36: Winning at the starting line

It took a long time communicating with Chen Cheng to find out that she hadn't mentioned this to Qu Lang yet.

Gao Xiaofan's head throbbed, and he stared speechlessly at Chen Cheng, who was spacing out beside him.

After holding it in for a long while, he really couldn't take it anymore.

"Tell me, how did you become Director Qu's assistant?"

"Ah, I don't know. It's so annoying; I just ended up in this crew for some inexplicable reason."

Chen Cheng grumbled with a look of exasperation.

"Besides, the staff here are all idiots. It's no fun at all, just work every day."

Gao Xiaofan: "..."

Before it got dark, Gao Xiaofan and Chen Cheng walked toward Director Qu's house together.

Having been out in the world for so many years, how could Gao Xiaofan not understand worldly wisdom? If anyone in the Program Production Crew had the most authority, it had to be the director.

If he gave the fish to the staff, they wouldn't even get a bite each, and he wouldn't gain any favor. But if he gave it to Director Qu, his life would likely be much easier from then on—at least he shouldn't be stopped from going out to fish.

Gift-giving depends on the environment. At a time like this, giving a brand of liquor wouldn't be as good as giving an air conditioner. The catch was that the village had no electricity. Even if it did, Qu Lang might not dare use it; if he did, his staff would surely complain to death.

This fish was perfect: mountain spring Sturgeon. He believed even a director like Qu Lang didn't eat it often. Once eaten, it would be their little secret, with all evidence destroyed.

Thinking of this, Gao Xiaofan chuckled.

What the hell do you call this? This is called winning at the starting line. How are the other guests supposed to play? Hmm? I'm asking you, how are they supposed to play?

"Brother Xiaofan, can you stop laughing? It's kind of creepy," Chen Cheng muttered as she walked beside him.

Gao Xiaofan was speechless upon hearing her words and said nothing.

Walking to Qu Lang's house, they knocked on the door and went inside.

A moment later, the two came out smiling. Qu Lang stood at the door, eyes sparkling, his voice hushed.

"Alright, wait for me. Yeah, after they're all asleep."

By now, the sky had turned completely dark. The two walked along the road, each lost in their own thoughts.

Chen Cheng: "Uncle Qu has become creepy too, and it seems to have started after you arrived."

Gao Xiaofan felt like he had been speechless more times today than in the past month.

When they reached the door of Chen Cheng's house, they waved goodbye.

Using the faint light from other houses, Gao Xiaofan fumbled his way to his own door. Opening it, he realized he had forgotten to have someone connect the electricity.

He closed the door and lay on the bed. The room was pitch black, with only the sound of buzzing mosquitoes.

Gao Xiaofan really wanted to go to the car to get some Floral Water. As an Angler, Floral Water and Mosquito Coils were essentials for night fishing. But looking at the pitch-black darkness outside where he couldn't even see his hand, he decided against it.

Wrapped in the quilt, he realized that the mountains were quite chilly at night. He didn't feel hot even under the covers, though the constant swarm of mosquitoes was irritating.

He took out his phone. Aside from sending a message to Zhao Yuling in the afternoon to say he was safe and a few messages in the newly created WeChat Fan Group, there was no other activity.

Gao Xiaofan dejectedly turned off his phone and fell into a deep sleep.

Until he was startled awake by a noise.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

"Ah, I don't remember. Why hasn't Brother Xiaofan turned on the light? It's so dark I can't see clearly."

"Did you forget to have someone connect his electricity?"

"Eh? I think I forgot. How about I turn on the flashlight?"

Hearing their voices, Gao Xiaofan scrambled up, ran to the door, and called out softly.

"Director Qu, Little Orange, over here."

Then, two flashlight beams shone over.

The two walked in quickly. As they got closer, Gao Xiaofan saw that both were carrying armfuls of things.

"Brother Xiaofan, I figured you definitely didn't bring any Floral Water. The mosquitoes here are terrible. I also brought you some Mosquito Coils."

Gao Xiaofan hurriedly took them and poured the liquid all over himself, rubbing it in. In just that short time, several red bumps had already appeared on his skin.

While applying it, he looked at what Qu Lang was holding. Good grief, he had even brought a Briquette Stove and a pot.

Qu Lang squatted on the ground, shining the flashlight on the Sturgeon in the basin, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

"Is this really from the mountain spring?"

"Yeah, I've had it once before, and the taste was excellent. Little Orange said you're fond of this, so I had to invite you."

Hearing this, Qu Lang chuckled, stood up, and urged him.

"Quick, you start the fire, and I'll clean the fish."

Gao Xiaofan was happy to oblige. He led Qu Lang to the mountain spring ditch behind the house, only to realize neither of them had brought a knife. However, Gao Xiaofan had one in his car.

Gao Xiaofan found Chen Cheng and asked her to accompany him. Not because he was afraid, of course, but simply because she had a flashlight.

The two went to the car. Gao Xiaofan opened the trunk and rummaged through it, trying to bring as many useful items as possible.

They didn't have a spatula, so he took an entrenching tool. Perfectly reasonable.

There were also disposable bowls and chopsticks in the car, so he took those.

There was also some beer left over from last night. He grabbed a few bottles and handed them to Chen Cheng, just in case Director Qu liked to drink.

Finding his corn-shaving knife, the two of them crept back quietly.

When Director Qu saw Gao Xiaofan strolling over with an entrenching tool, he went numb.

"Why the hell do you have that in your car?"

"Oh, I use it to clear fishing spots when I go out. It's very convenient."

Qu Lang didn't understand, but as long as it wasn't for anything truly criminal, it was fine.

Gao Xiaofan set about starting the fire. The Briquette Stove was just an empty shell; he didn't know where Qu Lang had found it. Since there were no briquettes, they still had to use firewood.

At this moment, he deeply regretted not bringing some charcoal from the Farmhouse last night.

Gao Xiaofan finally got the fire going and carried the stove to the back of the house. He moved it there because the village was laid out in a circle with the center in the middle. The back of his house happened to be against the foot of the mountain, creating a blind spot that most people couldn't see.

This was also the main reason Qu Lang came here. His own house had lights, but it was in the center of the village. If he were seen sneaking a meal in the middle of the night, his image would be ruined.

Gao Xiaofan set the pot up, waited a bit for the mountain spring water, caught some in a basin, and poured it into the pot.

Qu Lang finished cleaning the fish and tossed it into the pot. Then, with a mysterious look, he pulled a plastic bag from his pocket. Gao Xiaofan, who had just come out of the house with the beer, looked over curiously.

At the same time, Qu Lang was also looking at what Gao Xiaofan was holding.

"Beer."

"Seasoning."

Both spoke softly, then paused, gave a thumbs-up, and said in unison:

"Professional!"

The two laughed heartily, while inside the house, Chen Cheng kept swatting at the swarming mosquitoes.

"Damn mosquitoes! When can I finally eat the fish belly~"

Half an hour later, two flashlights hung from a tree, their focused beams hitting the ground. Gao Xiaofan and Qu Lang sat on a long bench, each holding a bottle of beer, belching, and bragging.

"Brother, it's been a long time since I've had such delicious river delicacies, let alone in this godforsaken place. Boohoo~"

Qu Lang picked up a piece of fish and stuffed it into his mouth, almost on the verge of tears.

"Brother Lang, if you want more, I'll go fishing for you again tomorrow."

Gao Xiaofan said, puffing on a cigarette and thumping his chest.

Chen Cheng glanced at the two with a look of disdain and went back to eating her fish.

The mountain breeze blew in from afar, sweeping through the village with a tantalizing aroma.