Chapter 229
Xie Mi was still in a wild “galloping horse” pose, looking at the man standing at the door and giving an awkward smile.
“I’m testing whether this room is suitable for living.”
[You mean testing whether this room is suitable for a wild child to live in, right?]
[Hahaha, upstairs, the truth is revealed!]
Shen Moqing didn’t expose her, but the smile in his peach-blossom eyes lingered, hard to erase.
“What’s the result of the test?”
“It’s quite suitable for living. I’m relieved.” Xie Mi naturally picked up the shoes that had flown off earlier and put them on. “Why did you come looking for me?”
“I wanted to have a meal with you, Teacher Xie.”
Shen Moqing raised an eyebrow slightly, his demeanor lazy yet indulgent. “Teacher Xie, you’re now the richest person in town. I must hitch a ride on your coattails.”
“Shh…”
Hearing the word “richest person,” Xie Mi straightened up instinctively, clearing her throat twice as if being serious. The term was so unfamiliar to her…
But she liked it.
“Alright! The richest person’s got your back. Let’s go eat!”
Even though it was summer, the seaside evening brought a slight chill. Xie Mi deliberately wore a thin windbreaker and strode ahead with authority, letting the hem of her coat flutter behind her, exuding majesty.
Of course, there was no actual wind — her little subordinate, Shen Moqing, was dutifully fanning her coat from behind.
The two of them strutted down the stairs, one after the other. Liu Woxing, seeing them from afar, blinked in slight confusion, but quickly decided to go along with it.
“Teacher Xie, what fun game are you playing? Can I join?”
“Of course!”
Xie Mi waved generously. “Old Shen, hold the right hem. Left one is for Liu Woxing. You two fan it together — everyone gets a turn, everyone gets a turn!”
Shen Moqing couldn’t help but chuckle and made space, and Liu Woxing happily filled in.
Although the purpose of the action was unclear, the absurdity itself was entertaining.
From a distance, Qiu Chengye immediately panicked and backed up ten meters.
“What kind of nonsense are they up to now?”
Whenever Xie Mi got playful, it was never good.
He clutched his money tightly and turned to flee.
[Humans are really inexplicable.]
[Old Shen is one thing, but Sister Liu is actually playing along with this nonsense. Is Sister Liu openly showing her Xie-bro-loving side now?]
[Sister Liu is fully letting herself go.]
[Not gonna lie, these three really feel like a support group of patients.]
[Hahaha, Brother Kitty is traumatized now.]
Even though it was lunchtime, Xie Mi didn’t rush to eat. After discussing with Shen Moqing and Liu Woxing, they agreed to first explore the town’s prices.
After all, even with money, one couldn’t spend recklessly.
It was during this exploration that they encountered the most exploitative merchants in history.
At a convenience store, Liu Woxing picked up a bottle of mineral water in surprise.
“This water costs 10 yuan?”
She glanced at the prices of other drinks in the cooler.
“Cola 15? Even the most basic canned beer is 30?”
She remembered this brand of mineral water only costing 2 yuan outside.
Xie Mi’s protests could also be heard from the other side.
“Kang Shifu instant noodles, 20 a cup?! Does Kang Shifu know you price it like this?”
Shen Moqing held a box of matcha chocolate and clicked his tongue. “Chocolate is five times more expensive than outside too.”
The “convenience store owner,” played by a staff member, smiled benignly.
“Well, transportation costs money, and we purchase directly from supermarkets, not at wholesale prices, so naturally it’s a bit more expensive than outside.”
“That’s still way too much — five to ten times! Are you planning to run off with the money?” Xie Mi complained angrily.
“What are you saying? In this town, these are the prices. I’m not exploitative! But if you buy more, I’ll give you a discount!” the staff member quickly explained.
Xie Mi looked skeptical. “What kind of discount?”
“For example, buy 500 and get a lollipop…”
“Complaint! Call the price control bureau!!”
At a summer milk tea shop.
“One cup of milk tea, 50?! Exm?!” Xie Mi gawked at the entrance.
Even Liu Woxing hesitated to read the menu: “Fresh fruit tea 80…”
At a coffee shop.
“You mean an iced Americano, full of ice and water, just one scoop of coffee, costs 88?” Shen Moqing asked with a smile.
The staff member laughed nervously. “Hehe, yes.”
“Wait, I have an idea.” Xie Mi stepped forward. “What if I order one Americano without ice, and then three cups of free ice cubes?”
Liu Woxing immediately looked at her with admiration.
“Teacher Xie, you’re a genius.”
But the staff member quickly crushed the idea.
“Ice is 20 per cup.”
Xie Mi nearly cursed aloud: “Cao ni…”
[Rein in your impulses]
After a full round of shopping, they discovered that the entire town’s prices were generally five to ten times (or more) higher than normal.
Normally, their living allowance would have comfortably covered the next 28 days, but the production team was deliberately making things difficult.
By raising prices so high, even the richest person, Xie Mi, had to think carefully before spending.
“Damn you, Director Niu…”
“Shocking! Evil director exploits the guests like this…” Liu Woxing murmured thoughtfully. “That’s a good headline.”
“The prices in the daily grocery store seem much more reasonable,” Shen Moqing said suddenly.
Xie Mi and Liu Woxing looked up simultaneously.
They had unknowingly arrived at the last shop of the day — the daily grocery store.
Outside the store was a sign:
[After 7 PM each night, unsold ingredients will be sold at a discount! Cabbage originally 10 yuan, now 2 yuan each; pork originally 20, now 5 per box; eggs originally 30, now 10 per tray…]
Xie Mi suddenly understood.
“I get it! Director Niu wants us to cook our own meals!”
She had said this season they could enjoy restaurant food instead of making “dark cuisine” themselves, but in reality, all shops, including restaurants, convenience stores, and coffee shops, had sky-high prices. Only the grocery store, where they could buy ingredients, was affordable.
So of course, they were being nudged to cook for themselves.
[Guest: The deepest path I’ve walked is Director Niu’s schemes.]
[So the “big upgrade” in season two refers to the production team’s evil upgrade.]
[Hahahaha, perfect!]
Liu Woxing glanced at the time. “It’s 7:20 — discount time.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Go!” Xie Mi whipped her coat’s hem, crouched into a starting stance, and dashed like the wind.
Shen Moqing and Liu Woxing followed closely behind.
However, upon seeing the scene inside the grocery store, they were all stunned.
