorrow?"

"I'm busy."

Chen Su wasn't just brushing her off; he really was going to the countryside near Maple City to collect peaches tomorrow.

The peaches needed to be picked and sorted.

It wasn't something that could be finished quickly.

"Oh, I see. The Maple City Dragon Boat Race added a two-person Mini Dragon Boat Race this year. I wanted to invite you to team up with me for it tomorrow."

"You? Rowing a dragon boat?"

"Yeah, the prizes this year are very generous. The first-place prize is a small Zongzi made of pure gold. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and I really like that Golden Zongzi."

"Pure gold?"

Hearing this, Chen Su's ears perked up.

"Yes, a pure gold Zongzi. The market price is 50,000 yuan, and it's quite rare."

Chen Su thought for a moment but still refused.

Although the prize was tempting, he didn't think he and Li Chuxia could take first place.

They had only known each other for a few days; even if they teamed up, they couldn't compete with professional athletes who had great chemistry.

"Alright then, I'll ask someone else," Li Chuxia's voice sounded a bit disappointed.

"Okay, I wish you victory in advance," Chen Su said with a smile.

"Okay, thanks."

...Villa No. 3, Rongqiao Villa Area.

"I'm so mad, I'm so mad! What a straight man."

Li Chuxia pouted and paced around the room.

"Beep... beep... beep... beep..."

She picked up her phone and dialed a few numbers.

"The protagonist is busy. Plan canceled."

"What about the other contestants?" a cautious voice asked over the phone.

"Cancel them all. What's the point of having contestants now?"

"Understood."

...Night.

Chen Su, refusing to give up, pulled out that bag of coins again and spread them on the floor.

He began to identify them one by one, following appraisal guides he found online.

It went on until midnight.

He couldn't identify a single one.

Helplessly, he put the coins away and summoned the Intelligence System with a thought.

[Today's intelligence has been refreshed. Does the Host wish to acquire it now?]

Click to acquire.

[Today's Intelligence (Grade C): No one is participating in the Maple City Mini Dragon Boat Race scheduled for 10:00 AM today.]

Mini Dragon Boat Race?

The two-person Mini Dragon Boat Race Li Chuxia mentioned this afternoon? No one is participating?

Chen Su opened his phone and sent Li Chuxia a message.

"Um, did you find a teammate for that Mini Dragon Boat Race? I suddenly remembered that I'm free tomorrow morning. (Awkward)"

"Not yet, not yet, I'm still looking. Are you sure you're free?"

"Yes, I'm free."

"Great! I'll wait for you at the Banyan Tree Foot by the Feng River at 8:30 AM tomorrow."

The dragon boat races held in Maple City every year take place on the Feng River. Banyan Tree Foot is a small pier on the Feng River where contestants board their boats every year.

Seeing that Li Chuxia hadn't successfully formed a team yet, Chen Su breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He patted his chest gently.

"That was close. I almost said goodbye to 50,000 yuan."

...On the other side.

After receiving Chen Su's message, Li Chuxia picked up her phone.

"Beep... beep... beep... beep..."

She dialed that number again.

"The protagonist is back. The plan proceeds as scheduled."

"As scheduled? This... this..." The voice on the other end sounded a bit flustered.

"Hmm?"

"Okay, proceeding as normal."

"Yay!!"

Hanging up, Li Chuxia tossed her phone aside, wrapped herself in her blanket, and rolled around on the bed twice in excitement, her slender, snow-white legs kicking the mattress... On the other end of the line.

A middle-aged man in his thirties was constantly wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

The original contestants were actors hired from out of town. After Li Chuxia canceled the event in the afternoon, the middle-aged man had dismissed the team.

The festival was coming up, and everyone was in a hurry to go home. If it weren't for the money, who would be willing to act and row a dragon boat during a holiday?

Those actors were probably all home by now, sleeping with their wives and children.

In the middle of the night, not even a stray cat or dog could be seen on the street—where was he supposed to find people?

"Forget it, let it be."

The middle-aged man sighed, prepared to face a storm of fury.

It wasn't the first time, anyway.

He'd get used to it eventually.

At this point, he could only delude himself like this... The next day, 7:30 AM.

Chen Su was woken up by an alarm.

Lately, he had been waking up naturally every day.

There are two great joys in life.

Sleeping until you wake up naturally and counting money until your hands cramp.

He had already achieved the former and believed the latter would soon follow.

Worried about missing today's 50,000 yuan, he set three alarms for himself.

In his eyes, the Mini Dragon Boat Race was 50,000 yuan.

It was just that superficial.

After washing up, he changed into a fresh tracksuit.

Since the dragon boat race was today, there would definitely be many Traffic Police Officers maintaining order. Worried that his electric scooter would be towed again, Chen Su chose to take a taxi to Banyan Tree Foot on the Feng River... Villa No. 3, Rongqiao Villa Area.

Li Chuxia also woke up early today.

Today, she was also dressed in a fresh tracksuit. Her black curly hair was tied into a ponytail with a band, and paired with light blue sneakers, the youthful aura she exuded filled the entire Rongqiao Villa Area.

Considering the crowds, she didn't drive herself and had a driver take her.

The two of them stepped out of their homes almost at the same time and headed toward their agreed destination... PS: (Please, everyone, leave a comment and give a five-star review!!)