Chapter 65: The Pheasant Advises Humanity
Chi Fengxiao hooked an arm around Chi Qian’s shoulders. “Qian Qian, looks like this time, whether you want to or not, you’ll have to pull your weight.”
The rules only allowed picking up trash on the island. She couldn’t exactly ask the orcas or sharks to come ashore and help.
Chi Qian stuck her hands in her pockets. “More than that, there’s something I really want to know.”
“What?”
“When are we eating breakfast?”
Chi Fengxiao nearly choked. Disaster looming over their heads, and she was still thinking about food?
Didn’t she see the other teams already sprinting off to grab more trash?
Exasperated, he resigned himself to making her breakfast.
Truly, he’d raised a little ancestor.
Chi Qian got her wish—a hot meal. Cradling a glass bottle of milk from the supplies, she sipped slowly.
Watching her dawdle, Chi Fengxiao said, “Little ancestor, eat faster. If the others scoop up all the trash first, we’ll end up on the deck tonight with nothing but the cold wind.”
“Don’t rush me. Eating too fast is bad for digestion.” Chi Qian stayed unbothered. “Besides, the trash isn’t going anywhere. Whether you pick it up or not, it only increases, not decreases.”
“… Be honest. You’re already planning to surrender, aren’t you?”
“How can you call it surrender? There’s a saying: the only kind of heroism is to see life’s ugly truth and still love it.”
“And?”
“And when I see life’s ugly truth, all I want to do is give it a slap.” Chi Qian smiled. “If life thinks it can beat me down, it’s wrong. I’ll lie down on my own terms.”
“…”
A vein throbbed on Chi Fengxiao’s temple. He didn’t care anymore—he just hefted her onto his shoulder and marched outside.
“Today you’re picking up trash whether you want to or not! Don’t blame your uncle for acting ruthless!”
“Hey—uncle! I haven’t finished my milk yet!” Chi Qian reached a desperate hand toward the half-bottle left behind.
She was just eating! Why was she being punished?
Did Chi Fengxiao really think bringing her out meant she’d work obediently?
Impossible.
Working was out of the question. At best, she could curl up on a tree branch and nap again.
Chi Fengxiao could only stare as this little monkey scampered up a tree, found a fork in the branches, and stretched out to sleep.
Even when he tried to shake her down, she wouldn’t budge.
“Chi Qian, get down here!” Chi Fengxiao ground his teeth. “If you keep lazing around, you’re going to ruin yourself!”
“At your age, how can you just sleep like this?!”
“Get up! Is the meaning of your life just lying around sleeping?!”
Her only answer was the slow, even rhythm of her breathing.
Chi Fengxiao: “…”
[Help, this uncle-niece duo is killing me with laughter.]
[Film Emperor Chi: My throat’s dry from yelling—are you using my voice as a lullaby?!]
[Big Brother Chi only knows how to nag—he’d never actually drag Qian Qian down from the tree.]
[Who’s really spoiling this kid, I wonder?]
And yes—the audience was right.
No matter how lazy Chi Qian was, Chi Fengxiao couldn’t bear to let her sleep on the deck. He just picked up the tools and started collecting trash himself.
Chi Qian slept straight until noon.
When Chi Fengxiao came back, hands on his hips, she was still out cold.
“Brother Chi, this is all you’ve picked up after the whole morning?” Gu Hua came over, glanced up at Chi Qian sleeping on the tree, and laughed. “I really envy her. A whole morning without lifting a finger, and all she has to do is enjoy herself.”
Chi Fengxiao shot back coldly, “My little Qian Qian’s blessed. She’s got me, her uncle, to do it for her. Not like some people, unlucky as hell, without that kind of fortune.”
Gu Hua tugged at the corner of her lips. “Brother Chi, seriously, you spoil her too much. One day you’ll raise her into a useless good-for-nothing.”
“And besides… if Qian Qian keeps acting like this, the livestream audience is going to start getting annoyed.”
Chi Fengxiao: “If you’re this idle, go find an electronics factory and start screwing bolts. Don’t stand here yapping in front of me.”
He couldn’t stand Chi Qian being lazy—not because he hated it, but because he worried it would hurt her health if she stayed that way too long.
And Gu Hua? What the hell was she, to think she had the right to criticize Qian Qian?
A snicker came from the tree above.
Chi Qian had woken up. She stretched lazily where she sat.
Gu Hua forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Qian Qian, you might not like what I say, but I’m only thinking for your sake.”
“You know I don’t like it, and you still say it? How many moms do you think you have, huh, being this pushy?” Chi Qian swung her legs idly. “Life’s boring enough already, and now a wild chicken wants to lecture a human.”
Gu Hua put on her best “aggrieved but enduring” look. “Since none of you want me around, I’ll just leave.”
Ling Qian came over right at that moment. Hearing this, he shot Chi Qian a frosty glare.
“Hua’er, you’re just too kind to everyone. That’s why you always get bullied by people who don’t know what’s good for them.” He pulled Gu Hua away, but not before sneering, “We’ll just wait and see her fail her mission and end up sleeping on the deck as punishment.”
The two of them left quickly. Clearly, they already knew by experience that the longer they lingered, the sooner they’d be hit with Chi Qian’s verbal machine-gun fire.
Chi Fengxiao checked their garbage pile, then came back to Qian Qian. “They must’ve been garbage trucks in their past lives, to shovel that much crap. They’ll definitely place in the top three.”
He used the moment to motivate her. “Are you really going to let them mock you and trample you underfoot, instead of grabbing the victory yourself?”
Uncle clearly understood the art of provocation, Chi Qian thought.
She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the sky. “Is it noon already?”
“Yeah. If you start working hard now, there’s still a chance to turn things around.”
Chi Qian slid down the tree trunk. “I’m starving. Let’s eat lunch first.”
Chi Fengxiao: ???
He’d riled himself up for a motivational speech, and all she could think about was food?!
In the end, with tragic resignation, Chi Fengxiao cooked her lunch.
And, as expected, once she finished eating, she announced she needed a nap.
“You’re gonna sleep again??”
“Of course. You’ve got to rest well in the daytime, so you can sleep properly at night,” Chi Qian replied serenely.
“…” Chi Fengxiao honestly suspected she’d been out stealing pigs last night. Why else would she be this sleepy?
By the time Chi Qian woke again, two hours had passed.
Her uncle wasn’t in the bamboo hut—he was still outside, diligently picking up trash to support his lazy niece.
Chi Qian strolled to the edge of the forest and whistled long and sharp.
Rustle, rustle—The bushes shook. A spotted leopard poked its head out, padded over with agile steps, and crouched at her feet.
Chi Qian climbed onto its back, tucking her hands into her sleeves out of habit.
“Let’s go. Time to… pick up trash.”
The leopard brushed its tail against her arm, then sprang forward in a blur.
As everyone knew, leopards had sharp vision and sense of smell. From a distance, it could easily spot…
…guests collecting trash.
Luo Fan had just finished picking up the last piece in his area. Wiping his sweat, he turned—only to be tackled by a black shadow.
The leopard pinned him under its paw, baring its teeth.
Luo Fan nearly had his soul scared out of his body—until he saw Chi Qian perched atop the beast.
“Chi… Chi Qian?!”
“That’s me.” She smiled sweetly. “So tell me, how many bags of trash have you collected today?”
